Home buying costs by state
For buyers comparing property taxes, transfer taxes and home values between states.
| State | Effective property tax | Typical home value | State transfer tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 0.38% | $238,614 | 0.1% |
| Alaska | 1.11% | $397,932 | 0.0% |
| Arizona | 0.48% | $416,733 | 0.0% |
| Arkansas | 0.55% | $224,158 | 0.33% |
| California | 0.7% | $761,538 | Estimate: ~0.11% total |
| Colorado | 0.48% | $529,013 | 0.01% |
| Connecticut | 1.81% | $447,319 | Graduated by price |
| Delaware | 0.5% | $405,061 | Estimate: ~4.00% total |
| District of Columbia | 0.58% | $567,271 | Estimate: ~2.90% total |
| Florida | 0.76% | $375,361 | Estimate: ~0.70% total |
| Georgia | 0.77% | $329,115 | 0.1% |
| Hawaii | 0.27% | $832,932 | Graduated by price |
| Idaho | 0.49% | $476,754 | 0% |
| Illinois | 2.01% | $295,943 | 0.1% |
| Indiana | 0.74% | $257,165 | 0% |
| Iowa | 1.39% | $236,623 | Estimate: ~0.16% total |
| Kansas | 1.29% | $246,055 | 0% |
| Kentucky | 0.75% | $230,909 | 0.1% |
| Louisiana | 0.55% | $213,867 | 0.0% |
| Maine | 1.02% | $412,002 | 0.44% |
| Maryland | 0.97% | $424,890 | 0.5% |
| Massachusetts | 1.07% | $655,219 | 0.456% |
| Michigan | 1.25% | $263,760 | 0.86% |
| Minnesota | 1.02% | $348,778 | 0.33% |
| Mississippi | 0.72% | $194,531 | 0% |
| Missouri | 0.85% | $265,387 | 0% |
| Montana | 0.72% | $467,275 | 0% |
| Nebraska | 1.49% | $278,299 | 0.232% |
| Nevada | 0.47% | $440,739 | 0.51% |
| New Hampshire | 1.66% | $510,937 | Estimate: ~1.50% total |
| New Jersey | 2.11% | $575,123 | Graduated by price; mansion tax over $1M |
| New Mexico | 0.7% | $315,812 | 0.0% |
| New York | 1.55% | $524,942 | Estimate: ~0.40% total |
| North Carolina | 0.66% | $332,159 | 0.2% |
| North Dakota | 0.99% | $290,657 | 0.0% |
| Ohio | 1.31% | $245,982 | 0.1% |
| Oklahoma | 0.8% | $220,801 | 0.15% |
| Oregon | 0.81% | $492,753 | Not available |
| Pennsylvania | 1.3% | $287,078 | 1.0% |
| Rhode Island | 1.21% | $508,507 | 0.75% |
| South Carolina | 0.48% | $304,319 | 0.37% |
| South Dakota | 1.06% | $317,874 | 0.1% |
| Tennessee | 0.5% | $330,844 | 0.37% |
| Texas | 1.49% | $296,424 | 0% |
| Utah | 0.52% | $532,920 | 0.0% |
| Vermont | 1.59% | $391,900 | Estimate: ~0.97% total |
| Virginia | 0.73% | $412,252 | Estimate: ~0.43% total |
| Washington | 0.81% | $587,533 | Estimate: ~1.12% total |
| West Virginia | 0.53% | $176,576 | Estimate: ~0.34% total |
| Wisconsin | 1.42% | $337,196 | 0.3% |
| Wyoming | 0.57% | $369,044 | 0.0% |
How to read this table
Effective property tax is the median property tax paid divided by the median home value, from Census survey data. It shows what owners actually pay after local assessment rules and exemptions, so it is more useful for budgeting than a published millage rate. Multiply it by a home's price for a rough yearly bill.
Typical home value is the Zillow Home Value Index for the state: the value of a typical mid-tier home, not the average sale price. State transfer tax is charged once, at closing, when the property changes hands. Who pays it (buyer, seller or both) depends on the state and on your contract, and some cities and counties add their own tax on top.
Why this matters for your down payment
Property tax goes into your monthly payment through escrow, so a higher rate lowers the price you can afford on the same income. Transfer taxes and other closing costs add to the cash you need at closing, on top of the down payment. Open a state to see its full closing-cost estimate, transfer tax rules and first-time buyer programs.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B25103, B25077); Zillow Home Value Index; TallyClose closing-cost dataset (CC BY 4.0), which cites each state statute; NCSHA HFA directory. Last updated 2026-11-01.
Updated . Official sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, Zillow Research ZHVI.
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