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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in Sullivan County, Tennessee

Sullivan County has an effective property tax rate of 0.58%. On the median home value of $213,300, that's roughly $1,234 per year. Median household income is $58,807.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
0.58%
median tax $1,234 ÷ median home $213,300
Median Home Value1
$213,300
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$58,807
per-capita $35,877
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$1,234
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.

MetricSullivan CountyTennessee (state context)
Effective property tax rate10.58%0.47%
Median home value1$213,300—
State income tax3No state income taxNo state income tax
State sales tax39.61% combined9.61% 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 Sullivan County, TN

Property owners in Sullivan County, Tennessee, pay an effective rate of 0.579%, which sits above the state median of 0.467% but below the national median of 0.794%. Among Tennessee's 95 counties, this one ranks 12th, placing it firmly on the higher-taxing end within the state. The median home value of $213,300 generates an annual real-estate bill of about $1,234, set against a median household income of $58,807 and per-capita income of $35,877. Kingsport, the largest city in the county, anchors much of this housing stock. What this signals is a county where property taxes run heavier than what most Tennesseans experience, though they remain lighter than what a comparable homeowner would face in much of the country. Buyers weighing Sullivan County against other parts of Tennessee should expect to budget somewhat more for taxes here.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Sullivan County, TN?
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 ($213,300), the estimated annual bill is about $1,234.
Is Sullivan County's rate high or low?
Compare it to the state median of 0.47% 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 Sullivan County 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 Sullivan County 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.