Property Tax Rates Vary Widely by State and Geography
There is a nearly $8,000 difference between what residents of the state with the highest property taxes pay compared to those who live in the state with the lowest annual tax bill.
NAHB analysis of data from the 2019 American Community Survey shows that in 2019, New Jersey continued its perennial distinction as the state with the highest average annual tax bill per home owner. Garden State home owners paid an average of $8,687 in real estate taxes in 2019.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Alabama ranked 50th among home owners in average real estate tax paid per year. There, the average real estate tax bill totaled just $713.
The top five states with the highest average annual property taxes are all located in the Northeast:
| Rank | Average Real Estate Taxes Paid Per Year |
| 1. New Jersey | $8,687 |
| 2. Connecticut | $6,593 |
| 3. New York | $6,410 |
| 4. New Hampshire | $5,843 |
| 5. Massachusetts | $5,495 |
The states with the lowest average annual property taxes are primarily located in the South:
| Rank | Average Real Estate Taxes Paid Per Year |
| 50. Alabama | $713 |
| 49. West Virginia | $815 |
| 48. Mississippi | $1,038 |
| 47. Arkansas | $1,046 |
| 46. Louisiana | $1,080 |
NAHB economist David Logan looks at the national picture and provides further analysis in this Eye on Housing blog post.
Find out where your state stands on the list.
Latest from NAHBNow
Apr 29, 2026
Home Building Shows Signs of Stabilization with Monthly Gain in StartsOverall housing starts increased 10.8% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.5 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Apr 28, 2026
NAHB Applauds HUD and USDA Action to Roll Back Costly Energy MandateNAHB Chairman Bill Owens issued the following statement after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement today to rescind the rule that would impose the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1-2019 as the minimum energy-efficiency standards for certain single-family and multifamily housing programs.
Latest Economic News
Apr 28, 2026
Homeownership Rate Edges Down to 65.3%The latest homeownership rate declined to 65.3% in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Census’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS). While this was a modest quarterly decrease, the broader picture continues to reflect significant affordability challenges.
Apr 23, 2026
The Silver Tsunami Isn’t Landing Where It’s Needed MostThe “silver tsunami” refers to the wave of housing inventory expected as older homeowners downsize or transition out of their homes. According to the latest American Community Survey, there are an estimated 61.2 million people in the U.S. aged 65 years or older, representing about 18% of the population.
Apr 22, 2026
State-Level Employment Situation: February 2026February’s labor market data point to a notable pullback in employment, with job losses concentrated across a majority of states and only modest gains elsewhere. While January showed solid momentum, February’s decline reflects emerging softness in hiring conditions, alongside uneven performance across the country.