Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
Washington Property Taxes
The average Washington homeowner pays $4,556 a year at an effective rate of 0.81%, 129% above the U.S. average. Compare 39 counties below.
- $4,556
- Avg median tax
- 0.81%
- Effective rate
- #25 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 39
- Counties
The verdict
The average Washington homeowner pays $4,556 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 0.81%, the #25 highest burden of 51 U.S. states.
- $4,556
- Average median tax, 2024
- 0.81%
- Statewide effective rate
- #25 of 51
- U.S. states by tax burden
- 39
- counties measured
Effective rate is the median property tax bill divided by the median home value ($564,600). U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024.
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 in King County.
What This Data Tells Us About Washington
The statewide average property tax in Washington is $4,556 per year, 129% above the national average of $1,993, based on Census ACS state-level estimates. The statewide effective rate of 0.81% on a median home value of $564,600 reflects how Washington's assessment rules and local millage combine at the household level; the 39 counties below show how that varies locally.
Within Washington, median annual tax ranges from $1,574 in Garfield County (effective rate 0.66%) to $7,114 in King County (effective rate 0.83%). Median home values in Washington ($564,600) compared with $227,791 nationally help explain why the same effective rate produces different dollar bills in different states. Within-state variation often tracks local school levies, county bonds, and municipal overlays rather than a single statewide rate.
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 based on assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and local overlays. Always confirm current rates with your county assessor or a qualified professional before making decisions that rely on these numbers.
State Average vs National Average
How Washington compares
Average effective property tax rate vs the national average, ACS 2024.
Washington has a higher effective property tax rate than 52% of U.S. states, ranking #25 of 51 for property tax burden.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Top 5 Highest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
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.
How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale derived mechanically from the ratio of this state's average effective rate to the national average effective rate (0.92%) - a ratio at or below 0.5× scores 10, a ratio at or above 2.0× scores 1, with a linear scale between. It is a factual comparison of Census figures only, not a recommendation, quality rating, or endorsement of Washington or any other state.
All Counties in Washington (39)
| County (by tax bill) | Median tax | Eff. rate | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| King County | $7,114 | 0.83% | $859,900 |
| Snohomish County | $5,364 | 0.77% | $696,000 |
| Pierce County | $4,770 | 0.91% | $526,600 |
| Skagit County | $4,308 | 0.79% | $545,100 |
| Clark County | $4,290 | 0.82% | $522,900 |
| Kitsap County | $4,279 | 0.77% | $555,100 |
| San Juan County | $4,253 | 0.53% | $799,200 |
| Thurston County | $4,209 | 0.88% | $480,300 |
| Whatcom County | $4,087 | 0.70% | $585,800 |
| Island County | $3,999 | 0.67% | $593,300 |
| Jefferson County | $3,818 | 0.71% | $535,000 |
| Kittitas County | $3,552 | 0.71% | $497,400 |
| Skamania County | $3,532 | 0.67% | $529,500 |
| Chelan County | $3,503 | 0.71% | $490,100 |
| Walla Walla County | $3,492 | 0.85% | $408,900 |
| Spokane County | $3,434 | 0.84% | $410,700 |
| Douglas County | $3,319 | 0.77% | $432,500 |
| Cowlitz County | $3,245 | 0.82% | $397,500 |
| Benton County | $3,163 | 0.78% | $407,800 |
| Clallam County | $3,050 | 0.72% | $421,800 |
| Mason County | $3,006 | 0.73% | $411,800 |
| Franklin County | $2,750 | 0.73% | $379,300 |
| Whitman County | $2,691 | 0.75% | $359,600 |
| Klickitat County | $2,639 | 0.62% | $425,300 |
| Lewis County | $2,581 | 0.67% | $385,800 |
| Grays Harbor County | $2,512 | 0.80% | $314,000 |
| Yakima County | $2,463 | 0.79% | $310,100 |
| Pacific County | $2,395 | 0.72% | $334,800 |
| Wahkiakum County | $2,392 | 0.60% | $396,800 |
| Asotin County | $2,340 | 0.72% | $325,600 |
| Grant County | $2,339 | 0.78% | $299,500 |
| Columbia County | $2,303 | 0.85% | $271,200 |
| Okanogan County | $2,281 | 0.76% | $299,800 |
| Adams County | $2,147 | 0.79% | $273,300 |
| Pend Oreille County | $2,142 | 0.58% | $367,900 |
| Stevens County | $2,065 | 0.59% | $350,600 |
| Ferry County | $1,801 | 0.64% | $283,400 |
| Lincoln County | $1,744 | 0.60% | $292,800 |
| Garfield County | $1,574 | 0.66% | $239,200 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 2026-06-09.