ZIP Code · GA

ZIP 30518

Part of Buford, GA

Pop. 57,912·Gwinnett County·48th most expensive ZIP in Georgia

Median rent (all units)

$2,043/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.9%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

+$111

Reported rents (1)

$1,600/mo median

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 30518 · $2,043

More expensive than 64% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,610

1 BR

$1,700

2 BR

$1,860

3 BR

$2,240

4 BR+

$2,660

Research median

$1,860/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 30518 usually run 0.6% below trend in December and 0.6% above it in June, about $25 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 30518 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Georgia

Rent in ZIP 30518 changed +1.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 216 Georgia ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.4%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 30518 rose 49% while median household income rose 19.9% ($80,839 to $96,936). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 30518 is 52.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 30518. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).

Annual cost

$24,516/yr

At $2,043/mo median

Location

CityBuford

StateGA

CountyGwinnett County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.9% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 30518 (Buford, GA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 40.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

57,912

Median income

$96,936

Median age

36.2

Renters

24.4%

Age distribution

29.5%

18.3%

29.8%

Under 1829.5%

18–3418.3%

35–5429.8%

55–6410.8%

65+11.6%

Gender

48.7%

51.3%

Male48.7%

Female51.3%

Race & ethnicity

52.8%

12.9%

22.6%

White52.8%

Black12.9%

Hispanic22.6%

Asian10.8%

Other0.9%

Education (25+)

23.1%

25.9%

40.3%

No HS diploma10.6%

HS diploma23.1%

Some college25.9%

Bachelor's+40.3%

Housing tenure

75.6%

24.4%

Owner75.6%

Renter24.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 30518 in Buford, GA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,569 → $2,043

up 30.2%

Income

$83,329 → $96,936

up 16.3%

Population

55,708 → 57,912

up 4.0%

Renter share

25.1% → 24.4%

-0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

36.1% → 40.3%

+4.2 pts

The median rent in ZIP 30518 in Buford, GA stood at $1,569 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,043, reflecting a 30.2% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $83,329 to $96,936 between 2021 and 2024, a 16.3% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 4.0% since 2021, moving from about 55,708 residents to roughly 57,912. College-educated residents now make up 40.3% of adults here, versus 36.1% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 30518 in Buford, GA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 30518

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 30518 covers Buford, GA. The median rent here is $2,043/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,700/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,860/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($96,936/yr), ZIP 30518 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 30518?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $82,000/year (about $39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,043/mo in ZIP 30518. The local median household income is $96,936/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 30518?

Rent in ZIP 30518 has risen 1.9% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 30518?

Asking rents in ZIP 30518 are usually lowest in December, about 0.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 0.6% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $25 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 30518?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 30518 rose 49% while median household income rose 19.9%, from $80,839 to $96,936. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 30518 compare to other ZIPs in Georgia?

ZIP 30518 is one of the pricier among Georgia ZIP codes for rent, ranking #48 of 234 at $2,043/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 30518 changed +1.9%, against a typical +2.4% across the 216 Georgia ZIP codes Zillow tracks.