As the famous saying asserts, taxes, along with death, are one of the only certainties in life. Though most people resent paying taxes, these payments are necessary to facilitate civilization. Taxes fund roads, schools, and the military — among many other services — while also ensuring the government continues to function. Everyone is affected by taxes in some way, but not everyone is taxed equally.

Local governments can levy taxes on their citizens through property taxes, sales taxes, income taxes, and other means — however the government thinks it can best obtain the funding it needs. These decisions can lead to large differences in the tax burden of residents in different areas.

There is a wide range in the percentage of each county’s income that goes to taxes. Putnam County, New York, has a relatively low median annual household income of about $33,000, but the average annual tax bill in the county exceeds $12,624, meaning that more than 38% of residents’ income goes to taxes. Fort Bend County, Texas, residents have an average annual tax bill of $6,317, accounting for less than 7% of the area’s $91,152 median household income.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator to determine the county in each state with the biggest tax bill.

Click here to see the counties with the biggest tax bill in every state.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

1. Alabama: Shelby County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,324
> Annual expenses (family of four): $41,153
> Median household income: $72,310
> Major city: Birmingham

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2. Alaska: Denali Borough
> Annual taxes (family of four): $8,134
> Annual expenses (family of four): $50,184
> Median household income: $81,302
> Major city: Denali Borough

3. Arizona: Coconino County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,006
> Annual expenses (family of four): $41,543
> Median household income: $51,106
> Major city: Flagstaff

4. Arkansas: Saline County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,007
> Annual expenses (family of four): $35,274
> Median household income: $57,632
> Major city: Little Rock

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5. California: San Mateo County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $16,661
> Annual expenses (family of four): $73,526
> Median household income: $98,546
> Major city: San Francisco

6. Colorado: Douglas County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $9,403
> Annual expenses (family of four): $49,798
> Median household income: $105,759
> Major city: Denver

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7. Connecticut: Fairfield County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $8,384
> Annual expenses (family of four): $45,763
> Median household income: $86,670
> Major city: Bridgeport

8. Delaware: New Castle County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,215
> Annual expenses (family of four): $40,528
> Median household income: $66,283
> Major city: Philadelphia

9. Florida: Monroe County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,108
> Annual expenses (family of four): $46,025
> Median household income: $28,182
> Major city: Key West

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10. Georgia: Forsyth County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $8,744
> Annual expenses (family of four): $45,938
> Median household income: $91,842
> Major city: Atlanta

11. Hawaii: Kalawao County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $11,041
> Annual expenses (family of four): $52,525
> Median household income: $65,625
> Major city: Kalaupapa

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12. Idaho: Blaine County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,975
> Annual expenses (family of four): $42,691
> Median household income: $58,086
> Major city: Hailey

13. Illinois: McHenry County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,814
> Annual expenses (family of four): $43,795
> Median household income: $79,836
> Major city: Chicago

14. Indiana: Hamilton County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,459
> Annual expenses (family of four): $38,133
> Median household income: $38,980
> Major city: Indianapolis

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15. Iowa: Story County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,526
> Annual expenses (family of four): $36,997
> Median household income: $51,201
> Major city: Ames

16. Kansas: Riley County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,894
> Annual expenses (family of four): $39,791
> Median household income: $46,609
> Major city: Manhattan

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17. Kentucky: Oldham County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,515
> Annual expenses (family of four): $36,053
> Median household income: $86,324
> Major city: Louisville

18. Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,486
> Annual expenses (family of four): $38,577
> Median household income: $63,686
> Major city: New Orleans

19. Maine: Cumberland County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,835
> Annual expenses (family of four): $43,372
> Median household income: $44,281
> Major city: Portland

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20. Maryland: Calvert County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $11,273
> Annual expenses (family of four): $55,981
> Median household income: $96,808
> Major city: Washington

21. Massachusetts: Nantucket County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $9,585
> Annual expenses (family of four): $49,894
> Median household income: $89,428
> Major city: Nantucket

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22. Michigan: Leelanau County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,359
> Annual expenses (family of four): $41,364
> Median household income: $59,018
> Major city: Traverse City

23. Minnesota: Carver County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,025
> Annual expenses (family of four): $40,354
> Median household income: $88,638
> Major city: Minneapolis

24. Mississippi: Madison County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,660
> Annual expenses (family of four): $38,375
> Median household income: $60,150
> Major city: Jackson

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25. Missouri: Sullivan County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,469
> Annual expenses (family of four): $37,474
> Median household income: $42,639
> Major city: St. Louis

26. Montana: Madison County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,655
> Annual expenses (family of four): $41,734
> Median household income: $60,150
> Major city: Virginia City

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27. Nebraska: Arthur County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,412
> Annual expenses (family of four): $41,898
> Median household income: $40,375
> Major city: Arthur

28. Nevada: Churchill County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $5,986
> Annual expenses (family of four): $39,942
> Median household income: $45,368
> Major city: Fallon

29. New Hampshire: Rockingham County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,104
> Annual expenses (family of four): $40,576
> Median household income: $82,398
> Major city: Boston

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30. New Jersey: Hunterdon County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $8,133
> Annual expenses (family of four): $47,266
> Median household income: $108,177
> Major city: Middlesex

31. New Mexico: Harding County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,178
> Annual expenses (family of four): $36,982
> Median household income: $32,404
> Major city: Mosquero
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32. New York: Putnam County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $12,624
> Annual expenses (family of four): $59,611
> Median household income: $33,003
> Major city: New York

33. North Carolina: Camden County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $8,673
> Annual expenses (family of four): $45,943
> Median household income: $53,327
> Major city: Elizabeth City

34. North Dakota: Dunn County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,341
> Annual expenses (family of four): $45,674
> Median household income: $66,964
> Major city: Manning

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35. Ohio: Hocking County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $5,811
> Annual expenses (family of four): $36,242
> Median household income: $43,382
> Major city: Columbus

36. Oklahoma: Ellis County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,845
> Annual expenses (family of four): $39,190
> Median household income: $50,140
> Major city: Arnett

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37. Oregon: Clackamas County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $9,170
> Annual expenses (family of four): $45,616
> Median household income: $68,915
> Major city: Portland

38. Pennsylvania: Chester County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,724
> Annual expenses (family of four): $44,098
> Median household income: $88,995
> Major city: Philadelphia

39. Rhode Island: Newport County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,813
> Annual expenses (family of four): $40,304
> Median household income: $71,347
> Major city: Providence

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40. South Carolina: Beaufort County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,598
> Annual expenses (family of four): $41,987
> Median household income: $40,906
> Major city: Hilton Head Island

41. South Dakota: Custer County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $5,429
> Annual expenses (family of four): $36,975
> Median household income: $38,605
> Major city: Rapid City

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42. Tennessee: Williamson County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,547
> Annual expenses (family of four): $42,999
> Median household income: $45,902
> Major city: Nashville

43. Texas: Fort Bend County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,317
> Annual expenses (family of four): $41,756
> Median household income: $91,152
> Major city: Houston

44. Utah: Summit County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,637
> Annual expenses (family of four): $41,566
> Median household income: $70,192
> Major city: Park City

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45. Vermont: Grand Isle County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $8,046
> Annual expenses (family of four): $46,007
> Median household income: $64,295
> Major city: Burlington

46. Virginia: Fairfax County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $11,834
> Annual expenses (family of four): $57,052
> Median household income: $114,329
> Major city: Washington

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47. Washington: King County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,664
> Annual expenses (family of four): $43,573
> Median household income: $57,083
> Major city: Seattle

48. West Virginia: Jefferson County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $7,115
> Annual expenses (family of four): $40,293
> Median household income: $47,220
> Major city: Washington D.C.

49. Wisconsin: St. Croix County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,935
> Annual expenses (family of four): $39,290
> Median household income: $73,743
> Major city: Minneapolis

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50. Wyoming: Teton County
> Annual taxes (family of four): $6,997
> Annual expenses (family of four): $45,352
> Median household income: $58,173
> Major city: Jackson

Detailed findings & methodology:

States are a major factor in determining how much a county’s residents are taxed, be it through their tax rates or policies. Richard Auxier, a researcher at the tax analysis organization Tax Policy Center, told 24/7 Wall St. “The state’s decisions have such an outsized influence” on a family’s tax bill. The state may assign responsibility for services to counties and local government and may limit the types of taxes local governments can charge.

In theory, Americans with higher income should be paying more taxes than those with lower incomes, as the bracket system charges higher rates on progressively higher income. Of the 50 counties with the highest tax bill in their states, 19 also have the highest income and most of the rest are close to the top. Yet wealthy people have a number of tools and loopholes at their disposal that allow them to rearrange and reclassify their money to lower their tax bills.

Politics have much to do with how an area is taxed. Republicans tend to seek tax cuts, touting the virtues of a limited government. Democrats favor higher taxes to facilitate more government spending.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine how an entire community is affected by taxes as each person and family have their own unique financial situation. “There really is no average taxpayer. Everyone is different and different people pay different taxes,” Auxier said.

To identify the counties in each state with the highest tax bills, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the largest average monthly and yearly tax bill for a single adult (no children) for the year 2018, provided by the Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator. Tax revenue by detailed category by state came from the U.S Census’ State and Local Finance Survey for 2016, the most recent year available.

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