PROPERTY TAXES · ALL 50 STATES + DC
What will property tax really add?
Start with an easy state-by-state comparison, then open your state guide to check assessments, exemptions, transfer taxes, recording charges, and the exact county bill.
STATE COMPARISON
Let’s compare effective property tax rates.
These Tax Foundation figures use 2024 ACS data, dividing real estate taxes paid by owner-occupied housing value.
RankStateEffective rate$400k illustrationCost tierGuide
01ILIllinois1.88%$7,520/yrHighOpen →02NJNew Jersey1.88%$7,520/yrHighOpen →03CTConnecticut1.54%$6,160/yrHighOpen →04VTVermont1.51%$6,040/yrHighOpen →05NHNew Hampshire1.50%$6,000/yrHighOpen →06NENebraska1.44%$5,760/yrHighOpen →07TXTexas1.40%$5,600/yrHighOpen →08OHOhio1.36%$5,440/yrHighOpen →09IAIowa1.33%$5,320/yrHighOpen →10WIWisconsin1.32%$5,280/yrHighOpen →11NYNew York1.30%$5,200/yrHighOpen →12PAPennsylvania1.26%$5,040/yrModerate-highOpen →13KSKansas1.21%$4,840/yrModerate-highOpen →14MIMichigan1.19%$4,760/yrModerate-highOpen →15RIRhode Island1.12%$4,480/yrModerate-highOpen →16MAMassachusetts1.00%$4,000/yrModerate-highOpen →17MNMinnesota1.00%$4,000/yrModerate-highOpen →18SDSouth Dakota1.00%$4,000/yrModerate-highOpen →19MEMaine0.98%$3,920/yrModerate-highOpen →20AKAlaska0.94%$3,760/yrModerate-highOpen →21MDMaryland0.92%$3,680/yrModerate-highOpen →22NDNorth Dakota0.92%$3,680/yrModerate-highOpen →23MOMissouri0.89%$3,560/yrModerate-highOpen →24OROregon0.81%$3,240/yrModerate-highOpen →25GAGeorgia0.79%$3,160/yrModerateOpen →26OKOklahoma0.79%$3,160/yrModerateOpen →27FLFlorida0.78%$3,120/yrModerateOpen →28VAVirginia0.78%$3,120/yrModerateOpen →29INIndiana0.76%$3,040/yrModerateOpen →30WAWashington0.75%$3,000/yrModerateOpen →31KYKentucky0.74%$2,960/yrModerateOpen →32CACalifornia0.70%$2,800/yrModerateOpen →33NCNorth Carolina0.66%$2,640/yrModerateOpen →34NMNew Mexico0.63%$2,520/yrModerateOpen →35MTMontana0.61%$2,440/yrModerateOpen →36DCDistrict of Columbia0.60%$2,400/yrModerateOpen →37MSMississippi0.58%$2,320/yrModerateOpen →38ARArkansas0.56%$2,240/yrModerateOpen →39LALouisiana0.55%$2,200/yrModerateOpen →40DEDelaware0.54%$2,160/yrLowerOpen →41WYWyoming0.53%$2,120/yrLowerOpen →42TNTennessee0.52%$2,080/yrLowerOpen →43WVWest Virginia0.51%$2,040/yrLowerOpen →44COColorado0.50%$2,000/yrLowerOpen →45IDIdaho0.50%$2,000/yrLowerOpen →46NVNevada0.50%$2,000/yrLowerOpen →47SCSouth Carolina0.49%$1,960/yrLowerOpen →48AZArizona0.48%$1,920/yrLowerOpen →49UTUtah0.48%$1,920/yrLowerOpen →50ALAlabama0.37%$1,480/yrLowerOpen →51HIHawaii0.29%$1,160/yrLowerOpen →The $400,000 illustration multiplies home value by the statewide effective rate. It does not reproduce a local assessment, exemption, levy, tax cap or actual bill.
HOME-BUYING FEES
Four costs that are easy to mix up.
Your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure list them separately. Who pays can depend on state law and your purchase contract.
Property tax
Recurring local tax tied to assessed value, tax rate, exemptions and special districts.
Transfer tax
A state or local charge connected to transferring real property, often based on price or loan amount.
Recording fee
A government charge for recording the deed, mortgage and related documents; often document- or page-based.
Prepaid and escrow tax
Cash collected at closing to divide the current tax period or establish the lender’s escrow reserve.
DOUBLE-CHECK LOCALLY
Before you make an offer, check the exact home.
Rates, assessments, exemptions, and transfer charges change. Your county assessor, recorder, and written Closing Disclosure are the best places for the final answer.
