The Town FilesBuford, Georgia
City in Gwinnett County · population 17,144 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $368,700
- Household income
- $69,471
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 34.4
Buford is a city of 17,144 people in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The median home is worth $368,700, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better for families than 86% of Georgia towns, more vibrant than 84% of Georgia towns, better for cycling than 83% of Georgia towns.
How Buford ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Buford is worth $368,700, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $69,471, which is more affordable than 9% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,357 a month. 68.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buford | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $368,700 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,357 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $69,471 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 68.2% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Buford
| People | Buford | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 33.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 23.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 88.0% |
Weather in Buford
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 31.1°F. About 56.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 67 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buford since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 30, 2010 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 30, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 1998.
Severe weather in Gwinnett County since 1996
Gwinnett County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Gwinnett County
Gwinnett County had 386,500 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,588 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Buford itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Buford
12 public schools with 15,167 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seckinger High School | 9-12 | 2,008 | 18.8 |
| Buford High School | 9-12 | 1,923 | 17.5 |
| Jones Middle School | 6-8 | 1,744 | 16.3 |
| Twin Rivers Middle School | 6-8 | 1,627 | 15.2 |
| Ivy Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | 1,559 | 15.0 |
| Buford Middle School | 6-8 | 1,436 | 16.7 |
| Buford Academy | 1-3 | 1,275 | 14.5 |
| Patrick Elementary School | PK-5 | 962 | 13.9 |
| Buford Senior Academy | 4-5 | 878 | 17.2 |
| Friendship Elementary School | PK-5 | 694 | 15.8 |
| Harmony Elementary School | PK-5 | 627 | 12.1 |
| Buford Elementary School | PK-K | 434 | 13.6 |
Towns near Buford
- Sugar Hill, GA3.4 mi · 25,076 people · home $413,400
- Flowery Branch, GA5.4 mi · 9,391 people · home $442,500
- Suwanee, GA6.4 mi · 20,786 people · home $480,600
- Oakwood, GA9.3 mi · 4,822 people · home $306,700
- Braselton, GA10.1 mi · 13,403 people · home $459,400
- Cumming, GA10.3 mi · 7,318 people · home $382,900
- Dacula, GA10.7 mi · 6,882 people · home $359,000
- Auburn, GA11.4 mi · 7,495 people · home $299,700
Buford questions
Is Buford, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buford scores better for retirees than 42% of Georgia towns and quieter than 28%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Buford?
The median owner-occupied home in Buford is valued at $368,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,471, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $1,357 a month.
What is the weather like in Buford?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 31.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Buford get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 30, 2010. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)