The Tax Foundation

September 12, 2007

New Census Housing Data Shows Where Property Taxes on Homeowners Are Highest

by Gerald Prante

This morning, the Tax Foundated updated the popular property taxes on owner-occupied housing tables by state and county for 2006. Here is a glimpse of the top 10 counties by two measures: (1) median real estate taxes paid (dollar value) and (2) median real estate taxes as a percentage of median home value. Once again, New Jersey and New York dominate the lists.

Top 10 Counties in Median Real Estate Taxes Paid (high-population counties only), 2006

County

StateMedian Real Estate Taxes Paid
Hunterdon County NJ$7,999
Nassau CountyNY$7,706
Westchester CountyNY$7,626
Somerset CountyNJ$7,318
Bergen CountyNJ$7,237
Essex CountyNJ$7,148
Rockland CountyNY$7,041
Morris CountyNJ$6,852
Union CountyNJ$6,703
Passaic CountyNJ$6,663

Note: National median in 2006 was $1,742.
Source: American Community Survey (Census Bureau)

Top 10 Counties in Median Real Estate Taxes as a Percentage of Median Home Value (high-population counties only), 2006

County

StateMedian Real Estate Taxes as a Percentage of Median Home Value
Wayne CountyNY2.94%
Niagara CountyNY2.91%
Monroe CountyNY2.83%
Erie CountyNY2.54%
Fort Bend CountyTX2.53%
Chautauqua CountyNY2.52%
Onondaga CountyNY2.50%
Cayuga CountyNY2.42%
Chemung CountyNY2.41%
Schenectady CountyNY2.39%

Note: National percentage was 0.94%.
Source: American Community Survey (Census Bureau) and Tax Foundation calculations