Your property tax bill is one of the largest recurring costs of homeownership — and in some counties, it rivals a second mortgage. While the national average effective rate is 0.91%, the most expensive counties charge rates of 3.64% or more.
We ranked all 3,100+ US counties by effective property tax rate to identify the 25 highest. If you live in one of these counties — or you are considering a move — here is exactly what you are dealing with.
The 25 Highest Property Tax Counties in America
These counties have the highest effective property tax rates in the United States, based on Census Bureau data.
| Rank | County | State | Effective Rate | Median Tax | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menominee County | Wisconsin | 3.64% | $3,527 | $97,000 |
| 2 | Camden County | New Jersey | 3.08% | $8,063 | $262,200 |
| 3 | Salem County | New Jersey | 3.03% | $6,757 | $223,000 |
| 4 | Orleans County | New York | 3.00% | $3,781 | $126,200 |
| 5 | Allegany County | New York | 2.94% | $2,881 | $97,900 |
| 6 | Gloucester County | New Jersey | 2.81% | $7,964 | $283,500 |
| 7 | Monroe County | New York | 2.79% | $5,495 | $197,100 |
| 8 | Cattaraugus County | New York | 2.69% | $2,946 | $109,400 |
| 9 | Lake County | Illinois | 2.68% | $8,743 | $326,600 |
| 10 | Cortland County | New York | 2.65% | $4,184 | $158,100 |
| 11 | Broome County | New York | 2.64% | $3,824 | $145,100 |
| 12 | Onondaga County | New York | 2.59% | $4,805 | $185,300 |
| 13 | Oswego County | New York | 2.58% | $3,595 | $139,600 |
| 14 | Montgomery County | New York | 2.56% | $3,630 | $141,600 |
| 15 | Wayne County | New York | 2.55% | $4,168 | $163,400 |
| 16 | DeKalb County | Illinois | 2.54% | $5,889 | $231,900 |
| 17 | Kendall County | Illinois | 2.53% | $7,556 | $298,900 |
| 18 | Warren County | New Jersey | 2.52% | $8,156 | $323,100 |
| 19 | Steuben County | New York | 2.52% | $3,245 | $128,600 |
| 20 | Chemung County | New York | 2.52% | $3,332 | $132,100 |
| 21 | Mercer County | New Jersey | 2.51% | $8,804 | $351,000 |
| 22 | Genesee County | New York | 2.51% | $3,958 | $157,800 |
| 23 | McHenry County | Illinois | 2.49% | $7,153 | $286,900 |
| 24 | Winnebago County | Illinois | 2.48% | $3,850 | $155,100 |
| 25 | Atlantic County | New Jersey | 2.47% | $6,749 | $272,700 |
Why Are Property Taxes So High in These Counties?
High property tax rates are driven by a few key factors:
- State tax structure: States like New Jersey, Illinois, and Texas have no state income tax (or very low rates), so local governments rely more heavily on property taxes.
- School funding: In many states, public schools are primarily funded by property taxes. Counties with high per-pupil spending tend to have higher rates.
- Local government costs: Dense urban and suburban counties have higher service costs — police, fire, infrastructure maintenance, and public transit.
- Lower home values: Some counties have high rates because home values are modest, requiring higher rates to generate adequate revenue.
What High Property Taxes Mean for Homeowners
In the highest-tax counties, property taxes can add $500 to $1,000+ per month to your housing costs. On a $300,000 home in a county with a 3% rate, you would pay $9,000 per year — $750 every month on top of your mortgage.
This significantly impacts affordability. When shopping for homes in high-tax areas, factor in the full cost of ownership: mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance.
Can You Reduce Your Property Tax Bill?
Yes — and you should try. Studies show that a significant percentage of properties are over-assessed. Here are the most effective strategies:
- Appeal your assessment: If your home is assessed above market value, file a formal appeal with your county assessor. Many homeowners save hundreds or thousands annually.
- Check for exemptions: Homestead exemptions, senior exemptions, veteran exemptions, and disability exemptions can reduce your assessed value.
- Review comparable sales: Gather data on recent sales of similar homes in your area to support your case.
- Hire a professional: Property tax appeal services handle the process for you, typically for a percentage of the savings.
Tip
Think your property tax assessment is too high? Property tax appeal services like Ownwell can review your assessment and handle the appeal for you — and you only pay if they save you money.
Methodology
All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Effective tax rate is calculated by dividing median real estate taxes paid (table B25103) by median home value (table B25077). Counties with suppressed or missing data were excluded from the ranking.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). All figures are estimates and may differ from actual tax bills due to exemptions, abatements, and local assessment practices.