Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $1,863/yr
- Without mortgage
- $1,562/yr
- Gap
- $301
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
Delaware Property Taxes
The average Delaware homeowner pays $1,768 a year at an effective rate of 0.50%. That bill is 11% below the U.S. median bill. Compare 3 counties below.
- $1,768
- Avg median tax
- 0.50%
- Effective rate
- #43 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 3
- Counties
Delaware is among the lightest property-tax states: a median bill of $1,768 a year at an effective rate of 0.50%, ranking 9th-lowest of 51 U.S. jurisdictions (50 states and DC).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2024), the median Delaware homeowner pays $1,768 a year on a home worth $352,000, an effective rate of 0.50%. The bill runs 11% below the $1,993 national median. County medians range $1,222 (Sussex County) to $2,499 (New Castle County) across 3 counties.
What the statewide average misses
County medians in Delaware run from $1,222 in Sussex County to $2,499 (New Castle County). That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.
- $1,222–$2,499 (New Castle County)
- County median-bill range
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.
How small is Delaware's share of U.S. property-tax collections?
In Census FY2024, Delaware's state and local governments collected $1.1B in property tax, only 0.16% of the national haul (#51 of 51). Spread across 293,383 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $3,889 per home - 2.2× the ACS median homeowner bill of $1,768. The gap is expected: LF0009 covers all taxable property (including commercial and other non-household parcels), while the ACS median is a household figure.
FY2024 collections: $1.1B · rank #51 · 0.16% of the U.S. state-and-local property-tax haul.
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 Delaware
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for Delaware from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 5.4%
- With mortgage
- 3.1%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 106,110
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
County effective-rate spread
Published medians span 0.32% in Sussex County to 0.71% in New Castle County - a 0.39 percentage-point gap across 3 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 Delaware is $1,768/year, which is 11% below the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 0.50% on a median home value of $352,000. Taxes range from $1,222 in Sussex County to $2,499 (New Castle County).
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in Delaware
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
Home values amplify the dollar bill
The median Delaware home is $352,000, compared with $227,791 nationally. This helps explain why two places with similar effective rates can still produce different annual dollar bills.
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
$1,768
-11% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$352,000
+55% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
0.50%
-46% vs US avg
Rate-band peers near Delaware
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so Delaware's 0.50% rate is read against real neighbors such as Tennessee and Idaho.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs Delaware | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Also open Tennessee for county spread | 0.50% | Tennessee nearly matches Delaware | $1,442 |
| Idaho Also open Idaho for county spread | 0.49% | Idaho nearly matches Delaware | $2,038 |
| Utah Also open Utah for county spread | 0.52% | Utah nearly matches Delaware | $2,525 |
| Arizona Also open Arizona for county spread | 0.48% | Arizona nearly matches Delaware | $1,879 |
| Colorado Also open Colorado for county spread | 0.48% | Colorado nearly matches Delaware | $2,602 |
| South Carolina Also open South Carolina for county spread | 0.48% | South Carolina nearly matches Delaware | $1,251 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for Delaware, excluding Delaware 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. Delaware: 0.50%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. Delaware: $1,768/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where Delaware sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where Delaware sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC
0.50% Among the more affordable rates more affordable than 82% 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
Delaware has a higher effective property tax rate than 16% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #43 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Tennessee (0.50%, nearly level); Idaho (0.49%, nearly level); Utah (0.52%, nearly level).
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Top 5 Highest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
9.7
Very Affordable
Based on the average effective tax rate of 0.50% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Delaware 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 Delaware's 0.50% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Tennessee and Idaho 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 Delaware by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward across 3 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 | New Castle County | $2,499 | 0.71% | $352,200 |
| 2 | Kent County | $1,363 | 0.43% | $316,600 |
| 3 | Sussex County | $1,222 | 0.32% | $382,600 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Delaware compare to the national average? ▼
Delaware property taxes are 11% below the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $1,768 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
What is the median home value in Delaware? ▼
The median home value across Delaware is $352,000, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
Which county in Delaware has the lowest property taxes? ▼
Sussex County has the lowest median property tax in Delaware at $1,222 per year with an effective rate of 0.32%. The highest is New Castle County at $2,499.
How small is Delaware's share of U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, Delaware's state and local governments collected $1.1B in property tax, only 0.16% of the national haul (#51 of 51). Spread across 293,383 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $3,889 per home - 2.2× the ACS median homeowner bill of $1,768. The gap is expected: LF0009 covers all taxable property (including commercial and other non-household parcels), while the ACS median is a household figure.
What is the average property tax in Delaware? ▼
The average median property tax paid in Delaware is $1,768 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 0.50%.
What share of Delaware owners report paying no property tax? ▼
5.4% of owner-occupied homes in Delaware report zero property tax on the ACS survey (3.1% among mortgaged owners). That is a reporting signal, exemptions, caps, or non-levying jurisdictions, not an exemption headcount.
Do homeowners with a mortgage pay more property tax in Delaware? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $1,863/yr versus $1,562 for owners without a mortgage, a $301 gap. Our mortgage-gap research page ranks this spread against all states.
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 Delaware? ▼
Yes. Every Delaware 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 Delaware's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- Delaware's ACS 2024 median bill is $1,768/yr at 0.50% (11% below the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside Delaware, Sussex County posts the lowest median bill at $1,222/yr; New Castle County is highest at $2,499/yr. Open Sussex County
- Estimate a parcel bill at Delaware'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 3 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 Delaware. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.