The average Maryland property tax rate is about 0.92% of a home’s value, which comes to roughly $4,093 a year on the typical Maryland home. That makes Maryland property tax a middle-of-the-pack burdens in the country. This guide breaks down the Maryland 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.
Maryland Property Tax at a Glance
| Effective tax rate | 0.92% |
| Median annual bill | $4,093 |
| Median home value | $419,900 |
| Rank among states | #21 of 50 highest |
| vs. U.S. average | $178 below the U.S. average ($4,271) |
| Reassessed | Every three years. SDAT divides each county into three groups and reassesses one group per year, so roughly a third of properties are reviewed annually. When an assessment goes up, the increase is generally phased in evenly over the following three years; a decrease takes effect right away. |
Rate & bill: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year (effective rate B25090/B25082 – the Tax Foundation method; median bill B25103; value B25077).
| Maryland Property Tax | Figure |
|---|---|
| Effective property tax rate | 0.92% |
| Median annual property tax bill | $4,093 |
| Median home value | $419,900 |
| Rank (highest to lowest) | #21 of 50 states |
| U.S. average bill | $4,271 |
In This Maryland Guide:
What Is the Maryland Property Tax Rate?
The Maryland 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 Maryland, homeowners pay about 0.92% of their home’s value on average, or around $4,093 a year on a typical $419,900 home. That puts Maryland in the middle nationally — ranked #21 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 your assessment notice: the numbers there show the market value SDAT assigned and the assessed value your tax is based on, so check that the home’s details are accurate. Many homeowners find they qualify for a credit or exemption they were not using, and you generally have the right to appeal an assessment you believe is too high — the deadline is
printed on your notice.
Taking one step at a time, checking your assessment, reviewing exemptions, then considering an appeal, is a realistic way to make sure you are not paying more than you should.
Think your Maryland bill is too high? Check in two minutes.
How Maryland Property Tax Is Calculated
Your Maryland property tax starts with an assessed value set by The State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) — also called the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. Maryland is unusual: assessment is centralized at the STATE level, not done by counties. SDAT runs 24 local assessment offices, one in each county and in Baltimore City, and its assessors value all property; the local government then bills and collects
the tax..
SDAT appraises your property at its market value (what it would sell for), and a ratio set by state law is applied to that market value to produce the assessed value your tax is figured on. Look at your assessment notice to see both your market value and your assessed value, and make sure the property details SDAT has on file are correct. That assessed value is then multiplied by
the combined local tax rate to produce your bill.
In Maryland, property is generally reassessed Every three years. SDAT divides each county into three groups and reassesses one group per year, so roughly a third of properties are reviewed annually. When an assessment goes up, the increase is generally phased in evenly over the following three years; a decrease takes effect right away.. 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.
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The actual rates in Maryland are set by SDAT sets the assessed value, but it does NOT set the tax rate. County governments, incorporated cities and towns (municipalities), and the state each set their own rate, and your bill combines the rates that apply where you live. Maryland does not cap these local rates, though a jurisdiction proposing a higher rate must advertise it and hold a public hearing.. That
is why your neighbor one town over can pay a different bill on an identical house.
Where Your Maryland Property Tax Money Goes
Property taxes are a main source of local funding — they largely pay for public schools, county and municipal services, roads, libraries, and police and fire protection in the community where the property sits. For most Maryland 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 Maryland note: Maryland is the only state where property assessment is handled centrally by a state agency (SDAT) rather than by county or township assessors. Maryland also has a Homestead Tax Credit that limits how much the taxable assessment on your principal residence can rise from one year to the next, which softens the impact of a big reassessment jump.
How Maryland Property Tax Compares
The U.S. average property tax bill is about $4,271 a year. The typical Maryland bill of $4,093 is $178 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 Maryland. The dollar bill and your own assessment matter more than the headline rate.
How to Lower Your Maryland Property Tax
You cannot change the Maryland property tax rate, but you have two real levers on your own bill. First, claim every exemption you qualify for. Maryland offers several property tax breaks that can lower a bill. These include the Homestead Tax Credit for your principal residence, an income-based Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit, local senior (age 65+) credits offered by many counties, and exemptions for eligible disabled veterans and their surviving
spouses.
Some are automatic and some require an application, so it is worth checking whether you qualify — amounts and income limits are set separately, so confirm the current figures with SDAT or your county. 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 Maryland 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 Maryland property tax rate?
The average effective Maryland property tax rate is about 0.92% of a home’s value, based on U.S. Census data. On the typical Maryland home that works out to roughly $4,093 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 Maryland property tax so high?
Property tax in Maryland 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 Maryland property tax?
Two things help most in Maryland: 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.
Maryland Property Tax Sources & Data
- Maryland Department of Revenue (property tax): https://dat.maryland.gov/realproperty/Pages/HomeOwners-Guide.aspx
- 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
Maryland 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.