Best States for Property Taxes

April 23, 2025 – More than state income taxes, those levied on your property can be one of the most problematic for retirees. That’s because they carry no direct relation to one’s ability to pay – you might have a valuable home,but little savings and income. Property taxes still have to be paid, although many states and municipalities have small discounts for seniors and low income people).

A report by property-data firm ATTOM analyzed taxes and home values in 2024. Here is what they reported.

States in the Northeast and others like Texas are famous for having high property taxes. This comes in part because the homes there are worth more, although the underlying rates are the primary problem. Advocates argue that higher taxes provide better services, and that is usually true.

The States with the Lowest Property Taxes

Eight of the 10 states with the lowest effective tax rates for single-family homes were in the South and West of the country. Hawaii had the lowest rate (0.33 percent), followed by Idaho, Arizona, and Alabama all at (0.41 percent), and Delaware (0.43 percent).

Rounding out the 10 states with the lowest rates were Utah (0.45 percent), Tennessee (0.46 percent), West Virginia (0.47 percent), Nevada (0.48 percent), and Wyoming (0.49 percent).

And Those with the Highest

States in the Northeast have the highest property taxes in the country. Illinois, New Jersey, and Connecticut are the highest.

See the full article for more detail and a map of the U.S. showing taxes across the country.

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