Lithonia, GA: Is Your Property Tax Assessment Too High? (2026)
By AppealAlly Team · Published
The median Lithonia homeowner pays $2,617/year in property taxes. That is 4.24% of median household income. See how Lithonia compares and check your savings potential.
Key Takeaways
Appeal deadline: Georgia law sets it at 45 days from the date of your assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.Median home value: $223,000 in Lithonia.Median annual tax bill: $2,617.Tax burden: 4.24% of median household income in Lithonia.Potential savings: ~$390/year from a 10% reduction, or $1,170 over 3 years with the 299c freeze (estimated, subject to the statutory exceptions).Filed with: DeKalb County Board of Assessors (not the city).Free to file: the Board of Equalization can lower your value but cannot raise it above the county assessors' figure, except on a value already frozen by an earlier appeal.
Lithonia takes its name from the Greek word for stone, and for more than a century the granite quarried here went into buildings and curbstones across the country. The small city sits in eastern DeKalb County near the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, its historic downtown now surrounded by the newer city of Stonecrest. About 2,622 people live inside the city limits, and housing is among the most affordable in the county: the median home is worth about $223,000, roughly 38% below the DeKalb County median of $357,800. That gap is worth pausing on. Across DeKalb County, home values stretch from roughly $237,245 at the 25th percentile to $559,874 at the 75th, which means the typical Lithonia house sits below even the county's lower quartile. Mass appraisal models calibrated on a county that expensive and that varied can easily overshoot a modest granite-town bungalow. The stakes are real, because DeKalb's effective property tax rate runs about 1.75%, one of the higher rates in metro Atlanta, and with a median household income of $61,713 the typical Lithonia homeowner already puts about 4.2% of household income toward property taxes. Every extra thousand dollars of inflated assessed value makes that worse. If the value on your notice looks closer to what a buyer would pay in Decatur than in Lithonia, check it. Georgia law sets the appeal deadline at 45 days from the date of your assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.
Lithonia Appeal Quick Facts
Appeal Deadline: Georgia law sets it at 45 days from the date of the assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.
Median Home Value: $223,000 (-38% below DeKalb County median)
Median Annual Tax Bill: $2,617 (Census ACS 2024)
Tax Burden: 4.24% of median household income
Is your Lithonia property tax assessment too high?
The median home in Lithonia is valued at $223,000, and the typical homeowner pays about $2,617 per year in property tax (Census ACS 2024), based on DeKalb County's 4.379% combined millage applied to 40% of fair market value after exemptions. That means the typical Lithonia homeowner spends 4.24% of household income on property taxes alone. Even though Lithonia home values fall below the DeKalb County average, the tax burden here is significant relative to household income. A lower home value does not mean your assessment is automatically correct. Overassessments happen at every price point, and correcting one can meaningfully reduce your annual bill. At $223,000, Lithonia home values are 38% below the DeKalb County median, 31% above Georgia's statewide median of $170,200, 29% below the national median of $318,000.
How does Lithonia compare to other DeKalb County cities?
Brookhaven leads DeKalb County in home values, but your individual assessment could still be too high regardless of where Lithonia falls in the county ranking.
What evidence matters for Lithonia appeals?
In smaller communities like Lithonia, finding comparable sales can be harder. Expand your search to other parts of DeKalb County. The Board of Equalization understands limited inventory in small towns. Focus on homes with similar square footage and condition, even if they are several miles away. For the full evidence strategy, exemption details, and step-by-step filing instructions, see our DeKalb County Property Tax Guide.
How much can you save in Lithonia?
Based on a combined tax rate of 4.379%. Your actual rate may vary by tax district. Three-year figures are estimates and apply only if your value is reduced; you can then keep saving for up to three years, subject to the statutory exceptions.
A 10% reduction on the median Lithonia home ($223,000 down by $22,300) would save approximately $391 per year, or $1,173 over three years (estimated, subject to the statutory exceptions) with the 299c value freeze.
At 4.24% of household income, even a modest reduction in your assessed value makes a real difference in your annual budget.
File your appeal through DeKalb County
Property tax appeals in Lithonia are filed with the DeKalb County Board of Assessors. To appeal, submit a PT-311A form. Georgia law sets the appeal deadline at 45 days from the date of your assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.
DeKalb County Board of Assessors: 120 West Trinity Place, Room 208, Decatur, GA 30030 | 404-371-0841 For the full appeal process and deadline details, see our DeKalb County Property Tax Guide.
Based on 2024 American Community Survey estimates and DeKalb County millage rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my Lithonia property tax too high?
The median annual property tax bill in Lithonia is $2,617 (Census ACS). If your assessed value is higher than what your home would actually sell for, you are paying more than that. Compare your assessed value to recent sales of comparable homes nearby.
Who do I contact to appeal my Lithonia property tax?
Appeals are filed with the DeKalb County Board of Assessors, not at the city level. File a PT-311A form. Georgia law sets the appeal deadline at 45 days from the date of your assessment notice. The date printed on your notice controls. Confirm with your county before you file.
How much of my income goes to property taxes in Lithonia?
At the median, Lithonia homeowners pay 4.24% of their household income ($61,713/year) in property taxes. That is a significant burden -- a successful appeal directly increases your take-home.
Are Lithonia homes undervalued compared to DeKalb County?
Lithonia's lower median does not mean the county's assessment of your specific home is correct. Overassessments happen at every price point. Compare your assessed value per square foot to actual recent sales of similar homes nearby.
How do Lithonia property taxes compare to Brookhaven?
Brookhaven leads DeKalb County with a median home value of $692,700, compared to Lithonia's $223,000. But a lower county ranking does not mean your individual home is correctly assessed -- overassessments happen at every price point.
How is my Lithonia property tax bill calculated?
Georgia taxes property at 40% of fair market value. For Lithonia's median home ($223,000), the assessed value is $89,200. Multiply by DeKalb County's millage rate of 4.379% to get your annual bill. In smaller communities like Lithonia, the county may rely on limited data to set your value. If your home is unique or the comparable sales used are a poor match, there is a good chance your assessment is off.
What if there are few comparable sales near Lithonia?
In smaller communities, finding 3-5 recent sales of similar homes can be difficult. Expand your search to other parts of DeKalb County -- the BOE panel understands limited inventory in small towns. Look for homes with similar square footage, lot size, and condition even if they are several miles away.
Can my property tax go up if I appeal?
Losing at the Board of Equalization cannot raise your value, with one exception. Under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-311(e)(9), the Board of Equalization, a hearing officer, or an arbitrator can lower your value but cannot raise it above the value the county assessors set. The exception is a value already frozen by an earlier appeal: on an appeal filed while that freeze is in effect, the Board is not capped and could raise the value. That limit applies to the deciding body; the county assessors can still make changes or corrections to your value when they review your appeal.