Skip to main content

EconPulse

Local economy signal dashboard

Saved
PLACEThriving

Buford, GA

Thriving overall. Population is the clearest support signal, while housing needs the most attention. Housing reads as affordable for a median-income household.

Post on XLinkedIn
Overall score75out of 100
Compare
76
70
100
67
69

Population

17,997

Data freshness

Unknown

GDP / Output

+5.3% YoY

76

$72.4B

Output changed +5.3% in 2024.

Vintage date unknown

State growth5.5%
U.S. growth5.3%

Jobs

Unemployment rate

70

3.4%

Unemployment is 3.4% for June 2026.

Vintage date unknown

State avg3.4%
U.S. avg4.2%

Population

+12.5% 5-year

100

17,997

Population moved +12.5% over the latest ACS window.

Vintage date unknown

State population10,940,407
U.S. population334,922,499

Housing

Rent share of income

67

23.4%

Median rent consumes 23.4% of median household income: Affordable.

Vintage date unknown

State rent$1.4K
U.S. rent$1.4K
HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

Federal Funds

$4.2K per resident

69

$4.0B

$4.0B in federal obligations flowed here in FY2025.

Vintage date unknown

State total$105.9B
U.S. total$5.3T

Population and output

Trend Snapshot

Reported share

Industry Breakdown

FY2025

Federal Money

Federal obligations

$4.0B

$4.2K per resident in reported federal flow.

Top agencies

Dollars
1. Social Security Administration$3.0B
2. Department of Veterans Affairs$442.4M
3. Department of Defense$281.7M

Top recipients

Dollars
1. ECI DEFENSE GROUP, INC.$118.1M
2. POND CONSTRUCTORS INC.$51.8M
3. GEORGIA GWINNETT COLLEGE$47.9M

Affordable

Housing Affordability

23.4%

of median income

1BR estimate$1,113
2BR estimate$1,466
Median income$69,471
Median home value$368,700

ACS context

Quick Facts

Population

17,997

Median age

34.4

Bachelor's degree+

29.3%

Poverty rate

12.6%

Labor force participation

62.8%

Prime rate

6.8%

CPI YoY

+3.2%

U.S. GDP YoY

+6.5%

Sources and warnings

Data Provenance

Census ACS 5-year

2024

BLS LAUS / CPS

June 2026

BEA regional CAGDP1

2024

USAspending

FY2025

FRED

2026-07-30

HUD Fair Market Rent

Latest available

Data notes
  • HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

5-year compound growth

Historical Trends

Population CAGR

+2.4%

GDP CAGR

+6.7%

Federal flow

5 years

Population (5 years)
202016,003
202116,811
202217,222
202317,611
202417,997
GDP (5 years)
2020$52.4B
2021$57.8B
2022$64.5B
2023$68.8B
2024$72.4B

2-year linear forecast

Predictive Outlook

Population forecast

202417,997
202518,565 *
202619,044 *

R² = 97.0% · * projected

GDP forecast

2024$72.4B
2025$78.4B *
2026$83.5B *

R² = 98.8% · * projected

Linear regression over available historical data. Projections are estimates based on past trends and do not account for policy changes, economic shocks, or other external factors.

housing affordability breakdown

Cost of Living

Median household income$69,471/yr
Median rent$1,357/mo
Rent share of income23.4%
Est. mortgage (30yr, 6.5%)$22,372/yr
Mortgage share of income32.2%

Rent data from Census ACS 5-year. Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 6.5% APR, 30-year fixed.

employment snapshot

Job Market

Unemployment rate3.4%
State avg3.4%
U.S. avg4.2%
Labor force participation62.8%
Poverty rate12.6%

Data from BLS LAUS / CPS. June 2026.

valuation snapshot

Real Estate

Median home value$368,700
Median monthly rent$1,357
Price-to-rent ratio22.6x

High price-to-rent ratio — renting may be more economical than buying in this market.

composite score

Investment Climate

Investment climateStrong
Composite score79/100
Economic growth76/100
Labor market70/100
Population momentum100/100
Overall stability75/100

Composite score weighs economic growth, labor market health, population momentum, and overall stability. Not financial advice.

Location Context

Buford city, Georgia

City/Town

Part of

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA

Nearby locations

Rest Haven, GASugar Hill, GAFlowery Branch, GASuwanee, GAOakwood, GA