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Living in
Buford.
About
Life in Buford
If you're thinking about moving here, understand that you're choosing a solidly middle-class suburb about 30 minutes north of Atlanta—not a destination town. The median home price hovers around $368,700 with monthly rents near $1,357, which tracks reasonably with the region, and the cost of living is helped by a 6% sales tax (lower than many comparable metros). Job prospects are decent; unemployment sits at 3.1% and major employers like Makita's factory operation anchor the local economy, though most residents will likely commute into Atlanta for work—expect about 24 minutes on average, which is manageable but worth factoring into your daily routine.
Buford at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Foreign-Born
23.3%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Population Growth
+9.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics23.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Buford: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Buford, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (45.3%), and 25.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
33.7%
of residents
65 and Older
12.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
46.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.5%
of households
Married Couples
52.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.33
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for GA
Rent, home values, and income in Buford
In Buford, home values are 22% above the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,457
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1996
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $464,885 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for GA
Unemployment in Buford and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Gwinnett County, which includes Buford, is close to the GA average.
Unemployment rate
Buford: Gwinnett County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Gwinnett County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Buford is about 2% of Gwinnett County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Buford Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area
Commute27.5 min avg
How Buford residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Buford, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 41 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 39% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Gwinnett County Police Department, which covers Buford, runs 39% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
202.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
931.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Gwinnett County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Gwinnett County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Gwinnett County, which includes Buford, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11,000 |
| 2024 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $22,000 |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $145,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2021 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $102,000 |
| 2020 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $247,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $327,500 |
| 2018 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.3M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Gwinnett County, county-wide
Buford is about 2% of Gwinnett County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Gwinnett County, which includes Buford, is typically good — 211 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
211
per year
Moderate Days
151
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Gwinnett County, county-wide
Buford is about 2% of Gwinnett County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Buford has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
58.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.6"
Hot Days/Year
32
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
67
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 31°F | 5.39" |
| Feb | 56°F | 33°F | 5.15" |
| Mar | 63°F | 40°F | 5.16" |
| Apr | 72°F | 46°F | 4.32" |
| May | 79°F | 56°F | 4.23" |
| Jun | 85°F | 64°F | 4.69" |
| Jul | 89°F | 67°F | 4.89" |
| Aug | 88°F | 67°F | 4.92" |
| Sep | 82°F | 60°F | 4.03" |
| Oct | 73°F | 49°F | 3.97" |
| Nov | 63°F | 39°F | 4.42" |
| Dec | 54°F | 34°F | 5.20" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Buford
Uninsured
13.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Buford's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Northside Hospital Forsyth
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Cumming
Northside Hospital Gwinnett
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.9 mi away · Lawrenceville
Emory Johns Creek Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.3 mi away · Johns Creek
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Buford
Buford's student/teacher ratio is 16.2:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 29.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Buford (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 11,344 students · in-state tuition $4,532 · 25% graduate · median earnings $48,736 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Buford
Buford has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
19 mi awayMartin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
33 mi awayKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
36 mi awayOcmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
91 mi awayChickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
National Military Park
93 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Buford
Buford-Sugar Hill
2100 Buford Highway, Buford
Cities Near Buford
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Buford?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Buford FAQ
Is Buford, Georgia affordable?⌄
Buford's median rent is $1,357/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $69,471/year. Median home value is $368,700.
Is Buford, Georgia safe?⌄
Buford is policed by the Gwinnett County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 202 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 932 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Buford, Georgia?⌄
Gwinnett County, which includes Buford, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Buford, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in Buford is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,357/month and median household income is $69,471/year. The median home value is $368,700. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Buford, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in Buford is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from