The 15 States With The Absolute Highest and Lowest Property Taxes

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Property taxes are a necessary evil for funding many programs, though they are a burden on many people.

Property taxes fund our libraries, public schools, Fire Departments, sewer services, and many other services. Property taxes vary greatly by state, city, and municipality, and that also affects the services that each place receives.

There are different ways to calculate how much the residents of various states pay in property taxes. This is a look at the actuarial dollar amount, which is the average people in the state pay per capita. Property tax burdens can be measured by looking at the percentage of personal income paid in property taxes each year.

Using data from the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, USAFacts examined Americans’ property tax burdens — the proportion of their personal income paid in state and local property taxes.

New Jersey

Aerial panorama of Trenton New Jersey skyline amd state capitol at sunset. Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County.
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The Garden State has the highest amount of property taxes paid per capita. New Jersey homeowners pay an average of $3,580. This can be a considerable amount per month for many residents.

 

New Hampshire

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA townscape.
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The beautiful scenery of New Hampshire commands a lot in property taxes. Residents here pay an average of $3,330 every year for their property taxes.

 

Connecticut

Hartford, Connecticut.
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With scenery similar to New Hampshire, Connecticut has the same property tax paid per capita. The average is $3,330 in this tiny state.

 

New York

NEW YORK CITY - DEC 01 Times Square ,is a busy tourist intersection of neon art and commerce and is an iconic street of New York City and America, December 01th, 2013 in Manhattan, New York City.
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In New York, the average property owner pays about $3,230 per year. While real estate there tends to be high, it doesn’t have the highest property burden on residents or the highest per capita price tag.

 

Vermont

Burlington, Vermont, USA at Church Street Marketplace.
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Vermont sees a relatively high amount of property tax per capita at about $2,940 per person. The state has a lot of rural properties so that this one might be surprising for its high cost.

 

Maine

Portland, Maine, USA at Portland Head Light.
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With its sparse population and rural setting, Maine may not be what people think of as a high-priced area. However, residents here pay an average of $2,900 for property taxes.

 

Massachusetts

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Massachusetts people pay an average of $2,690 in property taxes each year. This places the state firmly at number seven of all the states in the country.

 

Rhode Island

Aerial panorama of Providence skyline and Rhode Island capitol building at dusk. Providence is the capital city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Founded in 1636 is one of the oldest cities in USA.
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Rhode Island may be a tiny sliver of the country, but it certainly pays its share of property taxes. The per capita average here is $2,530 for residents of the smallest state.

 

Illinois

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In Illinois, you can expect to pay a lot each year for your property taxes. The per capita average for these taxes is $2,290 for a state with one of the highest populations of all the states.

 

Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama, USA - September 9, 2023: An exterior photo of the 1912 John A. Hand Building in Birmingham, Alabama, also known as the American Trust and Savings Bank Building.
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When you want to pay the least possible in property taxes, it’s time to move to Alabama. Homeowners here pay an average of just $647. Buying in the Heart of Dixie just may be worth the price.

 

Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas, USA skyline on the river at twilight.
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As the second-lowest state regarding per-capita property taxes, Arkansas’s people pay only $796 a year. The Natural State has an overall low cost of living, and property taxes are an important part of that.

 

Tennessee

Memphis, Tennesse, USA downtown cityscape at dusk over Beale Street.
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Another low-priced state in the Southeast, the Volunteer State asks little of its homeowners. Per capita, they each pay an average of $856 each year.

 

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA downtown skyline in the afternoon.
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Living in the Sooner State is great when you pay so little in property taxes. The average price each year for these taxes is just $884 per capita.

 

New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.
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The Land of Enchantment is largely rural, and its property taxes reflect its generally low home prices. The per capita amount paid each year is about $907.

 

Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA street cars.
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Like many other Southern states, the rates of property taxes in Louisiana are low. Across the state, homeowners pay an average of about $914.

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Some states have a high population density and many population centers. Others are mostly rural and may have little population. The difference between the top and bottom states in terms of population is enormous.

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There are some countries where the majority of visitors love their experience. However, there are other countries that people come back from and never recommend to anyone. These countries often have circumstances that make the trip miserable so that visitors can’t wait to leave and go home.

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Author: Lizz Shepherd

Bio:

Lizz Shepherd is a freelance writer living in Alabama.