Property Tax Comparison by State - Compare All 50 States
Free property tax calculator to compare rates across all 50 states with accurate 2025 effective property tax rates and sortable results
Property Tax Calculator
Property Tax by State
| Rank | State | Effective Rate | Annual Tax | Monthly Tax | vs National Avg |
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What is a Property Tax Comparison Calculator?
A Property Tax Comparison Calculator is a free financial tool that compares property tax rates and amounts across all 50 US states. Enter your home value to instantly see what you would pay in property taxes in each state based on 2025 effective tax rates.
This calculator is essential for:
- Home Buyers - Compare property tax burdens before relocating to a new state
- Relocation Planning - Factor property taxes into total cost of living comparisons
- Investment Analysis - Evaluate property tax impact on rental property returns
- Retirement Planning - Find low property tax states for retirement relocation
- Budget Planning - Understand annual housing costs including property taxes
To calculate total California tax burden including property taxes, check out our California Tax Calculator to see how CA's income and property taxes combine for comprehensive planning.
For understanding Texas's tax tradeoff strategy, explore our Texas Tax Calculator to see how zero income tax is balanced by the state's 1.60% property tax rate.
To compare both income and property taxes together, use our State Tax Comparison Calculator to evaluate total tax burden when relocating between states.
For viewing complete state tax rankings including income taxes, try our Income Tax Comparison by State to understand how property and income taxes interact in each state.
To calculate New York's total housing costs with property taxes, check our New York Tax Calculator to factor in both state income tax and property tax obligations.
How the Calculator Works
The calculation uses 2025 effective property tax rates for all 50 states:
Step 1: Enter Home Value
Input your home's market value (e.g., $300,000)
Step 2: Apply State Tax Rates
Annual Tax = Home Value × Effective Tax Rate
Step 3: Calculate for All 50 States
Compute property tax for each state using its effective rate
Step 4: Compare to National Average
Show difference vs 1.11% national average rate
Step 5: Sort and Display Results
Sort by rate, amount, or state name in sortable table
Key Property Tax Concepts
Effective Tax Rate
The actual percentage of your home's market value paid in property taxes annually. Accounts for assessment ratios and exemptions.
Wide State Variation
Rates range from 0.27% (Hawaii) to 2.23% (New Jersey) - an 8x difference affecting housing affordability significantly.
Local vs State Control
Property taxes are primarily local (county, city, school district), not state taxes, causing variation even within states.
No Income Tax States
States without income tax (like Texas, New Hampshire) often have higher property taxes to fund government services.
Homestead Exemptions
Many states offer homestead exemptions reducing assessed value for primary residences, lowering actual tax bills.
Annual vs Monthly
Property taxes are annual but often paid monthly via mortgage escrow. Include in housing affordability calculations.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter Home Value
Input the market value of your home or target home (e.g., $300,000)
Choose Sort Order
Select how to sort: by rate, amount, or state name
Calculate All States
Click Calculate to compute property taxes for all 50 states
Review Summary Stats
See national average, lowest, highest, and the difference
Compare States
Browse sortable table showing tax for each state with rankings
Factor Into Decision
Use results to compare total cost of living between states
Benefits of Using This Calculator
- • Compare All 50 States: Instantly see property tax rates and amounts for every US state in one place.
- • Accurate 2025 Rates: Uses current effective property tax rates based on recent data for each state.
- • Sortable Results: Sort by tax rate, amount, or state name to find best options for your situation.
- • Relocation Planning: Factor property taxes into relocation decisions alongside income taxes and cost of living.
- • Budget Planning: Understand true monthly housing costs including property taxes via escrow.
- • Instant Results: Get immediate calculations for all states with one click - no complex research needed.
Factors That Affect Property Taxes
1. State Tax Policy
States without income tax (Texas, Florida, New Hampshire) often have higher property taxes to fund government services and schools.
2. Local Government Needs
Property taxes fund schools, police, fire, roads, and local services. Areas with better services often have higher rates.
3. Home Values
Higher home values mean higher absolute tax bills, even with lower rates. A $1M home in Hawaii still pays more than a $200k home in New Jersey.
4. Assessment Ratios
Some states assess at less than 100% of market value. Effective rates account for this, showing actual percentage paid.
5. Exemptions & Credits
Homestead exemptions, senior exemptions, and veteran benefits can significantly reduce actual taxes paid below calculator estimates.
6. County Variation
Rates vary within states by county and city. Calculator shows state averages - check specific county for exact rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the highest property tax?
New Jersey has the highest property tax rate in the US with an effective rate of 2.23%, followed by Illinois (2.08%), Connecticut (1.79%), and New Hampshire (1.93%). On a $300,000 home in New Jersey, you'd pay approximately $6,690 annually.
Which state has the lowest property tax?
Hawaii has the lowest property tax rate at 0.27%, followed by Alabama (0.39%), Colorado (0.49%), and Nevada (0.50%). On a $300,000 home in Hawaii, you'd pay only about $810 annually in property taxes.
What is the national average property tax rate?
The national average effective property tax rate is approximately 1.11% of home value. On a $300,000 home, this equals about $3,330 annually in property taxes. Rates vary significantly by state from 0.27% to 2.23%.
How is property tax calculated?
Property tax is calculated by multiplying your home's assessed value by the local tax rate (mill rate). The effective tax rate is the actual percentage of your home's market value you pay annually. Rates are set by local governments (counties, cities, school districts).