Property Tax in Alaska by County
Homeowners in Alaska pay a median of $3,785 a year in real estate taxes on a median home value of $333,300, according to the US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023. The table below covers all 26 counties in the state for which the Census Bureau publishes figures. That state median is about 27% higher than the US median of $2,969.
The extremes inside Alaska are far apart: Anchorage Municipality, AK records the state's highest median bill at $4,865, while Northwest Arctic Borough, AK records the lowest at $199. Home values explain much of that distance, with local district rates explaining the rest.
A few distribution facts: the median of Alaska's county medians is $2,082, 7 of 26 counties exceed the national median of $2,969, and the distance between the cheapest county (Northwest Arctic Borough, $199) and the most expensive (Anchorage Municipality, $4,865) is $4,666 a year.
For orientation: the county with the most residents is Anchorage Municipality (289,069 people), and the county covering the most land is Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area (145,769 square miles). Their own tax and value medians are in the table below.
The state's population centres are Anchorage Municipality (289,069 residents; median tax $4,865 on a median value of $375,900), Matanuska-Susitna Borough (110,677; $3,512 on $319,200) and Fairbanks North Star Borough (95,555; $3,570 on $282,500).
Alaska counties: median property tax
*Derived rate = median taxes paid ÷ median home value — an estimate from two survey medians, not an official rate. Counties in bold detail pages are linked; all figures: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023.
How assessment and appeals work in Alaska
Property tax in Alaska is administered locally. As in almost every state, the process starts with an assessment: a local assessor (in most places a county official) estimates the market value of your property. That value, minus any exemptions you qualify for — homestead exemptions are the most common — is multiplied by the combined rates of the local taxing districts where the property sits: typically the county, a municipality, a school district, and sometimes special districts such as fire or water districts.
If your assessment notice shows a value that looks too high, you can usually appeal. Start by asking the assessor's office for your property record card and checking it for simple errors — wrong square footage, an extra bathroom, a missed exemption. If the value still looks wrong, gather evidence: recent sales of similar homes nearby, or an independent appraisal. Appeals go to the local review board named on your notice, and the deadline on that notice controls — appeal windows are typically short.
One caution applies everywhere in Alaska: the median figures on this page describe the typical owner-occupied household across the whole state. Your own bill depends on your assessed value, your exemptions, and your exact combination of local districts, so use these numbers as a benchmark and confirm specifics with your county assessor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in Alaska?
The median real estate tax paid in Alaska is $3,785 per year, on a median home value of $333,300 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
Which Alaska county has the highest property taxes?
Among counties with published Census data, Anchorage Municipality has the highest median real estate taxes paid at $4,865 per year.
Which Alaska county has the lowest property taxes?
Among counties with published Census data, Northwest Arctic Borough has the lowest median real estate taxes paid at $199 per year.
How do I appeal a property tax assessment in Alaska?
Assessments in Alaska are handled locally, usually by the county assessor or an equivalent local office. If you believe your assessed value is too high, request your property record card, check it for errors, and file an appeal with the local board named on your assessment notice before the deadline printed on that notice — appeal windows are short, often 30 to 90 days.