North Carolina property tax
South region · 100 counties · Census ACS 2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year)
North Carolina has a population-weighted effective property-tax rate of 0.73% of home value (Census ACS 2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year)) — -32.6% versus the US average of 1.08%, below the US average effective rate. The typical bill is about $1,965 on a median home worth around $274,239. North Carolina ranks #35 of 51 states by property-tax rate (1 = highest). Within the state, Northampton County is highest at 1.21% and Jackson County is lowest at 0.37%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates. Data as of June 2026.
North Carolina property tax at a glance
| Figure | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Effective property-tax rate (pop-weighted) | 0.73% |
| Median-of-counties rate | 0.69% |
| Typical median bill | $1,965 |
| Typical median home value | $274,239 |
| Versus US average rate | -32.6% (US avg 1.08%) |
| State rank (1 = highest of 51) | #35 |
| Counties | 100 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates. Data as of June 2026.
North Carolina counties ranked by property-tax rate
Counties in North Carolina, highest effective rate first (top 40 of 100 shown). Counties with their own page are linked.
| Rank | County | Median tax/yr | Median home value | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northampton County | $1,232 | $102,200 | 1.21% |
| 2 | Halifax County | $1,163 | $102,500 | 1.14% |
| 3 | Washington County | $1,202 | $107,000 | 1.12% |
| 4 | Edgecombe County | $1,282 | $116,800 | 1.10% |
| 5 | Martin County | $1,176 | $109,900 | 1.07% |
| 6 | Cumberland County | $1,823 | $183,700 | 0.99% |
| 7 | Hertford County | $1,083 | $111,100 | 0.97% |
| 8 | Orange County | $4,105 | $428,500 | 0.96% |
| 9 | Anson County | $1,113 | $119,300 | 0.93% |
| 10 | Richmond County | $1,122 | $120,800 | 0.93% |
| 11 | Scotland County | $999 | $109,900 | 0.91% |
| 12 | Bladen County | $1,137 | $125,800 | 0.90% |
| 13 | Robeson County | $799 | $88,600 | 0.90% |
| 14 | Tyrrell County | $1,233 | $138,400 | 0.89% |
| 15 | Lenoir County | $985 | $111,400 | 0.88% |
| 16 | Guilford County | $2,075 | $234,900 | 0.88% |
| 17 | Columbus County | $1,120 | $128,300 | 0.87% |
| 18 | Greene County | $990 | $114,000 | 0.87% |
| 19 | Forsyth County | $1,934 | $227,800 | 0.85% |
| 20 | Pitt County | $1,649 | $194,300 | 0.85% |
| 21 | Warren County | $1,059 | $124,700 | 0.85% |
| 22 | Durham County | $2,951 | $351,700 | 0.84% |
| 23 | Wilson County | $1,428 | $171,800 | 0.83% |
| 24 | Sampson County | $1,051 | $128,400 | 0.82% |
| 25 | Vance County | $1,179 | $146,300 | 0.81% |
| 26 | Lee County | $1,707 | $213,800 | 0.80% |
| 27 | Bertie County | $764 | $95,800 | 0.80% |
| 28 | Gaston County | $1,872 | $235,000 | 0.80% |
| 29 | Rockingham County | $1,230 | $156,000 | 0.79% |
| 30 | Gates County | $1,273 | $163,900 | 0.78% |
| 31 | Nash County | $1,320 | $171,100 | 0.77% |
| 32 | Cabarrus County | $2,429 | $318,600 | 0.76% |
| 33 | Jones County | $926 | $122,600 | 0.76% |
| 34 | Mecklenburg County | $2,780 | $371,200 | 0.75% |
| 35 | Harnett County | $1,642 | $220,700 | 0.74% |
| 36 | Wayne County | $1,210 | $162,700 | 0.74% |
| 37 | Duplin County | $912 | $123,200 | 0.74% |
| 38 | Randolph County | $1,236 | $171,600 | 0.72% |
| 39 | Franklin County | $1,732 | $240,900 | 0.72% |
| 40 | Granville County | $1,694 | $235,700 | 0.72% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates. Data as of June 2026.
How North Carolina compares with other states
| State | Effective rate | Median bill | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina (this state) | 0.73% | $1,965 | -32.6% |
| California | 0.72% | $5,368 | -33.3% |
| Mississippi | 0.74% | $1,181 | -31.0% |
| New Mexico | 0.75% | $1,717 | -30.3% |
| Indiana | 0.77% | $1,614 | -28.4% |
| Montana | 0.78% | $2,616 | -28.1% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the property-tax rate in North Carolina?
North Carolina's population-weighted effective property-tax rate is 0.73% of home value (Census ACS 2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year)), -32.6% versus the US average of 1.08%. The typical bill works out to about $1,965 on a $274,239 home. It ranks #35 of 51 states (1 = highest).
Which North Carolina county has the highest property tax?
In North Carolina, Northampton County has the highest effective property-tax rate at 1.21% (median tax $1,232). The lowest is Jackson County at 0.37%. Source: Census ACS 2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year).
Is property tax high in North Carolina?
North Carolina is low on property tax at a 0.73% effective rate, below the US average effective rate. The median North Carolina home is worth about $274,239 and the median bill is around $1,965. Rates vary widely between its 100 counties.
How is the North Carolina property-tax rate calculated?
It is a population-weighted average of each county's effective rate (median real estate taxes paid / median home value), using Census ACS 2023 5-year tables B25103 and B25077. A median-of-counties rate (0.69%) is also computed as a check. These are area medians, not statutory mill rates.
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Source & accuracy
State figures aggregate county-level Census ACS (2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year)) data (median real estate taxes paid B25103, median home value B25077), population-weighted. US public domain. These are area medians, not statutory rates or your individual bill — your property tax depends on your assessed value, exemptions and local levy. Verify with your county assessor. See our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20