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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in Kittitas County, Washington

Kittitas County has an effective property tax rate of 0.71%. On the median home value of $497,400, that's roughly $3,552 per year. Median household income is $73,804.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
0.71%
median tax $3,552 ÷ median home $497,400
Median Home Value1
$497,400
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$73,804
per-capita $43,661
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$3,552
at 0.71% 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.

MetricKittitas CountyWashington (state context)
Effective property tax rate10.71%0.73%
Median home value1$497,400—
State income tax3No state income taxNo state income tax
State sales tax39.57% combined9.57% 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 Kittitas County, WA

Kittitas County offers a middle-ground option for buyers watching costs in Washington. With a median home value of $497,400, the annual property tax bill lands around $3,552, based on an effective rate of 0.714%. That rate sits below Washington's statewide median of 0.730% and ranks 27th among the state's 39 counties, while also coming in under the national median of 0.794%. Households here earn a median of $73,804, and per-capita income reaches $43,661. Ellensburg, the largest community in the county, anchors a region that also includes Cle Elum and Easton. For someone weighing a purchase, the combination of a below-average tax rate and home prices that trail many Western Washington markets can make the overall cost of ownership easier to absorb than in pricier parts of the state.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Kittitas County, WA?
The effective rate is 0.71% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 0.71% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($497,400), the estimated annual bill is about $3,552.
Is Kittitas County's rate high or low?
Compare it to the state median of 0.73% 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 Kittitas 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 Kittitas 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.