Michigan property taxes by county
Across Michigan, the median owner-occupied home pays $2,904 a year in real-estate taxes on a median home value of $231,600 — an effective property-tax rate of 1.254%. That ranks Michigan #14 of 51 states and the District of Columbia (1 = highest). This page carries all 83 Michigan county-equivalents in the Census data — 83 with a published effective rate — sortable by rate, taxes paid, home value, income, or five-year change. 2 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 Michigan: 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 Michigan sources. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates.
- Effective tax rate
- 1.254%
- Median real-estate taxes
- $2,904 ± $9
- Median home value
- $231,600
- Median household income
- $72,875
- National rank
- #14 of 51
- County-equivalents
- 83
Median real-estate taxes ÷ median home value — a ratio of two independently-estimated medians, not a statutory (millage) rate.
How property tax varies across Michigan
Across Michigan's 83 county-equivalents with a published rate, the effective property-tax rate runs from 1.831% in Ingham County down to 0.680% in Leelanau County — a 2.7× spread inside a single state, which is why a statewide average tells a buyer very little.
The largest median real-estate tax bill in Michigan is $5,678 in Washtenaw County, which ranks #3 of 83 by RATE — while the state's highest rate, 1.831%, is in Ingham County, where the median bill is $3,640. Dollars and rate are different questions and rank counties differently.
Measured against the national median effective rate of 0.937%, 70 of Michigan's 83 ranked counties sit above it and 13 below. Michigan as a whole ranks #14 of 51 (1 = highest).
Median home value statewide is $231,600, but within Michigan it ranges from $458,400 in Leelanau County to $107,200 in Gogebic 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 4% of median household income. That share is heaviest in Washtenaw County (6.4%) and lightest in Luce County (2.0%).
Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015–2019 and 2020–2024, median real-estate taxes rose by a statistically significant amount in 80 of Michigan's 83 counties with a comparable trend, fell significantly in 0, and showed no statistically significant change in 3.
Estimate a Michigan 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 Michigan county
All 83 Michigan county-equivalents in the Census data (83 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.
| Ingham County | 1.831% | $3,640 | $3,733 | $3,471 | $198,800 | $65,526 | 5.6% | #1 | #133 | +26.6% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 1.627% | $2,904 | $3,459 | $2,352 | $178,500 | $60,539 | 4.8% | #2 | #239 | +17.9% |
| Washtenaw County | 1.518% | $5,678 | $5,824 | $5,392 | $374,100 | $89,180 | 6.4% | #3 | #324 | +27.8% |
| Saginaw County | 1.495% | $2,284 | $2,397 | $2,159 | $152,800 | $60,622 | 3.8% | #4 | #349 | +27.6% |
| Bay County | 1.492% | $2,271 | $2,346 | $2,184 | $152,200 | $61,763 | 3.7% | #5 | #355 | +23.2% |
| Midland County | 1.471% | $2,875 | $2,942 | $2,792 | $195,400 | $77,705 | 3.7% | #6 | #376 | +16% |
| Calhoun County | 1.455% | $2,368 | $2,530 | $2,077 | $162,800 | $63,177 | 3.8% | #7 | #399 | +18.9% |
| Kalamazoo County | 1.447% | $3,498 | $3,621 | $3,264 | $241,800 | $72,532 | 4.8% | #8 | #413 | +28.9% |
| Gogebic County | 1.432% | $1,535 | $1,908 | $1,332 | $107,200 | $52,732 | 2.9% | #9 | #431 | +15.9% |
| Eaton County | 1.414% | $3,067 | $3,121 | $2,981 | $216,900 | $79,597 | 3.9% | #10 | #451 | +19.9% |
| Macomb County | 1.396% | $3,404 | $3,563 | $3,139 | $243,900 | $77,837 | 4.4% | #11 | #472 | +23.8% |
| Genesee County | 1.363% | $2,487 | $2,776 | $2,048 | $182,400 | $62,281 | 4.0% | #12 | #510 | +28.2% |
| Iron County | 1.345% | $1,467 | $1,730 | $1,319 | $109,100 | $55,940 | 2.6% | #13 | #535 | +17.3% |
| Isabella County | 1.336% | $2,276 | $2,300 | $2,243 | $170,400 | $55,237 | 4.1% | #14 | #548 | +16.5% |
| Shiawassee County | 1.312% | $2,251 | $2,310 | $2,166 | $171,600 | $67,404 | 3.3% | #15 | #581 | +27% |
| Oakland County | 1.272% | $4,371 | $4,597 | $3,961 | $343,600 | $97,760 | 4.5% | #16 | #635 | +20.1% |
| Lenawee County | 1.266% | $2,492 | $2,547 | $2,388 | $196,800 | $70,518 | 3.5% | #17 | #646 | +17.8% |
| Dickinson County | 1.265% | $1,940 | $2,241 | $1,736 | $153,300 | $65,156 | 3.0% | #18 | #648 | +20.5% |
| Chippewa County | 1.259% | $2,038 | $2,181 | $1,893 | $161,900 | $62,217 | 3.3% | #19 | #662 | +29.9% |
| Jackson County | 1.256% | $2,432 | $2,500 | $2,329 | $193,700 | $66,073 | 3.7% | #20 | #667 | +28.9% |
| Gratiot County | 1.238% | $1,826 | $1,868 | $1,764 | $147,500 | $63,556 | 2.9% | #21 | #687 | +26% |
| Van Buren County | 1.228% | $2,536 | $2,627 | $2,384 | $206,500 | $68,114 | 3.7% | #22 | #697 | +22.9% |
| Clinton County | 1.227% | $3,185 | $3,442 | $2,808 | $259,500 | $88,210 | 3.6% | #23 | #699 | +22% |
| Baraga County | 1.216% | $1,679 | $1,790 | $1,610 | $138,100 | $55,327 | 3.0% | #24 | #715 | +8.4% |
| Tuscola County | 1.212% | $1,812 | $1,904 | $1,717 | $149,500 | $63,811 | 2.8% | #25 | #722 | +19.6% |
| Huron County | 1.185% | $1,829 | $1,852 | $1,815 | $154,300 | $58,870 | 3.1% | #26 | #754 | +25.2% |
| Muskegon County | 1.184% | $2,348 | $2,425 | $2,237 | $198,300 | $65,024 | 3.6% | #27 | #756 | +24.2% |
| Houghton County | 1.162% | $1,858 | $2,108 | $1,653 | $159,900 | $58,899 | 3.1% | #28 | #793 | +22.1% |
| Ontonagon County | 1.158% | $1,294 | $1,459 | $1,214 | $111,700 | $54,398 | 2.4% | #29 | #801 | +20.7% |
| Monroe County | 1.157% | $2,648 | $2,758 | $2,473 | $228,900 | $77,335 | 3.4% | #30 | #804 | +28.2% |
| Branch County | 1.156% | $1,879 | $1,962 | $1,752 | $162,500 | $63,724 | 3.0% | #31 | #805 | +20.8% |
| Gladwin County | 1.150% | $1,867 | $1,891 | $1,839 | $162,300 | $55,349 | 3.4% | #32 | #813 | +28.6% |
| St. Clair County | 1.141% | $2,562 | $2,591 | $2,519 | $224,600 | $71,270 | 3.6% | #33 | #829 | +25.2% |
| Arenac County | 1.133% | $1,707 | $1,790 | $1,625 | $150,600 | $58,811 | 2.9% | #34 | #842 | +23.7% |
| Wexford County | 1.131% | $1,927 | $1,997 | $1,821 | $170,400 | $61,085 | 3.1% | #35 | #848 | +33.2% |
| Delta County | 1.127% | $1,771 | $1,827 | $1,701 | $157,100 | $57,809 | 3.1% | #36 | #851 | +13.5% |
| Ionia County | 1.127% | $2,237 | $2,304 | $2,114 | $198,500 | $75,611 | 3.0% | #37 | #852 | +28.7% |
| Clare County | 1.113% | $1,489 | $1,683 | $1,336 | $133,800 | $49,384 | 3.0% | #38 | #879 | +22.9% |
| Kent County | 1.110% | $3,217 | $3,338 | $2,992 | $289,900 | $82,631 | 3.9% | #39 | #881 | +26.6% |
| Newaygo County | 1.101% | $2,055 | $2,258 | $1,853 | $186,700 | $63,304 | 3.3% | #40 | #899 | +24% |
| St. Joseph County | 1.099% | $1,959 | $1,989 | $1,918 | $178,300 | $66,425 | 3.0% | #41 | #904 | +30.7% |
| Lake County | 1.087% | $1,456 | $1,695 | $1,287 | $133,900 | $50,805 | 2.9% | #42 | #930 | +20.7% |
| Berrien County | 1.083% | $2,429 | $2,536 | $2,275 | $224,300 | $65,425 | 3.7% | #43 | #937 | +27.8% |
| Allegan County | 1.080% | $2,884 | $2,950 | $2,789 | $267,100 | $83,283 | 3.5% | #44 | #946 | +27.6% |
| Mackinac County | 1.068% | $1,863 | $1,974 | $1,746 | $174,500 | $63,909 | 2.9% | #45 | #967 | +29.1% |
| Alpena County | 1.065% | $1,639 | $1,610 | $1,660 | $153,900 | $53,950 | 3.0% | #46 | #971 | +27.3% |
| Crawford County | 1.064% | $1,734 | $1,726 | $1,744 | $163,000 | $60,392 | 2.9% | #47 | #973 | +29.7% |
| Mason County | 1.063% | $2,334 | $2,381 | $2,280 | $219,600 | $64,748 | 3.6% | #48 | #977 | +24.9% |
| Barry County | 1.048% | $2,769 | $2,907 | $2,570 | $264,100 | $77,500 | 3.6% | #49 | #1006 | +35.1% |
| Manistee County | 1.042% | $1,898 | $2,016 | $1,773 | $182,200 | $63,516 | 3.0% | #50 | #1017 | +16.9% |
| Ottawa County | 1.024% | $3,313 | $3,408 | $3,163 | $323,400 | $90,502 | 3.7% | #51 | #1058 | +29.8% |
| Osceola County | 1.019% | $1,584 | $1,708 | $1,456 | $155,400 | $58,267 | 2.7% | #52 | #1068 | +22.1% |
| Menominee County | 1.013% | $1,537 | $1,766 | $1,367 | $151,800 | $56,435 | 2.7% | #53 | #1082 | +18.1% |
| Montcalm County | 1.011% | $1,876 | $1,976 | $1,748 | $185,500 | $67,344 | 2.8% | #54 | #1085 | +23.7% |
| Roscommon County | 1.011% | $1,604 | $1,732 | $1,507 | $158,700 | $55,246 | 2.9% | #55 | #1088 | +24.8% |
| Oceana County | 1.007% | $1,914 | $2,060 | $1,783 | $190,100 | $62,417 | 3.1% | #56 | #1101 | +25.8% |
| Keweenaw County | 0.995% | $1,689 | $2,087 | $1,373 | $169,800 | $52,583 | 3.2% | #57 | #1133 | +18.4% |
| Mecosta County | 0.994% | $1,778 | $1,917 | $1,613 | $178,900 | $60,951 | 2.9% | #58 | #1138 | +23.4% |
| Schoolcraft County | 0.992% | $1,407 | $1,461 | $1,366 | $141,800 | $56,782 | 2.5% | #59 | #1146 | +19.6% |
| Hillsdale County | 0.987% | $1,738 | $1,797 | $1,648 | $176,100 | $64,242 | 2.7% | #60 | #1158 | +23.4% |
| Missaukee County | 0.983% | $1,675 | $1,816 | $1,519 | $170,400 | $66,194 | 2.5% | #61 | #1167 | +30% |
| Luce County | 0.979% | $1,097 | $1,142 | $1,056 | $112,000 | $54,893 | 2.0% | #62 | #1179 | +6.7% |
| Marquette County | 0.974% | $2,109 | $2,350 | $1,849 | $216,500 | $65,429 | 3.2% | #63 | #1194 | +20.8% |
| Cass County | 0.971% | $2,116 | $2,229 | $1,971 | $218,000 | $70,443 | 3.0% | #64 | #1202 | +32.5% |
| Livingston County | 0.968% | $3,454 | $3,558 | $3,223 | $356,800 | $103,039 | 3.4% | #65 | #1205 | +23% |
| Iosco County | 0.956% | $1,359 | $1,452 | $1,289 | $142,200 | $50,066 | 2.7% | #66 | #1228 | +25.9% |
| Presque Isle County | 0.946% | $1,432 | $1,452 | $1,413 | $151,300 | $59,321 | 2.4% | #67 | #1251 | +17.3% |
| Ogemaw County | 0.945% | $1,464 | $1,581 | $1,364 | $154,900 | $54,666 | 2.7% | #68 | #1253 | +26.8% |
| Alger County | 0.940% | $1,656 | $1,764 | $1,549 | $176,200 | $61,286 | 2.7% | #69 | #1263 | +13.6% |
| Oscoda County | 0.938% | $1,177 | $1,201 | $1,152 | $125,500 | $49,515 | 2.4% | #70 | #1269 | +20.6% |
| Lapeer County | 0.921% | $2,202 | $2,324 | $1,980 | $239,000 | $77,306 | 2.9% | #71 | #1303 | +23.7% |
| Sanilac County | 0.903% | $1,520 | $1,566 | $1,485 | $168,300 | $58,863 | 2.6% | #72 | #1346 | +14.5% |
| Charlevoix County | 0.901% | $2,493 | $2,516 | $2,461 | $276,800 | $76,531 | 3.3% | #73 | #1353 | +31.6% |
| Grand Traverse County | 0.887% | $3,010 | $3,044 | $2,955 | $339,400 | $81,647 | 3.7% | #74 | #1383 | +18.2% |
| Cheboygan County | 0.885% | $1,704 | $1,686 | $1,733 | $192,500 | $62,875 | 2.7% | #75 | #1386 | +29.5% |
| Kalkaska County | 0.871% | $1,646 | $1,661 | $1,625 | $188,900 | $68,578 | 2.4% | #76 | #1416 | +27.9% |
| Montmorency County | 0.860% | $1,364 | $1,455 | $1,274 | $158,600 | $49,756 | 2.7% | #77 | #1442 | +19.4% |
| Antrim County | 0.844% | $2,157 | $2,251 | $2,022 | $255,500 | $72,054 | 3.0% | #78 | #1475 | +27.5% |
| Emmet County | 0.834% | $2,634 | $2,596 | $2,686 | $315,700 | $78,112 | 3.4% | #79 | #1499 | +30.4% |
| Alcona County | 0.824% | $1,341 | $1,345 | $1,338 | $162,800 | $54,993 | 2.4% | #80 | #1528 | +19.4% |
| Otsego County | 0.799% | $1,755 | $1,780 | $1,717 | $219,700 | $68,183 | 2.6% | #81 | #1592 | +17.9% |
| Benzie County | 0.792% | $2,262 | $2,200 | $2,363 | $285,700 | $74,834 | 3.0% | #82 | #1609 | +31.3% |
| Leelanau County | 0.680% | $3,118 | $2,948 | $3,384 | $458,400 | $99,422 | 3.1% | #83 | #1957 | +37.4% |
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 — 2 Michigan counties in depth
Full figures for the Michigan 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).
Wayne County 1.627% · median tax $2,904 · #239 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $2,904 ± $26
- With a mortgage
- $3,459 ± $40
- Without a mortgage
- $2,352 ± $38
- Median home value
- $178,500 ± $1,776
- Median household income
- $60,539 ± $602
- Taxes as share of income
- 4.8%
- Effective rate
- 1.627%
- Rank in Michigan
- #2 of 83
- National rank
- #239 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $180,000 home
- $2,929
Median real-estate taxes rose 17.9% over five years ($2,464 → $2,904) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.554 percentage points (2.181% → 1.627%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $113,000 → $178,500 (+58%), and the rate changed −0.554 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Wayne County:
- Oakland County, MI — 1.272%, median tax $4,371, 43 km away
- Monroe County, MI — 1.157%, median tax $2,648, 45 km away
- Washtenaw County, MI — 1.518%, median tax $5,678, 48 km away
- Macomb County, MI — 1.396%, median tax $3,404, 52 km away
- Livingston County, MI — 0.968%, median tax $3,454, 64 km away
- Lucas County, OH — 1.692%, median tax $2,773, 69 km away
Oakland County 1.272% · median tax $4,371 · #635 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $4,371 ± $39
- With a mortgage
- $4,597 ± $47
- Without a mortgage
- $3,961 ± $54
- Median home value
- $343,600 ± $2,730
- Median household income
- $97,760 ± $1,268
- Taxes as share of income
- 4.5%
- Effective rate
- 1.272%
- Rank in Michigan
- #16 of 83
- National rank
- #635 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $345,000 home
- $4,388
Median real-estate taxes rose 20.1% over five years ($3,638 → $4,371) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.227 percentage points (1.499% → 1.272%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $242,700 → $343,600 (+41.6%), and the rate changed −0.227 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Oakland County:
- Macomb County, MI — 1.396%, median tax $3,404, 39 km away
- Wayne County, MI — 1.627%, median tax $2,904, 43 km away
- Livingston County, MI — 0.968%, median tax $3,454, 44 km away
- Genesee County, MI — 1.363%, median tax $2,487, 48 km away
- Lapeer County, MI — 0.921%, median tax $2,202, 49 km away
- Washtenaw County, MI — 1.518%, median tax $5,678, 59 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 Michigan
Assessment, exemptions, appeals and payment are set by Michigan 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
- Property is assessed at 50% of its true cash value under Article IX §3 of the 1963 constitution. Since 1995 the taxable value actually taxed is the lesser of the current state equalized valuation or the prior year's taxable value minus losses multiplied by the lesser of 1.05 or the inflation rate, plus additions. On a transfer of ownership the cap is removed and taxable value resets to state equalized valuation the following year. source →
- Exemptions & credits
- Michigan's exemption programs include the Homeowner's Principal Residence Exemption; the Disabled Veterans Exemption for real property owned and used as a homestead by a disabled veteran or an un-remarried surviving spouse; the Poverty Exemption for the principal residence of persons whom the local unit judges unable to contribute to public charges by reason of poverty; and the Charitable Nonprofit Housing Exemption under MCL 211.7kk, for up to five years, for property intended for low-income occupancy. source →
- Appealing an assessment
- A valuation or exemption dispute must generally be protested to the local board of review before the Michigan Tax Tribunal takes jurisdiction. The Tribunal's jurisdiction is invoked by filing a written petition on or before May 31 of the tax year for commercial real, industrial real and developmental real property, and on or before July 31 for agricultural, residential and timber-cutover real property. Commercial and industrial real property may appeal directly without a board of review protest. source →
- Payment schedule & penalties
- Bills are issued as separate summer and winter levies collected by the township, city or county treasurer. On taxes voluntarily paid before February 15 the collecting unit may add a property tax administration fee of up to 1%. On taxes paid after February 14 a city or township may authorize a late penalty charge of 3% of the tax. Once returned as delinquent, a 4% county property tax administration fee plus 1% interest per month is added. source →
- Why rates vary within the state
- A millage reduction fraction is calculated each year for every local unit of government. For taxes levied after 1994 the numerator is the prior year's total taxable value minus losses multiplied by the inflation rate, and the denominator is the current year's total taxable value minus additions. The fraction may never exceed 1, so rising values force operating millage rates down unless voters approve otherwise. source →
- What makes this state's system distinctive
- Proposal A, approved by voters in 1994, replaced local school operating millages with a 6-mill State Education Tax and let local school districts levy up to 18 mills for operating purposes. The principal residence exemption, created under MCL 211.7cc and 211.7dd, exempts an owner's principal residence from that local school operating millage, up to 18 mills. It is claimed by filing an affidavit with the local assessor. 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 Michigan?
- Statewide, Michigan's effective property-tax rate is 1.254% — the state median real-estate taxes ($2,904) divided by the state median home value ($231,600), from the Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. The national figure is about 0.937%, which puts Michigan at #14 of 51 (1 = highest). Individual counties vary widely; the table above shows every one.
- Which Michigan county has the highest property taxes?
- By effective rate, Ingham County is highest in Michigan at 1.831% (median bill $3,640), and Leelanau County is lowest at 0.680% (median bill $3,118). 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 Michigan?
- Michigan's exemption programs include the Homeowner's Principal Residence Exemption; the Disabled Veterans Exemption for real property owned and used as a homestead by a disabled veteran or an un-remarried surviving spouse; the Poverty Exemption for the principal residence of persons whom the local unit judges unable to contribute to public charges by reason of poverty; and the Charitable Nonprofit Housing Exemption under MCL 211.7kk, for up to five years, for property intended for low-income occupancy. 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 Michigan?
- A valuation or exemption dispute must generally be protested to the local board of review before the Michigan Tax Tribunal takes jurisdiction. The Tribunal's jurisdiction is invoked by filing a written petition on or before May 31 of the tax year for commercial real, industrial real and developmental real property, and on or before July 31 for agricultural, residential and timber-cutover real property. Commercial and industrial real property may appeal directly without a board of review protest. 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 Michigan?
- Bills are issued as separate summer and winter levies collected by the township, city or county treasurer. On taxes voluntarily paid before February 15 the collecting unit may add a property tax administration fee of up to 1%. On taxes paid after February 14 a city or township may authorize a late penalty charge of 3% of the tax. Once returned as delinquent, a 4% county property tax administration fee plus 1% interest per month is added. If your taxes are paid through a mortgage escrow account, your servicer pays on this schedule on your behalf.
- How is property assessed in Michigan?
- Property is assessed at 50% of its true cash value under Article IX §3 of the 1963 constitution. Since 1995 the taxable value actually taxed is the lesser of the current state equalized valuation or the prior year's taxable value minus losses multiplied by the lesser of 1.05 or the inflation rate, plus additions. On a transfer of ownership the cap is removed and taxable value resets to state equalized valuation the following year. 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%; Michigan's statewide figure is 1.254%.