The average Washington property tax rate is about 0.75% of a home’s value, which comes to roughly $4,556 a year on the typical Washington home. That makes Washington property tax a middle-of-the-pack burdens in the country. This guide breaks down the Washington 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.
Washington Property Tax at a Glance
| Effective tax rate | 0.75% |
| Median annual bill | $4,556 |
| Median home value | $564,600 |
| Rank among states | #30 of 50 highest |
| vs. U.S. average | $285 above the U.S. average ($4,271) |
| Reassessed | Annually — Washington law requires assessors to revalue all property every year, with a physical inspection of each property at least once every several years. Values can also be updated when a property sells or is improved. |
Rate & bill: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year (effective rate B25090/B25082 – the Tax Foundation method; median bill B25103; value B25077).
| Washington Property Tax | Figure |
|---|---|
| Effective property tax rate | 0.75% |
| Median annual property tax bill | $4,556 |
| Median home value | $564,600 |
| Rank (highest to lowest) | #30 of 50 states |
| U.S. average bill | $4,271 |
In This Washington Guide:
What Is the Washington Property Tax Rate?
The Washington 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 Washington, homeowners pay about 0.75% of their home’s value on average, or around $4,556 a year on a typical $564,600 home. That puts Washington in the middle nationally — ranked #30 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 assessed value and the levy rates on your notice — the value is what your county thinks your home is worth, and the rate reflects your local school and district budgets. Many homeowners find it worthwhile to confirm that value looks right and to check whether they qualify for a senior, disability, or veteran exemption with their county assessor. If you
believe your assessed value is too high, you generally have the right to appeal to your county Board of Equalization — check your assessment notice for how and by when to file.
Think your Washington bill is too high? Check in two minutes.
How Washington Property Tax Is Calculated
Your Washington property tax starts with an assessed value set by County assessors — each of Washington’s 39 counties has an elected County Assessor who values property. The County Treasurer (a separate office) then bills and collects the tax.. Washington law requires assessors to value property at 100% of its true and fair market value (its fair market value in money at highest and best use), and your tax is
based on that assessed value.
Check the assessed value printed on your valuation notice or tax statement to see what your county has on record for your home. That assessed value is then multiplied by the combined local tax rate to produce your bill. In Washington, property is generally reassessed Annually — Washington law requires assessors to revalue all property every year, with a physical inspection of each property at least once every several years.
Values can also be updated when a property sells or is improved.. 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 Washington are set by The rate (levy) is set by the local taxing districts your property sits in — the county, your city, school districts, and special districts such as fire, library, hospital, and port districts. The assessor combines all of these into one total levy rate; the state Department of Revenue oversees the system but does not set your local rate.. That is why your
neighbor one town over can pay a different bill on an identical house.
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Where Your Washington Property Tax Money Goes
Property taxes are the main funding source for local public services in Washington. They largely support public schools, along with county and city services, fire and emergency response, roads, libraries, and parks. For most Washington 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 Washington note: Washington has no state income tax, so it leans heavily on property and sales taxes. Its best-known feature is the constitutional and statutory levy limits: total regular (non-voted) property taxes are capped as a share of a property’s true and fair value, and an individual taxing district generally cannot raise its regular levy by more than a set limit each year unless voters approve a “levy lid
lift.” See the data box above for any figures.
How Washington Property Tax Compares
The U.S. average property tax bill is about $4,271 a year. The typical Washington bill of $4,556 is $285 above 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 Washington. The dollar bill and your own assessment matter more than the headline rate.
How to Lower Your Washington Property Tax
You cannot change the Washington property tax rate, but you have two real levers on your own bill. First, claim every exemption you qualify for. Washington offers several property tax relief programs that can lower a qualifying homeowner’s bill — including exemptions and deferrals for seniors (generally age 61 and older), people retired due to disability, and disabled veterans, as well as broader homeowner relief. These are usually income-based and
can freeze your assessed value and remove certain levies.
Amounts and income limits vary by county, so check whether you qualify with your county assessor (see the data box above for any figures). 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 Washington 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 Washington property tax rate?
The average effective Washington property tax rate is about 0.75% of a home’s value, based on U.S. Census data. On the typical Washington home that works out to roughly $4,556 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 Washington property tax so high?
Property tax in Washington 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 Washington property tax?
Two things help most in Washington: 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.
Washington Property Tax Sources & Data
- Washington Department of Revenue (property tax): https://dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/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
Washington 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.