Property Tax in Maricopa County, Arizona
Homeowners in Maricopa County, Arizona pay a median of $1,965 a year in real estate taxes, on a median home value of $414,700. Those are the Census Bureau's published medians for the county (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023) — the typical bill and the typical home value for owner-occupied households.
What the Maricopa County numbers mean
Read the two medians together: $1,965 is the middle tax bill among owner-occupied households in Maricopa County, and $414,700 is the middle home value. Neither figure describes a specific property — together they describe the typical homeowner's situation in the county.
The derived effective rate for Maricopa County is 0.47% (median tax ÷ median value). Treat it as an estimate for comparison only: it comes from survey medians of different households, not from the county's rate schedule.
The key figures for Maricopa County
| Measure | Maricopa County |
|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid per year | $1,965 |
| Median home value | $414,700 |
| Derived effective rate* | 0.47% |
| Equivalent monthly tax | $164 |
| Tax per $100,000 of value (derived) | $474 |
| Illustrative tax on a $400,000 home (derived rate) | $1,896 |
For context, the Arizona medians are $1,858 of tax on $358,900 of value, and the US medians are $2,969 on $303,400. *Derived figures are estimates from Census medians, not official rates.
Maricopa County at a glance
- Median tax rank in Arizona: #3 of 15 counties
- Median home value rank in Arizona: #1 of 15
- Population rank in Arizona: #1 of 15 (4,491,987 residents)
- Population density rank: #1 of 15 (488 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in Arizona: #5 of 15 (9,202 sq mi, 8.1% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $164; per $1,000 of home value: $0.47
How Maricopa County compares
The median tax bill in Maricopa County is about 6% higher than the state median ($1,858 for Arizona) and about 34% lower than the US median ($2,969 nationally). By median taxes paid, the county ranks #3 out of 15 Arizona counties with published Census data — 2 counties in the state have a higher median bill.
Comparisons cut both ways: a county can have a modest rate but high bills because homes are expensive, or a high rate but modest bills because homes are cheaper. Maricopa County's derived rate of 0.47% sits below the derived US figure of 0.98%.
Some extra context for Maricopa County: the median bill works out to about $164 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $474 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 4,491,987 people — the #1 most populous county in Arizona, spread over 9,202 square miles, a density of about 488 people per square mile. Its median home value, $414,700, ranks #1 among the state's 15 counties with data.
Zooming out: of 3133 counties nationwide with published Census figures, only 1093 record a higher median tax bill than Maricopa County — it sits in the top 35% nationally. The county holds roughly 61.8% of Arizona's people. Its homes are worth more than the state norm (median $414,700 versus $358,900), and a decade at the derived rate of 0.47% adds up to about 4.74% of the median home's value in tax. The cheapest county in the state, Greenlee County, medians $489 — $1,476 less than Maricopa County per year.
Counties nearest Maricopa County in the Arizona ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pima County, AZ | $2,248 | $286,900 | 0.78% |
| Coconino County, AZ | $2,008 | $413,200 | 0.49% |
| Yavapai County, AZ | $1,734 | $392,900 | 0.44% |
| Pinal County, AZ | $1,615 | $312,100 | 0.52% |
How the tax is worked out
As an illustration of the arithmetic: at Maricopa County's derived rate of 0.47%, a home valued at $400,000 would carry a tax bill of roughly $1,896 a year. That is only an illustration using the derived rate — a real bill is computed from the property's assessed value, its exemptions, and the combined rates of its specific taxing districts, so it can be higher or lower.
The usual sequence is: the local assessor values the property; exemptions are applied; the taxable value is multiplied by the combined local rates; and the county bills and collects the tax, distributing it to the schools, municipalities and districts that levied it.
Checking your assessment in Maricopa County
If your bill looks wrong, work through these steps:
1. Get your property record card from the assessor and check the basics — living area, lot size, bedrooms, condition, and any exemptions you should have.
2. Compare your assessed value with recent sale prices of similar homes in Maricopa County.
3. Talk to the assessor's office informally first; clear errors are often fixed without a hearing.
4. If needed, file a formal appeal with the local review board before the deadline on your assessment notice, with your evidence attached.
5. Keep paying the bill as issued while the appeal runs, unless your notice says otherwise — unpaid taxes accrue penalties regardless of an appeal.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in Maricopa County, Arizona?
The median real estate tax paid in Maricopa County, Arizona is $1,965 per year, on a median home value of $414,700 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Maricopa County, Arizona?
On a derived basis, 0.47%: the county's median tax bill of $1,965 divided by its median home value of $414,700. Because it is calculated from two survey medians, read it as a comparison estimate rather than an official rate.
How does Maricopa County compare with the rest of Arizona?
Maricopa County ranks #3 of 15 Arizona counties with published data by median taxes paid. Its median bill of $1,965 is about 6% higher than the Arizona median of $1,858.
How are property taxes calculated in Maricopa County, Arizona?
The assessor estimates your property's market value; exemptions (such as a homestead exemption) reduce the taxable amount; and the result is multiplied by the combined rates of the local taxing districts — county, municipality, school district and any special districts. In Maricopa County, the median outcome of that process is a bill of $1,965 on a median home value of $414,700.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Maricopa County, Arizona?
You can. Pull your property record card from the Maricopa County assessor, verify its details, and compare the assessed value against similar homes that sold recently. If the value still seems too high, submit a formal appeal to the board named on your notice before the stated deadline — usually a 30-to-90-day window.