Clarkston's housing market is unique within the Atlanta metro area. The city features a very high proportion of multi-family housing and apartment complexes, which originally made the city attractive to resettlement agencies looking for affordable, dense housing near public transit.
Nearly 80% of Clarkston's residents are renters. In recent years, the city has faced an affordable housing crisis. As the greater Atlanta area has expanded and gentrified, rent prices in Clarkston have risen significantly, putting pressure on low-income families and newly arrived refugees. Alongside the apartment complexes, the city features pockets of historic, single-family homes, particularly near the downtown area, which have seen a steady increase in property values.