Alaska property taxes by county
Across Alaska, the median owner-occupied home pays $3,901 a year in real-estate taxes on a median home value of $352,900 — an effective property-tax rate of 1.105%. That ranks Alaska #16 of 51 states and the District of Columbia (1 = highest). This page carries all 30 Alaska county-equivalents in the Census data — 28 with a published effective rate — sortable by rate, taxes paid, home value, income, or five-year change. 1 of them also carry a full detail card here — every median with its Census margin of error, both rankings, the six nearest counties, and the five-year change. It also sets out how property tax actually works in Alaska: how property is assessed, which exemptions exist and who qualifies, the deadline and body for an appeal, and the payment schedule and penalties — each hand-sourced from official Alaska sources. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates.
- Effective tax rate
- 1.105%
- Median real-estate taxes
- $3,901 ± $70
- Median home value
- $352,900
- Median household income
- $92,788
- National rank
- #16 of 51
- County-equivalents
- 30
Median real-estate taxes ÷ median home value — a ratio of two independently-estimated medians, not a statutory (millage) rate.
How property tax varies across Alaska
Across Alaska's 28 county-equivalents with a published rate, the effective property-tax rate runs from 1.722% in Dillingham Census Area down to 0.068% in Copper River Census Area — a 25.3× spread inside a single state, which is why a statewide average tells a buyer very little.
The largest median real-estate tax bill in Alaska is $4,982 in Anchorage Municipality, which ranks #3 of 28 by RATE — while the state's highest rate, 1.722%, is in Dillingham Census Area, where the median bill is $2,738. Dollars and rate are different questions and rank counties differently.
Measured against the national median effective rate of 0.937%, 10 of Alaska's 28 ranked counties sit above it and 18 below. Alaska as a whole ranks #16 of 51 (1 = highest).
Median home value statewide is $352,900, but within Alaska it ranges from $450,300 in Sitka City and Borough to $84,300 in Kusilvak Census Area — the denominator of the effective rate, and the main reason two counties with similar bills can show very different rates.
Statewide, the median real-estate tax bill equals about 4.2% of median household income. That share is heaviest in Anchorage Municipality (4.8%) and lightest in Northwest Arctic Borough (0.2%).
Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015–2019 and 2020–2024, median real-estate taxes rose by a statistically significant amount in 11 of Alaska's 20 counties with a comparable trend, fell significantly in 0, and showed no statistically significant change in 9.
Estimate a Alaska property tax bill
A median-based estimate, not a quote, an assessment, or a tax bill — it cannot know your assessed value, exemptions, or special districts. How this is computed.
Every Alaska county
All 30 Alaska county-equivalents in the Census data (28 with a published effective rate, 2 with a value the Census Bureau did not publish). Click a column heading to sort. Counties in bold have a full detail card further down this page — margins of error, nearby counties, and their five-year trend.
| Dillingham Census Area | 1.722% | $2,738 | $3,309 | $2,171 | $159,000 | $78,533 | 3.5% | #1 | #180 | +13.7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nome Census Area | 1.545% | $3,264 | $3,638 | $2,682 | $211,200 | $78,681 | 4.2% | #2 | #300 | +70.8% |
| Anchorage Municipality | 1.258% | $4,982 | $5,082 | $4,726 | $395,900 | $103,284 | 4.8% | #3 | #664 | +19.8% |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | 1.190% | $3,550 | $4,014 | $2,771 | $298,200 | $88,267 | 4.0% | #4 | #745 | +22.4% |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | 1.188% | $3,350 | — | — | $282,000 | $73,882 | 4.5% | #5 | #750 | — |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | 1.126% | $1,109 | $1,170 | — | $98,500 | $55,741 | 2.0% | #6 | #855 | +72.7% |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 1.063% | $3,685 | $3,933 | $2,895 | $346,600 | $94,031 | 3.9% | #7 | #976 | +26.9% |
| North Slope Borough | 1.056% | $2,305 | $2,413 | $2,203 | $218,300 | $95,694 | 2.4% | #8 | #990 | +30.1% |
| Chugach Census Area | 0.976% | $3,379 | $4,476 | $2,548 | $346,200 | $90,509 | 3.7% | #9 | #1187 | — |
| Juneau City and Borough | 0.946% | $4,251 | $4,255 | $4,245 | $449,300 | $101,661 | 4.2% | #10 | #1252 | +27.8% |
| Kodiak Island Borough | 0.866% | $3,569 | $4,244 | $2,254 | $412,300 | $86,250 | 4.1% | #11 | #1431 | +8.5% |
| Haines Borough | 0.834% | $2,445 | $2,665 | $2,112 | $293,300 | $86,927 | 2.8% | #12 | #1500 | +25.1% |
| Bristol Bay Borough | 0.832% | $2,045 | $3,286 | $1,639 | $245,800 | $95,625 | 2.1% | #13 | #1503 | +18.8% |
| Aleutians West Census Area | 0.711% | $3,090 | $2,993 | $3,364 | $434,700 | $135,500 | 2.3% | #14 | #1848 | +4.6% |
| Yakutat City and Borough | 0.667% | $1,463 | $1,708 | $1,389 | $219,400 | $85,000 | 1.7% | #15 | #2009 | +23.7% |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 0.666% | $2,619 | $2,737 | $2,347 | $393,300 | $92,885 | 2.8% | #16 | #2015 | +15.3% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | 0.634% | $2,049 | $2,315 | $1,610 | $323,200 | $80,538 | 2.5% | #17 | #2134 | +23.8% |
| Petersburg Borough | 0.602% | $1,896 | $2,335 | $1,183 | $315,100 | $75,125 | 2.5% | #18 | #2256 | +10.3% |
| Wrangell City and Borough | 0.564% | $1,673 | $1,761 | $1,542 | $296,400 | $63,750 | 2.6% | #19 | #2398 | +27.6% |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | 0.506% | $1,139 | $1,658 | $512 | $225,300 | $61,156 | 1.9% | #20 | #2618 | — |
| Sitka City and Borough | 0.462% | $2,080 | $2,259 | $1,757 | $450,300 | $101,727 | 2.0% | #21 | #2758 | +10.1% |
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | 0.432% | $1,136 | — | — | $262,800 | $61,406 | 1.9% | #22 | #2849 | +23.5% |
| Skagway Municipality | 0.375% | $1,634 | $1,827 | $1,430 | $435,400 | $81,136 | 2.0% | #23 | #2973 | +10% |
| Kusilvak Census Area | 0.236% | $199 | — | $199 | $84,300 | $51,471 | 0.4% | #24 | #3118 | — |
| Aleutians East Borough | 0.147% | $199 | — | — | $135,500 | $65,365 | 0.3% | #25 | #3132 | — |
| Bethel Census Area | 0.118% | $199 | — | $199 | $168,100 | $73,996 | 0.3% | #26 | #3133 | — |
| Northwest Arctic Borough | 0.100% | $199 | $199 | $199 | $199,100 | $84,018 | 0.2% | #27 | #3134 | — |
| Copper River Census Area | 0.068% | $199 | $199 | $199 | $292,800 | $79,250 | 0.3% | #28 | #3135 | — |
| Denali Borough | Not published by the Census Bureau for this county | — | $5,357 | $350 | $275,000 | $80,781 | — | — | — | — |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough | Not published by the Census Bureau for this county | — | — | — | $237,500 | $65,625 | — | — | — | — |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-year estimates — tables B25103 (real-estate taxes), B25077 (home value), B19013 (household income) — and the 2024 Census county gazetteer. Public domain (Title 17 U.S.C. §105).
County detail — 1 Alaska county in depth
Full figures for the Alaska counties most searched for, each with the Census margin of error on every median, both rankings, the five-year change, and the six nearest county-equivalents by centroid distance — nearby, not necessarily bordering, and cross-state neighbours included. For any individual property's assessed value, exemptions and bill, use that county's own assessor or appraisal district; per-county assessor URLs are never guessed here (why).
Anchorage Municipality 1.258% · median tax $4,982 · #664 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $4,982 ± $128
- With a mortgage
- $5,082 ± $168
- Without a mortgage
- $4,726 ± $256
- Median home value
- $395,900 ± $8,191
- Median household income
- $103,284 ± $2,702
- Taxes as share of income
- 4.8%
- Effective rate
- 1.258%
- Rank in Alaska
- #3 of 28
- National rank
- #664 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $395,000 home
- $4,969
Median real-estate taxes rose 19.8% over five years ($4,157 → $4,982) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.062 percentage points (1.321% → 1.258%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $314,800 → $395,900 (+25.8%), and the rate changed −0.062 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Anchorage Municipality:
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK — 1.063%, median tax $3,685, 122 km away
- Chugach Census Area, AK — 0.976%, median tax $3,379, 184 km away
- Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK — 0.634%, median tax $2,049, 188 km away
- Denali Borough, AK — —, median tax —, 282 km away
- Copper River Census Area, AK — 0.068%, median tax $199, 299 km away
- Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK — 1.190%, median tax $3,550, 414 km away
Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 — consecutive 5-year estimates share survey sample and are never compared here.
How property tax works in Alaska
Property tax in Alaska is administered locally rather than by the state, so every rule below is published by the individual jurisdiction named beside it — a neighbouring county may do it differently. Each fact is taken from an official government source and linked to it.
- How property is assessed as published by the Fairbanks North Star Borough
- Alaska property tax is assessed and collected by boroughs and cities, not by the state. The Fairbanks North Star Borough's assessing guide states that Alaska law requires property be appraised at 100% of market value as of January 1 of the tax year. The borough mass-appraises every parcel and mails an assessment notice showing land and improvement values plus the five prior years. source →
- Exemptions & credits as published by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- Up to $150,000 of assessed value is exempt under Alaska's mandatory Senior Citizen/Disabled Veteran program, and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough adds an optional exemption of up to $135,279. Seniors must be 65 by December 31 of the prior year; disabled veterans need a 50%-or-more service-connected rating. Applicants must have been Alaska residents the entire prior year and own and occupy the home. Applications close April 30. source →
- Appealing an assessment as published by the Fairbanks North Star Borough
- If owner and assessor cannot agree, the owner appeals to the borough Board of Equalization. The completed appeal form and supporting documents must reach the assessor no later than 30 days from the mailing date of the assessment notice; missing that extinguishes the right to appeal. The owner bears the burden of proof. A board decision may be appealed to Superior Court on the record. source →
- Payment schedule & penalties as published by the Fairbanks North Star Borough
- Fairbanks North Star Borough tax bills are prepared and mailed on or before July 1. Owners may pay in full on receipt or in two installments, due the first business day in September and the first business day in November. Delinquent taxes draw a penalty of up to 5% plus 8% annual simple interest, then a lien enforceable by foreclosure with a one-year redemption period. source →
- Why rates vary within the state as published by the Fairbanks North Star Borough
- The Borough Assembly sets the mill rate as part of its annual budget. It proposes a balanced budget, subtracts revenue expected from other sources such as sales tax, grants, user fees and interest, and divides the remaining amount needed by the tax base, which is the total assessed value of all taxable property in the borough. A mill equals one-thousandth of a dollar. source →
- What makes this state's system distinctive as published by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- Alaska makes the senior and disabled-veteran break mandatory rather than optional: every taxing municipality must exempt up to $150,000 of assessed value for qualifying applicants, and a borough may stack an additional optional exemption on top of it, which in Matanuska-Susitna is $135,279. A qualified senior need not reapply in later years absent a change in ownership, residency or permanent place of abode. source →
Hand-sourced from official government sources — not a substitute for your own assessor's notice, and not legal or tax advice. Where a fact isn't confirmed on an official source, it is left off rather than guessed, which is why some states show fewer rows than others.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average property tax rate in Alaska?
- Statewide, Alaska's effective property-tax rate is 1.105% — the state median real-estate taxes ($3,901) divided by the state median home value ($352,900), from the Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. The national figure is about 0.937%, which puts Alaska at #16 of 51 (1 = highest). Individual counties vary widely; the table above shows every one.
- Which Alaska county has the highest property taxes?
- By effective rate, Dillingham Census Area is highest in Alaska at 1.722% (median bill $2,738), and Copper River Census Area is lowest at 0.068% (median bill $199). Ranked by dollars paid rather than rate the order changes, because home values differ so much across the state — the table above shows both columns and sorts on either.
- What property tax exemptions are available in Alaska?
- Up to $150,000 of assessed value is exempt under Alaska's mandatory Senior Citizen/Disabled Veteran program, and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough adds an optional exemption of up to $135,279. Seniors must be 65 by December 31 of the prior year; disabled veterans need a 50%-or-more service-connected rating. Applicants must have been Alaska residents the entire prior year and own and occupy the home. Applications close April 30. Eligibility and filing are handled by your county assessor, and the exemption you qualify for changes your bill far more than the county you are in — the rates above are county medians and do not account for any exemption.
- How do I appeal a property tax assessment in Alaska?
- If owner and assessor cannot agree, the owner appeals to the borough Board of Equalization. The completed appeal form and supporting documents must reach the assessor no later than 30 days from the mailing date of the assessment notice; missing that extinguishes the right to appeal. The owner bears the burden of proof. A board decision may be appealed to Superior Court on the record. Missing the deadline usually means waiting a full year, so check the date on your own assessment notice rather than relying on a general figure.
- When are property taxes due in Alaska?
- Fairbanks North Star Borough tax bills are prepared and mailed on or before July 1. Owners may pay in full on receipt or in two installments, due the first business day in September and the first business day in November. Delinquent taxes draw a penalty of up to 5% plus 8% annual simple interest, then a lien enforceable by foreclosure with a one-year redemption period. If your taxes are paid through a mortgage escrow account, your servicer pays on this schedule on your behalf.
- How is property assessed in Alaska?
- Alaska property tax is assessed and collected by boroughs and cities, not by the state. The Fairbanks North Star Borough's assessing guide states that Alaska law requires property be appraised at 100% of market value as of January 1 of the tax year. The borough mass-appraises every parcel and mails an assessment notice showing land and improvement values plus the five prior years. This is why an effective rate computed from market value — as every rate on this page is — will not match the millage rate printed on your bill: the two are applied to different bases.
Compare & explore
See the national highest and lowest property-tax rates, or read the methodology behind every figure. The national median effective rate is 0.937%; Alaska's statewide figure is 1.105%.