Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $918/yr
- Without mortgage
- $612/yr
- Gap
- $306
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
Alabama Property Taxes
The average Alabama homeowner pays $788 a year at an effective rate of 0.38%. That bill is 60% below the U.S. median bill. Compare 67 counties below.
- $788
- Avg median tax
- 0.38%
- Effective rate
- #50 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 67
- Counties
Alabama is among the lightest property-tax states: a median bill of $788 a year at an effective rate of 0.38%, ranking 2nd-lowest of 51 U.S. jurisdictions (50 states and DC).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2024), the median Alabama homeowner pays $788 a year on a home worth $209,900, an effective rate of 0.38%. The bill runs 60% below the $1,993 national median. County medians range $207 (Choctaw County) to $1,423 (Shelby County) across 67 counties.
What the statewide average misses
County medians in Alabama run from $207 in Choctaw County to $1,423 (Shelby County). That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.
- $207–$1,423 (Shelby County)
- County median-bill range
- 0.39%
- Home-weighted county rate
- 49%
- Homes in the eight largest counties
County medians come from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024. The statewide effective rate in the hero is median tax divided by median home value.
Government haul · mid share
Alabama's government property-tax haul sits in the middle of the U.S. pack
In Census FY2024, Alabama's state and local governments collected $4.4B in property tax - 0.6% of the U.S. total (#34 of 51).
Spread across 1,402,155 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $3,127 per home - 4.0× the ACS median homeowner bill of $788. The gap is expected: LF0009 covers all taxable property (including commercial and other non-household parcels), while the ACS median is a household figure.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, FY2024, series LF0009 (property tax), government level State and Local (GOVTYPE 001). Amounts are published in thousands of dollars. This is a government-revenue series, not tax, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for the ACS homeowner median bill above.
ACS tenure & reporting signals · 2024
Mortgage tenure and zero-tax reporting in Alabama
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for Alabama from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 26.2%
- With mortgage
- 11.6%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 643,692
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
County effective-rate spread
Published medians span 0.17% in Choctaw County to 0.59% in Jefferson County - a 0.42 percentage-point gap across 67 counties.
Appeal guide for when a parcel sits above its county median.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024), Table B25087 (mortgage status medians) and county tax_distribution aggregates (zero-tax reporting shares). Informational only, not tax or legal advice.
The average median property tax in Alabama is $788/year, which is 60% below the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 0.38% on a median home value of $209,900. Taxes range from $207 in Choctaw County to $1,423 (Shelby County).
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in Alabama
A rate compares places with different home values. The annual bill shows a typical dollar amount. County spread shows why neither is a parcel estimate.
The clearest local difference
County bills span a wide range
Across 67 measured counties, the published median runs from $207 in Choctaw County to $1,423 (Shelby County). Local school levies, county bonds, municipal overlays, and assessment practice create this within-state spread.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe median homeowner households reported to the Census Bureau. Individual bills can differ with assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and local overlays. Confirm current rates with your county assessor or a qualified professional before making a decision.
State Average vs National Average
Median Annual Tax
$788
-60% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$209,900
-8% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
0.38%
-59% vs US avg
Rate-band peers near Alabama
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so Alabama's 0.38% rate is read against real neighbors such as Nevada and Arizona.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs Alabama | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada Also open Nevada for county spread | 0.47% | Nevada runs 0.09 pts above Alabama | $2,027 |
| Arizona Also open Arizona for county spread | 0.48% | Arizona runs 0.10 pts above Alabama | $1,879 |
| Colorado Also open Colorado for county spread | 0.48% | Colorado runs 0.10 pts above Alabama | $2,602 |
| South Carolina Also open South Carolina for county spread | 0.48% | South Carolina runs 0.10 pts above Alabama | $1,251 |
| Hawaii Also open Hawaii for county spread | 0.27% | Hawaii runs 0.11 pts below Alabama | $2,239 |
| Idaho Also open Idaho for county spread | 0.49% | Idaho runs 0.11 pts above Alabama | $2,038 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for Alabama, excluding Alabama itself so the link neighborhoods are not self-referential. Median-bill peers exclude the effective-rate peer set so the two axes stay disjoint.
Similar effective rate
Nearest other states by ACS effective rate. Alabama: 0.38%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. Alabama: $788/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where Alabama sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where Alabama sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC
0.38% Among the more affordable rates more affordable than 96% of 51 U.S. jurisdictions
Show national distribution
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more U.S. jurisdictions. 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
Alabama has a higher effective property tax rate than 2% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #50 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Nevada (0.47%, 0.09 pts higher than Alabama); Arizona (0.48%, 0.10 pts higher than Alabama); Colorado (0.48%, 0.10 pts higher than Alabama).
What Alabama's biggest counties actually charge
Effective rate in the eight Alabama counties holding the most owner-occupied homes, ordered largest first (highlighted) and together holding 49% of the state's. ACS 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). Counties ordered by owner-occupied housing units (B25003_002E), not by resident population.
Alabama's median county rate is 0.38%, but that figure counts every county equally. Weight each county by how many owner-occupied homes it actually holds and the rate a typical Alabama homeowner faces is 0.39%, close to the plain median, so Alabama's larger counties are not unusual for the state.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Top 5 Highest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
10
Very Affordable
Based on the average effective tax rate of 0.38% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Alabama has below-average property tax rates, making it a more affordable state for homeowners.
Very Expensive Very Affordable
How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale from Alabama's 0.38% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Nevada and Arizona before treating the score as band-typical. A ratio at or below 0.5× scores 10, at or above 2.0× scores 1, linear between. Census figures only, not a recommendation or endorsement.
Counties in Alabama by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward across 67 measured counties. Gold/silver/bronze mark the top three list positions; effective rate is the focal comparison when home values differ.
| # | County | Median tax | Eff. rate | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shelby County | $1,423 | 0.44% | $326,100 |
| 2 | Jefferson County | $1,409 | 0.59% | $240,000 |
| 3 | Lee County | $1,252 | 0.48% | $262,200 |
| 4 | Madison County | $1,185 | 0.40% | $299,200 |
| 5 | Baldwin County | $960 | 0.30% | $316,900 |
| 6 | Limestone County | $900 | 0.32% | $281,000 |
| 7 | Mobile County | $888 | 0.47% | $190,700 |
| 8 | Tuscaloosa County | $795 | 0.32% | $248,700 |
| 9 | Lauderdale County | $757 | 0.38% | $200,300 |
| 10 | Marshall County | $733 | 0.36% | $201,500 |
| 11 | St. Clair County | $724 | 0.32% | $226,300 |
| 12 | Morgan County | $718 | 0.34% | $212,000 |
| 13 | Montgomery County | $702 | 0.41% | $171,900 |
| 14 | Cherokee County | $688 | 0.38% | $179,700 |
| 15 | Colbert County | $678 | 0.40% | $171,000 |
| 16 | Coffee County | $677 | 0.36% | $188,600 |
| 17 | Calhoun County | $653 | 0.42% | $156,600 |
| 18 | Etowah County | $645 | 0.39% | $167,100 |
| 19 | Russell County | $629 | 0.38% | $165,700 |
| 20 | Autauga County | $627 | 0.30% | $207,200 |
| 21 | Elmore County | $610 | 0.27% | $223,900 |
| 22 | Houston County | $562 | 0.31% | $183,300 |
| 23 | Henry County | $553 | 0.34% | $161,000 |
| 24 | Talladega County | $544 | 0.36% | $149,200 |
| 25 | Chilton County | $537 | 0.33% | $161,300 |
| 26 | Escambia County | $530 | 0.39% | $136,500 |
| 27 | Blount County | $523 | 0.30% | $175,200 |
| 28 | Chambers County | $523 | 0.39% | $135,800 |
| 29 | Cullman County | $516 | 0.26% | $199,100 |
| 30 | Macon County | $509 | 0.50% | $102,000 |
| 31 | Lawrence County | $497 | 0.29% | $172,300 |
| 32 | DeKalb County | $496 | 0.32% | $152,700 |
| 33 | Cleburne County | $486 | 0.29% | $165,600 |
| 34 | Tallapoosa County | $481 | 0.30% | $158,500 |
| 35 | Jackson County | $480 | 0.30% | $159,500 |
| 36 | Barbour County | $462 | 0.41% | $112,900 |
| 37 | Dale County | $457 | 0.32% | $143,500 |
| 38 | Randolph County | $452 | 0.25% | $181,600 |
| 39 | Geneva County | $447 | 0.34% | $130,700 |
| 40 | Greene County | $444 | 0.55% | $81,200 |
| 41 | Franklin County | $433 | 0.32% | $136,000 |
| 42 | Pike County | $424 | 0.27% | $157,600 |
| 43 | Marengo County | $409 | 0.38% | $107,400 |
| 44 | Hale County | $406 | 0.32% | $127,600 |
| 45 | Covington County | $397 | 0.26% | $152,100 |
| 46 | Clarke County | $396 | 0.33% | $121,700 |
| 47 | Dallas County | $392 | 0.41% | $94,600 |
| 48 | Monroe County | $381 | 0.32% | $120,600 |
| 49 | Winston County | $380 | 0.32% | $118,900 |
| 50 | Crenshaw County | $369 | 0.32% | $114,000 |
| 51 | Washington County | $365 | 0.23% | $159,700 |
| 52 | Pickens County | $364 | 0.29% | $123,900 |
| 53 | Butler County | $362 | 0.36% | $99,800 |
| 54 | Sumter County | $359 | 0.43% | $82,600 |
| 55 | Walker County | $356 | 0.26% | $135,900 |
| 56 | Fayette County | $355 | 0.28% | $125,900 |
| 57 | Lowndes County | $337 | 0.39% | $86,300 |
| 58 | Bullock County | $332 | 0.41% | $81,700 |
| 59 | Clay County | $331 | 0.21% | $156,700 |
| 60 | Conecuh County | $331 | 0.31% | $105,300 |
| 61 | Wilcox County | $319 | 0.32% | $98,800 |
| 62 | Coosa County | $315 | 0.27% | $115,500 |
| 63 | Marion County | $301 | 0.28% | $106,600 |
| 64 | Bibb County | $298 | 0.20% | $145,700 |
| 65 | Perry County | $281 | 0.33% | $86,400 |
| 66 | Lamar County | $274 | 0.24% | $114,000 |
| 67 | Choctaw County | $207 | 0.17% | $123,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which county in Alabama has the lowest property taxes? ▼
Choctaw County has the lowest median property tax in Alabama at $207 per year with an effective rate of 0.17%. The highest is Shelby County at $1,423.
How does Alabama compare to the national average? ▼
Alabama property taxes are 60% below the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $788 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
What is the average property tax in Alabama? ▼
The average median property tax paid in Alabama is $788 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 0.38%.
What share of Alabama owners report paying no property tax? ▼
26.2% of owner-occupied homes in Alabama report zero property tax on the ACS survey (11.6% among mortgaged owners). That is a reporting signal, exemptions, caps, or non-levying jurisdictions, not an exemption headcount.
Where does Alabama sit in U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, Alabama's state and local governments collected $4.4B in property tax - 0.6% of the U.S. total (#34 of 51). Spread across 1,402,155 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $3,127 per home - 4.0× the ACS median homeowner bill of $788. The gap is expected: LF0009 covers all taxable property (including commercial and other non-household parcels), while the ACS median is a household figure.
Do homeowners with a mortgage pay more property tax in Alabama? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $918/yr versus $612 for owners without a mortgage, a $306 gap. Our mortgage-gap research page ranks this spread against all states.
What is the median home value in Alabama? ▼
The median home value across Alabama is $209,900, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
How are property taxes calculated? ▼
Property taxes are calculated by multiplying the assessed value of a property by the local tax rate (mill rate). Rates vary by county, city, and school district. The effective tax rate shown here is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, which provides a standardized comparison across counties.
Can I appeal my property taxes in Alabama? ▼
Yes. Every Alabama homeowner has the right to appeal their property tax assessment. The process typically starts at your county assessor's office within 30-90 days of receiving your assessment notice. You can challenge the assessed value by providing comparable sales data, evidence of property condition, or errors in the assessment. See our guide on how to appeal property taxes for detailed steps.
What to do with Alabama's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- Alabama's ACS 2024 median bill is $788/yr at 0.38% (60% below the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside Alabama, Choctaw County posts the lowest median bill at $207/yr; Shelby County is highest at $1,423/yr. Open Choctaw County
- Estimate a parcel bill at Alabama's published effective rate, or read the state's assessment and appeal path before treating the statewide median as your budget. State estimator
Statewide medians average across 67 counties; your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, and local levies set the real bill. U.S. Census Bureau ACS · 2024.
Editorial standards and provenance
PlainPropertyTax is rendered directly from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on the Census ACS state-level record for Alabama. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.