Homeowners were shocked to discover they were paying excessive property taxes. Find out what others in your state are paying

With property tax bills rising 27.4% between 2019 and 2024, it’s no surprise that about two-thirds of homeowners who budgeted for property taxes discovered that their most recent bills came in higher than expected.

The average annual property tax bill across the United States was $3,018 in 2024. However, what you pay varies widely from state to state, from an average of $818 in West Virginia to an average of $10,333 in New Jersey.

At the same time, these statewide numbers mask significant metro area variations. Florida homeowners in Tampa and Jacksonville have seen their monthly property tax bills rise nearly 60% since 2019, while cities like Indianapolis and Atlanta have seen larger increases of more than 65%, according to data from Redfin.

Understanding what others in your state are actually paying can help you choose where to live or create a better budget for next year.

That’s where the property tax bills hit the hardest

Your property tax bill is determined by two factors: the assessed value of your home and your state’s effective tax rate. But here’s the rub: States with the highest housing prices don’t always have the highest tax bills, and vice versa.

Homeowners in New Jersey face the steepest property taxes in the country (an average of $10,333 per year), followed by New Hampshire (an average of $7,355 per year), Connecticut (an average of $6,774 per year), and Massachusetts (an average of $6,510 per year). These states combine relatively high effective tax rates with expensive housing markets, creating larger bills for homeowners.

On the flip side, West Virginia ($818 per year average), Alabama ($830 per year average), Mississippi ($1,089 per year average), and Arkansas ($1,159 per year average) have the lowest annual property tax bills in the country.

But low bills don’t always mean low prices. The median home in Hawaii costs $963,043 — the most expensive in the country — but the state’s low effective tax rate of 0.32% keeps tax bills relatively under control.

The outliers tell the most interesting story. Homeowners in Texas pay an average of $4,086 annually despite having one of the highest effective tax rates at 1.36%, while homeowners in California pay $5,502 despite a relatively modest rate of 0.70%, an effect of rising home values ​​in that state.

What you can do about your tax bill

While nearly half of American homeowners surveyed (48%) say the assessed value of their homes is not accurate, four-fifths (78%) have never appealed their property tax bill, with more than half (53%) of those who have not appealed not knowing they have the right to do so. Make it a point to do so if you disagree with the assessment.

To avoid the hassle of a property tax bill for the home you buy, real estate experts recommend reviewing the property’s previous tax bills before purchasing, checking whether your city’s tax base is growing or shrinking, and knowing when the next reassessment is due.

When you can, budget an additional 5% to 10% on top of your estimated tax bill to mitigate increases, because property taxes tend to rise along with home values.