Maryland property tax by county
Across Maryland's 24 counties, the typical (median) effective property-tax rate is 0.9% of a home's value. Rates vary widely by county, from 0.65% in Talbot County to 1.46% in Baltimore city. The full ranking is below; each county links to its own page. Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Property tax rate by county in Maryland
| County | Effective rate | Median tax | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore city | 1.46% | $3,354 | $229,600 |
| Howard County | 1.17% | $6,987 | $597,900 |
| Prince George's County | 1.12% | $4,771 | $426,000 |
| Baltimore County | 1.07% | $3,736 | $349,300 |
| Allegany County | 1.06% | $1,636 | $154,900 |
| Charles County | 1.01% | $4,339 | $428,500 |
| Frederick County | 0.99% | $4,584 | $464,600 |
| Dorchester County | 0.94% | $2,456 | $262,400 |
| Somerset County | 0.92% | $1,591 | $173,200 |
| Carroll County | 0.91% | $3,934 | $434,000 |
| Kent County | 0.91% | $3,025 | $330,900 |
| Caroline County | 0.9% | $2,619 | $290,100 |
| Cecil County | 0.89% | $3,068 | $343,400 |
| Harford County | 0.89% | $3,448 | $386,400 |
| Montgomery County | 0.87% | $5,539 | $640,300 |
| Anne Arundel County | 0.85% | $3,957 | $467,900 |
| Wicomico County | 0.85% | $2,171 | $254,700 |
| Calvert County | 0.84% | $3,885 | $460,200 |
| St. Mary's County | 0.84% | $3,424 | $407,600 |
| Washington County | 0.84% | $2,481 | $296,100 |
| Garrett County | 0.78% | $1,836 | $235,300 |
| Queen Anne's County | 0.78% | $3,623 | $462,700 |
| Worcester County | 0.73% | $2,738 | $374,700 |
| Talbot County | 0.65% | $2,647 | $409,700 |
Effective rate = median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020-2024), tables B25103 and B25077.
Why county rates vary so much
Property tax is set locally, not by the state, so the rate depends on the county, city, school district, and special districts where a home sits, and on how those local budgets compare to local home values. A county with low home values can still have a high effective rate if its local budgets are large, and a wealthy county can have a low effective rate. The effective rate shown here is the median tax bill divided by the median home value, which is the standard way to compare places; your own bill depends on your assessment and any exemptions.
For Maryland's income and retirement taxes, see Maryland income tax and Maryland retirement taxes.
How does Maryland assess homes for property tax?
Maryland assesses homes at 100% of market value, the same in every county. Assessed at full cash value, with no fractional ratio. The catch is that any increase in value is phased in over three years in equal steps, so your taxable assessment in years one and two sits below current market value. Decreases apply immediately.
Every property is revalued once every three years. The state splits its 2 million-plus accounts into three groups and reassesses one group each year.
Is there a homestead exemption in Maryland?
Maryland's Homestead Tax Credit is not a dollar exemption. It caps how much your taxable assessment can rise each year, and credits you the tax on anything above the cap. The cap is 10% for the state portion, but every county and municipality sets its own between 0% and 10%, so the number that actually matters to you is local: Anne Arundel is 2%, Baltimore City and Baltimore County 4%, Carroll 5%. You must file a one-time application, and you can claim it on only one property.
Other state relief for homeowners:
- Seniors and disabled owners: The Homeowners' Property Tax Credit is income-based, not age-based, so there is no age or disability requirement. Combined gross household income must be $60,000 or less and net worth under $200,000 excluding the home and retirement savings. The credit is a sliding scale: your tax is limited to 0% of the first $8,000 of income, 4% of the next $4,000, 6.5% of the next $4,000 and 9% above $16,000, counting only the tax on the first $300,000 of assessed value. Apply each year by October 1, or by April 15 to have it show up on the July bill.
- Disabled veterans: A veteran with a permanent 100% service-connected disability is fully exempt on their dwelling, including the yard, garden and garage. It carries to an unremarried surviving spouse and to a home they buy later. Veterans can apply at any time rather than by the usual September 1 deadline, and back taxes can be refunded for up to three years from when eligibility began. The state will not accept a VA Summary of Benefits letter as proof, only the rating notification.
- There is no separate owner-occupancy credit; the Homestead Tax Credit does that job and already requires the home be your principal residence. A separate $40,000 exemption applies to owners who are legally blind. Counties may add their own senior credits on top.
Maryland sets these rules and each county's property tax office applies them, which is where the application, the filing deadline and the form come from. Some counties add programs of their own; where we have checked a county, its page lists them.
When are property taxes due in Maryland?
Tax is due July 1 and can be paid without interest through September 30. Owner-occupied homes are billed semiannually by default, with the first half due September 30 and the second December 31; you may instead pay the full year by September 30 and avoid the service charge of up to 1.65% on the second installment.
Maryland splits the bill into 2 installments. That is the state rule. Each county issues and collects its own bill, so the dates printed on your statement are the ones that bind you.
How do you appeal a property assessment in Maryland?
You contest the assessed value with the Supervisor of Assessments (informal), then the local Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board, then the Maryland Tax Court. The filing deadline is typically 45 days from the date on your assessment notice. Notices go out in late December to whichever third of the state is being reassessed, giving a mid-February deadline. In the two years you are not reassessed you can still file a Petition for Review by the first working day after January 1, and new owners who buy between January 1 and June 30 get 60 days from the transfer. Each further step allows 30 days.
Maryland property-tax rules from primary state sources (revenue department and statute), reviewed September 7, 2026. Exemption amounts and credits change; confirm the current figures with your county assessor. Sources: assessment, exemptions, due dates, appeals.
Sources
- Median real estate taxes paid and median home value, all Maryland counties: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020-2024), tables B25103 and B25077.