Overview of Delaware Taxes
Delaware boasts the seventh lowest property tax rate of any state in the U.S. The average effective property tax rate is just 0.53%. That means that, on average, a home in the state of Delaware with a market value of $200,000 would have taxes of about $1,600 annually.
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To calculate the exact amount of property tax you will owe requires your property's assessed value and the property tax rates based on your property's address. Please note that we can only estimate your property tax based on median property taxes in your area. There are typically multiple rates in a given area, because your state, county, local schools and emergency responders each receive funding partly through these taxes. In our calculator, we take your home value and multiply that by your county's effective property tax rate. This is equal to the median property tax paid as a percentage of the median home value in your county.
Delaware Property Taxes
Delaware’s three counties are responsible for administering and collecting property taxes in the state. Rates vary between and within those counties. Below, we will take a closer look at rates and rules in Sussex, New Castle and Kent counties.
If you’re considering buying property in Delaware, you’ll want to use SmartAsset’s Delaware mortgage guide as a reference for information on rates and getting a mortgage in the First State.
A financial advisor can help you understand how homeownership can fit into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
How Delaware Property Taxes Work
Unlike most other states, local governments in Delaware do not reassess property values on a regular basis. Instead, all counties and cities base their property taxes on the values calculated the last time all property was reassessed.
This is called the reassessment year. For example, the Kent County reassessment year is 1987. In New Castle County, the reassessment year is 1983. In Sussex County, the reassessment year is 1974. Municipalities also have their own assessments, although some simply use the county assessment. Assessed values are based on the market value as of that reassessment year. In Kent County, for example, assessed values are equal to 60% of the 1987 market value.
If a homeowner makes additions to a property or builds a new structure on the lot, the value is reassessed. Even in those cases, however, the assessor does not try to determine current value, rather what the value would have been in the reassessment year. As you can imagine, home prices in the reassessment years for each county were significantly lower than they are now. That means assessed values are a fraction of current market values.
Delaware Property Tax Rates
Property tax rates in Delaware are largely affected by the state’s reassessment system. Areas like Sussex County, which has not had a reassessment in 45 years, may have higher rates because assessed values are so low.
It is helpful, therefore, to look at effective tax rates. Effective tax rates are annual taxes paid as a percentage of current market value. The table below shows the effective tax rates, median home values and median annual property tax payments for all three Delaware counties.
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New Castle County
While New Castle County has the highest property tax rate of Delaware’s three counties, property taxes are still quite low when compared nationwide. The median effective tax rate in New Castle County is about 0.85%. That's more than double the rate in Sussex County. Even so, it means that property taxes on a $200,000 home would be just $1,700 annually.
In Wilmington, the largest city in the state, the property tax rate is $1.995 per $100 of the assessed value of a property. However, assessed value is just a fraction of current market value, so the effective tax rate in the city is much lower.
The city of Wilmington also offers a property tax exemption for senior citizens. Seniors can claim an exemption of up to $715.64 annually and may also receive a discount on their sewer and water bills. Qualifying seniors must have a maximum income of $19,000 for married couples or $15,000 for singles, excluding Social Security income.
Sussex County
Sussex County has some of the lowest property tax rates, not just in the state of Delaware, but in the entire country. In fact, a typical Sussex County homeowner pays just $1,120 annually in property taxes, which comes in at about one-third of the U.S. average.
The median home value in Sussex County is about $269,700, so that makes the median effective property tax rate in Sussex County 0.42%.
Rates vary within Sussex County by school district. The low rate is $3.035 per $100 of assessed value in the Indian River School District.
Kent County
The average effective property tax rate in Kent County is about 0.51%. That means a homeowner with a home worth $150,000 can expect to pay $840 annually in property taxes.
It's important to note, however, that actual taxes may vary from the expected amount. That’s because assessed values in Kent County are equal to 60% of the market value in 1987. Since prices have fluctuated significantly since then, taxes may differ between two homes with the same current value that reside the same tax district.
