Cities With the Highest and Lowest Property Tax Burdens

Even after the mortgage is paid off, homeowners face ongoing property taxes across the United States. While senior citizens, owner-occupants, and other groups may receive preferential tax treatment in some jurisdictions, homeowners still pay anywhere from 1% to 10% of their income on property taxes. These taxes pay for local infrastructure and amenities – putting a dollar value on the local lifestyle – but not every household may use these benefits equally. Thus property taxes become an important consideration for those considering first-time homeownership or relocation alike.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 343 of the largest U.S. cities based on the percentage of homeowner income that goes to paying property taxes each year.

Key Findings

Homeowners in this city spend 10% of their income on property taxes. Paterson, NJ has the highest rate of real estate taxes being paid relative to the median household income for homeowners at 9.8%. Homeowners pay a median $9,779 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $2,869 and household income of $100,227.
New Jersey and Connecticut cities dominate the top 10. Including Paterson, New Jersey has three cities with some of the most expensive property taxes in the country. Newark homeowners pay a median of 6.1% of their income, or $6,833 annually. Jersey City follows with 6.0% of homeowner income going toward a $9,197 annual payment. Connecticut cities that made the top 10 include Bridgeport (7.4% of income paid to property taxes); Waterbury (7.1%); New Haven (5.6%); and Stamford (5.5%).
Floridians spent the highest portion of their income on property taxes in these cities. Davie homeowners spend a median 5.1% of their income on property taxes, most statewide. West Palm Beach residents have the second highest portion of their income going to property taxes at 4.9%, followed by Miami Gardens at 4.7%. Boca Raton has the highest annual property tax bills at a median $6,979, but this only accounts for 4.1% of the local homeowner’s income.
Alabama, Arizona cities post some of the lowest property tax burdens. Montgomery, AL has the lowest property taxes both relatively and absolutely, with 1.1% of homeowner income going to cover a $917 annual median bill. Homeowners are also among the least burdened by property taxes in Huntsville (1.3%) and Mobile (1.3%) in Alabama, and in Tempe (1.3%); Glendale (1.4%); and Chandler (1.5%) in Arizona.

Top 20 Cities With the Highest Property Tax Burdens

Cities are ranked based on the percentage of local homeowner income paid toward annual property taxes.

Paterson, New Jersey
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 9.76%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $9,779
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $100,227
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,869
Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 7.42%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $7,187
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $96,887
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,273
Waterbury, Connecticut
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 7.07%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $5,302
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $74,973
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,875
Newark, New Jersey
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 6.05%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $6,833
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $112,852
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,447
Jersey City, New Jersey
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 6.02%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $9,197
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $152,690
- Median monthly housing costs: $3,376
Richmond, California
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 6.00%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $7,752
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $129,155
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,893
Aurora, Illinois
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.83%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $6,399
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $109,738
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,996
Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.62%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $3,776
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $67,132
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,564
New Haven, Connecticut
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.57%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $6,745
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $121,153
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,141
Stamford, Connecticut
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.51%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $9,951
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $180,500
- Median monthly housing costs: $3,488
Hartford, Connecticut
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.50%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $4,451
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $80,959
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,984
Elgin, Illinois
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.46%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $6,595
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $120,773
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,020
Oakland, California
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.36%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $9,632
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $179,650
- Median monthly housing costs: $3,714
Edinburg, Texas
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.32%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $4,366
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $82,044
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,718
Georgetown, Texas
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.21%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $6,493
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $124,602
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,438
Conroe, Texas
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.14%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $5,866
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $114,220
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,453
Davie town, Florida
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.11%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $6,482
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $126,812
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,966
Grand Prairie, Texas
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.08%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $5,894
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $116,083
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,277
Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 5.05%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $8,719
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $172,680
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,586
Hollywood, Florida
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 4.98%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $5,410
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $108,570
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,652

Top 20 Cities With the Lowest Property Tax Burdens

Cities are ranked based on the percentage of local homeowner income paid toward annual property taxes.

Montgomery, Alabama
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.06%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $917
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $86,442
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,406
Huntsville, Alabama
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.26%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,631
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $129,243
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,748
Mobile, Alabama
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.33%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,086
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $81,435
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,464
Tempe, Arizona
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.34%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,893
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $141,615
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,947
Sunrise Manor, Nevada
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.39%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,233
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $88,497
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,608
Glendale, Arizona
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.40%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,543
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $110,487
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,801
Charleston, South Carolina
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.42%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $2,241
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $158,042
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,322
Mesa, Arizona
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.42%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,723
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $120,989
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,980
Lafayette, Louisiana
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.43%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,528
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $107,136
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,740
Chandler, Arizona
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.46%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $2,153
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $147,446
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,095
San Tan Valley, Arizona
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.46%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,506
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $102,935
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,936
Columbia, South Carolina
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.47%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,625
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $110,450
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,636
Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.51%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,966
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $130,102
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,227
Evansville, Indiana
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.55%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,244
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $80,033
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,215
Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.56%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,943
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $124,225
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,739
Gilbert town, Arizona
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.57%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $2,378
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $151,695
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,348
Phoenix, Arizona
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.58%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,919
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $121,674
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,934
Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.61%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,619
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $100,412
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,430
Peoria, Arizona
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.64%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $2,090
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $127,773
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,985
Surprise, Arizona
- Property taxes as a percentage of income: 1.66%
- Median annual property taxes paid: $1,870
- Median income of households with a mortgage: $112,665
- Median monthly housing costs: $2,004

Data and Methodology

The median annual real estate taxes paid is compared to the median household income for homeowners according to the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2024. Data was available for 343 cities with populations over 100,000.

Cities With the Highest and Lowest Property Tax Burdens – 2025 Study