Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $3,243/yr
- Without mortgage
- $2,748/yr
- Gap
- $495
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
Maine Property Taxes
The average Maine homeowner pays $3,036 a year at an effective rate of 1.02%. That bill is 52% above the U.S. median bill. Compare 16 counties below.
- $3,036
- Avg median tax
- 1.02%
- Effective rate
- #19 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 16
- Counties
Maine homeowners pay a median of $3,036 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 1.02%, the 19th-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 Maine homeowner pays $3,036 a year on a home worth $296,600, an effective rate of 1.02%. The bill runs 52% above the $1,993 national median. County medians range $1,537 (Piscataquis County) to $4,707 (Cumberland County) across 16 counties.
What the statewide average misses
County medians in Maine run from $1,537 in Piscataquis County to $4,707 (Cumberland County). That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.
- $1,537–$4,707 (Cumberland County)
- County median-bill range
- 1.04%
- Home-weighted county rate
- 77%
- 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.
How small is Maine's share of U.S. property-tax collections?
In Census FY2024, Maine's state and local governments collected $4.3B in property tax, only 0.60% of the national haul (#35 of 51). Spread across 443,573 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $9,743 per home - 3.2× the ACS median homeowner bill of $3,036. 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: $4.3B · rank #35 · 0.60% 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 Maine
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for Maine from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 3.4%
- With mortgage
- 1.0%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 187,688
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
County effective-rate spread
Published medians span 0.83% in Hancock County to 1.17% in Knox County - a 0.34 percentage-point gap across 16 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 Maine is $3,036/year, which is 52% above the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 1.02% on a median home value of $296,600. Taxes range from $1,537 in Piscataquis County to $4,707 (Cumberland County).
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in Maine
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
The typical bill sits well above the national median
The statewide median property-tax bill is $3,036 a year, 52% above the $1,993 national median. The Census ACS estimate describes the median homeowner household rather than an individual parcel.
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
$3,036
+52% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$296,600
+30% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
1.02%
+11% vs US avg
Rate-band peers near Maine
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so Maine's 1.02% rate is read against real neighbors such as Minnesota and North Dakota.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs Maine | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Also open Minnesota for county spread | 1.02% | Minnesota nearly matches Maine | $3,357 |
| North Dakota Also open North Dakota for county spread | 0.99% | North Dakota nearly matches Maine | $2,468 |
| South Dakota Also open South Dakota for county spread | 1.06% | South Dakota nearly matches Maine | $2,724 |
| Massachusetts Also open Massachusetts for county spread | 1.07% | Massachusetts nearly matches Maine | $5,992 |
| Maryland Also open Maryland for county spread | 0.97% | Maryland runs 0.05 pts below Maine | $4,093 |
| Alaska Also open Alaska for county spread | 1.11% | Alaska runs 0.09 pts above Maine | $3,901 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for Maine, excluding Maine 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. Maine: 1.02%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. Maine: $3,036/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where Maine sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where Maine sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC
1.02% more affordable than 35% 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
Maine has a higher effective property tax rate than 64% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #19 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Minnesota (1.02%, nearly level); North Dakota (0.99%, nearly level); South Dakota (1.06%, nearly level).
What Maine's biggest counties actually charge
Effective rate in the eight Maine counties holding the most owner-occupied homes, ordered largest first (highlighted) and together holding 77% 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.
Maine's median county rate is 1.02%, but that figure counts every county equally. Weight each county by how many owner-occupied homes it actually holds and the rate a typical Maine homeowner faces is 1.04%, close to the plain median, so Maine's larger counties are not unusual for the state.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Top 5 Highest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
6.3
Affordable
Based on the average effective tax rate of 1.02% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Maine 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 Maine's 1.02% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Minnesota and North Dakota 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 Maine by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward across 16 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 | Cumberland County | $4,707 | 1.04% | $451,200 |
| 2 | York County | $3,787 | 0.96% | $395,700 |
| 3 | Knox County | $3,786 | 1.17% | $324,900 |
| 4 | Sagadahoc County | $3,470 | 1.04% | $333,300 |
| 5 | Androscoggin County | $2,940 | 1.16% | $252,800 |
| 6 | Lincoln County | $2,828 | 0.85% | $332,700 |
| 7 | Waldo County | $2,684 | 1.04% | $257,700 |
| 8 | Kennebec County | $2,605 | 1.09% | $238,200 |
| 9 | Hancock County | $2,561 | 0.83% | $310,400 |
| 10 | Penobscot County | $2,481 | 1.16% | $214,100 |
| 11 | Oxford County | $2,162 | 0.99% | $217,300 |
| 12 | Franklin County | $2,027 | 1.04% | $194,700 |
| 13 | Somerset County | $1,798 | 1.08% | $166,900 |
| 14 | Washington County | $1,683 | 1.04% | $161,800 |
| 15 | Aroostook County | $1,672 | 1.12% | $149,700 |
| 16 | Piscataquis County | $1,537 | 0.90% | $170,200 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Maine compare to the national average? ▼
Maine property taxes are 52% above the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $3,036 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
Which county in Maine has the lowest property taxes? ▼
Piscataquis County has the lowest median property tax in Maine at $1,537 per year with an effective rate of 0.90%. The highest is Cumberland County at $4,707.
What is the average property tax in Maine? ▼
The average median property tax paid in Maine is $3,036 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 1.02%.
What is the median home value in Maine? ▼
The median home value across Maine is $296,600, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
How small is Maine's share of U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, Maine's state and local governments collected $4.3B in property tax, only 0.60% of the national haul (#35 of 51). Spread across 443,573 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $9,743 per home - 3.2× the ACS median homeowner bill of $3,036. 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 Maine? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $3,243/yr versus $2,748 for owners without a mortgage, a $495 gap. Our mortgage-gap research page ranks this spread against all states.
What share of Maine owners report paying no property tax? ▼
3.4% of owner-occupied homes in Maine report zero property tax on the ACS survey (1.0% 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 Maine? ▼
Yes. Every Maine 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 Maine's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- Maine's ACS 2024 median bill is $3,036/yr at 1.02% (52% above the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside Maine, Piscataquis County posts the lowest median bill at $1,537/yr; Cumberland County is highest at $4,707/yr. Open Piscataquis County
- Estimate a parcel bill at Maine'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 16 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 Maine. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.