Property taxes are the lifeblood of local governments and municipalities across the United States, accounting for over 70% of all local tax revenue. Property taxes – such as taxes levied on homeowners and landowners – go to fund schools, parks, roads, and other public works and services.
While states typically impose a minimum property tax, property taxes are mostly determined at the local level – and are often a percentage of a property or home’s overall value. Depending on where you choose to buy a home, property taxes can range from negligible amounts, to nearly matching a mortgage payment. Here is a look at the most expensive town to buy a home in every state.
Using data from the Tax Foundation, a tax policy research organization, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the highest and lowest property taxes. States are ranked on their effective property tax rate – or the total amount of taxes paid on owner-occupied homes statewide as a share of the total value of those homes.
It is important to note that because property tax rates are typically decided at the local level, what residents pay in property taxes can vary considerably within a given state. Still, generally, the states that tend to have lower than average property taxes are mostly in the West and in the South, while property taxes tend to be higher in Northeastern states.
Some states, like Texas and New Hampshire, do not levy an income tax, and partially as a result, have a high effective property tax rate to offset the lost revenue. However, several of the states with the highest effective property tax rates, like New Jersey and Illinois, tend to have high taxes across the board. These are the states collecting the most income tax per person.
Click here to see States with the highest and lowest property taxes
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Hawaii
> Effective property tax rate: 0.31% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,358 per capita (21st lowest)
> Median home value: $669,200 (the highest)
> Homeownership rate: 60.2% (4th lowest)
> Median household income: $83,102 (4th highest)
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49. Alabama
> Effective property tax rate: 0.37% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $598 per capita (the lowest)
> Median home value: $154,000 (6th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 68.8% (15th highest)
> Median household income: $51,734 (5th lowest)
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48. Louisiana
> Effective property tax rate: 0.51% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $894 per capita (7th lowest)
> Median home value: $172,100 (13th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.5% (24th highest)
> Median household income: $51,073 (4th lowest)
47. Wyoming
> Effective property tax rate: 0.51% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $2,012 per capita (11th highest)
> Median home value: $235,200 (23rd highest)
> Homeownership rate: 71.9% (3rd highest)
> Median household income: $65,003 (19th highest)
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46. Colorado
> Effective property tax rate: 0.52% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,616 per capita (23rd highest)
> Median home value: $394,600 (4th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.9% (19th lowest)
> Median household income: $77,127 (9th highest)
45. West Virginia
> Effective property tax rate: 0.53% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $950 per capita (9th lowest)
> Median home value: $124,600 (the lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 73.4% (the highest)
> Median household income: $48,850 (2nd lowest)
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44. South Carolina
> Effective property tax rate: 0.53% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,211 per capita (19th lowest)
> Median home value: $179,800 (15th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 70.3% (11th highest)
> Median household income: $56,227 (10th lowest)
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43. Utah
> Effective property tax rate: 0.56% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,070 per capita (15th lowest)
> Median home value: $330,300 (10th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 70.6% (9th highest)
> Median household income: $75,780 (11th highest)
42. Nevada
> Effective property tax rate: 0.56% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,044 per capita (13th lowest)
> Median home value: $317,800 (11th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 56.6% (3rd lowest)
> Median household income: $63,276 (24th highest)
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41. Delaware
> Effective property tax rate: 0.59% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $931 per capita (8th lowest)
> Median home value: $261,700 (17th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 70.3% (11th highest)
> Median household income: $70,176 (16th highest)
40. New Mexico
> Effective property tax rate: 0.59% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $832 per capita (5th lowest)
> Median home value: $180,900 (16th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 68.1% (17th highest)
> Median household income: $51,945 (6th lowest)
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39. Arizona
> Effective property tax rate: 0.60% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,125 per capita (17th lowest)
> Median home value: $255,900 (18th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.3% (16th lowest)
> Median household income: $62,055 (23rd lowest)
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38. Arkansas
> Effective property tax rate: 0.61% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $776 per capita (3rd lowest)
> Median home value: $136,200 (3rd lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.5% (18th lowest)
> Median household income: $48,952 (3rd lowest)
37. Mississippi
> Effective property tax rate: 0.63% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,061 per capita (14th lowest)
> Median home value: $128,200 (2nd lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 67.3% (19th highest)
> Median household income: $45,792 (the lowest)
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36. Tennessee
> Effective property tax rate: 0.63% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $799 per capita (4th lowest)
> Median home value: $191,900 (18th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.5% (24th highest)
> Median household income: $56,071 (9th lowest)
35. Idaho
> Effective property tax rate: 0.65% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,022 per capita (11th lowest)
> Median home value: $255,200 (19th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 71.6% (5th highest)
> Median household income: $60,999 (20th lowest)
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34. California
> Effective property tax rate: 0.70% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,680 per capita (18th highest)
> Median home value: $568,500 (2nd highest)
> Homeownership rate: 54.9% (2nd lowest)
> Median household income: $80,440 (5th highest)
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33. Montana
> Effective property tax rate: 0.74% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,711 per capita (14th highest)
> Median home value: $253,600 (20th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 68.9% (14th highest)
> Median household income: $57,153 (11th lowest)
32. North Carolina
> Effective property tax rate: 0.78% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $993 per capita (10th lowest)
> Median home value: $193,200 (20th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.3% (16th lowest)
> Median household income: $57,341 (12th lowest)
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31. Kentucky
> Effective property tax rate: 0.78% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $845 per capita (6th lowest)
> Median home value: $151,700 (5th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 67.0% (22nd highest)
> Median household income: $52,295 (7th lowest)
30. Indiana
> Effective property tax rate: 0.81% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,033 per capita (12th lowest)
> Median home value: $156,000 (7th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 69.3% (13th highest)
> Median household income: $57,603 (14th lowest)
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29. Oklahoma
> Effective property tax rate: 0.83% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $771 per capita (2nd lowest)
> Median home value: $147,000 (4th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.5% (18th lowest)
> Median household income: $54,449 (8th lowest)
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28. Virginia
> Effective property tax rate: 0.84% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,699 per capita (16th highest)
> Median home value: $288,800 (12th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.1% (22nd lowest)
> Median household income: $76,456 (10th highest)
27. Washington
> Effective property tax rate: 0.84% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,645 per capita (22nd highest)
> Median home value: $387,600 (5th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 63.1% (10th lowest)
> Median household income: $78,687 (7th highest)
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26. Florida
> Effective property tax rate: 0.86% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,377 per capita (22nd lowest)
> Median home value: $245,100 (22nd highest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.2% (23rd lowest)
> Median household income: $59,227 (17th lowest)
25. Georgia
> Effective property tax rate: 0.87% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,205 per capita (18th lowest)
> Median home value: $202,500 (24th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 64.1% (12th lowest)
> Median household income: $61,980 (22nd lowest)
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24. North Dakota
> Effective property tax rate: 0.88% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,649 per capita (20th highest)
> Median home value: $205,400 (25th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 61.3% (5th lowest)
> Median household income: $64,577 (20th highest)
23. Oregon
> Effective property tax rate: 0.91% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,557 per capita (24th lowest)
> Median home value: $354,600 (6th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 62.9% (9th lowest)
> Median household income: $67,058 (18th highest)
22. Missouri
> Effective property tax rate: 0.96% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,073 per capita (16th lowest)
> Median home value: $168,000 (11th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 67.1% (21st highest)
> Median household income: $57,409 (13th lowest)
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21. Alaska
> Effective property tax rate: 0.98% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $2,195 per capita (10th highest)
> Median home value: $281,200 (15th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 64.7% (13th lowest)
> Median household income: $75,463 (12th highest)
20. Maryland
> Effective property tax rate: 1.01% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,693 per capita (17th highest)
> Median home value: $332,500 (9th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.8% (23rd highest)
> Median household income: $86,738 (the highest)
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19. Minnesota
> Effective property tax rate: 1.05% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,649 per capita (20th highest)
> Median home value: $246,700 (21st highest)
> Homeownership rate: 71.9% (3rd highest)
> Median household income: $74,593 (13th highest)
18. Massachusetts
> Effective property tax rate: 1.08% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $2,565 per capita (6th highest)
> Median home value: $418,600 (3rd highest)
> Homeownership rate: 62.2% (8th lowest)
> Median household income: $85,843 (2nd highest)
17. South Dakota
> Effective property tax rate: 1.14% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,586 per capita (25th highest)
> Median home value: $185,000 (17th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 67.8% (18th highest)
> Median household income: $59,533 (18th lowest)
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16. Maine
> Effective property tax rate: 1.20% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $2,249 per capita (9th highest)
> Median home value: $200,500 (23rd lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 72.2% (2nd highest)
> Median household income: $58,924 (16th lowest)
15. Kansas
> Effective property tax rate: 1.28% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,605 per capita (24th highest)
> Median home value: $163,200 (10th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.5% (24th highest)
> Median household income: $62,087 (24th lowest)
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14. New York
> Effective property tax rate: 1.30% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $3,025 per capita (4th highest)
> Median home value: $338,700 (8th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 53.5% (the lowest)
> Median household income: $72,108 (14th highest)
13. Michigan
> Effective property tax rate: 1.31% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,465 per capita (23rd lowest)
> Median home value: $169,600 (12th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 71.6% (5th highest)
> Median household income: $59,584 (19th lowest)
12. Rhode Island
> Effective property tax rate: 1.37% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $2,431 per capita (7th highest)
> Median home value: $283,000 (13th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 61.7% (6th lowest)
> Median household income: $71,169 (15th highest)
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11. Pennsylvania
> Effective property tax rate: 1.43% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,584 per capita (25th lowest)
> Median home value: $192,600 (19th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 68.4% (16th highest)
> Median household income: $63,463 (23rd highest)
10. Iowa
> Effective property tax rate: 1.43% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,702 per capita (15th highest)
> Median home value: $158,900 (9th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 70.5% (10th highest)
> Median household income: $61,691 (21st lowest)
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9. Ohio
> Effective property tax rate: 1.52% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,356 per capita (20th lowest)
> Median home value: $157,200 (8th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.0% (21st lowest)
> Median household income: $58,642 (15th lowest)
8. Wisconsin
> Effective property tax rate: 1.53% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,680 per capita (18th highest)
> Median home value: $197,200 (21st lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 67.2% (20th highest)
> Median household income: $64,168 (21st highest)
7. Nebraska
> Effective property tax rate: 1.54% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $2,010 per capita (12th highest)
> Median home value: $172,700 (14th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.3% (24th lowest)
> Median household income: $63,229 (25th highest)
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6. Texas
> Effective property tax rate: 1.60% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $1,973 per capita (13th highest)
> Median home value: $200,400 (22nd lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 61.9% (7th lowest)
> Median household income: $64,034 (22nd highest)
5. Connecticut
> Effective property tax rate: 1.73% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $3,107 per capita (3rd highest)
> Median home value: $280,700 (16th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.0% (14th lowest)
> Median household income: $78,833 (6th highest)
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4. Vermont
> Effective property tax rate: 1.76% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $2,738 per capita (5th highest)
> Median home value: $233,200 (24th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 70.9% (8th highest)
> Median household income: $63,001 (25th lowest)
3. New Hampshire
> Effective property tax rate: 1.89% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $3,362 per capita (2nd highest)
> Median home value: $281,400 (14th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 71.0% (7th highest)
> Median household income: $77,933 (8th highest)
2. Illinois
> Effective property tax rate: 1.97% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $2,277 per capita (8th highest)
> Median home value: $209,100 (25th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.0% (21st lowest)
> Median household income: $69,187 (17th highest)
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1. New Jersey
> Effective property tax rate: 2.13% of home value
> Annual state & local property tax collections: $3,378 per capita (the highest)
> Median home value: $348,800 (7th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 63.3% (11th lowest)
> Median household income: $85,751 (3rd highest)
Methodology
To determine the states with the highest and lowest property taxes, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the effective property tax rate – the total amount of property taxes paid on owner-occupied housing units annually as a percentage of the total value of all owner-occupied housing values – for all 50 states, from tax policy research organization the Tax Foundation’s report “Facts & Figures 2021: How Does Your State Compare?”
Data on effective property tax rates is for the 2019 calendar year, while data on state and local property tax collections per capita is for the 2018 fiscal year.
Data on median home value, median household income, and homeownership rates came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
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