Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $3,014/yr
- Without mortgage
- $2,316/yr
- Gap
- $698
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
Virginia Property Taxes
The average Virginia homeowner pays $2,790 a year at an effective rate of 0.73%. That bill is 40% above the U.S. median bill. Compare 133 counties below.
- $2,790
- Avg median tax
- 0.73%
- Effective rate
- #31 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 133
- Counties
Virginia homeowners pay a median of $2,790 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 0.73%, the 31st-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 Virginia homeowner pays $2,790 a year on a home worth $383,700, an effective rate of 0.73%. The bill runs 40% above the $1,993 national median, while the rate sits 21% below it; high home values pull them apart. County medians range $413 (Buchanan County) to $10,001 or more in Falls Church city, which sits on the Census ceiling across 133 counties.
What the statewide average misses
County medians in Virginia run from $413 in Buchanan County to $10,001 or more in Falls Church city, which sits on the Census ceiling. That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.
- $413–$10,001 or more in Falls Church city, which sits on the Census ceiling
- County median-bill range
- 0.76%
- Home-weighted county rate
- 42%
- 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
Virginia is a top-tier collector of U.S. state-and-local property tax
#9 of 51 · 2.8% of U.S. collections
In Census FY2024, Virginia's state and local governments collected $20.3B in property tax - 2.8% of the U.S. total (#9 of 51).
Spread across 2,266,609 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $8,935 per home - 3.2× the ACS median homeowner bill of $2,790. 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 Virginia
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for Virginia from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 4.8%
- With mortgage
- 3.5%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 751,054
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
County effective-rate spread
Published medians span 0.38% in Amelia County to 1.17% in Manassas Park city - a 0.79 percentage-point gap across 133 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 Virginia is $2,790/year, which is 40% above the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 0.73% on a median home value of $383,700. Taxes range from $413 in Buchanan County to $10,001 or more in Falls Church city, which sits on the Census ceiling.
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in Virginia
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 133 measured counties, the published median runs from $413 in Buchanan County to $10,001 or more in Falls Church city, which sits on the Census ceiling. 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
$2,790
+40% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$383,700
+68% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
0.73%
-21% vs US avg
Rate-band peers near Virginia
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so Virginia's 0.73% rate is read against real neighbors such as Indiana and Mississippi.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs Virginia | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Also open Indiana for county spread | 0.74% | Indiana nearly matches Virginia | $1,614 |
| Mississippi Also open Mississippi for county spread | 0.72% | Mississippi nearly matches Virginia | $1,215 |
| Montana Also open Montana for county spread | 0.72% | Montana nearly matches Virginia | $2,693 |
| Kentucky Also open Kentucky for county spread | 0.75% | Kentucky nearly matches Virginia | $1,544 |
| California Also open California for county spread | 0.70% | California nearly matches Virginia | $5,124 |
| Florida Also open Florida for county spread | 0.76% | Florida nearly matches Virginia | $2,730 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for Virginia, excluding Virginia 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. Virginia: 0.73%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. Virginia: $2,790/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where Virginia sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where Virginia sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC
0.73% more affordable than 59% 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
Virginia has a higher effective property tax rate than 40% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #31 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Indiana (0.74%, nearly level); Mississippi (0.72%, nearly level); Montana (0.72%, nearly level).
What Virginia's biggest counties actually charge
Effective rate in the eight Virginia counties holding the most owner-occupied homes, ordered largest first (highlighted) and together holding 42% 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.
Virginia's median county rate is 0.73%, but that figure counts every county equally. Weight each county by how many owner-occupied homes it actually holds and the rate a typical Virginia homeowner faces is 0.76%, close to the plain median, so Virginia's larger counties are not unusual for the state.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
8.2
Very Affordable
Based on the average effective tax rate of 0.73% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Virginia 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 Virginia's 0.73% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Indiana and Mississippi 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 Virginia by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward , showing the top 80 of 133 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 | Falls Church city | $10,001 | 0.95% | $1,055,600 |
| 2 | Arlington County | $8,153 | 0.91% | $895,000 |
| 3 | Fairfax County | $7,368 | 1.01% | $732,800 |
| 4 | Alexandria city | $7,024 | 0.96% | $735,100 |
| 5 | Fairfax city | $6,515 | 0.90% | $722,600 |
| 6 | Loudoun County | $6,325 | 0.85% | $743,800 |
| 7 | Prince William County | $4,999 | 0.94% | $530,100 |
| 8 | Manassas city | $4,923 | 1.09% | $449,900 |
| 9 | Manassas Park city | $4,636 | 1.17% | $395,900 |
| 10 | Fauquier County | $4,320 | 0.75% | $573,700 |
| 11 | Charlottesville city | $3,915 | 0.80% | $486,700 |
| 12 | Albemarle County | $3,719 | 0.75% | $495,400 |
| 13 | Poquoson city | $3,690 | 0.92% | $400,300 |
| 14 | Stafford County | $3,410 | 0.70% | $485,100 |
| 15 | Suffolk city | $3,229 | 0.93% | $347,400 |
| 16 | Richmond city | $3,150 | 0.89% | $353,000 |
| 17 | Chesapeake city | $3,108 | 0.82% | $378,400 |
| 18 | Virginia Beach city | $3,061 | 0.80% | $382,500 |
| 19 | Fredericksburg city | $2,907 | 0.60% | $483,700 |
| 20 | James City County | $2,901 | 0.65% | $447,200 |
| 21 | Norfolk city | $2,890 | 1.00% | $289,900 |
| 22 | York County | $2,794 | 0.64% | $433,200 |
| 23 | Chesterfield County | $2,773 | 0.76% | $366,000 |
| 24 | Clarke County | $2,657 | 0.48% | $550,100 |
| 25 | Newport News city | $2,634 | 1.01% | $260,600 |
| 26 | Hanover County | $2,627 | 0.66% | $400,400 |
| 27 | Winchester city | $2,591 | 0.76% | $343,000 |
| 28 | Henrico County | $2,565 | 0.71% | $359,200 |
| 29 | Portsmouth city | $2,557 | 1.04% | $246,900 |
| 30 | Williamsburg city | $2,518 | 0.59% | $428,100 |
| 31 | Isle of Wight County | $2,510 | 0.70% | $356,500 |
| 32 | Rappahannock County | $2,505 | 0.49% | $506,400 |
| 33 | New Kent County | $2,503 | 0.64% | $393,600 |
| 34 | Goochland County | $2,496 | 0.50% | $500,600 |
| 35 | Powhatan County | $2,448 | 0.59% | $416,000 |
| 36 | Roanoke County | $2,436 | 0.85% | $286,000 |
| 37 | Spotsylvania County | $2,347 | 0.58% | $404,900 |
| 38 | Hampton city | $2,327 | 0.95% | $245,700 |
| 39 | Salem city | $2,316 | 0.90% | $258,600 |
| 40 | Harrisonburg city | $2,281 | 0.76% | $299,100 |
| 41 | King George County | $2,254 | 0.53% | $428,300 |
| 42 | Montgomery County | $2,249 | 0.74% | $304,600 |
| 43 | Lexington city | $2,224 | 0.81% | $275,200 |
| 44 | Prince George County | $2,184 | 0.74% | $293,400 |
| 45 | Culpeper County | $2,141 | 0.52% | $409,200 |
| 46 | Greene County | $2,086 | 0.61% | $343,300 |
| 47 | Colonial Heights city | $2,071 | 0.84% | $246,600 |
| 48 | Orange County | $1,997 | 0.55% | $364,200 |
| 49 | Madison County | $1,968 | 0.53% | $370,300 |
| 50 | Fluvanna County | $1,967 | 0.63% | $314,100 |
| 51 | Roanoke city | $1,893 | 0.99% | $190,500 |
| 52 | Louisa County | $1,883 | 0.60% | $315,300 |
| 53 | Gloucester County | $1,878 | 0.57% | $331,000 |
| 54 | Botetourt County | $1,862 | 0.64% | $289,200 |
| 55 | Frederick County | $1,846 | 0.48% | $386,000 |
| 56 | Franklin city | $1,821 | 0.71% | $256,600 |
| 57 | Warren County | $1,819 | 0.52% | $348,400 |
| 58 | Staunton city | $1,818 | 0.70% | $259,200 |
| 59 | Northampton County | $1,807 | 0.57% | $316,200 |
| 60 | Lynchburg city | $1,804 | 0.79% | $229,800 |
| 61 | Middlesex County | $1,778 | 0.50% | $352,200 |
| 62 | King William County | $1,729 | 0.55% | $315,700 |
| 63 | Surry County | $1,651 | 0.69% | $238,800 |
| 64 | Northumberland County | $1,645 | 0.47% | $346,800 |
| 65 | Rockingham County | $1,645 | 0.53% | $313,000 |
| 66 | Waynesboro city | $1,639 | 0.67% | $245,500 |
| 67 | Westmoreland County | $1,628 | 0.60% | $269,600 |
| 68 | Nelson County | $1,622 | 0.50% | $321,700 |
| 69 | Caroline County | $1,597 | 0.52% | $307,700 |
| 70 | Radford city | $1,581 | 0.72% | $220,700 |
| 71 | Hopewell city | $1,564 | 0.86% | $181,600 |
| 72 | Lancaster County | $1,558 | 0.48% | $327,000 |
| 73 | Mathews County | $1,547 | 0.43% | $360,900 |
| 74 | Shenandoah County | $1,528 | 0.52% | $294,900 |
| 75 | Petersburg city | $1,523 | 0.81% | $189,000 |
| 76 | Page County | $1,497 | 0.64% | $233,200 |
| 77 | Rockbridge County | $1,492 | 0.60% | $248,800 |
| 78 | Augusta County | $1,446 | 0.47% | $306,100 |
| 79 | Buena Vista city | $1,421 | 0.91% | $156,200 |
| 80 | Southampton County | $1,418 | 0.66% | $216,200 |
53 additional Virginia counties rank below this top-80 list in the same bill order. Open any county from the county directory or the Virginia calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which county in Virginia has the lowest property taxes? ▼
Buchanan County has the lowest median property tax in Virginia at $413 per year with an effective rate of 0.44%. The highest is Falls Church city at the Census ceiling of $10,001, which the ACS publishes as an at-or-above bound rather than an exact median.
What is the median home value in Virginia? ▼
The median home value across Virginia is $383,700, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
How does Virginia compare to the national average? ▼
Virginia property taxes are 40% above the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $2,790 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
What is the average property tax in Virginia? ▼
The average median property tax paid in Virginia is $2,790 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 0.73%.
How large is Virginia's share of U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, Virginia's state and local governments collected $20.3B in property tax - 2.8% of the U.S. total (#9 of 51). Spread across 2,266,609 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $8,935 per home - 3.2× the ACS median homeowner bill of $2,790. 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 Virginia? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $3,014/yr versus $2,316 for owners without a mortgage, a $698 gap. Our mortgage-gap research page ranks this spread against all states.
What share of Virginia owners report paying no property tax? ▼
4.8% of owner-occupied homes in Virginia report zero property tax on the ACS survey (3.5% 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 Virginia? ▼
Yes. Every Virginia 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 Virginia's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- Virginia's ACS 2024 median bill is $2,790/yr at 0.73% (40% above the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside Virginia, Buchanan County posts the lowest median bill at $413/yr; Falls Church city is highest at $10,001/yr. Open Buchanan County
- Estimate a parcel bill at Virginia'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 133 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 Virginia. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.