New Jersey and New York Counties Rank Highest in Property Tax, Louisiana Parishes Lowest

4 min readBy: Gerald Prante

Download Fiscal Fact No. 198

Fiscal Fact No. 198

Introduction

The highest median property taxes on owner-occupied homes are paid in counties in New York and New Jersey while the lowest taxes are found in Louisiana parishes, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS).

The Census Bureau published new data on residential, owner-occupied property taxes along with other data on income and other demographic data. The new release covers all geographic types with populations of 20,000 or more, but our analysis is restricted to counties, tallying all the property taxA property tax is primarily levied on immovable property like land and buildings, as well as on tangible personal property that is movable, like vehicles and equipment. Property taxes are the single largest source of state and local revenue in the U.S. and help fund schools, roads, police, and other services. levied in those counties, including those levied by school districts and any other entity with taxing authority.

To prevent small sample sizes in smaller counties from creating inaccurate impressions, Census presents this data only in three-year averages. To see data from just the most recent year, 2008, consult TaxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. Foundation Fiscal Fact, No. 192, published in September, which was based on Census data for counties with populations of 65,000 or more.

In What Counties Are Property Taxes Highest (2006-08)?

Tables 1-3 show which counties rank in the top 10 in property taxes on homeowners by three metrics: (1) median real estate taxes paid, (2) median real estate taxes as a percentage of median home value, and (3) median real estate taxes as a percentage of median homeowner income.

Table 1

Top Ten Counties for Median Real Estate Tax (Owner-Occupied)

Three-Year Average of 2006-08 in Counties with Populations of 20,000 or more

County

Median Annual
Tax Payment

Rank

Westchester County, New York

$ 8,404

1

Hunterdon County, New Jersey

$ 8,347

2

Nassau County, New York

$ 8,306

3

Bergen County, New Jersey

$ 7,997

4

Rockland County, New York

$ 7,798

5

Essex County, New Jersey

$ 7,676

6

Somerset County, New Jersey

$ 7,676

6

Morris County, New Jersey

$ 7,310

8

Passaic County, New Jersey

$ 7,095

9

Union County, New Jersey

$ 7,058

10

National median

$ 1,854

–

Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Tax Foundation

Table 2

Top Ten Counties for Median Real Estate Tax as a Percentage
of Median Home Value (Owner-Occupied)

Three-Year Average of 2006-08 in Counties with
Populations of 20,000 or more

County

Median Real
Estate Taxes
Paid

Median Value
Owner-Occupied
Housing Units

Tax as
Percentage of
Home Value

Rank

Orleans County, New York

$ 2,506

$ 82,400

3.04%

1

Niagara County, New York

$ 2,799

$ 94,900

2.95%

2

Allegany County, New York

$ 1,867

$ 63,900

2.92%

3

Monroe County, New York

$ 3,644

$ 126,300

2.89%

4

Wayne County, New York

$ 2,996

$ 105,300

2.85%

5

Montgomery County, New York

$ 2,474

$ 89,900

2.75%

6

Genesee County, New York

$ 2,686

$ 98,400

2.73%

7

Cortland County, New York

$ 2,482

$ 91,700

2.71%

8

Chautauqua County, New York

$ 2,058

$ 77,400

2.66%

9

Seneca County, New York

$ 2,351

$ 88,800

2.65%

10

National median

$ 1,854

$ 192,400

0.96%

–

Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Tax Foundation

Table 3

Top Ten Counties for Median Real Estate Tax as a Percentage
of Homeowner Income

Three-Year Average of 2006-08 in Counties with
Populations of 20,000 or more

County

Median Real
Estate Taxes
Paid

Median Household
Income for
Homeowners

Tax as
Percentage of
Income

Rank

Passaic County, New Jersey

$ 7,095

$ 85,088

8.34%

1

Essex County, New Jersey

$ 7,676

$ 94,519

8.12%

2

Nassau County, New York

$ 8,306

$ 103,831

8.00%

3

Bergen County, New Jersey

$ 7,997

$ 101,326

7.89%

4

Union County, New Jersey

$ 7,058

$ 90,456

7.80%

5

Rockland County, New York

$ 7,798

$ 102,409

7.61%

6

Westchester County, New York

$ 8,404

$ 111,243

7.55%

7

Hunterdon County, New Jersey

$ 8,347

$ 111,334

7.50%

8

Suffolk County, New York

$ 6,842

$ 94,446

7.24%

9

Hudson County, New Jersey

$ 6,155

$ 85,512

7.20%

10

National median

$ 1,854

$ 65,088

2.85%

–

Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Tax Foundation

In What Counties Are Property Taxes Lowest (2006-08)?

Tables 4, 5 and 6 show what counties rank at the bottom in property taxes on homeowners by the same three metrics in tables 1-3. All are Louisiana parishes (same as counties).

Table 4

Bottom Ten Counties for Median Real Estate Tax (Owner-Occupied)

Three-Year Average of 2006-08 in Counties with Populations
of 20,000 or More

County

Median Annual
Tax Payment

Rank

De Soto Parish, Louisiana

$ 129

1,813

Evangeline Parish, Louisiana

$ 127

1,814

Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana

$ 127

1,814

Webster Parish, Louisiana

$ 125

1,816

Sabine Parish, Louisiana

$ 124

1,817

Richland Parish, Louisiana

$ 122

1,818

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana

$ 120

1,819

Vernon Parish, Louisiana

$ 120

1,819

Allen Parish, Louisiana

$ 119

1,821

Franklin Parish, Louisiana

$ 117

1,822

National median

$ 1,854

–

Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Tax Foundation

Table 5

Bottom Ten Counties for Median Real Estate Tax as a Percentage
of Median Home Value (Owner-Occupied)

Three-Year Average of 2006-08 in Counties with
Populations of 20,000 or more

County

Median Real Estate Taxes Paid

Median Value
Owner-Occupied
Housing Units

Tax as
Percentage
of Home Value

Rank

Livingston Parish, Louisiana

$ 198

$ 136,000

0.15%

1813

Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana

$ 165

$ 114,100

0.14%

1814

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana

$ 120

$ 83,100

0.14%

1815

West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

$ 176

$ 122,900

0.14%

1816

Assumption Parish, Louisiana

$ 130

$ 90,800

0.14%

1817

St. James Parish, Louisiana

$ 160

$ 112,500

0.14%

1818

Lafourche Parish, Louisiana

$ 152

$ 107,800

0.14%

1819

Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

$ 168

$ 137,700

0.12%

1820

St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana

$ 163

$ 143,100

0.11%

1821

St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana

$ 145

$ 135,000

0.11%

1822

National median

$ 1,854

$ 192,400

0.96%

–

Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Tax Foundation

Table 6

Bottom Ten Counties for Median Real Estate Tax as a
Percentage of Homeowner Income

Three-Year Average of 2006-08 in Counties with
Populations of 20,000 or more

County

Median Real Estate Taxes Paid

Median Household Income for Homeowners

Tax as
Percentage
of Income

Rank

Lafourche Parish, Louisiana

$ 152

$ 53,846

0.28%

1813

St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana

$ 163

$ 57,799

0.28%

1814

De Soto Parish, Louisiana

$ 129

$ 45,888

0.28%

1815

Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana

$ 127

$ 45,717

0.28%

1816

Webster Parish, Louisiana

$ 125

$ 45,948

0.27%

1817

Beauregard Parish, Louisiana

$ 132

$ 49,241

0.27%

1818

Evangeline Parish, Louisiana

$ 127

$ 48,692

0.26%

1819

Allen Parish, Louisiana

$ 119

$ 45,851

0.26%

1820

Vermilion Parish, Louisiana

$ 138

$ 53,842

0.26%

1821

Vernon Parish, Louisiana

$ 120

$ 47,085

0.25%

1822

National median

$ 1,854

$ 65,088

2.85%

–

Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Tax Foundation

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