Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $3,152/yr
- Without mortgage
- $2,593/yr
- Gap
- $559
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
Michigan Property Taxes
The average Michigan homeowner pays $2,904 a year at an effective rate of 1.25%. That bill is 46% above the U.S. median bill. Compare 83 counties below.
- $2,904
- Avg median tax
- 1.25%
- Effective rate
- #14 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 83
- Counties
Michigan homeowners pay a median of $2,904 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 1.25%, the 14th-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 Michigan homeowner pays $2,904 a year on a home worth $231,600, an effective rate of 1.25%. The bill runs 46% above the $1,993 national median. County medians range $1,097 (Luce County) to $5,678 (Washtenaw County) across 83 counties.
What the statewide average misses
County medians in Michigan run from $1,097 in Luce County to $5,678 (Washtenaw County). That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.
- $1,097–$5,678 (Washtenaw County)
- County median-bill range
- 1.29%
- Home-weighted county rate
- 56%
- 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.
Collector rank · FY2024
Michigan is a top-tier collector of U.S. state-and-local property tax
#12 of 51 · 2.6% of U.S. collections
In Census FY2024, Michigan's state and local governments collected $19.1B in property tax - 2.6% of the U.S. total (#12 of 51).
Spread across 2,984,190 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $6,411 per home - 2.2× the ACS median homeowner bill of $2,904. 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 Michigan
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for Michigan from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 8.6%
- With mortgage
- 4.0%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 1,259,325
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
County effective-rate spread
Published medians span 0.68% in Leelanau County to 1.83% in Ingham County - a 1.15 percentage-point gap across 83 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 Michigan is $2,904/year, which is 46% above the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 1.25% on a median home value of $231,600. Taxes range from $1,097 in Luce County to $5,678 (Washtenaw County).
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in Michigan
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 83 measured counties, the published median runs from $1,097 in Luce County to $5,678 (Washtenaw 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
$2,904
+46% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$231,600
+2% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
1.25%
+36% vs US avg
Rate-band peers near Michigan
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so Michigan's 1.25% rate is read against real neighbors such as Kansas and Rhode Island.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs Michigan | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas Also open Kansas for county spread | 1.29% | Kansas nearly matches Michigan | $2,798 |
| Rhode Island Also open Rhode Island for county spread | 1.21% | Rhode Island nearly matches Michigan | $4,900 |
| Pennsylvania Also open Pennsylvania for county spread | 1.30% | Pennsylvania nearly matches Michigan | $3,311 |
| Ohio Also open Ohio for county spread | 1.31% | Ohio runs 0.06 pts above Michigan | $2,822 |
| Iowa Also open Iowa for county spread | 1.39% | Iowa runs 0.14 pts above Michigan | $2,897 |
| Alaska Also open Alaska for county spread | 1.11% | Alaska runs 0.14 pts below Michigan | $3,901 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for Michigan, excluding Michigan 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. Michigan: 1.25%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. Michigan: $2,904/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where Michigan sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where Michigan sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC
1.25% more affordable than 25% 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
Michigan has a higher effective property tax rate than 74% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #14 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Kansas (1.29%, nearly level); Rhode Island (1.21%, nearly level); Pennsylvania (1.30%, nearly level).
What Michigan's biggest counties actually charge
Effective rate in the eight Michigan counties holding the most owner-occupied homes, ordered largest first (highlighted) and together holding 56% 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.
Michigan's median county rate is 1.25%, but that figure counts every county equally. Weight each county by how many owner-occupied homes it actually holds and the rate a typical Michigan homeowner faces is 1.29%, close to the plain median, so Michigan's larger counties are not unusual for the state.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
4.8
Moderate
Based on the average effective tax rate of 1.25% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Michigan has property tax rates near the national average.
Very Expensive Very Affordable
How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale from Michigan's 1.25% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Kansas and Rhode Island 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 Michigan by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward , showing the top 80 of 83 measured counties so the page stays crawlable. 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 | Washtenaw County | $5,678 | 1.52% | $374,100 |
| 2 | Oakland County | $4,371 | 1.27% | $343,600 |
| 3 | Ingham County | $3,640 | 1.83% | $198,800 |
| 4 | Kalamazoo County | $3,498 | 1.45% | $241,800 |
| 5 | Livingston County | $3,454 | 0.97% | $356,800 |
| 6 | Macomb County | $3,404 | 1.40% | $243,900 |
| 7 | Ottawa County | $3,313 | 1.02% | $323,400 |
| 8 | Kent County | $3,217 | 1.11% | $289,900 |
| 9 | Clinton County | $3,185 | 1.23% | $259,500 |
| 10 | Leelanau County | $3,118 | 0.68% | $458,400 |
| 11 | Eaton County | $3,067 | 1.41% | $216,900 |
| 12 | Grand Traverse County | $3,010 | 0.89% | $339,400 |
| 13 | Wayne County | $2,904 | 1.63% | $178,500 |
| 14 | Allegan County | $2,884 | 1.08% | $267,100 |
| 15 | Midland County | $2,875 | 1.47% | $195,400 |
| 16 | Barry County | $2,769 | 1.05% | $264,100 |
| 17 | Monroe County | $2,648 | 1.16% | $228,900 |
| 18 | Emmet County | $2,634 | 0.83% | $315,700 |
| 19 | St. Clair County | $2,562 | 1.14% | $224,600 |
| 20 | Van Buren County | $2,536 | 1.23% | $206,500 |
| 21 | Charlevoix County | $2,493 | 0.90% | $276,800 |
| 22 | Lenawee County | $2,492 | 1.27% | $196,800 |
| 23 | Genesee County | $2,487 | 1.36% | $182,400 |
| 24 | Jackson County | $2,432 | 1.26% | $193,700 |
| 25 | Berrien County | $2,429 | 1.08% | $224,300 |
| 26 | Calhoun County | $2,368 | 1.45% | $162,800 |
| 27 | Muskegon County | $2,348 | 1.18% | $198,300 |
| 28 | Mason County | $2,334 | 1.06% | $219,600 |
| 29 | Saginaw County | $2,284 | 1.49% | $152,800 |
| 30 | Isabella County | $2,276 | 1.34% | $170,400 |
| 31 | Bay County | $2,271 | 1.49% | $152,200 |
| 32 | Benzie County | $2,262 | 0.79% | $285,700 |
| 33 | Shiawassee County | $2,251 | 1.31% | $171,600 |
| 34 | Ionia County | $2,237 | 1.13% | $198,500 |
| 35 | Lapeer County | $2,202 | 0.92% | $239,000 |
| 36 | Antrim County | $2,157 | 0.84% | $255,500 |
| 37 | Cass County | $2,116 | 0.97% | $218,000 |
| 38 | Marquette County | $2,109 | 0.97% | $216,500 |
| 39 | Newaygo County | $2,055 | 1.10% | $186,700 |
| 40 | Chippewa County | $2,038 | 1.26% | $161,900 |
| 41 | St. Joseph County | $1,959 | 1.10% | $178,300 |
| 42 | Dickinson County | $1,940 | 1.27% | $153,300 |
| 43 | Wexford County | $1,927 | 1.13% | $170,400 |
| 44 | Oceana County | $1,914 | 1.01% | $190,100 |
| 45 | Manistee County | $1,898 | 1.04% | $182,200 |
| 46 | Branch County | $1,879 | 1.16% | $162,500 |
| 47 | Montcalm County | $1,876 | 1.01% | $185,500 |
| 48 | Gladwin County | $1,867 | 1.15% | $162,300 |
| 49 | Mackinac County | $1,863 | 1.07% | $174,500 |
| 50 | Houghton County | $1,858 | 1.16% | $159,900 |
| 51 | Huron County | $1,829 | 1.19% | $154,300 |
| 52 | Gratiot County | $1,826 | 1.24% | $147,500 |
| 53 | Tuscola County | $1,812 | 1.21% | $149,500 |
| 54 | Mecosta County | $1,778 | 0.99% | $178,900 |
| 55 | Delta County | $1,771 | 1.13% | $157,100 |
| 56 | Otsego County | $1,755 | 0.80% | $219,700 |
| 57 | Hillsdale County | $1,738 | 0.99% | $176,100 |
| 58 | Crawford County | $1,734 | 1.06% | $163,000 |
| 59 | Arenac County | $1,707 | 1.13% | $150,600 |
| 60 | Cheboygan County | $1,704 | 0.89% | $192,500 |
| 61 | Keweenaw County | $1,689 | 0.99% | $169,800 |
| 62 | Baraga County | $1,679 | 1.22% | $138,100 |
| 63 | Missaukee County | $1,675 | 0.98% | $170,400 |
| 64 | Alger County | $1,656 | 0.94% | $176,200 |
| 65 | Kalkaska County | $1,646 | 0.87% | $188,900 |
| 66 | Alpena County | $1,639 | 1.06% | $153,900 |
| 67 | Roscommon County | $1,604 | 1.01% | $158,700 |
| 68 | Osceola County | $1,584 | 1.02% | $155,400 |
| 69 | Menominee County | $1,537 | 1.01% | $151,800 |
| 70 | Gogebic County | $1,535 | 1.43% | $107,200 |
| 71 | Sanilac County | $1,520 | 0.90% | $168,300 |
| 72 | Clare County | $1,489 | 1.11% | $133,800 |
| 73 | Iron County | $1,467 | 1.34% | $109,100 |
| 74 | Ogemaw County | $1,464 | 0.95% | $154,900 |
| 75 | Lake County | $1,456 | 1.09% | $133,900 |
| 76 | Presque Isle County | $1,432 | 0.95% | $151,300 |
| 77 | Schoolcraft County | $1,407 | 0.99% | $141,800 |
| 78 | Montmorency County | $1,364 | 0.86% | $158,600 |
| 79 | Iosco County | $1,359 | 0.96% | $142,200 |
| 80 | Alcona County | $1,341 | 0.82% | $162,800 |
3 additional Michigan counties rank below this top-80 list in the same bill order. Open any county from the county directory or the Michigan calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which county in Michigan has the lowest property taxes? ▼
Luce County has the lowest median property tax in Michigan at $1,097 per year with an effective rate of 0.98%. The highest is Washtenaw County at $5,678.
How does Michigan compare to the national average? ▼
Michigan property taxes are 46% above the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $2,904 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
What is the average property tax in Michigan? ▼
The average median property tax paid in Michigan is $2,904 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 1.25%.
How large is Michigan's share of U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, Michigan's state and local governments collected $19.1B in property tax - 2.6% of the U.S. total (#12 of 51). Spread across 2,984,190 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $6,411 per home - 2.2× the ACS median homeowner bill of $2,904. 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 share of Michigan owners report paying no property tax? ▼
8.6% of owner-occupied homes in Michigan report zero property tax on the ACS survey (4.0% 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 Michigan? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $3,152/yr versus $2,593 for owners without a mortgage, a $559 gap. Our mortgage-gap research page ranks this spread against all states.
What is the median home value in Michigan? ▼
The median home value across Michigan is $231,600, 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 Michigan? ▼
Yes. Every Michigan 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 Michigan's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- Michigan's ACS 2024 median bill is $2,904/yr at 1.25% (46% above the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside Michigan, Luce County posts the lowest median bill at $1,097/yr; Washtenaw County is highest at $5,678/yr. Open Luce County
- Estimate a parcel bill at Michigan'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 83 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 Michigan. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.