Who Pays the Highest Property Taxes in the US?

December 29, 2010 | By: TaxCure Staff

highest us property taxesBased on data collected by the Tax Foundation, homeowners in New York and New Jersey pay the highest property taxes in the nation. The information used for these statistics is gathered through the census and analyzed using a variety of different factors. While the northeast is at an all-time high property tax high, the southern states remain at an all-time low and the same remains primarily true with state income taxes.

How the Data is Collected

The Tax Foundation uses data from a survey known as the American Community Survey, to determine which areas across the nation are paying the highest property taxes. The data is collected by looking at owner-occupied residences in 792 counties throughout the United States that have a population of over 65,000. This sample allows an analysis of property taxes across the country. A median is determined for the nation and a comparison of counties and states is then completed. The tax foundation prepares a yearly report that provides information about these statistics for the public.

The data collected from the census analysis is done by looking at the following factors:

  • The state.
  • The county.
  • The property tax measures.
  • The value of the home.
  • The real estate taxes.

Highest Taxed Counties

The highest taxed counties in terms of real estate taxes paid are the following, listed in order from highest to lowest. The national median is $1,917.

  • Westchester County, New York
  • Nassau County, New York
  • Bergen County, New Jersey
  • Hunterdon County, New Jersey
  •  Rockland County, New York
  • Essex County, New Jersey
  • Passaic County, New Jersey
  • Morris County, New Jersey
  • Union County, New Jersey
  • Somerset County, New Jersey

The highest taxed counties in terms of median real estate taxes paid as a percentage of the median home value are the following, listed in order from highest to lowest. The national median is 1.04%

  • Monroe County, New York
  • Niagara County, New York
  • Wayne County, New York
  • Chemung County, New York
  • Chautauqua County, New York
  • Erie County, New York
  • Onondaga County, New York
  • Camden County, New Jersey
  • Steuben County, New York
  • Madison County, New York

Highest Taxed States

The highest-taxed states in terms of median real estate taxes paid are the following, listed in order from highest to lowest.

  • New Jersey
  • Connecticut
  • New Hampshire
  • New York
  • Rhode Island
  • Massachusetts
  •  Illinois
  •  Vermont
  • Wisconsin
  • California

The highest-taxed states in terms of median real estate taxes paid as a percentage of the median home value are the following, listed in order from highest to lowest.

  • New Jersey
  • New Hampshire
  • Texas
  • Wisconsin
  •  Nebraska
  •  Illinois
  • Connecticut
  • Michigan
  • Vermont
  •  North Dakota

According to the statistics, it is determined that those that live in the northeastern part of the state pay the highest property taxes in the country. Some homeowners in certain areas of the northeast are estimated to devote more than 10% of their yearly income to property taxes. Statistics also show that little has changed in terms of property taxes from 2008 to 2009. Those areas that were considered highly taxed remain the same one year later and not much is expected to change in the upcoming years.