Property tax by state · checked 26 October 2026

Which state has the highest property tax?

Measured by effective rate (the tax paid as a share of a home's value), Illinois has the highest property tax in the US, ahead of New Jersey. Hawaii has the lowest.

Highest effective rates

1. Illinois: 1.793%
2. New Jersey: 1.675%
3. Vermont: 1.399%
4. Nebraska: 1.379%
5. Connecticut: 1.355%

Lowest effective rates

1. Hawaii: 0.308%
2. Alabama: 0.372%
3. Arizona: 0.426%
4. Idaho: 0.433%
5. South Carolina: 0.438%

At 1.793%, a $300,000 home in Illinois would pay about $5,400 a year. At Hawaii's 0.308%, the same value would pay about $900.

Rate isn't the whole story

• Bills depend on value too. States with expensive homes can have low rates but high bills.
• Your own rate can be far off the average, especially if your assessment is too high. In a high-tax state, an over-assessment costs more every year.
• Exemptions change the bill: homestead, senior and disability exemptions can cut it a lot, and they're often missed. Cook County exemptions.

In a high-tax state? Check your assessment

Most counties let you appeal for free, usually once a year in a short window. A small cut in assessed value saves money every year until the next reassessment.

Check if my home is over-assessed

Next: 5 steps to dispute your property taxes · appeal deadlines · property tax calculator.

Source: Construction Coverage analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago, 11 February 2026 (effective property tax rates by state). Read 26 October 2026. Worked examples are simple rate × value estimates, not bills.

In Florida, paying in November takes 4% off: early payment discount calculator.