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Direct answer: Yes, you still owe property tax after your house is paid off; the bill just comes to you instead of your lender's escrow. Bills usually rise because your home's value or the local rate went up. In 2024 the median U.S. homeowner paid $3,211. First, make sure your homestead exemption is filed; then appeal if the value is wrong.
By the numbers: Median real estate taxes paid: $3,211 on a median home value of $360,600 (0.89%, our math), Census ACS 2024. State and local governments collected $846.0 billion in property tax in the four quarters ending June 2026 (Census QTAX). Source: Census ACS 2024 (B25103, B25077); Census QTAX
“If your loan doesn't include an escrow account, you will have to plan to pay these large expenses yourself.” — CFPB
Updated 2026-10-18
Yes. Property tax is owed on the home every year. Paying off the mortgage only ends escrow, so the bill comes to you and you pay your county directly. In 2024, owners with no mortgage paid a median $2,663 (Census).
Usually because your home's assessed value went up, a new levy or higher rate passed, or an exemption dropped off. A higher value at the same rate means a higher bill unless your state caps increases or rolls back rates.
By median taxes ÷ median home value (our math from Census 2024 data), Illinois is highest at 1.92%, then New Jersey (1.89%). Hawaii is lowest at 0.27%.
About $846.0 billion in the four quarters from July 2025 through June 2026, and $833.3 billion in 2025, counting all state and local governments (Census QTAX).
Yes. Owners 65 or older or disabled get a school-tax ceiling: school taxes can't go up while you own and live in the home. Counties, cities and junior colleges may adopt their own ceiling (Texas Comptroller).
A proposed amendment on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. It would raise the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 and cut the non-homestead cap from 10% to 5%. It needs 60% to pass; if approved it takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
It's a credit for owners 65+, disabled owners and some surviving spouses with income of $41,000 or less (tax year 2026). It shields $29,700 of market value in 2026. Apply to your county auditor by Dec. 31.
Census ACS 2024 property tax medians for 50 states + D.C., Census QTAX through 2026 Q2, and FL/TX/OH/TN homestead, freeze and cap rules; read Oct. 18, 2026.
Updated Oct. 18, 2026 · Census 2024 data (newest) · Florida, Texas, Ohio, Tennessee rules verified
Yes, you still owe property tax after your house is paid off. The bill just comes to you instead of your lender. Bills usually go up because your home's value went up or the local rate did. Best first step: make sure your homestead exemption (and any 65+ or disability benefit) is filed. Then: if the county's value for your home is too high, appeal by the deadline on your notice.
The math:
Sources: Estimate my bill · By state · Sources
A best fit for the situation described, not financial advice or a buy/sell recommendation. Partner links never change a pick.
Pick a way to estimate. Use your county's numbers if you have them (they're on your bill or assessment notice).
Starts with Ohio's own example: 35% of value is taxable, at 20 mills. Tennessee homes: 25% and your county's $ per $100 rate. Florida and Texas tax most of the value, so use 100% and enter your exemption.
Yes. Property tax is owed on the home itself, every year, whether or not you have a mortgage. Paying off the loan only ends escrow: the account your lender used to pay the tax for you. After payoff, the bill comes to you, and you pay your county (treasurer, trustee or tax collector) directly.
Census data shows it: homeowners with no mortgage paid a median $2,663 in real estate taxes in 2024 (with a mortgage: $3,580).
CFPB: "An escrow account, sometimes called an impound account depending on where you live, is set up by your mortgage lender to pay certain property-related expenses." "If your loan doesn't include an escrow account, you will have to plan to pay these large expenses yourself." (CFPB)
Penalties and interest are added. The unpaid tax becomes a lien on the home (a legal claim). If it stays unpaid, the county can sell the tax debt or the home itself at a tax sale. Rules and timelines differ by state.
Value × assessment ratio = assessed value. Assessed value − exemptions = taxable value. Taxable value × tax rate = your bill.
Tennessee's Comptroller shows the same idea: $400,000 × 25% = $100,000 assessed; ÷ 100 × $2.50 = $2,500 (TN Comptroller). Ohio: "The taxable value is 35% of your property's appraised value. For example, if the tax rate is 20 mills, you would pay $20 for every $1,000 of your property's taxable value." (Ohio Dept. of Taxation)
Ohio's tax department says it plainly: "When voters approve new levies, the additional mills are applied to your property, directly increasing the amount you owe." And: "If your property value increases due to improvements, market conditions, or reassessment, your property taxes may increase because of inside mills and for those school districts at the 20-mill floor." (Ohio Property Tax Guide, rev. Jan. 2025)
Highest effective rates: Illinois 1.92%, New Jersey 1.89%, Connecticut 1.66%, New Hampshire 1.46%, New York 1.45%. Lowest: Hawaii 0.27%, Alabama 0.38%, Idaho 0.43%, Arizona 0.43%, South Carolina 0.45%. U.S.: $3,211 ÷ $360,600 = 0.89%.
Median real estate taxes paid and median home value are for owner-occupied homes, from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates (tables B25103 and B25077), the latest available; the 2025 numbers come out Oct. 29, 2026. The effective rate is our calculation: median taxes ÷ median value. It's a rough state-wide guide, not your rate; counties and cities in the same state can differ a lot.
How to read it: rate = median taxes ÷ median home value. Example: Illinois $5,399 ÷ $280,700 = 1.92%. On a phone, swipe the table sideways if needed.
| State | Median taxes | Median value | Rate | The math |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $890 | $233,300 | 0.38% | $890 ÷ $233,300 = 0.38% |
| Alaska | $3,976 | $376,500 | 1.06% | $3,976 ÷ $376,500 = 1.06% |
| Arizona | $1,828 | $426,000 | 0.43% | $1,828 ÷ $426,000 = 0.43% |
| Arkansas | $1,113 | $215,600 | 0.52% | $1,113 ÷ $215,600 = 0.52% |
| California | $5,369 | $759,500 | 0.71% | $5,369 ÷ $759,500 = 0.71% |
| Colorado | $2,828 | $574,600 | 0.49% | $2,828 ÷ $574,600 = 0.49% |
| Connecticut | $6,573 | $396,900 | 1.66% | $6,573 ÷ $396,900 = 1.66% |
| Delaware | $1,750 | $371,600 | 0.47% | $1,750 ÷ $371,600 = 0.47% |
| District of Columbia | $4,594 | $733,400 | 0.63% | $4,594 ÷ $733,400 = 0.63% |
| Florida | $2,993 | $396,900 | 0.75% | $2,993 ÷ $396,900 = 0.75% |
| Georgia | $2,554 | $343,300 | 0.74% | $2,554 ÷ $343,300 = 0.74% |
| Hawaii | $2,385 | $875,900 | 0.27% | $2,385 ÷ $875,900 = 0.27% |
| Idaho | $1,912 | $446,400 | 0.43% | $1,912 ÷ $446,400 = 0.43% |
| Illinois | $5,399 | $280,700 | 1.92% | $5,399 ÷ $280,700 = 1.92% |
| Indiana | $1,798 | $243,500 | 0.74% | $1,798 ÷ $243,500 = 0.74% |
| Iowa | $2,937 | $227,300 | 1.29% | $2,937 ÷ $227,300 = 1.29% |
| Kansas | $2,983 | $238,700 | 1.25% | $2,983 ÷ $238,700 = 1.25% |
| Kentucky | $1,611 | $226,000 | 0.71% | $1,611 ÷ $226,000 = 0.71% |
| Louisiana | $1,187 | $223,200 | 0.53% | $1,187 ÷ $223,200 = 0.53% |
| Maine | $3,103 | $341,900 | 0.91% | $3,103 ÷ $341,900 = 0.91% |
| Maryland | $4,144 | $436,300 | 0.95% | $4,144 ÷ $436,300 = 0.95% |
| Massachusetts | $6,080 | $607,400 | 1.00% | $6,080 ÷ $607,400 = 1.00% |
| Michigan | $2,988 | $254,200 | 1.18% | $2,988 ÷ $254,200 = 1.18% |
| Minnesota | $3,501 | $344,600 | 1.02% | $3,501 ÷ $344,600 = 1.02% |
| Mississippi | $1,221 | $186,500 | 0.65% | $1,221 ÷ $186,500 = 0.65% |
| Missouri | $2,021 | $254,400 | 0.79% | $2,021 ÷ $254,400 = 0.79% |
| Montana | $2,939 | $425,400 | 0.69% | $2,939 ÷ $425,400 = 0.69% |
| Nebraska | $3,739 | $263,100 | 1.42% | $3,739 ÷ $263,100 = 1.42% |
| Nevada | $2,143 | $455,500 | 0.47% | $2,143 ÷ $455,500 = 0.47% |
| New Hampshire | $6,707 | $458,800 | 1.46% | $6,707 ÷ $458,800 = 1.46% |
| New Jersey | $9,358 | $496,000 | 1.89% | $9,358 ÷ $496,000 = 1.89% |
| New Mexico | $1,776 | $279,900 | 0.63% | $1,776 ÷ $279,900 = 0.63% |
| New York | $6,542 | $449,800 | 1.45% | $6,542 ÷ $449,800 = 1.45% |
| North Carolina | $2,044 | $333,000 | 0.61% | $2,044 ÷ $333,000 = 0.61% |
| North Dakota | $2,550 | $266,100 | 0.96% | $2,550 ÷ $266,100 = 0.96% |
| Ohio | $2,937 | $239,800 | 1.22% | $2,937 ÷ $239,800 = 1.22% |
| Oklahoma | $1,672 | $222,100 | 0.75% | $1,672 ÷ $222,100 = 0.75% |
| Oregon | $3,895 | $497,500 | 0.78% | $3,895 ÷ $497,500 = 0.78% |
| Pennsylvania | $3,214 | $277,600 | 1.16% | $3,214 ÷ $277,600 = 1.16% |
| Rhode Island | $4,886 | $455,700 | 1.07% | $4,886 ÷ $455,700 = 1.07% |
| South Carolina | $1,337 | $299,500 | 0.45% | $1,337 ÷ $299,500 = 0.45% |
| South Dakota | $2,940 | $289,600 | 1.02% | $2,940 ÷ $289,600 = 1.02% |
| Tennessee | $1,488 | $332,600 | 0.45% | $1,488 ÷ $332,600 = 0.45% |
| Texas | $4,108 | $313,200 | 1.31% | $4,108 ÷ $313,200 = 1.31% |
| Utah | $2,648 | $545,200 | 0.49% | $2,648 ÷ $545,200 = 0.49% |
| Vermont | $5,026 | $352,800 | 1.42% | $5,026 ÷ $352,800 = 1.42% |
| Virginia | $2,872 | $403,500 | 0.71% | $2,872 ÷ $403,500 = 0.71% |
| Washington | $4,729 | $602,200 | 0.79% | $4,729 ÷ $602,200 = 0.79% |
| West Virginia | $881 | $170,800 | 0.52% | $881 ÷ $170,800 = 0.52% |
| Wisconsin | $3,680 | $294,700 | 1.25% | $3,680 ÷ $294,700 = 1.25% |
| Wyoming | $1,947 | $339,500 | 0.57% | $1,947 ÷ $339,500 = 0.57% |
A homestead exemption takes part of your home's value off the tax roll if it's your main home. A senior freeze (or tax ceiling) stops your tax from rising after you qualify. An assessment cap limits how fast the taxed value can rise. Almost all of these must be applied for; they aren't automatic.
Florida, Texas, Ohio and Tennessee below are checked against each state's official pages, read Oct. 18, 2026, with the exact wording our build verified. For every other state we haven't verified the rules yet, so we link to the state's own tax department instead of guessing.
It needs at least 60% of the votes cast on it to pass. If it passes, it takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. The Division of Elections lists it as ballot number 3 and notes the title and summary were rewritten by the Attorney General. Until then, today's rules above apply. We don't take a side.
Sources: Florida Division of Elections: Amendment 3 · Proposed amendments booklet (Nov. 3, 2026) · Florida Constitution Art. XI, Sec. 5(e) (60% rule)
Official source: Florida Dept. of Revenue: Property tax
Official source: Texas Comptroller: Property tax assistance
Official source: Ohio Dept. of Taxation: Homestead exemption
Full Tennessee rules, 2026 freeze income limits by county, and a relief check: Tennessee property tax: relief, 65+ freeze & appeals
Official source: Tennessee Comptroller: Property taxes
We haven't verified these states' rules yet. Each link goes to the state's own tax department.
Many programs are run by your county, so your county assessor's or tax collector's website is often the fastest place to check and apply.
You can't appeal the tax rate, but you can challenge the value the county put on your home, or a wrong fact about it.
Deadlines and forms for the hot states: Florida · Texas · Ohio · Tennessee (see each card's Appeal line). Tennessee's step-by-step: Tennessee appeals.
Texas: "You have no legal right to withhold taxes or to put taxes in escrow to protest government spending or for any other reason." (Texas Comptroller)
About $846.0 billion in the latest four quarters (2025 Q3 through 2026 Q2), counting every state and local government. For calendar year 2025 it was $833.3 billion. That's about 37.2% of all state and local tax revenue in those four quarters.
| Quarter | Property tax collected |
|---|---|
| 2026 2nd Quarter | $153.5 billion |
| 2026 1st Quarter | $201.7 billion |
| 2025 4th Quarter | $342.6 billion |
| 2025 3rd Quarter | $148.2 billion |
| Four quarters, added up (our math) | $846.0 billion |
About the "$800 billion" figure on social media: it's in the right range but low. Census's own quarterly survey shows about $846.0 billion for the latest four quarters and $833.3 billion for 2025. This counts property tax on homes, businesses and other property, not just homes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue (QTAX), Table 1, 2026 Q2 release (not seasonally adjusted; the four quarters are added up by us; Census notes recent quarters can be revised).
On Oct. 18, 2026 we saved the Census tables, the QTAX spreadsheet and each state page we quote, with checksums. Our build checks that every quoted phrase behind this page appears in that saved text (68 quotes) and recomputes every rate. Census's API now asks for a key, so we pulled the same tables from data.census.gov. The calculator runs in your browser and uses whole-cent math.
Facts, not tax or legal advice. We don't take a side on cutting or repealing property taxes. Rules change, and most details are set by your county. Your county assessor, tax collector and state tax department have the final word.
Yes. Property tax is owed on the home every year. Paying off the mortgage only ends escrow, so the bill comes to you and you pay your county directly. In 2024, owners with no mortgage paid a median $2,663 (Census).
Usually because your home's assessed value went up, a new levy or higher rate passed, or an exemption dropped off. A higher value at the same rate means a higher bill unless your state caps increases or rolls back rates.
By median taxes ÷ median home value (our math from Census 2024 data), Illinois is highest at 1.92%, then New Jersey (1.89%). Hawaii is lowest at 0.27%.
About $846.0 billion in the four quarters from July 2025 through June 2026, and $833.3 billion in 2025, counting all state and local governments (Census QTAX).
Yes. Owners 65 or older or disabled get a school-tax ceiling: school taxes can't go up while you own and live in the home. Counties, cities and junior colleges may adopt their own ceiling (Texas Comptroller).
A proposed amendment on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. It would raise the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 and cut the non-homestead cap from 10% to 5%. It needs 60% to pass; if approved it takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
It's a credit for owners 65+, disabled owners and some surviving spouses with income of $41,000 or less (tax year 2026). It shields $29,700 of market value in 2026. Apply to your county auditor by Dec. 31.
Facts, not tax or legal advice. Figures are republished from the Census Bureau and official state pages with dates; your county assessor and tax collector have the final word.
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