Washington property tax by county
Across Washington's 39 counties, the typical (median) effective property-tax rate is 0.79% of a home's value. Rates vary widely by county, from 0.57% in San Juan County to 0.94% in Pierce County. 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 Washington
| County | Effective rate | Median tax | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce County | 0.94% | $4,555 | $484,400 |
| Thurston County | 0.9% | $4,043 | $451,500 |
| Walla Walla County | 0.9% | $3,386 | $375,600 |
| Grays Harbor County | 0.87% | $2,441 | $279,500 |
| Columbia County | 0.86% | $2,215 | $256,100 |
| Spokane County | 0.86% | $3,196 | $370,500 |
| Adams County | 0.84% | $2,104 | $251,300 |
| Clark County | 0.84% | $4,080 | $487,900 |
| King County | 0.84% | $6,785 | $811,200 |
| Grant County | 0.82% | $2,268 | $275,700 |
| Pacific County | 0.82% | $2,250 | $274,000 |
| Skagit County | 0.82% | $4,008 | $486,200 |
| Yakima County | 0.82% | $2,299 | $281,100 |
| Cowlitz County | 0.81% | $2,988 | $367,400 |
| Asotin County | 0.8% | $2,289 | $286,200 |
| Kitsap County | 0.8% | $4,030 | $505,700 |
| Benton County | 0.79% | $2,910 | $369,400 |
| Douglas County | 0.79% | $3,168 | $402,900 |
| Snohomish County | 0.79% | $5,121 | $644,600 |
| Whitman County | 0.79% | $2,566 | $323,300 |
| Okanogan County | 0.77% | $2,194 | $284,200 |
| Franklin County | 0.76% | $2,638 | $345,700 |
| Mason County | 0.75% | $2,833 | $377,400 |
| Clallam County | 0.74% | $2,860 | $385,600 |
| Jefferson County | 0.73% | $3,596 | $495,100 |
| Skamania County | 0.72% | $3,380 | $472,600 |
| Chelan County | 0.71% | $3,235 | $454,900 |
| Kittitas County | 0.71% | $3,255 | $459,900 |
| Lewis County | 0.71% | $2,433 | $341,500 |
| Whatcom County | 0.71% | $3,819 | $536,100 |
| Island County | 0.7% | $3,765 | $535,300 |
| Pend Oreille County | 0.67% | $2,048 | $307,800 |
| Ferry County | 0.65% | $1,792 | $274,500 |
| Stevens County | 0.65% | $2,016 | $308,000 |
| Klickitat County | 0.62% | $2,401 | $388,700 |
| Garfield County | 0.61% | $1,306 | $214,200 |
| Lincoln County | 0.6% | $1,621 | $272,300 |
| Wahkiakum County | 0.6% | $2,084 | $344,500 |
| San Juan County | 0.57% | $4,131 | $726,500 |
Effective rate = median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2023), 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 Washington's income and retirement taxes, see Washington income tax and Washington retirement taxes.
Sources
- Median real estate taxes paid and median home value, all Washington counties: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2023), tables B25103 and B25077.