The average North Carolina property tax rate is about 0.66% of a home’s value, which comes to roughly $1,896 a year on the typical North Carolina home. That makes North Carolina property tax a middle-of-the-pack burdens in the country. This guide breaks down the North Carolina property tax rate, what the typical bill looks like, how your bill is figured, where the money goes, and — most useful of all
— how to check whether you are overpaying and how to pay less.
North Carolina Property Tax at a Glance
| Effective tax rate | 0.66% |
| Median annual bill | $1,896 |
| Median home value | $288,900 |
| Rank among states | #33 of 50 highest |
| vs. U.S. average | $2,375 below the U.S. average ($4,271) |
| Reassessed | North Carolina reappraises real property on a county revaluation cycle rather than every year. State law requires each county to revalue at least once every eight years, and many counties do it more often (for example, every four years); between revaluations, values are also updated for new construction or changes to the property. |
Rate & bill: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year (effective rate B25090/B25082 – the Tax Foundation method; median bill B25103; value B25077).
| North Carolina Property Tax | Figure |
|---|---|
| Effective property tax rate | 0.66% |
| Median annual property tax bill | $1,896 |
| Median home value | $288,900 |
| Rank (highest to lowest) | #33 of 50 states |
| U.S. average bill | $4,271 |
In This North Carolina Guide:
What Is the North Carolina Property Tax Rate?
The North Carolina property tax rate is not one flat number — it is the combined result of your county, city, township, and school-district rates, applied to your home’s assessed value. Across North Carolina, homeowners pay about 0.66% of their home’s value on average, or around $1,896 a year on a typical $288,900 home. That puts North Carolina in the middle nationally — ranked #33 of 50 states from highest
to lowest.
Two homes worth the same amount can still owe very different bills depending on the town and school district, so treat the statewide figure as a starting point, not your exact bill.
If your bill went up, start by reading the appraised/assessed value on your reappraisal notice — that value, multiplied by the local rates, is what drives the total, so it is the first thing worth checking for accuracy (square footage, lot size, condition, or a sale that doesn’t match your home). Next, see whether you qualify for one of North Carolina’s relief programs for seniors, disabled homeowners, or veterans, since
many homeowners are eligible and never apply.
If the value still looks too high, you can appeal — start informally with your county assessor and, if needed, to the county Board of Equalization and Review; assessors generally work with owners who bring evidence, so check your county assessor’s page for how and by when to file.
Think your North Carolina bill is too high? Check in two minutes.
How North Carolina Property Tax Is Calculated
Your North Carolina property tax starts with an assessed value set by County assessors (each county has a Tax Assessor, sometimes within a Tax Administration or Tax Department office) who list, appraise, and assess all real and personal property in the county. The North Carolina Department of Revenue’s Property Tax Division supervises the system statewide and appraises certain public-service company property, but your bill is handled locally.. North Carolina appraises
real property at its market value (what it would sell for), and by law the assessed value used for your bill is set at 100% of that market value — there is no fractional discount ratio applied.
Look at your reappraisal notice or tax bill for the appraised/assessed value the county has placed on your home, since that number is what your rate is applied to. That assessed value is then multiplied by the combined local tax rate to produce your bill. In North Carolina, property is generally reassessed North Carolina reappraises real property on a county revaluation cycle rather than every year. State law requires each
county to revalue at least once every eight years, and many counties do it more often (for example, every four years); between revaluations, values are also updated for new construction or changes to the property..
The single most important number to check is your assessed value: if it is higher than what your home would sell for, your bill is too high — and that is exactly what an appeal fixes.
The actual rates in North Carolina are set by Rates are set locally, not by the state. Your county’s board of commissioners sets the county rate; if you live inside a city or town, its council sets an additional municipal rate; and special districts (such as fire or service districts) may add their own rate. There is no statewide property tax rate.. That is why your neighbor one town over
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can pay a different bill on an identical house.
Where Your North Carolina Property Tax Money Goes
North Carolina property taxes fund local services — public schools, the sheriff and police, fire protection and EMS, roads and infrastructure, libraries, parks, and general county and city operations. Because there is no state property tax, nearly all of it stays with your county, city, and local districts. For most North Carolina homeowners, the school-district share is the biggest single piece of the bill, which is why property taxes tend
to be highest where schools rely most on local funding.
One North Carolina note: North Carolina has no state-level property tax — it is entirely local. The state also appraises at full (100%) market value rather than a fractional ratio, and it does not have a Prop-13-style cap that limits how much your assessed value can rise between revaluations, so a countywide reappraisal can move values noticeably. The state does offer a “circuit breaker” tax-deferment option that can limit tax
to a share of income for those who qualify (see exemptions).
How North Carolina Property Tax Compares
The U.S. average property tax bill is about $4,271 a year. The typical North Carolina bill of $1,896 is $2,375 below that. Remember that a low rate does not always mean a low bill — a state with cheap rates but expensive homes can still cost you more than North Carolina. The dollar bill and your own assessment matter more than the headline rate.
How to Lower Your North Carolina Property Tax
You cannot change the North Carolina property tax rate, but you have two real levers on your own bill. First, claim every exemption you qualify for. North Carolina offers property tax relief that can lower your bill, including a homestead exclusion for homeowners who are 65 or older or totally and permanently disabled (income limits apply), a disabled veteran exclusion for qualifying honorably discharged veterans and certain surviving spouses, and
a circuit-breaker program that defers tax above a share of income.
Most are a one-time application filed with your county assessor, though some require yearly income recertification — check with your county assessor to see whether you qualify. (Amounts and income limits come from official data — see the data box above.) Second, appeal your assessment if your home is valued higher than it would sell for — studies suggest a large share of homes are over-assessed, and appeals often succeed.
Don’t want to appeal your North Carolina taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the North Carolina property tax rate?
The average effective North Carolina property tax rate is about 0.66% of a home’s value, based on U.S. Census data. On the typical North Carolina home that works out to roughly $1,896 a year. Your own bill depends on your county, city, and school district, plus any exemptions you claim — see the data box above.
Why is my North Carolina property tax so high?
Property tax in North Carolina is driven mostly by your local rates (especially school levies) and by your home’s assessed value. If your assessment is higher than what your home would actually sell for, you may be overpaying — that is the most common reason a bill is too high, and it is something you can appeal.
How can I lower my North Carolina property tax?
Two things help most in North Carolina: make sure you are claiming every exemption you qualify for (homestead, senior, veteran, or disability), and appeal your assessment if your home is over-valued. Both can lower your bill, and both are free to do yourself.
North Carolina Property Tax Sources & Data
- North Carolina Department of Revenue (property tax): https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/property-tax
- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
- U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu
North Carolina property tax rates and typical bills on this page come from U.S. Census (American Community Survey) data as
published by the Tax Foundation, and were last checked in July 2026. Rates and bills change each year and vary by county
— confirm your own figures with your county assessor before you rely on them.
More Property Tax Guides
- Property Tax Rates by State
- Property Tax by County
- Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
- Property Tax Exemption Finder
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.