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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in District of Columbia, District of Columbia

District of Columbia has an effective property tax rate of 0.58%. On the median home value of $737,100, that's roughly $4,312 per year. Median household income is $109,870.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
0.58%
median tax $4,312 ÷ median home $737,100
Median Home Value1
$737,100
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$109,870
per-capita $77,348
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$4,312
at 0.58% effective rate

What you'll pay, at a glance

Property taxes are the largest local tax most homeowners pay. The effective rate measures the real tax bill as a share of home value — a more useful number than the nominal “mill rate,” because assessment practices vary county to county.

MetricDistrict of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia (state context)
Effective property tax rate10.58%0.58%
Median home value1$737,100—
State income tax3top rate 10.75%top rate 10.75%
State sales tax36.00% combined6.00% combined

How this is calculated

The effective property tax rate is the median real-estate tax bill divided by the median home value — both for owner-occupied homes, from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-year estimates)1. Median income is also from the ACS1. Federal and state income-tax figures use IRS2 and Tax Foundation3 data.

About District of Columbia, DC

In Washington, the District of Columbia's largest city, buying a home means confronting a median value of $737,100 — steep by national standards. The offset comes on the tax side. At a 0.585% effective rate, the median annual real-estate bill lands at $4,312, well below what the typical American county charges at 0.794%. Income levels help close the gap further: median household earnings of $109,870 and per-capita income of $77,348 give buyers here more capacity to absorb both a large mortgage and the yearly tax payment. The District's rate also sits below the statewide median of 0.585%, since it is the only county in its state, ranking 1 of 1. Other communities in the county include Naval Anacost Annex and Washington Navy Yard. Anyone weighing a purchase should note that the lower tax rate softens, but does not erase, the impact of high home prices.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in District of Columbia, DC?
The effective rate is 0.58% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 0.58% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($737,100), the estimated annual bill is about $4,312.
Is District of Columbia's rate high or low?
Compare it to the state median of 0.58% and the national average near 1.1%.
How does the effective rate differ from my mill rate?
A mill rate is the nominal levy per $1,000 of assessed value. The effective rate reflects what you actually pay after exemptions and assessments — it's the median tax bill as a share of median home value, so it better predicts your real cost.
Will a reassessment raise my tax bill?
Not necessarily. If your home's assessed value rises, your bill can go up, but only if the mill rate and exemptions stay flat. Contact the District of Columbia assessor's office to review your current assessment.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment?
Yes. Most counties allow an appeal when you believe the assessed value exceeds the market value. File with the District of Columbia assessor within the local deadline, typically with comparable sales as evidence.
Sources
[1] U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year (2023) — Median home value (B25077), median real-estate taxes (B25103), median household income (B19013), per-capita income (B19301).
[2] IRS — Statistics of Income — County income, AGI, and real-estate taxes paid.
[3] Tax Foundation — State income, sales, corporate, and estate/inheritance tax rates.