The average Tennessee property tax rate is about 0.52% of a home’s value, which comes to roughly $1,442 a year on the typical Tennessee home. That makes Tennessee property tax one of the lower burdens in the country. This guide breaks down the Tennessee 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.
Tennessee Property Tax at a Glance
| Effective tax rate | 0.52% |
| Median annual bill | $1,442 |
| Median home value | $286,700 |
| Rank among states | #41 of 50 highest |
| vs. U.S. average | $2,829 below the U.S. average ($4,271) |
| Reassessed | Real property is reappraised on a countywide cycle — every 4, 5, or 6 years depending on the county — with value updates possible between cycles; personal property is reviewed annually. Check your county’s reappraisal schedule to see where you are in the cycle. |
Rate & bill: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year (effective rate B25090/B25082 – the Tax Foundation method; median bill B25103; value B25077).
| Tennessee Property Tax | Figure |
|---|---|
| Effective property tax rate | 0.52% |
| Median annual property tax bill | $1,442 |
| Median home value | $286,700 |
| Rank (highest to lowest) | #41 of 50 states |
| U.S. average bill | $4,271 |
In This Tennessee Guide:
What Is the Tennessee Property Tax Rate?
The Tennessee 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 Tennessee, homeowners pay about 0.52% of their home’s value on average, or around $1,442 a year on a typical $286,700 home. That puts Tennessee near the bottom nationally — ranked #41 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 (market) value and assessed value on your notice — an increase after a reappraisal is common and doesn’t automatically mean an error. If the market value looks higher than what your home would realistically sell for, or if you may qualify for senior, disability, or veteran relief, you can contact your county assessor with questions and, if you still disagree,
appeal first to your County Board of Equalization and then to the State Board of Equalization (deadlines and details come from your county — check your notice).
Many homeowners resolve concerns simply by reviewing their assessment and applying for relief they qualify for.
Think your Tennessee bill is too high? Check in two minutes.
How Tennessee Property Tax Is Calculated
Your Tennessee property tax starts with an assessed value set by County Assessor of Property — an elected office in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties. The assessor lists and values property; they do not set tax rates or send the bill (the county Trustee collects).. The assessor of property estimates the fair market value of your home as of January 1, then applies an assessment ratio set by state law
to arrive at your assessed value — the figure your tax is actually calculated on.
Look for the appraised (market) value and the assessed value printed on your notice, and check that the market value roughly matches what your home would sell for. That assessed value is then multiplied by the combined local tax rate to produce your bill. In Tennessee, property is generally reassessed Real property is reappraised on a countywide cycle — every 4, 5, or 6 years depending on the county —
with value updates possible between cycles; personal property is reviewed annually.
Check your county’s reappraisal schedule to see where you are in the cycle.. 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 Tennessee are set by The tax rate is set by the local taxing bodies — the county commission and, for property inside a city, the municipal (city) governing body — not by the assessor. Special districts may add levies in some areas.. That is why your neighbor one town over can pay a different bill on an identical house.
📨 Get Free Property Tax Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Where Your Tennessee Property Tax Money Goes
Property taxes are a main source of local funding in Tennessee, paying largely for public schools along with county and city services such as roads, police, fire, libraries, and emergency services. Almost all of it stays local rather than going to the state. For most Tennessee 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 Tennessee note: After a countywide reappraisal, Tennessee’s “Certified Tax Rate” (truth-in-taxation) law requires the local rate to be adjusted so the reappraisal alone doesn’t raise the total taxes collected — a governing body must formally vote and advertise if it wants to collect more. Tennessee also has no state income tax, so local governments lean more heavily on property and sales taxes.
How Tennessee Property Tax Compares
The U.S. average property tax bill is about $4,271 a year. The typical Tennessee bill of $1,442 is $2,829 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 Tennessee. The dollar bill and your own assessment matter more than the headline rate.
How to Lower Your Tennessee Property Tax
You cannot change the Tennessee property tax rate, but you have two real levers on your own bill. First, claim every exemption you qualify for. Tennessee offers property tax relief that can lower what qualifying homeowners pay — including programs for homeowners age 65 and older, people who are totally and permanently disabled, disabled veterans, and their surviving spouses (some programs have income limits, others do not). You generally apply
through your county Trustee or Assessor of Property, so it’s worth checking whether you qualify — see the data box above for any amounts.
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee property tax rate?
The average effective Tennessee property tax rate is about 0.52% of a home’s value, based on U.S. Census data. On the typical Tennessee home that works out to roughly $1,442 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 Tennessee property tax so high?
Property tax in Tennessee 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 Tennessee property tax?
Two things help most in Tennessee: 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.
Tennessee Property Tax Sources & Data
- Tennessee Department of Revenue (property tax): https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/pa.html
- 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
Tennessee 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.