Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $4,665/yr
- Without mortgage
- $4,298/yr
- Gap
- $367
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
Washington Property Taxes
The average Washington homeowner pays $4,556 a year at an effective rate of 0.81%. That bill is 129% above the U.S. median bill. Compare 39 counties below.
- $4,556
- Avg median tax
- 0.81%
- Effective rate
- #25 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 39
- Counties
Washington homeowners pay a median of $4,556 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 0.81%, the 25th-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 Washington homeowner pays $4,556 a year on a home worth $564,600, an effective rate of 0.81%. The bill runs 129% above the $1,993 national median, while the rate sits 12% below it; high home values pull them apart. County medians range $1,574 (Garfield County) to $7,114 (King County) across 39 counties.
What the statewide average misses
County medians in Washington run from $1,574 in Garfield County to $7,114 (King County). That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.
- $1,574–$7,114 (King County)
- County median-bill range
- 0.81%
- Home-weighted county rate
- 74%
- 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
Washington is a top-tier collector of U.S. state-and-local property tax
#13 of 51 · 2.3% of U.S. collections
In Census FY2024, Washington's state and local governments collected $16.9B in property tax - 2.3% of the U.S. total (#13 of 51).
Spread across 1,954,777 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $8,653 per home - 1.9× the ACS median homeowner bill of $4,556. 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 Washington
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for Washington from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 5.4%
- With mortgage
- 2.2%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 662,433
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
County effective-rate spread
Published medians span 0.53% in San Juan County to 0.91% in Pierce County - a 0.38 percentage-point gap across 39 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 Washington is $4,556/year, which is 129% above the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 0.81% on a median home value of $564,600. Taxes range from $1,574 in Garfield County to $7,114 (King County).
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in Washington
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 Washington home is $564,600, 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
$4,556
+129% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$564,600
+148% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
0.81%
-12% vs US avg
Rate-band peers near Washington
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so Washington's 0.81% rate is read against real neighbors such as Oregon and Oklahoma.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs Washington | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon Also open Oregon for county spread | 0.81% | Oregon nearly matches Washington | $3,876 |
| Oklahoma Also open Oklahoma for county spread | 0.80% | Oklahoma nearly matches Washington | $1,599 |
| Georgia Also open Georgia for county spread | 0.77% | Georgia nearly matches Washington | $2,341 |
| Missouri Also open Missouri for county spread | 0.85% | Missouri nearly matches Washington | $1,948 |
| Florida Also open Florida for county spread | 0.76% | Florida nearly matches Washington | $2,730 |
| Kentucky Also open Kentucky for county spread | 0.75% | Kentucky runs 0.06 pts below Washington | $1,544 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for Washington, excluding Washington 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. Washington: 0.81%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. Washington: $4,556/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where Washington sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where Washington sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC
0.81% more affordable than 45% 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
Washington has a higher effective property tax rate than 52% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #25 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Oregon (0.81%, nearly level); Oklahoma (0.80%, nearly level); Georgia (0.77%, nearly level).
What Washington's biggest counties actually charge
Effective rate in the eight Washington counties holding the most owner-occupied homes, ordered largest first (highlighted) and together holding 74% 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.
Washington's median county rate is 0.81%, but that figure counts every county equally. Weight each county by how many owner-occupied homes it actually holds and the rate a typical Washington homeowner faces is 0.81%, close to the plain median, so Washington's larger counties are not unusual for the state.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Top 5 Highest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
7.7
Affordable
Based on the average effective tax rate of 0.81% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Washington 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 Washington's 0.81% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Oregon and Oklahoma 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 Washington by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward across 39 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 | King County | $7,114 | 0.83% | $859,900 |
| 2 | Snohomish County | $5,364 | 0.77% | $696,000 |
| 3 | Pierce County | $4,770 | 0.91% | $526,600 |
| 4 | Skagit County | $4,308 | 0.79% | $545,100 |
| 5 | Clark County | $4,290 | 0.82% | $522,900 |
| 6 | Kitsap County | $4,279 | 0.77% | $555,100 |
| 7 | San Juan County | $4,253 | 0.53% | $799,200 |
| 8 | Thurston County | $4,209 | 0.88% | $480,300 |
| 9 | Whatcom County | $4,087 | 0.70% | $585,800 |
| 10 | Island County | $3,999 | 0.67% | $593,300 |
| 11 | Jefferson County | $3,818 | 0.71% | $535,000 |
| 12 | Kittitas County | $3,552 | 0.71% | $497,400 |
| 13 | Skamania County | $3,532 | 0.67% | $529,500 |
| 14 | Chelan County | $3,503 | 0.71% | $490,100 |
| 15 | Walla Walla County | $3,492 | 0.85% | $408,900 |
| 16 | Spokane County | $3,434 | 0.84% | $410,700 |
| 17 | Douglas County | $3,319 | 0.77% | $432,500 |
| 18 | Cowlitz County | $3,245 | 0.82% | $397,500 |
| 19 | Benton County | $3,163 | 0.78% | $407,800 |
| 20 | Clallam County | $3,050 | 0.72% | $421,800 |
| 21 | Mason County | $3,006 | 0.73% | $411,800 |
| 22 | Franklin County | $2,750 | 0.73% | $379,300 |
| 23 | Whitman County | $2,691 | 0.75% | $359,600 |
| 24 | Klickitat County | $2,639 | 0.62% | $425,300 |
| 25 | Lewis County | $2,581 | 0.67% | $385,800 |
| 26 | Grays Harbor County | $2,512 | 0.80% | $314,000 |
| 27 | Yakima County | $2,463 | 0.79% | $310,100 |
| 28 | Pacific County | $2,395 | 0.72% | $334,800 |
| 29 | Wahkiakum County | $2,392 | 0.60% | $396,800 |
| 30 | Asotin County | $2,340 | 0.72% | $325,600 |
| 31 | Grant County | $2,339 | 0.78% | $299,500 |
| 32 | Columbia County | $2,303 | 0.85% | $271,200 |
| 33 | Okanogan County | $2,281 | 0.76% | $299,800 |
| 34 | Adams County | $2,147 | 0.79% | $273,300 |
| 35 | Pend Oreille County | $2,142 | 0.58% | $367,900 |
| 36 | Stevens County | $2,065 | 0.59% | $350,600 |
| 37 | Ferry County | $1,801 | 0.64% | $283,400 |
| 38 | Lincoln County | $1,744 | 0.60% | $292,800 |
| 39 | Garfield County | $1,574 | 0.66% | $239,200 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home value in Washington? ▼
The median home value across Washington is $564,600, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
How does Washington compare to the national average? ▼
Washington property taxes are 129% above the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $4,556 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
What is the average property tax in Washington? ▼
The average median property tax paid in Washington is $4,556 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 0.81%.
Which county in Washington has the lowest property taxes? ▼
Garfield County has the lowest median property tax in Washington at $1,574 per year with an effective rate of 0.66%. The highest is King County at $7,114.
How large is Washington's share of U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, Washington's state and local governments collected $16.9B in property tax - 2.3% of the U.S. total (#13 of 51). Spread across 1,954,777 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $8,653 per home - 1.9× the ACS median homeowner bill of $4,556. 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 Washington? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $4,665/yr versus $4,298 for owners without a mortgage, a $367 gap. Our mortgage-gap research page ranks this spread against all states.
What share of Washington owners report paying no property tax? ▼
5.4% of owner-occupied homes in Washington report zero property tax on the ACS survey (2.2% 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 Washington? ▼
Yes. Every Washington 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 Washington's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- Washington's ACS 2024 median bill is $4,556/yr at 0.81% (129% above the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside Washington, Garfield County posts the lowest median bill at $1,574/yr; King County is highest at $7,114/yr. Open Garfield County
- Estimate a parcel bill at Washington'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 39 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 Washington. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.