What is the average property tax rate in Washington?

Statewide, Washington's effective property-tax rate is 0.807% — the state median real-estate taxes ($4,556) divided by the state median home value ($564,600), from the Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. The national figure is about 0.937%, which puts Washington at #25 of 51 (1 = highest). Individual counties vary widely; the table above shows every one.

Which Washington county has the highest property taxes?

By effective rate, Pierce County is highest in Washington at 0.906% (median bill $4,770), and San Juan County is lowest at 0.532% (median bill $4,253). 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 Washington?

The senior citizens and people with disabilities exemption is available to those at least 61 years old, retired from regular gainful employment due to a disability, or veterans with a combined service-connected evaluation rating of 80% or higher or a total disability rating, whose combined disposable income is at or below Income Threshold 3 for their county. Deferrals exist for homeowners with income of $57,000 or less. 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 Washington?

Appeals of assessed valuation go to the county board of equalization. The deadline is the latter of July 1 of the assessment year, or within 30 days of when the Change of Value Notice was issued; certain counties extend that to 60 days. Boards must issue a written decision within 45 days, appealable to the state Board of Tax Appeals within 30 calendar days of the postmarked decision. 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 Washington?

Taxes are paid to the county treasurer. After April 30 taxes are delinquent and subject to 1% interest per month; if still delinquent June 1, a 3% penalty applies. If the first half is paid by April 30 but the second half is not paid by October 31, the unpaid portion is subject to 1% monthly interest, and any taxes owing December 1 face an additional 8% penalty. If your taxes are paid through a mortgage escrow account, your servicer pays on this schedule on your behalf.

How is property assessed in Washington?

County assessors value property and county treasurers collect the tax; the Department of Revenue oversees administration but does not collect. State law requires county assessors to appraise all property at 100% of its true and fair market value in money, according to the highest and best use of the property, using one or more of three professional appraisal methods. 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.

Washington property taxes by county

Statewide effective rate 0.807% · national rank #25 of 51 (1 = highest) · 39 county-equivalents · U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Across Washington, the median owner-occupied home pays $4,556 a year in real-estate taxes on a median home value of $564,600 — an effective property-tax rate of 0.807%. That ranks Washington #25 of 51 states and the District of Columbia (1 = highest). This page carries all 39 Washington county-equivalents in the Census data — 39 with a published effective rate — sortable by rate, taxes paid, home value, income, or five-year change. 6 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 Washington: 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 Washington sources. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates.

Statewide figures Washington · ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Effective tax rate: 0.807%
Median real-estate taxes: $4,556 ± $16
Median home value: $564,600
Median household income: $98,141
National rank: #25 of 51
County-equivalents: 39

How property tax varies across Washington

Across Washington's 39 county-equivalents with a published rate, the effective property-tax rate runs from 0.906% in Pierce County down to 0.532% in San Juan County — a 1.7× spread inside a single state, which is why a statewide average tells a buyer very little.

The largest median real-estate tax bill in Washington is $7,114 in King County, which ranks #6 of 39 by RATE — while the state's highest rate, 0.906%, is in Pierce County, where the median bill is $4,770. Dollars and rate are different questions and rank counties differently.

Measured against the national median effective rate of 0.937%, 0 of Washington's 39 ranked counties sit above it and 39 below. Washington as a whole ranks #25 of 51 (1 = highest).

Median home value statewide is $564,600, but within Washington it ranges from $859,900 in King County to $239,200 in Garfield 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 4.6% of median household income. That share is heaviest in King County (5.7%) and lightest in Garfield County (2.4%).

Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015–2019 and 2020–2024, median real-estate taxes rose by a statistically significant amount in 38 of Washington's 39 counties with a comparable trend, fell significantly in 0, and showed no statistically significant change in 1.

Estimate a Washington property tax bill

Washington property-tax estimator

County

Home value (USD)

Estimated annual property tax: $4,757

Pierce County, WA effective rate 0.906% × home value $525,000

See full Pierce County property-tax data →

A median-based estimate, not a bill: home value × the county effective rate. It cannot know your exemptions, assessment ratio, special districts, or homestead caps.

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 Washington county

All 39 Washington county-equivalents in the Census data (39 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.

Filter counties

Washington county-equivalents by effective property-tax rate (highest first). Median taxes, home value and income are U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates; the five-year change compares the non-overlapping 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 periods.

Pierce County	0.906%	$4,770	$4,740	$4,855	$526,600	$99,564	4.8%	#1	#1338	+37.1%
Thurston County	0.876%	$4,209	$4,232	$4,158	$480,300	$96,563	4.4%	#2	#1405	+36.8%
Walla Walla County	0.854%	$3,492	$3,559	$3,368	$408,900	$74,202	4.7%	#3	#1458	+41.3%
Columbia County	0.849%	$2,303	$2,232	$2,431	$271,200	$71,810	3.2%	#4	#1468	+27.6%
Spokane County	0.836%	$3,434	$3,487	$3,332	$410,700	$78,582	4.4%	#5	#1495	+38.6%
King County	0.827%	$7,114	$7,061	$7,245	$859,900	$124,746	5.7%	#6	#1512	+44.3%
Clark County	0.820%	$4,290	$4,249	$4,386	$522,900	$97,536	4.4%	#7	#1537	+33.3%
Cowlitz County	0.816%	$3,245	$3,358	$3,005	$397,500	$76,531	4.2%	#8	#1540	+50.2%
Grays Harbor County	0.800%	$2,512	$2,683	$2,248	$314,000	$64,414	3.9%	#9	#1587	+38.6%
Yakima County	0.794%	$2,463	$2,655	$2,092	$310,100	$70,656	3.5%	#10	#1601	+37.7%
Skagit County	0.790%	$4,308	$4,306	$4,310	$545,100	$89,263	4.8%	#11	#1616	+43.1%
Adams County	0.786%	$2,147	$2,500	$1,840	$273,300	$66,136	3.3%	#12	#1626	+25.6%
Grant County	0.781%	$2,339	$2,626	$1,726	$299,500	$73,267	3.2%	#13	#1639	+22.3%
Benton County	0.776%	$3,163	$3,206	$3,077	$407,800	$89,874	3.5%	#14	#1656	+38.4%
Kitsap County	0.771%	$4,279	$4,237	$4,397	$555,100	$104,158	4.1%	#15	#1667	+38.5%
Snohomish County	0.771%	$5,364	$5,449	$5,128	$696,000	$111,246	4.8%	#16	#1669	+39.4%
Douglas County	0.767%	$3,319	$3,535	$2,821	$432,500	$80,363	4.1%	#17	#1684	+40.8%
Okanogan County	0.761%	$2,281	$2,507	$2,000	$299,800	$63,207	3.6%	#18	#1697	+42.7%
Whitman County	0.748%	$2,691	$2,928	$2,378	$359,600	$55,406	4.9%	#19	#1731	+22.7%
Mason County	0.730%	$3,006	$3,019	$2,980	$411,800	$83,270	3.6%	#20	#1793	+40.5%
Franklin County	0.725%	$2,750	$2,840	$2,575	$379,300	$86,714	3.2%	#21	#1810	+27%
Clallam County	0.723%	$3,050	$3,064	$3,035	$421,800	$70,370	4.3%	#22	#1814	+37%
Asotin County	0.719%	$2,340	$2,275	$2,432	$325,600	$72,283	3.2%	#23	#1828	+20.1%
Chelan County	0.715%	$3,503	$3,577	$3,386	$490,100	$82,381	4.3%	#25	#1834	+40.5%
Pacific County	0.715%	$2,395	$2,635	$2,056	$334,800	$67,081	3.6%	#24	#1833	+31.8%
Jefferson County	0.714%	$3,818	$3,670	$3,978	$535,000	$74,048	5.2%	#27	#1840	+39.1%
Kittitas County	0.714%	$3,552	$3,529	$3,581	$497,400	$73,804	4.8%	#26	#1836	+51.4%
Whatcom County	0.698%	$4,087	$4,135	$3,987	$585,800	$81,784	5.0%	#28	#1904	+44.1%
Island County	0.674%	$3,999	$3,918	$4,138	$593,300	$90,551	4.4%	#29	#1982	+39%
Lewis County	0.669%	$2,581	$2,641	$2,479	$385,800	$74,796	3.5%	#30	#2001	+43.2%
Skamania County	0.667%	$3,532	$3,745	$3,256	$529,500	$93,265	3.8%	#31	#2007	+55.1%
Garfield County	0.658%	$1,574	$1,885	$1,436	$239,200	$64,884	2.4%	#32	#2045	+8.9%
Ferry County	0.635%	$1,801	$1,603	$1,905	$283,400	$55,614	3.2%	#33	#2128	+46.8%
Klickitat County	0.621%	$2,639	$2,666	$2,603	$425,300	$71,042	3.7%	#34	#2175	+46.4%
Wahkiakum County	0.603%	$2,392	$2,770	$2,146	$396,800	$62,653	3.8%	#35	#2252	+40.9%
Lincoln County	0.596%	$1,744	$1,866	$1,595	$292,800	$71,512	2.4%	#36	#2288	+28.8%
Stevens County	0.589%	$2,065	$2,238	$1,903	$350,600	$69,327	3.0%	#37	#2305	+31.3%
Pend Oreille County	0.582%	$2,142	$2,085	$2,197	$367,900	$67,436	3.2%	#38	#2332	+36.8%
San Juan County	0.532%	$4,253	$3,993	$4,552	$799,200	$84,800	5.0%	#39	#2528	+38.9%

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 — 6 Washington counties in depth

Full figures for the Washington 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).

Pierce County 0.906% · median tax $4,770 · #1338 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $4,770 ± $47
With a mortgage: $4,740 ± $57
Without a mortgage: $4,855 ± $92
Median home value: $526,600 ± $5,524
Median household income: $99,564 ± $1,209
Taxes as share of income: 4.8%
Effective rate: 0.906%
Rank in Washington: #1 of 39
National rank: #1338 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $525,000 home: $4,757

Median real-estate taxes rose 37.1% over five years ($3,480 → $4,770) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.242 percentage points (1.148% → 0.906%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $303,200 → $526,600 (+73.7%), and the rate changed −0.242 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Pierce County:

Thurston County, WA — 0.876%, median tax $4,209, 53 km away
King County, WA — 0.827%, median tax $7,114, 54 km away
Lewis County, WA — 0.669%, median tax $2,581, 55 km away
Kitsap County, WA — 0.771%, median tax $4,279, 75 km away
Mason County, WA — 0.730%, median tax $3,006, 84 km away
Cowlitz County, WA — 0.816%, median tax $3,245, 103 km away

Spokane County 0.836% · median tax $3,434 · #1495 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $3,434 ± $41
With a mortgage: $3,487 ± $54
Without a mortgage: $3,332 ± $75
Median home value: $410,700 ± $4,858
Median household income: $78,582 ± $1,591
Taxes as share of income: 4.4%
Effective rate: 0.836%
Rank in Washington: #5 of 39
National rank: #1495 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $410,000 home: $3,428

Median real-estate taxes rose 38.6% over five years ($2,478 → $3,434) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.266 percentage points (1.102% → 0.836%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $224,800 → $410,700 (+82.7%), and the rate changed −0.266 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Spokane County:

Kootenai County, ID — 0.437%, median tax $2,267, 53 km away
Benewah County, ID — 0.492%, median tax $1,443, 73 km away
Lincoln County, WA — 0.596%, median tax $1,744, 76 km away
Whitman County, WA — 0.748%, median tax $2,691, 80 km away
Stevens County, WA — 0.589%, median tax $2,065, 92 km away
Bonner County, ID — 0.379%, median tax $1,847, 97 km away

King County 0.827% · median tax $7,114 · #1512 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $7,114 ± $40
With a mortgage: $7,061 ± $54
Without a mortgage: $7,245 ± $77
Median home value: $859,900 ± $4,853
Median household income: $124,746 ± $968
Taxes as share of income: 5.7%
Effective rate: 0.827%
Rank in Washington: #6 of 39
National rank: #1512 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $860,000 home: $7,112

Median real-estate taxes rose 44.3% over five years ($4,930 → $7,114) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.07 percentage points (0.898% → 0.827%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $549,200 → $859,900 (+56.6%), and the rate changed −0.07 percentage points.

Nearest counties to King County:

Pierce County, WA — 0.906%, median tax $4,770, 54 km away
Snohomish County, WA — 0.771%, median tax $5,364, 63 km away
Kitsap County, WA — 0.771%, median tax $4,279, 63 km away
Kittitas County, WA — 0.714%, median tax $3,552, 96 km away
Island County, WA — 0.674%, median tax $3,999, 97 km away
Thurston County, WA — 0.876%, median tax $4,209, 97 km away

Clark County 0.820% · median tax $4,290 · #1537 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $4,290 ± $45
With a mortgage: $4,249 ± $56
Without a mortgage: $4,386 ± $81
Median home value: $522,900 ± $7,405
Median household income: $97,536 ± $1,952
Taxes as share of income: 4.4%
Effective rate: 0.820%
Rank in Washington: #7 of 39
National rank: #1537 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $525,000 home: $4,305

Median real-estate taxes rose 33.3% over five years ($3,218 → $4,290) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.164 percentage points (0.984% → 0.820%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $327,000 → $522,900 (+59.9%), and the rate changed −0.164 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Clark County:

Multnomah County, OR — 0.959%, median tax $5,301, 26 km away
Cowlitz County, WA — 0.816%, median tax $3,245, 50 km away
Columbia County, OR — 0.744%, median tax $3,137, 50 km away
Skamania County, WA — 0.667%, median tax $3,532, 50 km away
Washington County, OR — 0.838%, median tax $4,929, 53 km away
Hood River County, OR — 0.533%, median tax $3,515, 71 km away

Kitsap County 0.771% · median tax $4,279 · #1667 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $4,279 ± $67
With a mortgage: $4,237 ± $80
Without a mortgage: $4,397 ± $148
Median home value: $555,100 ± $8,124
Median household income: $104,158 ± $1,592
Taxes as share of income: 4.1%
Effective rate: 0.771%
Rank in Washington: #15 of 39
National rank: #1667 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $555,000 home: $4,279

Median real-estate taxes rose 38.5% over five years ($3,089 → $4,279) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.165 percentage points (0.936% → 0.771%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $329,900 → $555,100 (+68.3%), and the rate changed −0.165 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Kitsap County:

Mason County, WA — 0.730%, median tax $3,006, 51 km away
Island County, WA — 0.674%, median tax $3,999, 58 km away
King County, WA — 0.827%, median tax $7,114, 63 km away
Jefferson County, WA — 0.714%, median tax $3,818, 68 km away
Pierce County, WA — 0.906%, median tax $4,770, 75 km away
Thurston County, WA — 0.876%, median tax $4,209, 79 km away

Snohomish County 0.771% · median tax $5,364 · #1669 nationally

Median taxes — all owner-occupied: $5,364 ± $64
With a mortgage: $5,449 ± $77
Without a mortgage: $5,128 ± $112
Median home value: $696,000 ± $4,737
Median household income: $111,246 ± $1,305
Taxes as share of income: 4.8%
Effective rate: 0.771%
Rank in Washington: #16 of 39
National rank: #1669 of 3,135
Estimated tax on a $695,000 home: $5,358

Median real-estate taxes rose 39.4% over five years ($3,848 → $5,364) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.184 percentage points (0.955% → 0.771%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $403,000 → $696,000 (+72.7%), and the rate changed −0.184 percentage points.

Nearest counties to Snohomish County:

Skagit County, WA — 0.790%, median tax $4,308, 49 km away
King County, WA — 0.827%, median tax $7,114, 63 km away
Island County, WA — 0.674%, median tax $3,999, 68 km away
Kitsap County, WA — 0.771%, median tax $4,279, 81 km away
Whatcom County, WA — 0.698%, median tax $4,087, 88 km away
Chelan County, WA — 0.715%, median tax $3,503, 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 Washington

Assessment, exemptions, appeals and payment are set by Washington 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: County assessors value property and county treasurers collect the tax; the Department of Revenue oversees administration but does not collect. State law requires county assessors to appraise all property at 100% of its true and fair market value in money, according to the highest and best use of the property, using one or more of three professional appraisal methods. source →
Exemptions & credits: The senior citizens and people with disabilities exemption is available to those at least 61 years old, retired from regular gainful employment due to a disability, or veterans with a combined service-connected evaluation rating of 80% or higher or a total disability rating, whose combined disposable income is at or below Income Threshold 3 for their county. Deferrals exist for homeowners with income of $57,000 or less. source →
Appealing an assessment: Appeals of assessed valuation go to the county board of equalization. The deadline is the latter of July 1 of the assessment year, or within 30 days of when the Change of Value Notice was issued; certain counties extend that to 60 days. Boards must issue a written decision within 45 days, appealable to the state Board of Tax Appeals within 30 calendar days of the postmarked decision. source →
Payment schedule & penalties: Taxes are paid to the county treasurer. After April 30 taxes are delinquent and subject to 1% interest per month; if still delinquent June 1, a 3% penalty applies. If the first half is paid by April 30 but the second half is not paid by October 31, the unpaid portion is subject to 1% monthly interest, and any taxes owing December 1 face an additional 8% penalty. source →
Why rates vary within the state: The 1% levy limit restricts increases in taxes by individual taxing districts to 1% annually, plus revenue generated by new construction, improvements to property, state assessed utility value increases, and wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal facilities newly added to the rolls. A district must hold a public meeting and adopt a resolution before taking the increase. Most voter-approved measures are not subject to the limit. source →
What makes this state's system distinctive: The 1% limit applies to the maximum increase in tax revenue an individual taxing district can levy, not to individual homes. Taxes on a single home can increase by more or less than 1% depending on how its assessed value changes relative to other properties in the district; a home rising slower than the district average can see its bill fall. 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.

Official Washington tax authority

Property tax in Washington is assessed and collected locally. For an individual property's assessed value, exemptions, and bill, use the county assessor or appraisal district. For statewide rules and forms:

Washington State Department of Revenue →

This state link is hand-verified. Per-county assessor URLs are not published (no verified nationwide source exists) and are never guessed.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average property tax rate in Washington?: Statewide, Washington's effective property-tax rate is 0.807% — the state median real-estate taxes ($4,556) divided by the state median home value ($564,600), from the Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. The national figure is about 0.937%, which puts Washington at #25 of 51 (1 = highest). Individual counties vary widely; the table above shows every one.
Which Washington county has the highest property taxes?: By effective rate, Pierce County is highest in Washington at 0.906% (median bill $4,770), and San Juan County is lowest at 0.532% (median bill $4,253). 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 Washington?: The senior citizens and people with disabilities exemption is available to those at least 61 years old, retired from regular gainful employment due to a disability, or veterans with a combined service-connected evaluation rating of 80% or higher or a total disability rating, whose combined disposable income is at or below Income Threshold 3 for their county. Deferrals exist for homeowners with income of $57,000 or less. 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 Washington?: Appeals of assessed valuation go to the county board of equalization. The deadline is the latter of July 1 of the assessment year, or within 30 days of when the Change of Value Notice was issued; certain counties extend that to 60 days. Boards must issue a written decision within 45 days, appealable to the state Board of Tax Appeals within 30 calendar days of the postmarked decision. 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 Washington?: Taxes are paid to the county treasurer. After April 30 taxes are delinquent and subject to 1% interest per month; if still delinquent June 1, a 3% penalty applies. If the first half is paid by April 30 but the second half is not paid by October 31, the unpaid portion is subject to 1% monthly interest, and any taxes owing December 1 face an additional 8% penalty. If your taxes are paid through a mortgage escrow account, your servicer pays on this schedule on your behalf.
How is property assessed in Washington?: County assessors value property and county treasurers collect the tax; the Department of Revenue oversees administration but does not collect. State law requires county assessors to appraise all property at 100% of its true and fair market value in money, according to the highest and best use of the property, using one or more of three professional appraisal methods. 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%; Washington's statewide figure is 0.807%.