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North Carolina · County property tax · ACS 2024

Clay County Property Taxes

The median homeowner in Clay County pays $1,186 a year, an effective rate of 0.43%, 40% below the U.S. average.

$1,186
Median tax / yr
0.43%
Effective rate
-40%
vs U.S. average
#96 of 100
rank in NC

The verdict

Homeowners in Clay County pay a median $1,186 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 0.43%, more affordable than 91% of U.S. counties.

$1,186
Median annual tax bill, 2024
0.43%
Effective rate on median home
#292 of 3135
U.S. counties by tax burden
-40%
vs the national average bill

Effective rate is the median property tax bill divided by the median home value ($278,400). U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024.

Census Bureau ACS property tax data for North Carolina. Owner-occupied homes: 4,125.

The median annual property tax in Clay County is $1,186, which is 37% lower than the North Carolina state average and 40% below the national average. The effective tax rate is 0.43% on a median home value of $278,400. Property taxes represent 2.1% of the median household income in this county. All property tax data shown below is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, which aggregates self-reported tax payments from homeowner households across the county. This page includes tax trends over multiple years, comparisons with neighboring counties, and a rent-versus-own cost analysis.

What This Data Tells Us About Clay County

Homeowners in Clay County pay a median annual property tax of $1,186, which is 40% lower than the national average and 37% below the North Carolina state average. The effective tax rate of 0.43% on a median home value of $278,400 reflects how the local assessment base and millage combine into an actual bill.

Property taxes in Clay County represent about 2.1% of the median household income of $56,971, compared with a common national benchmark of 2% to 4%. Homeowners with a mortgage report a median of $1,042 in annual property tax while those without a mortgage report $1,257 - a gap that usually reflects differences in home value rather than differences in tax rate. Compared with 2023, the median tax bill changed by -0.2%, which tracks reassessment cycles and changes in the underlying home value distribution.

This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe the median homeowner household in Clay County as reported to the Census Bureau, your own bill can differ based on your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and municipal overlays. Always consult your county assessor, tax collector, or a qualified professional before making decisions that depend on these numbers.

Median Annual Tax
$1,186
-37% vs State -40% vs US
Median Home Value
$278,400
-4% vs State +22% vs US
Effective Tax Rate
0.43%
-35% vs State -53% vs US

With vs Without Mortgage

With Mortgage
$1,042
$87/mo
Without Mortgage
$1,257
$105/mo

Homeowners with a mortgage typically own higher-valued properties, which can result in higher tax bills.

How Clay County compares

Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value), ACS 2024.

Clay County 0.43%
North Carolina average 0.66%
U.S. average 0.92%

Clay County's effective rate is higher than 4% of the 100 counties in North Carolina - ranking #96 of 100 for property tax burden.

Where Clay County sits among every U.S. county

Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value)

0.43% Among the most affordable more affordable than 91% of 3,135 U.S. counties

0.00%–0.25%: 19 U.S. counties (1%). Below this entry. 0.25%–0.50%: 467 U.S. counties (15%). This entry sits in this band. 0.50%–0.75%: 904 U.S. counties (29%). Above this entry. 0.75%–1.00%: 614 U.S. counties (20%). Above this entry. 1.00%–1.25%: 452 U.S. counties (14%). Above this entry. 1.25%–1.50%: 331 U.S. counties (11%). Above this entry. 1.50%–1.75%: 181 U.S. counties (6%). Above this entry. 1.75%–2.00%: 79 U.S. counties (3%). Above this entry. 2.00%–2.25%: 48 U.S. counties (2%). Above this entry. 2.25%–2.50%: 28 U.S. counties (1%). Above this entry. 2.50%–2.75%: 8 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. 2.75%–3.00%: 3 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. 3.00%–3.25%: 0 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. 3.25%–3.50%: 0 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. 3.50%–3.75%: 1 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. 3.75%–4.00%: 0 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. This county 0.00% 4.00% every U.S. county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more U.S. counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024

Clay County vs Benchmarks

Metric Clay County North Carolina Avg U.S. Avg
Median Annual Tax $1,186 $1,896 $1,993
Effective Tax Rate 0.43% 0.66% 0.92%
Median Home Value $278,400 $288,900 $227,791

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates. Tax-burden differences across rows reflect millage decisions, assessment-ratio practices, and the residential-vs-commercial mix of each tax base.

Think your Clay County property tax bill is too high?

A successful appeal can lower your assessed value by 10-25%, cutting your annual tax bill by hundreds or thousands of dollars. Use our free Appeal Savings Estimator to project savings on your specific home, then read our step-by-step appeal guide for the exact procedure in North Carolina.

Property Tax History

$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200$1,300 20202021202220232024 $1,186
Median annual property tax in Clay County, 2020–2024 (ACS). Up +34% over the period.
Year Median Tax Effective Rate
2024 $1,186 -0.2% 0.43%
2023 $1,188 +7.6% 0.45%
2022 $1,104 +16.6% 0.44%
2021 $947 +7.2% 0.45%
2020 $883 0.45%

Tax Burden

Tax-to-Income Ratio
2.1%
of median household income
Median Income
$56,971
per year
Monthly Tax
$99
per month

Tax Affordability Score

10
Very Affordable

Based on the effective tax rate of 0.43% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Property taxes in Clay County are below average, making it a more affordable area for homeowners.

Very Expensive Very Affordable

How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale derived mechanically from the ratio of this county's effective rate to the national average effective rate (0.92%) - a ratio at or below 0.5× scores 10, a ratio at or above 2.0× scores 1, with a linear scale between. It is a factual comparison of Census figures only, not a recommendation, quality rating, or endorsement of Clay County or any other county.

Other Counties in North Carolina

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average property tax in Clay County, North Carolina?
The median annual property tax in Clay County is $1,186 based on the most recent Census Bureau American Community Survey data. The effective tax rate is 0.43% on a median home value of $278,400.
How does Clay County property tax compare to the national average?
Property taxes in Clay County are 40% below the national average of $1,993. The effective rate of 0.43% compares to 0.92% nationally.
Does having a mortgage affect property taxes in Clay County?
In Clay County, homeowners with a mortgage pay a median of $1,042 in annual property taxes, while homeowners without a mortgage pay $1,257. This difference often reflects the value of homes rather than different tax rates.
What percentage of income goes to property taxes in Clay County?
Property taxes in Clay County represent approximately 2.1% of the median household income of $56,971. The national benchmark is generally 2-4% of household income.
Are property taxes increasing in Clay County?
Property taxes in Clay County changed by -0.2% year-over-year, from $1,188 to $1,186. Check the historical table above for multi-year trends.
How can I appeal my property tax assessment in Clay County?
Property tax appeals in Clay County typically start at the county assessor's office. You can challenge the assessed value of your property by providing evidence of comparable sales, property condition, or assessment errors. Most counties have a 30-90 day window after the assessment notice to file an appeal. See our guide on how to appeal property taxes for step-by-step instructions.

What this means in Clay County

How to use Clay County's property-tax numbers, for budgeting, comparison, or an appeal.

  • At Clay County's 0.43% effective rate, a $278,400 home implies about $1,186/yr, plug in your own home's value to estimate your bill. Estimate your bill
  • Clay County ranks #96 of 100 counties in North Carolina by effective rate, compare it against the rest of the state before you judge your bill. North Carolina overview
  • If your assessed value looks high relative to Clay County's typical home, you may have grounds to appeal, most jurisdictions have a filing window each year. How to appeal

Effective rate is the county median tax divided by the county median home value ($278,400); your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, and local levies determine your actual bill. U.S. Census Bureau ACS · 2024.

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Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.

Property tax data reflects median amounts paid by homeowners. Effective rates are calculated as median tax divided by median home value.

Related

Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainPropertyTax Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.