County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in James City County, Virginia

James City County has an effective property tax rate of 0.65%. On the median home value of $447,200, that's roughly $2,901 per year. Median household income is $109,985.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
0.65%
median tax $2,901 ÷ median home $447,200
Median Home Value1
$447,200
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$109,985
per-capita $54,983
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$2,901
at 0.65% 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.

MetricJames City CountyVirginia (state context)
Effective property tax rate10.65%0.60%
Median home value1$447,200
State income tax3top rate 5.75%top rate 5.75%
State sales tax35.77% combined5.77% 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 James City County, VA

James City County’s effective property tax rate of 0.649% sits above Virginia’s statewide median of 0.601%, placing it 54th among the state’s 133 counties. That ranking puts it in the upper-middle tier within Virginia, meaning homeowners here pay somewhat more relative to property value than in many neighboring counties. Against the national median of 0.794%, however, the county’s rate falls below the broader U.S. figure. A median home value of $447,200 generates an annual real-estate tax bill of about $2,901, set against a median household income of $109,985 and per-capita income of $54,983. In Williamsburg and surrounding communities like Jamestown and Toano, that combination of higher home values and a rate above the state norm signals a market where property taxes run somewhat heavier than Virginia’s baseline, though still lighter than what many American homeowners face.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in James City County, VA?
The effective rate is 0.65% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 0.65% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($447,200), the estimated annual bill is about $2,901.
Is James City County's rate high or low?
Compare it to the state median of 0.60% 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 James City 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 James City 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.