Property Tax Rates Vary Widely by State and Geography

Economics
Published

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.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Economics | Education

Nov 21, 2025

How the Fed’s Rate Cuts Will Impact Housing in 2026

2026 is likely to present the home building sector with new challenges and opportunities, many of which will be explored in a Dec. 11 webinar, “Housing Market Outlook: The Fed Resumes Rate Cuts.”

Regulations

Nov 21, 2025

NAHB Backs Trump Administration’s Proposed ESA Reforms

In a move strongly supported by NAHB, the U.S. Interior Department on Nov. 21 announced four proposed regulatory rules regarding reforms to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that would rescind changes made during the Biden administration that have created regulatory barriers that hinder housing development and economic activity.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Nov 20, 2025

September Jobs Report Highlights a Cooling but Still Growing Labor Market

The long-delayed September jobs report revealed that the U.S. economy added 119,000 jobs while the unemployment rate climbed to its highest level in nearly four years.

Economics

Nov 20, 2025

Existing Home Sales Rise in October

Existing home sales rose to an eight-month high in October as buyers took advantage of lower mortgage rates, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Resale inventory improved from a year ago but remained below pre-pandemic levels.

Economics

Nov 19, 2025

Affordability Impacts: Young Adults Are Once Again Moving Back Home

The share of young adults living with parents increased in 2024, interrupting the post-pandemic trend of moving out of parental homes.