Alabama property taxes by county
Across Alabama, the median owner-occupied home pays $788 a year in real-estate taxes on a median home value of $209,900 — an effective property-tax rate of 0.375%. That ranks Alabama #50 of 51 states and the District of Columbia (1 = highest). This page carries all 67 Alabama county-equivalents in the Census data — 67 with a published effective rate — sortable by rate, taxes paid, home value, income, or five-year change. 9 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 Alabama: 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 Alabama sources. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates.
- Effective tax rate
- 0.375%
- Median real-estate taxes
- $788 ± $6
- Median home value
- $209,900
- Median household income
- $63,999
- National rank
- #50 of 51
- County-equivalents
- 67
Median real-estate taxes ÷ median home value — a ratio of two independently-estimated medians, not a statutory (millage) rate.
How property tax varies across Alabama
Across Alabama's 67 county-equivalents with a published rate, the effective property-tax rate runs from 0.587% in Jefferson County down to 0.168% in Choctaw County — a 3.5× spread inside a single state, which is why a statewide average tells a buyer very little.
The largest median real-estate tax bill in Alabama is $1,423 in Shelby County, which ranks #6 of 67 by RATE — while the state's highest rate, 0.587%, is in Jefferson County, where the median bill is $1,409. Dollars and rate are different questions and rank counties differently.
Measured against the national median effective rate of 0.937%, 0 of Alabama's 67 ranked counties sit above it and 67 below. Alabama as a whole ranks #50 of 51 (1 = highest).
Median home value statewide is $209,900, but within Alabama it ranges from $326,100 in Shelby County to $81,200 in Greene County — 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 1.2% of median household income. That share is heaviest in Jefferson County (2.1%) and lightest in Choctaw County (0.4%).
Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015–2019 and 2020–2024, median real-estate taxes rose by a statistically significant amount in 54 of Alabama's 66 counties with a comparable trend, fell significantly in 0, and showed no statistically significant change in 12.
Estimate a Alabama 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 Alabama county
All 67 Alabama county-equivalents in the Census data (67 with a published effective rate). 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.
| Jefferson County | 0.587% | $1,409 | $1,532 | $1,184 | $240,000 | $66,388 | 2.1% | #1 | #2312 | +36.4% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greene County | 0.547% | $444 | — | $444 | $81,200 | $29,200 | 1.5% | #2 | #2468 | +85% |
| Macon County | 0.499% | $509 | $634 | $445 | $102,000 | $43,707 | 1.2% | #3 | #2640 | +37.6% |
| Lee County | 0.477% | $1,252 | $1,306 | $1,122 | $262,200 | $65,824 | 1.9% | #4 | #2709 | +42.8% |
| Mobile County | 0.466% | $888 | $966 | $749 | $190,700 | $58,880 | 1.5% | #5 | #2745 | +24.5% |
| Shelby County | 0.436% | $1,423 | $1,436 | $1,388 | $326,100 | $97,961 | 1.4% | #6 | #2840 | +33% |
| Sumter County | 0.435% | $359 | $440 | $335 | $82,600 | $33,310 | 1.1% | #7 | #2845 | +39.7% |
| Calhoun County | 0.417% | $653 | $731 | $538 | $156,600 | $55,029 | 1.2% | #8 | #2886 | +33.8% |
| Dallas County | 0.414% | $392 | $537 | $288 | $94,600 | $35,627 | 1.1% | #9 | #2891 | +25.2% |
| Barbour County | 0.409% | $462 | $611 | $306 | $112,900 | $46,042 | 1.0% | #10 | #2909 | +65% |
| Montgomery County | 0.408% | $702 | $767 | $542 | $171,900 | $59,386 | 1.2% | #11 | #2913 | +36.6% |
| Bullock County | 0.406% | $332 | $490 | $252 | $81,700 | $31,310 | 1.1% | #12 | #2917 | −19.8% |
| Colbert County | 0.396% | $678 | $760 | $549 | $171,000 | $60,628 | 1.1% | #13 | #2934 | +41.5% |
| Madison County | 0.396% | $1,185 | $1,225 | $1,109 | $299,200 | $86,499 | 1.4% | #14 | #2935 | +38.9% |
| Lowndes County | 0.390% | $337 | $328 | $343 | $86,300 | $37,052 | 0.9% | #15 | #2941 | +1.5% |
| Escambia County | 0.388% | $530 | $666 | $401 | $136,500 | $48,225 | 1.1% | #16 | #2944 | +37.3% |
| Etowah County | 0.386% | $645 | $724 | $551 | $167,100 | $54,563 | 1.2% | #17 | #2952 | +33% |
| Chambers County | 0.385% | $523 | $584 | $426 | $135,800 | $49,656 | 1.1% | #18 | #2954 | +46.1% |
| Cherokee County | 0.383% | $688 | $780 | $603 | $179,700 | $53,863 | 1.3% | #19 | #2959 | +38.2% |
| Marengo County | 0.381% | $409 | $515 | $357 | $107,400 | $43,825 | 0.9% | #20 | #2963 | +31.5% |
| Russell County | 0.380% | $629 | $848 | $436 | $165,700 | $51,197 | 1.2% | #21 | #2967 | +15.2% |
| Lauderdale County | 0.378% | $757 | $814 | $689 | $200,300 | $62,649 | 1.2% | #22 | #2970 | +25.5% |
| Talladega County | 0.365% | $544 | $636 | $450 | $149,200 | $57,776 | 0.9% | #23 | #2984 | +35% |
| Marshall County | 0.364% | $733 | $792 | $634 | $201,500 | $62,571 | 1.2% | #24 | #2986 | +38.3% |
| Butler County | 0.363% | $362 | $475 | $305 | $99,800 | $44,755 | 0.8% | #25 | #2988 | +11.4% |
| Coffee County | 0.359% | $677 | $776 | $486 | $188,600 | $68,353 | 1.0% | #26 | #2994 | +23.8% |
| Henry County | 0.343% | $553 | $754 | $451 | $161,000 | $59,931 | 0.9% | #27 | #3015 | +30.4% |
| Geneva County | 0.342% | $447 | $529 | $329 | $130,700 | $52,771 | 0.8% | #28 | #3018 | +32.2% |
| Morgan County | 0.339% | $718 | $807 | $607 | $212,000 | $68,845 | 1.0% | #29 | #3020 | +33.7% |
| Chilton County | 0.333% | $537 | $660 | $440 | $161,300 | $65,603 | 0.8% | #30 | #3027 | +38.4% |
| Clarke County | 0.325% | $396 | $476 | $346 | $121,700 | $49,249 | 0.8% | #31 | #3034 | +22.2% |
| DeKalb County | 0.325% | $496 | $586 | $429 | $152,700 | $51,204 | 1.0% | #33 | #3037 | +35.1% |
| Perry County | 0.325% | $281 | $432 | $243 | $86,400 | $37,654 | 0.8% | #32 | #3036 | +1.1% |
| Crenshaw County | 0.324% | $369 | $483 | $279 | $114,000 | $48,560 | 0.8% | #34 | #3039 | +37.7% |
| Wilcox County | 0.323% | $319 | $476 | $278 | $98,800 | $40,640 | 0.8% | #35 | #3040 | +8.9% |
| Limestone County | 0.320% | $900 | $935 | $812 | $281,000 | $83,629 | 1.1% | #36 | #3043 | +61.3% |
| St. Clair County | 0.320% | $724 | $800 | $532 | $226,300 | $77,463 | 0.9% | #37 | #3045 | +48.1% |
| Tuscaloosa County | 0.320% | $795 | $852 | $689 | $248,700 | $66,231 | 1.2% | #38 | #3046 | +26% |
| Winston County | 0.320% | $380 | $452 | $305 | $118,900 | $57,256 | 0.7% | #39 | #3047 | +41.3% |
| Dale County | 0.318% | $457 | $496 | $418 | $143,500 | $54,963 | 0.8% | #40 | #3052 | +17.2% |
| Franklin County | 0.318% | $433 | $551 | $344 | $136,000 | $53,338 | 0.8% | #41 | #3053 | +20.3% |
| Hale County | 0.318% | $406 | $477 | $339 | $127,600 | $39,250 | 1.0% | #42 | #3054 | +22.3% |
| Monroe County | 0.316% | $381 | $399 | $368 | $120,600 | $42,292 | 0.9% | #43 | #3056 | +29.6% |
| Conecuh County | 0.314% | $331 | $475 | $244 | $105,300 | $41,327 | 0.8% | #44 | #3061 | +8.5% |
| Houston County | 0.307% | $562 | $628 | $465 | $183,300 | $58,626 | 1.0% | #45 | #3070 | +19.8% |
| Autauga County | 0.303% | $627 | $700 | $500 | $207,200 | $72,481 | 0.9% | #48 | #3076 | +34.3% |
| Baldwin County | 0.303% | $960 | $1,027 | $860 | $316,900 | $78,775 | 1.2% | #47 | #3075 | +58.7% |
| Tallapoosa County | 0.303% | $481 | $534 | $432 | $158,500 | $59,356 | 0.8% | #46 | #3072 | +35.1% |
| Jackson County | 0.301% | $480 | $565 | $391 | $159,500 | $51,908 | 0.9% | #49 | #3078 | +41.6% |
| Blount County | 0.299% | $523 | $591 | $447 | $175,200 | $64,190 | 0.8% | #50 | #3081 | +31.1% |
| Pickens County | 0.294% | $364 | $447 | $337 | $123,900 | $46,274 | 0.8% | #51 | #3083 | +6.4% |
| Cleburne County | 0.293% | $486 | $659 | $320 | $165,600 | $55,345 | 0.9% | #52 | #3084 | +19.1% |
| Lawrence County | 0.288% | $497 | $551 | $437 | $172,300 | $66,071 | 0.8% | #53 | #3091 | +28.4% |
| Fayette County | 0.282% | $355 | $419 | $328 | $125,900 | $49,488 | 0.7% | #55 | #3098 | +33.5% |
| Marion County | 0.282% | $301 | $385 | $262 | $106,600 | $50,088 | 0.6% | #54 | #3096 | +8.3% |
| Coosa County | 0.273% | $315 | $372 | $255 | $115,500 | $57,355 | 0.6% | #56 | #3103 | +26.5% |
| Elmore County | 0.272% | $610 | $679 | $487 | $223,900 | $78,243 | 0.8% | #57 | #3104 | +24.2% |
| Pike County | 0.269% | $424 | $502 | $371 | $157,600 | $48,677 | 0.9% | #58 | #3105 | +9.3% |
| Walker County | 0.262% | $356 | $415 | $263 | $135,900 | $56,509 | 0.6% | #59 | #3109 | +29% |
| Covington County | 0.261% | $397 | $428 | $369 | $152,100 | $52,456 | 0.8% | #60 | #3110 | +36% |
| Cullman County | 0.259% | $516 | $579 | $440 | $199,100 | $62,656 | 0.8% | #61 | #3111 | +47.9% |
| Randolph County | 0.249% | $452 | $525 | $386 | $181,600 | $52,338 | 0.9% | #62 | #3116 | +24.2% |
| Lamar County | 0.240% | $274 | $370 | $206 | $114,000 | $50,000 | 0.6% | #63 | #3117 | +13.7% |
| Washington County | 0.229% | $365 | $476 | $314 | $159,700 | $61,042 | 0.6% | #64 | #3119 | +40.4% |
| Clay County | 0.211% | $331 | $422 | $288 | $156,700 | $55,250 | 0.6% | #65 | #3124 | +31.9% |
| Bibb County | 0.205% | $298 | $382 | $247 | $145,700 | $52,541 | 0.6% | #66 | #3126 | +16.9% |
| Choctaw County | 0.168% | $207 | $262 | $199 | $123,400 | $47,813 | 0.4% | #67 | #3129 | — |
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 — 9 Alabama counties in depth
Full figures for the Alabama 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).
Jefferson County 0.587% · median tax $1,409 · #2312 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $1,409 ± $35
- With a mortgage
- $1,532 ± $45
- Without a mortgage
- $1,184 ± $57
- Median home value
- $240,000 ± $4,979
- Median household income
- $66,388 ± $1,491
- Taxes as share of income
- 2.1%
- Effective rate
- 0.587%
- Rank in Alabama
- #1 of 67
- National rank
- #2312 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $240,000 home
- $1,409
Median real-estate taxes rose 36.4% over five years ($1,033 → $1,409) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.062 percentage points (0.649% → 0.587%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $159,100 → $240,000 (+50.8%), and the rate changed −0.062 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Jefferson County:
- Shelby County, AL — 0.436%, median tax $1,423, 39 km away
- Walker County, AL — 0.262%, median tax $356, 46 km away
- Blount County, AL — 0.299%, median tax $523, 56 km away
- St. Clair County, AL — 0.320%, median tax $724, 57 km away
- Bibb County, AL — 0.205%, median tax $298, 64 km away
- Cullman County, AL — 0.259%, median tax $516, 64 km away
Mobile County 0.466% · median tax $888 · #2745 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $888 ± $20
- With a mortgage
- $966 ± $24
- Without a mortgage
- $749 ± $29
- Median home value
- $190,700 ± $3,688
- Median household income
- $58,880 ± $1,273
- Taxes as share of income
- 1.5%
- Effective rate
- 0.466%
- Rank in Alabama
- #5 of 67
- National rank
- #2745 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $190,000 home
- $885
Median real-estate taxes rose 24.5% over five years ($713 → $888) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.082 percentage points (0.548% → 0.466%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $130,200 → $190,700 (+46.5%), and the rate changed −0.082 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Mobile County:
- Baldwin County, AL — 0.303%, median tax $960, 43 km away
- George County, MS — 0.626%, median tax $1,044, 47 km away
- Jackson County, MS — 0.707%, median tax $1,366, 48 km away
- Greene County, MS — 0.853%, median tax $791, 72 km away
- Washington County, AL — 0.229%, median tax $365, 81 km away
- Escambia County, FL — 0.581%, median tax $1,495, 86 km away
Calhoun County 0.417% · median tax $653 · #2886 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $653 ± $27
- With a mortgage
- $731 ± $33
- Without a mortgage
- $538 ± $34
- Median home value
- $156,600 ± $5,832
- Median household income
- $55,029 ± $2,763
- Taxes as share of income
- 1.2%
- Effective rate
- 0.417%
- Rank in Alabama
- #8 of 67
- National rank
- #2886 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $155,000 home
- $646
Median real-estate taxes rose 33.8% over five years ($488 → $653) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The change in the effective tax rate (0.414% → 0.417%) is not statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $118,000 → $156,600 (+32.7%), and the rate changed +0.003 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Calhoun County:
- Cleburne County, AL — 0.293%, median tax $486, 31 km away
- Etowah County, AL — 0.386%, median tax $645, 36 km away
- Cherokee County, AL — 0.383%, median tax $688, 37 km away
- St. Clair County, AL — 0.320%, median tax $724, 45 km away
- Talladega County, AL — 0.365%, median tax $544, 55 km away
- Clay County, AL — 0.211%, median tax $331, 56 km away
Madison County 0.396% · median tax $1,185 · #2935 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $1,185 ± $32
- With a mortgage
- $1,225 ± $41
- Without a mortgage
- $1,109 ± $50
- Median home value
- $299,200 ± $5,530
- Median household income
- $86,499 ± $1,491
- Taxes as share of income
- 1.4%
- Effective rate
- 0.396%
- Rank in Alabama
- #14 of 67
- National rank
- #2935 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $300,000 home
- $1,188
Median real-estate taxes rose 38.9% over five years ($853 → $1,185) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.062 percentage points (0.458% → 0.396%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $186,100 → $299,200 (+60.8%), and the rate changed −0.062 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Madison County:
- Limestone County, AL — 0.320%, median tax $900, 40 km away
- Lincoln County, TN — 0.452%, median tax $1,038, 42 km away
- Morgan County, AL — 0.339%, median tax $718, 44 km away
- Jackson County, AL — 0.301%, median tax $480, 52 km away
- Marshall County, AL — 0.364%, median tax $733, 55 km away
- Franklin County, TN — 0.526%, median tax $1,246, 60 km away
Etowah County 0.386% · median tax $645 · #2952 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $645 ± $31
- With a mortgage
- $724 ± $43
- Without a mortgage
- $551 ± $42
- Median home value
- $167,100 ± $4,938
- Median household income
- $54,563 ± $2,653
- Taxes as share of income
- 1.2%
- Effective rate
- 0.386%
- Rank in Alabama
- #17 of 67
- National rank
- #2952 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $165,000 home
- $637
Median real-estate taxes rose 33% over five years ($485 → $645) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.041 percentage points (0.427% → 0.386%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $113,700 → $167,100 (+47%), and the rate changed −0.041 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Etowah County:
- Cherokee County, AL — 0.383%, median tax $688, 35 km away
- Calhoun County, AL — 0.417%, median tax $653, 36 km away
- Marshall County, AL — 0.364%, median tax $733, 39 km away
- St. Clair County, AL — 0.320%, median tax $724, 45 km away
- Blount County, AL — 0.299%, median tax $523, 50 km away
- DeKalb County, AL — 0.325%, median tax $496, 51 km away
Lauderdale County 0.378% · median tax $757 · #2970 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $757 ± $39
- With a mortgage
- $814 ± $52
- Without a mortgage
- $689 ± $64
- Median home value
- $200,300 ± $8,371
- Median household income
- $62,649 ± $2,965
- Taxes as share of income
- 1.2%
- Effective rate
- 0.378%
- Rank in Alabama
- #22 of 67
- National rank
- #2970 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $200,000 home
- $756
Median real-estate taxes rose 25.5% over five years ($603 → $757) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.038 percentage points (0.416% → 0.378%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $145,000 → $200,300 (+38.1%), and the rate changed −0.038 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Lauderdale County:
- Colbert County, AL — 0.396%, median tax $678, 26 km away
- Wayne County, TN — 0.486%, median tax $635, 41 km away
- Lawrence County, TN — 0.525%, median tax $1,021, 42 km away
- Lawrence County, AL — 0.288%, median tax $497, 51 km away
- Franklin County, AL — 0.318%, median tax $433, 54 km away
- Tishomingo County, MS — 0.486%, median tax $705, 56 km away
Marshall County 0.364% · median tax $733 · #2986 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $733 ± $33
- With a mortgage
- $792 ± $43
- Without a mortgage
- $634 ± $54
- Median home value
- $201,500 ± $8,139
- Median household income
- $62,571 ± $2,999
- Taxes as share of income
- 1.2%
- Effective rate
- 0.364%
- Rank in Alabama
- #24 of 67
- National rank
- #2986 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $200,000 home
- $728
Median real-estate taxes rose 38.3% over five years ($530 → $733) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.048 percentage points (0.411% → 0.364%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $128,800 → $201,500 (+56.4%), and the rate changed −0.048 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Marshall County:
- Etowah County, AL — 0.386%, median tax $645, 39 km away
- Blount County, AL — 0.299%, median tax $523, 43 km away
- DeKalb County, AL — 0.325%, median tax $496, 50 km away
- Morgan County, AL — 0.339%, median tax $718, 51 km away
- Cullman County, AL — 0.259%, median tax $516, 54 km away
- Madison County, AL — 0.396%, median tax $1,185, 55 km away
Limestone County 0.320% · median tax $900 · #3043 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $900 ± $52
- With a mortgage
- $935 ± $58
- Without a mortgage
- $812 ± $94
- Median home value
- $281,000 ± $9,732
- Median household income
- $83,629 ± $4,065
- Taxes as share of income
- 1.1%
- Effective rate
- 0.320%
- Rank in Alabama
- #36 of 67
- National rank
- #3043 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $280,000 home
- $896
Median real-estate taxes rose 61.3% over five years ($558 → $900) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.031 percentage points (0.351% → 0.320%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $158,800 → $281,000 (+77%), and the rate changed −0.031 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Limestone County:
- Madison County, AL — 0.396%, median tax $1,185, 40 km away
- Morgan County, AL — 0.339%, median tax $718, 41 km away
- Giles County, TN — 0.422%, median tax $989, 44 km away
- Lawrence County, AL — 0.288%, median tax $497, 44 km away
- Lincoln County, TN — 0.452%, median tax $1,038, 51 km away
- Lawrence County, TN — 0.525%, median tax $1,021, 59 km away
Baldwin County 0.303% · median tax $960 · #3075 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $960 ± $33
- With a mortgage
- $1,027 ± $58
- Without a mortgage
- $860 ± $53
- Median home value
- $316,900 ± $7,217
- Median household income
- $78,775 ± $2,602
- Taxes as share of income
- 1.2%
- Effective rate
- 0.303%
- Rank in Alabama
- #47 of 67
- National rank
- #3075 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $315,000 home
- $954
Median real-estate taxes rose 58.7% over five years ($605 → $960) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The change in the effective tax rate (0.306% → 0.303%) is not statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $197,900 → $316,900 (+60.1%), and the rate changed −0.003 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Baldwin County:
- Mobile County, AL — 0.466%, median tax $888, 43 km away
- Escambia County, FL — 0.581%, median tax $1,495, 43 km away
- Santa Rosa County, FL — 0.573%, median tax $1,891, 70 km away
- Escambia County, AL — 0.388%, median tax $530, 75 km away
- Jackson County, MS — 0.707%, median tax $1,366, 87 km away
- George County, MS — 0.626%, median tax $1,044, 88 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 Alabama
Assessment, exemptions, appeals and payment are set by Alabama law and practice, so they apply to every county in the table above. Each fact is taken from an official government source and linked to it.
- How property is assessed
- Assessment is local (by the county assessing official); assessed value = appraised value × a classification percentage — 30% for utilities, 20% for general commercial property, 10% for agricultural/residential property, 15% for personal vehicles. source →
- Exemptions & credits
- Homestead exemptions are tiered: H-1 (under 65, not disabled) exempts $4,000 of state assessed value plus $2,000 of county assessed value; H-2 (65+ or permanently disabled, income under $12,000) and H-3 (65+ with taxable income ≤$12,000, or permanently/totally disabled with no income limit) can reach full exemption from all ad valorem tax; all homestead exemptions are capped at 160 acres and require an owner-occupied single-family dwelling. source →
- Payment schedule & penalties
- The lien date is October 1, and tax is due the following October 1. source →
- Why rates vary within the state
- Millage rates are set independently by each county commission and other local taxing agencies. 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 Alabama?
- Statewide, Alabama's effective property-tax rate is 0.375% — the state median real-estate taxes ($788) divided by the state median home value ($209,900), from the Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. The national figure is about 0.937%, which puts Alabama at #50 of 51 (1 = highest). Individual counties vary widely; the table above shows every one.
- Which Alabama county has the highest property taxes?
- By effective rate, Jefferson County is highest in Alabama at 0.587% (median bill $1,409), and Choctaw County is lowest at 0.168% (median bill $207). 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 Alabama?
- Homestead exemptions are tiered: H-1 (under 65, not disabled) exempts $4,000 of state assessed value plus $2,000 of county assessed value; H-2 (65+ or permanently disabled, income under $12,000) and H-3 (65+ with taxable income ≤$12,000, or permanently/totally disabled with no income limit) can reach full exemption from all ad valorem tax; all homestead exemptions are capped at 160 acres and require an owner-occupied single-family dwelling. 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.
- When are property taxes due in Alabama?
- The lien date is October 1, and tax is due the following October 1. If your taxes are paid through a mortgage escrow account, your servicer pays on this schedule on your behalf.
- How is property assessed in Alabama?
- Assessment is local (by the county assessing official); assessed value = appraised value × a classification percentage — 30% for utilities, 20% for general commercial property, 10% for agricultural/residential property, 15% for personal vehicles. 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%; Alabama's statewide figure is 0.375%.