North Carolina Property Tax Calculator (2026)
The North Carolina median effective property tax rate is 0.66% for 2026 — median real-estate taxes paid divided by median home value (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024). On a $400,000 home that is about $2,640 a year (~$220 a month). North Carolina ranks #36 of 51 nationally. Enter your home value below for an instant estimate, then confirm the exact rate with your county.
What is the North Carolina property tax rate in 2026?
North Carolina's median effective property tax rate is 0.66%. On the state median home value of $288,900, the typical bill is about $1,896 a year.
How much is property tax on a $400,000 home in North Carolina?
About $2,640 a year, or roughly $220 a month, at the 0.66% median effective rate.
Where does North Carolina rank nationally?
North Carolina ranks #36 of 51 by median effective rate (1 = highest), near the middle of the national range. That is 0.28% below the 0.94% US average.
Is this my exact property tax bill?
No. Your county sets the millage and assessed value. This uses the state median; homestead, senior, and veteran exemptions can lower your bill.
How does property tax work in North Carolina?
North Carolina property tax is set locally, not by the state. Your county assessor values your home, then applies a local millage (tax) rate. Cities, school districts, and special districts each add a share.
Because rates vary by county, this page uses the North Carolina median effective rate of 0.66%. That is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2024). It is a benchmark, not your exact bill.
How much is property tax on a home in North Carolina?
| Home value | Rate (0.66%) | Annual tax | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | 0.66% | $1,320 | $110 |
| $400,000 | 0.66% | $2,640 | $220 |
| $288,900 (state median) | 0.66% | $1,896 | $158 |
| $750,000 | 0.66% | $4,950 | $413 |
How do you calculate North Carolina property tax by hand?
- Find your home's assessed value on your county notice.
- Apply your county's assessment ratio if it uses one.
- Multiply the taxable value by the local millage (tax) rate.
- For a quick estimate, multiply your home value by 0.66% (the North Carolina median effective rate).
What exemptions can lower your North Carolina property tax?
Most counties offer a homestead exemption on your primary home. Many add relief for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. These lower your taxable value, so your real rate is often below the median.
Rules and amounts vary by county and change over time. Check your county assessor for the exemptions you qualify for before relying on a figure.
Why is your actual North Carolina bill different from this estimate?
Three things move your bill away from the state median. Your county rate may be higher or lower than the median. Your assessed value can lag the market. And exemptions reduce the taxable amount.
Use this page to budget and compare. For the exact number, use your latest assessment notice and your county's current millage rate.
How does property tax vary by county in North Carolina?
Property tax in North Carolina is set and collected at the county level, so your rate depends on where you live. Across North Carolina's 100 counties, the effective rate ranges from 0.22% in Swain County to 0.96% in Orange County. The table lists every county's effective rate, median home value, and median tax paid (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024).
| County | Effective rate | Median home value | Median tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance County | 0.66% | $241,500 | $1,494 |
| Alexander County | 0.59% | $211,800 | $1,269 |
| Alleghany County | 0.57% | $214,800 | $1,217 |
| Anson County | 0.68% | $148,600 | $1,141 |
| Ashe County | 0.46% | $243,100 | $1,190 |
| Avery County | 0.37% | $265,800 | $1,010 |
| Beaufort County | 0.58% | $192,700 | $1,300 |
| Bertie County | 0.62% | $98,500 | $778 |
| Bladen County | 0.74% | $135,100 | $1,227 |
| Brunswick County | 0.52% | $349,800 | $1,890 |
| Buncombe County | 0.57% | $391,800 | $2,222 |
| Burke County | 0.61% | $185,400 | $1,253 |
| Cabarrus County | 0.74% | $354,800 | $2,586 |
| Caldwell County | 0.61% | $192,200 | $1,150 |
| Camden County | 0.51% | $337,100 | $1,952 |
| Carteret County | 0.44% | $333,300 | $1,423 |
| Caswell County | 0.67% | $164,500 | $1,140 |
| Catawba County | 0.59% | $241,600 | $1,407 |
| Chatham County | 0.62% | $446,200 | $2,847 |
| Cherokee County | 0.45% | $232,300 | $1,064 |
| Chowan County | 0.63% | $235,800 | $1,677 |
| Clay County | 0.46% | $278,400 | $1,186 |
| Cleveland County | 0.64% | $200,000 | $1,286 |
| Columbus County | 0.73% | $146,000 | $1,120 |
| Craven County | 0.65% | $231,600 | $1,450 |
| Cumberland County | 0.87% | $199,200 | $1,850 |
| Currituck County | 0.47% | $378,800 | $1,760 |
| Dare County | 0.51% | $460,400 | $2,391 |
| Davidson County | 0.55% | $219,100 | $1,320 |
| Davie County | 0.61% | $253,900 | $1,595 |
| Duplin County | 0.68% | $137,400 | $950 |
| Durham County | 0.81% | $389,400 | $3,092 |
| Edgecombe County | 0.88% | $125,100 | $1,306 |
| Forsyth County | 0.8% | $250,400 | $1,984 |
| Franklin County | 0.7% | $284,300 | $1,834 |
| Gaston County | 0.77% | $266,000 | $1,982 |
| Gates County | 0.58% | $170,800 | $1,296 |
| Graham County | 0.49% | $170,600 | $979 |
| Granville County | 0.61% | $247,700 | $1,664 |
| Greene County | 0.78% | $117,400 | $1,041 |
| Guilford County | 0.83% | $259,900 | $2,174 |
| Halifax County | 0.9% | $106,200 | $1,216 |
| Harnett County | 0.68% | $246,200 | $1,689 |
| Haywood County | 0.53% | $279,200 | $1,583 |
| Henderson County | 0.49% | $351,400 | $1,810 |
| Hertford County | 0.86% | $119,200 | $1,168 |
| Hoke County | 0.57% | $219,300 | $1,465 |
| Hyde County | 0.62% | $124,000 | $975 |
| Iredell County | 0.58% | $321,400 | $1,952 |
| Jackson County | 0.31% | $284,700 | $976 |
| Johnston County | 0.64% | $305,600 | $1,908 |
| Jones County | 0.69% | $130,300 | $964 |
| Lee County | 0.76% | $240,200 | $1,785 |
| Lenoir County | 0.74% | $120,500 | $1,015 |
| Lincoln County | 0.61% | $321,000 | $1,856 |
| Macon County | 0.39% | $251,900 | $1,074 |
| Madison County | 0.48% | $284,600 | $1,362 |
| Martin County | 0.94% | $109,700 | $1,168 |
| McDowell County | 0.49% | $171,100 | $911 |
| Mecklenburg County | 0.69% | $406,800 | $2,890 |
| Mitchell County | 0.54% | $220,100 | $1,141 |
| Montgomery County | 0.58% | $161,700 | $1,037 |
| Moore County | 0.57% | $351,400 | $1,849 |
| Nash County | 0.66% | $191,000 | $1,362 |
| New Hanover County | 0.55% | $387,800 | $2,105 |
| Northampton County | 0.78% | $114,500 | $1,239 |
| Onslow County | 0.64% | $236,400 | $1,502 |
| Orange County | 0.96% | $459,500 | $4,162 |
| Pamlico County | 0.59% | $216,800 | $1,218 |
| Pasquotank County | 0.64% | $234,600 | $1,573 |
| Pender County | 0.55% | $299,000 | $1,883 |
| Perquimans County | 0.59% | $231,700 | $1,375 |
| Person County | 0.68% | $213,900 | $1,328 |
| Pitt County | 0.81% | $208,900 | $1,734 |
| Polk County | 0.5% | $315,000 | $1,697 |
| Randolph County | 0.67% | $197,100 | $1,324 |
| Richmond County | 0.78% | $127,800 | $1,138 |
| Robeson County | 0.8% | $94,500 | $820 |
| Rockingham County | 0.75% | $168,600 | $1,258 |
| Rowan County | 0.67% | $238,400 | $1,554 |
| Rutherford County | 0.62% | $201,800 | $1,178 |
| Sampson County | 0.75% | $150,700 | $1,130 |
| Scotland County | 0.67% | $114,900 | $1,068 |
| Stanly County | 0.57% | $242,400 | $1,385 |
| Stokes County | 0.59% | $196,700 | $1,179 |
| Surry County | 0.59% | $177,600 | $1,071 |
| Swain County | 0.22% | $207,000 | $859 |
| Transylvania County | 0.46% | $373,600 | $1,674 |
| Tyrrell County | 0.63% | $164,500 | $1,331 |
| Union County | 0.57% | $417,300 | $2,396 |
| Vance County | 0.65% | $161,500 | $1,256 |
| Wake County | 0.69% | $461,300 | $3,260 |
| Warren County | 0.66% | $154,200 | $1,093 |
| Washington County | 0.93% | $125,900 | $1,252 |
| Watauga County | 0.42% | $358,900 | $1,386 |
| Wayne County | 0.73% | $178,700 | $1,249 |
| Wilkes County | 0.57% | $168,800 | $1,002 |
| Wilson County | 0.8% | $186,000 | $1,471 |
| Yadkin County | 0.59% | $181,200 | $1,220 |
| Yancey County | 0.45% | $243,100 | $1,157 |