How much you end up paying in property taxes can vary significantly depending on a variety of factors — from how much your home is worth to where you live.
To illustrate just how much variance there is in the amount of taxes people pay, LendingTree looked at the median amount of real estate taxes paid in each of the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas. In doing so, LendingTree found that homeowners in some metros can expect to pay thousands of dollars more per year than homeowners in other parts of the country.
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Methodology
LendingTree used data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey with five-year estimates to determine the median real estate tax amounts for homes in the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas, or “MSAs.”
The Census uses the term “real estate tax” to define tax that is charged on the “entire property, (land and buildings) payable to all taxing jurisdictions, including special assessments, school taxes, county taxes and so forth.” This term is often referred to as “property tax,” and both terms are used interchangeably throughout LendingTree’s study.
Here’s the median property tax in every state:
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50. Las Vegas
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $696
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $928
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $573
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
49. Birmingham, Alabama
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $892
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $958
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $727
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
48. New Orleans
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,313
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,473
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,053
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
47. Indianapolis
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,511
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,596
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,331
Image Credit: Deposit Photos.
46. Louisville, Kentucky
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,520
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,609
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,376
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45. Phoenix
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,546
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,605
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,412
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
44. Nashville
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,581
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,615
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,501
Image Credit: istockphoto/Vito Palmisano.
43. Memphis, Tennessee
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,623
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,746
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,384
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
42. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,645
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,806
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,338
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
41. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,722
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,847
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,383
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40. Tampa, Florida
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,724
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,986
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,344
Image Credit: miroslav_1 / istockphoto.
39. Jacksonville, Florida
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,820
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,936
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,527
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
38. Richmond, Virginia
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,923
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,932
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,901
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
37. Orlando, Florida
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,970
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $2,133
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,653
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
36. Atlanta
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,981
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $2,184
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,459
Image Credit: Deposit Photos.
35. Salt Lake City
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $1,987
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $1,967
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,076
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
34. Denver
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $2,126
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $2,175
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,978
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
33. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $2,145
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $2,207
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $1,949
Image Credit: istockphoto/Mark Howard.
32. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $2,260
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $2,282
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,198
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31. Kansas City, Missouri
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $2,371
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $2,485
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,129
Image Credit: istockphoto/Sean Pavone.
30. St. Louis, Missouri
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $2,390
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $2,502
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,163
Image Credit: istockphoto.
29. Cincinnati
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $2,431
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $2,568
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,106
Image Credit: aceshot / istockphoto.
28. Pittsburgh
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $2,536
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $2,799
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,171
Image Credit: istockphoto/f11photo.
27. Miami, Florida
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $2,768
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $2,973
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,427
Image Credit: Gabriele Maltinti / istockphoto.
26. Detroit
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $2,811
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $3,028
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,448
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
25. Riverside, California
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $2,964
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $3,277
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,143
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
24. Cleveland
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $3,009
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $3,196
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,735
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
23. Minneapolis
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $3,034
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $3,078
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,941
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
22. Columbus, Ohio
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $3,149
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $3,348
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,653
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
21. San Antonio
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $3,163
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $3,761
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,033
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.
20. Sacramento, California
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $3,256
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $3,532
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,484
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
19. Baltimore
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $3,303
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $3,382
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $3,095
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
18. Portland, Oregon
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $3,710
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $3,723
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $3,671
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
17. Houston
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $3,774
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $4,378
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,762
Image Credit: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto.
16. Buffalo, New York
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $3,823
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $4,078
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $3,380
Image Credit: istockphoto/Hsa_Htaw.
15. Milwaukee
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $3,933
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $3,977
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $3,839
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
14. Dallas
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $4,004
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $4,560
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,966
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13. Providence, Rhode Island
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $4,067
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $4,133
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $3,933
Image Credit: istockphoto.
12. San Diego
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $4,111
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $4,571
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $2,811
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
11. Washington, D.C.
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $4,252
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $4,277
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $4,156
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10. Seattle
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $4,293
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $4,278
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $4,338
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9. Los Angeles
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $4,317
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $4,783
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $3,044
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
8. Philadelphia
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $4,371
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $4,598
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $3,848
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
7. Austin, Texas
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $5,344
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $5,736
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $4,393
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
6. Chicago
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $5,375
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $5,631
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $4,817
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
5. Boston
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $5,572
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $5,581
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $5,548
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
4. Hartford, Connecticut
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3. San Francisco
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $6,181
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $6,895
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $4,120
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
2. San Jose, California
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $7,051
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $7,948
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $4,594
Image Credit: istockphoto/GerardoBrucker.
1. New York City
- Median real estate tax paid – all homes $8,400
- Median real estate tax paid – homes with a mortgage $8,627
- Median real estate tax – homes without a mortgage $7,951
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
Tax tips for homeowners
Though there are tax breaks for expenses including real estate taxes and the amount of money you pay in mortgage interest, you’ll need to itemize your taxes to take advantage of them.
While itemization can save some people money, it can also be more of a hassle than taking the standard deduction. Furthermore, many people will likely save the same, if not more, by just taking the standard deduction.
Keep the following tips in mind when filing your tax return:
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1. Itemization
To make itemizing a tax return worth it, a person’s deductible expenses must be higher than their standard deduction. For the 2020 tax year, the standard deduction amount is $12,400 for single taxpayers, $24,800 for married taxpayers filing jointly and $18,650 for head of household taxpayers.
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2. Deductible limits
There are limits to how much people can deduct for home-related expenses, even if they itemize their tax returns. The total amount that can be deducted for all state and local taxes, which includes real estate taxes, is $10,000 for single taxpayers, or $5,000 for married people filing separately.
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3. Deductible alternatives
While higher refunds issued under the current tax code can help people who are struggling to pay property taxes or mortgage interest costs, there are often better ways to manage these expenses.
Ultimately, people who may be chronically overburdened by high real estate taxes or mortgage interest fees are better off looking at alternative ways of easing this burden, as opposed to solely relying on their federal tax refund.
For example, moving to a less-expensive area like Birmingham, Alabama, can help alleviate costs associated with owning a home. Another option is securing a mortgage refinance to help lower overall mortgage costs.
Related:
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originally appeared on LendingTree.com and was
syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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