Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $1,585/yr
- Without mortgage
- $1,258/yr
- Gap
- $327
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
Tennessee Property Taxes
The average Tennessee homeowner pays $1,442 a year at an effective rate of 0.50%. That bill is 28% below the U.S. median bill. Compare 95 counties below.
- $1,442
- Avg median tax
- 0.50%
- Effective rate
- #44 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 95
- Counties
Tennessee is among the lightest property-tax states: a median bill of $1,442 a year at an effective rate of 0.50%, ranking 8th-lowest of 51 U.S. jurisdictions (50 states and DC).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2024), the median Tennessee homeowner pays $1,442 a year on a home worth $286,700, an effective rate of 0.50%. The bill runs 28% below the $1,993 national median. County medians range $535 (Fentress County) to $3,004 (Williamson County) across 95 counties.
What the statewide average misses
County medians in Tennessee run from $535 in Fentress County to $3,004 (Williamson County). That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.
- $535–$3,004 (Williamson County)
- County median-bill range
- 0.54%
- Home-weighted county rate
- 46%
- 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
Tennessee's government property-tax haul sits in the middle of the U.S. pack
In Census FY2024, Tennessee's state and local governments collected $6.7B in property tax - 0.9% of the U.S. total (#26 of 51).
Spread across 1,890,569 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $3,533 per home - 2.4× the ACS median homeowner bill of $1,442. 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 Tennessee
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for Tennessee from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 5.4%
- With mortgage
- 3.6%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 796,487
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
County effective-rate spread
Published medians span 0.28% in Sevier County to 0.98% in Shelby County - a 0.70 percentage-point gap across 95 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 Tennessee is $1,442/year, which is 28% below the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 0.50% on a median home value of $286,700. Taxes range from $535 in Fentress County to $3,004 (Williamson County).
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in Tennessee
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 95 measured counties, the published median runs from $535 in Fentress County to $3,004 (Williamson 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
$1,442
-28% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$286,700
+26% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
0.50%
-46% vs US avg
Rate-band peers near Tennessee
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so Tennessee's 0.50% rate is read against real neighbors such as Delaware and Idaho.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs Tennessee | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware Also open Delaware for county spread | 0.50% | Delaware nearly matches Tennessee | $1,768 |
| Idaho Also open Idaho for county spread | 0.49% | Idaho nearly matches Tennessee | $2,038 |
| Utah Also open Utah for county spread | 0.52% | Utah nearly matches Tennessee | $2,525 |
| Arizona Also open Arizona for county spread | 0.48% | Arizona nearly matches Tennessee | $1,879 |
| Colorado Also open Colorado for county spread | 0.48% | Colorado nearly matches Tennessee | $2,602 |
| South Carolina Also open South Carolina for county spread | 0.48% | South Carolina nearly matches Tennessee | $1,251 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for Tennessee, excluding Tennessee 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. Tennessee: 0.50%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. Tennessee: $1,442/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where Tennessee sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where Tennessee 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
Tennessee has a higher effective property tax rate than 14% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #44 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Delaware (0.50%, nearly level); Idaho (0.49%, nearly level); Utah (0.52%, nearly level).
What Tennessee's biggest counties actually charge
Effective rate in the eight Tennessee counties holding the most owner-occupied homes, ordered largest first (highlighted) and together holding 46% 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.
Tennessee's median county rate is 0.50%, but that figure counts every county equally. Weight each county by how many owner-occupied homes it actually holds and the rate a typical Tennessee homeowner faces is 0.54%, close to the plain median, so Tennessee's larger counties are not unusual for the state.
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%. Tennessee 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 Tennessee's 0.50% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Delaware 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 Tennessee by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward , showing the top 80 of 95 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 | Williamson County | $3,004 | 0.40% | $751,900 |
| 2 | Davidson County | $2,506 | 0.60% | $417,400 |
| 3 | Shelby County | $2,429 | 0.98% | $249,100 |
| 4 | Sumner County | $1,987 | 0.51% | $393,100 |
| 5 | Hamilton County | $1,925 | 0.62% | $312,800 |
| 6 | Rutherford County | $1,839 | 0.48% | $382,600 |
| 7 | Wilson County | $1,787 | 0.42% | $428,000 |
| 8 | Montgomery County | $1,697 | 0.61% | $280,200 |
| 9 | Maury County | $1,588 | 0.45% | $355,700 |
| 10 | Cheatham County | $1,582 | 0.47% | $338,700 |
| 11 | Robertson County | $1,577 | 0.47% | $335,000 |
| 12 | Blount County | $1,453 | 0.45% | $320,500 |
| 13 | Dickson County | $1,431 | 0.47% | $306,400 |
| 14 | Coffee County | $1,407 | 0.57% | $246,800 |
| 15 | Knox County | $1,367 | 0.43% | $320,900 |
| 16 | Putnam County | $1,363 | 0.48% | $282,500 |
| 17 | Marshall County | $1,346 | 0.48% | $279,800 |
| 18 | Bedford County | $1,345 | 0.48% | $281,200 |
| 19 | Washington County | $1,302 | 0.52% | $249,000 |
| 20 | Anderson County | $1,289 | 0.54% | $239,400 |
| 21 | Moore County | $1,288 | 0.45% | $285,300 |
| 22 | Franklin County | $1,246 | 0.53% | $236,900 |
| 23 | Sullivan County | $1,234 | 0.58% | $213,300 |
| 24 | Roane County | $1,223 | 0.53% | $232,900 |
| 25 | Tipton County | $1,211 | 0.50% | $240,600 |
| 26 | Bradley County | $1,187 | 0.45% | $261,900 |
| 27 | Madison County | $1,185 | 0.56% | $211,800 |
| 28 | Trousdale County | $1,166 | 0.35% | $337,600 |
| 29 | Loudon County | $1,162 | 0.33% | $348,000 |
| 30 | Fayette County | $1,140 | 0.33% | $340,800 |
| 31 | Smith County | $1,136 | 0.47% | $243,800 |
| 32 | Cannon County | $1,073 | 0.43% | $252,000 |
| 33 | Sequatchie County | $1,051 | 0.45% | $232,600 |
| 34 | Dyer County | $1,047 | 0.63% | $166,400 |
| 35 | Gibson County | $1,039 | 0.66% | $156,900 |
| 36 | Hickman County | $1,038 | 0.46% | $224,100 |
| 37 | Lincoln County | $1,038 | 0.45% | $229,700 |
| 38 | Lawrence County | $1,021 | 0.53% | $194,400 |
| 39 | Unicoi County | $994 | 0.52% | $189,600 |
| 40 | Giles County | $989 | 0.42% | $234,300 |
| 41 | Jefferson County | $978 | 0.43% | $229,300 |
| 42 | Hawkins County | $956 | 0.54% | $176,300 |
| 43 | Haywood County | $952 | 0.62% | $152,400 |
| 44 | Stewart County | $939 | 0.46% | $204,700 |
| 45 | Monroe County | $934 | 0.41% | $227,500 |
| 46 | Crockett County | $930 | 0.59% | $158,900 |
| 47 | Houston County | $929 | 0.54% | $172,700 |
| 48 | Humphreys County | $921 | 0.48% | $193,400 |
| 49 | Grainger County | $901 | 0.48% | $189,200 |
| 50 | Cocke County | $898 | 0.57% | $158,100 |
| 51 | Rhea County | $894 | 0.43% | $206,000 |
| 52 | Greene County | $890 | 0.43% | $207,500 |
| 53 | Macon County | $874 | 0.39% | $225,700 |
| 54 | Morgan County | $871 | 0.52% | $166,300 |
| 55 | Carter County | $864 | 0.51% | $168,200 |
| 56 | Hamblen County | $862 | 0.41% | $210,900 |
| 57 | Chester County | $856 | 0.52% | $164,400 |
| 58 | Polk County | $856 | 0.50% | $169,900 |
| 59 | Lauderdale County | $844 | 0.59% | $143,200 |
| 60 | White County | $838 | 0.40% | $207,200 |
| 61 | Marion County | $833 | 0.43% | $195,200 |
| 62 | DeKalb County | $824 | 0.35% | $235,500 |
| 63 | Lewis County | $824 | 0.48% | $173,400 |
| 64 | Sevier County | $824 | 0.28% | $299,000 |
| 65 | Carroll County | $821 | 0.58% | $142,400 |
| 66 | Warren County | $805 | 0.42% | $192,900 |
| 67 | Henderson County | $794 | 0.48% | $164,800 |
| 68 | Claiborne County | $777 | 0.49% | $159,900 |
| 69 | Clay County | $769 | 0.56% | $136,400 |
| 70 | Hardeman County | $764 | 0.63% | $121,700 |
| 71 | Union County | $752 | 0.37% | $204,000 |
| 72 | McMinn County | $748 | 0.35% | $211,800 |
| 73 | Benton County | $738 | 0.48% | $153,600 |
| 74 | Cumberland County | $730 | 0.29% | $250,500 |
| 75 | Weakley County | $729 | 0.48% | $151,200 |
| 76 | Pickett County | $728 | 0.41% | $178,500 |
| 77 | Jackson County | $710 | 0.46% | $155,500 |
| 78 | Johnson County | $710 | 0.40% | $178,600 |
| 79 | Henry County | $705 | 0.44% | $160,200 |
| 80 | Meigs County | $693 | 0.39% | $180,000 |
15 additional Tennessee counties rank below this top-80 list in the same bill order. Open any county from the county directory or the Tennessee calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which county in Tennessee has the lowest property taxes? ▼
Fentress County has the lowest median property tax in Tennessee at $535 per year with an effective rate of 0.32%. The highest is Williamson County at $3,004.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average? ▼
Tennessee property taxes are 28% below the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $1,442 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
What is the average property tax in Tennessee? ▼
The average median property tax paid in Tennessee is $1,442 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 0.50%.
What is the median home value in Tennessee? ▼
The median home value across Tennessee is $286,700, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
Where does Tennessee sit in U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, Tennessee's state and local governments collected $6.7B in property tax - 0.9% of the U.S. total (#26 of 51). Spread across 1,890,569 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $3,533 per home - 2.4× the ACS median homeowner bill of $1,442. 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 Tennessee owners report paying no property tax? ▼
5.4% of owner-occupied homes in Tennessee report zero property tax on the ACS survey (3.6% 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 Tennessee? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $1,585/yr versus $1,258 for owners without a mortgage, a $327 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 Tennessee? ▼
Yes. Every Tennessee 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 Tennessee's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- Tennessee's ACS 2024 median bill is $1,442/yr at 0.50% (28% below the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside Tennessee, Fentress County posts the lowest median bill at $535/yr; Williamson County is highest at $3,004/yr. Open Fentress County
- Estimate a parcel bill at Tennessee'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 95 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 Tennessee. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.