Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $4,422/yr
- Without mortgage
- $3,842/yr
- Gap
- $580
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
District of Columbia Property Taxes
The average District of Columbia homeowner pays $4,312 a year at an effective rate of 0.58%. That bill is 116% above the U.S. median bill. Compare 1 counties below.
- $4,312
- Avg median tax
- 0.58%
- Effective rate
- #37 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 1
- Counties
District of Columbia homeowners pay a median of $4,312 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 0.58%, the 37th-highest burden of 51 U.S. jurisdictions (50 states and DC).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2024), the median District of Columbia homeowner pays $4,312 a year on a home worth $737,100, an effective rate of 0.58%. The bill runs 116% above the $1,993 national median, while the rate sits 37% below it; high home values pull them apart.
What the statewide average misses
County-level records show how much the statewide figure can conceal. Compare a local county before using a statewide estimate for a specific property.
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 District of Columbia's share of U.S. property-tax collections?
In Census FY2024, District of Columbia's state and local governments collected $3.1B in property tax, only 0.43% of the national haul (#38 of 51). Spread across 134,683 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $22,884 per home - 5.3× the ACS median homeowner bill of $4,312. 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: $3.1B · rank #38 · 0.43% 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 District of Columbia
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for District of Columbia from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 6.6%
- With mortgage
- 2.3%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 32,753
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
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 District of Columbia is $4,312/year, which is 116% above the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 0.58% on a median home value of $737,100.
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia home is $737,100, 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
$4,312
+116% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$737,100
+224% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
0.58%
-37% vs US avg
Rate-band peers near District of Columbia
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so District of Columbia's 0.58% rate is read against real neighbors such as Wyoming and Arkansas.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs District of Columbia | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming Also open Wyoming for county spread | 0.57% | Wyoming nearly matches District of Columbia | $1,767 |
| Arkansas Also open Arkansas for county spread | 0.55% | Arkansas nearly matches District of Columbia | $1,040 |
| Louisiana Also open Louisiana for county spread | 0.55% | Louisiana nearly matches District of Columbia | $1,180 |
| West Virginia Also open West Virginia for county spread | 0.53% | West Virginia nearly matches District of Columbia | $865 |
| Utah Also open Utah for county spread | 0.52% | Utah runs 0.06 pts below District of Columbia | $2,525 |
| Delaware Also open Delaware for county spread | 0.50% | Delaware runs 0.08 pts below District of Columbia | $1,768 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for District of Columbia, excluding District of Columbia 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. District of Columbia: 0.58%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. District of Columbia: $4,312/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where District of Columbia sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where District of Columbia sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC
0.58% Among the more affordable rates more affordable than 71% 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
District of Columbia has a higher effective property tax rate than 28% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #37 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Wyoming (0.57%, nearly level); Arkansas (0.55%, nearly level); Louisiana (0.55%, nearly level).
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Top 5 Highest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
9.2
Very Affordable
Based on the average effective tax rate of 0.58% compared to the national average of 0.92%. District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia's 0.58% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Wyoming and Arkansas 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 District of Columbia by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward across 1 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 | District of Columbia | $4,312 | 0.58% | $737,100 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home value in District of Columbia? ▼
The median home value across District of Columbia is $737,100, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average? ▼
District of Columbia property taxes are 116% above the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $4,312 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
What is the average property tax in District of Columbia? ▼
The average median property tax paid in District of Columbia is $4,312 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 0.58%.
How small is District of Columbia's share of U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, District of Columbia's state and local governments collected $3.1B in property tax, only 0.43% of the national haul (#38 of 51). Spread across 134,683 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $22,884 per home - 5.3× the ACS median homeowner bill of $4,312. 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 District of Columbia? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $4,422/yr versus $3,842 for owners without a mortgage, a $580 gap. Our mortgage-gap research page ranks this spread against all states.
What share of District of Columbia owners report paying no property tax? ▼
6.6% of owner-occupied homes in District of Columbia report zero property tax on the ACS survey (2.3% among mortgaged owners). That is a reporting signal, exemptions, caps, or non-levying jurisdictions, not an exemption headcount.
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 District of Columbia? ▼
Yes. Every District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- District of Columbia's ACS 2024 median bill is $4,312/yr at 0.58% (116% above the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside District of Columbia, District of Columbia posts the lowest median bill at $4,312/yr. Open District of Columbia
- Estimate a parcel bill at District of Columbia'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 1 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 District of Columbia. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.