Located on the southern banks of Lake Lanier, Buford balances suburban life with easy access to the broader metro area. Historic Downtown Buford has a charm of its own, though, and the city's proximity to Georgia's largest mall and lake is a big draw here.
Most of Buford is in Gwinnett County, but a sliver is in Hall County, giving students access to two highly rated school districts. Gwinnett County Schools is the largest school district in the state and a major employer in the area. Over 18,000 people live here — many holding management, business, science, and art-related positions. Meanwhile, downtown Atlanta is also just 25 miles away.
Realtor Stephanie Purrington, with Keller Williams Realty Intown Atlanta, has lived in Buford for decades. She calls the community active and family-oriented. "[Many] neighborhoods [in Buford] have incorporated a pool and tennis courts, and there's strong support for school sports."
Buford was founded after a railroad connected Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta.
Buford's historic "Welcome to Buford," invites guests to explore the charming neighborhood.
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Buford's booming housing market
Buford's population has increased by roughly 30% in 10 years. "A lot of people from Atlanta are moving north to Buford, and folks from here are moving further north to Gainesville, which helps keep the market open," says Billy Johnson, a Realtor with Lantern Real Estate Group who was raised in Buford. Fifteen new residential developments have brought over 490 new homes to the city since 2019. The most established neighborhoods surround downtown Buford. Historic mansions and lakeside properties are coveted — sometimes heading into the millions. The city's median home price is $550,000, about 48% higher than the state median. Purrington says schools here are the biggest driver.
Buford's neighborhoods often have brick-style homes.
Charming colonial style houses can be commonly found in Buford.
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Buford's top-notch schools
Niche ranks Buford City Schools as the best in the state and gives the district an A-plus. Buford High is known for its football team, which has become state champions four times in the last 10 years alone. Gwinnett County Schools earns an A-minus. The county’s own Georgia Gwinnett College ranked 56th out of 97 in U.S. News and World Report's 2025 Regional Colleges South list.
Buford High School is located in Burford and scores an A+ from Niche.
Buford Middle School is a public school located in Buford, GA.
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Home to the largest mall in Georgia
Buford is home to the Mall of Georgia, the state’s largest mall with over 200 retailers and restaurants. Four miles from there, downtown Buford is lined with historic brick buildings housing local boutiques and restaurants. The city’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan to improve Downtown Buford promises to continue enhancing walkability. Buford has already completed at least seven pedestrian projects since 2019.
Buford is home to the Mall of Georgia which is the biggest mall in the state.
Buford's Historic Downtown has a street of walkable businesses.
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Downtown Buford embraces local artists
The Tannery Row Artist Colony studios are in downtown Buford, where the 17 artist members host rotating gallery shows. The nearby Buford Museum also collects these artists’ work, giving them a permanent home. The Buford Community Center, also downtown, hosts concerts and outdoor movie nights at its amphitheater.
Buford's Community Center is abundant in well-landscaped lush greenery.
Buford's Community Center hosts lots of town events like concerts and festivals.
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Living near ballparks, tennis courts and Lake Lanier
Buford's parks and recreation department supports a wide range of pastimes. Buford Youth Sports Complex has full-sized soccer, lacrosse and football fields. There are 12 public tennis courts on Shawnee Avenue. Bogan Park's indoor facilities include an aquatic center, a double gym and a dance room, and its outdoor amenities include trails, basketball courts and playgrounds. Buford Dam Park and its beach, the boat ramps on Pinewood Avenue and Lazy Days Park and Marina are gateways to Lake Lanier. The county offers over 10,000 acres of green space and 133 miles of trails.
Many local residents of Buford use the paved walking trails found throughout town.
Beaufort city Park is home to several tennis courts, baseball, courts, and more.
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Interstate 85 or MARTA to Atlanta
City data shows the average work commute from Buford is around 29 minutes. Interstates 85, I-985 and Buford Highway are main routes here. MARTA connects commuters to Atlanta. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the largest airport in the state, is around 50 miles away. Piedmont Urgent Care and Northside Medical, which opened in 2024, are in Buford. Purrington touts the city's proximity to major highlights: “Buford is maybe 40 to [50] minutes from the airport, five hours to the beach, and not even a couple hours [from the] mountains."
Mild winters in Buford
“Atlanta, in general, has a pretty mild climate. But we just had two inches of snow the other day, which hasn’t happened in five years,” Purrington says. Buford and several other cities and unincorporated areas are served by Gwinnett County Police North Precinct. In 2024, the department responded to over 29,000 calls.
Buford's Historic Clock is one of the neighborhood's iconic points of interest.
Buford's historic "Welcome to Buford," invites guests to explore the charming neighborhood.
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Written By
Kathryn Ashworth
Photography Contributed By
Kathleen Kim
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cinnamon Wright,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Buford, GA sell after 43 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Buford, GA over the last 12 months is $500,000, down 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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