Property Tax in Baltimore city, Maryland
In Baltimore city, Maryland, the typical homeowner pays $3,236 a year in property taxes on a home worth a median of $219,300. The figures on this page are the Census Bureau's published medians (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023), shown exactly as released.
What the Baltimore city numbers mean
The median is the midpoint of the county's actual bills: half of Baltimore city homeowners pay more than $3,236 a year and half pay less. The exact bill for any one home depends on its assessed value, exemptions, and which school, municipal and special districts cover it.
Set against the median home value of $219,300, the median bill works out to a derived effective rate of 1.48%. That rate is an estimate computed from the two medians — no county publishes a rate calculated this way — but it adjusts for home prices, which makes comparisons between counties more meaningful.
The key figures for Baltimore city
| Measure | Baltimore city |
|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid per year | $3,236 |
| Median home value | $219,300 |
| Derived effective rate* | 1.48% |
| Equivalent monthly tax | $270 |
| Tax per $100,000 of value (derived) | $1,476 |
| Illustrative tax on a $400,000 home (derived rate) | $5,904 |
For context, the Maryland medians are $3,989 of tax on $397,700 of value, and the US medians are $2,969 on $303,400. *Derived figures are estimates from Census medians, not official rates.
Baltimore city at a glance
- Median tax rank in Maryland: #13 of 24 counties
- Median home value rank in Maryland: #21 of 24
- Population rank in Maryland: #5 of 24 (577,193 residents)
- Population density rank: #1 of 24 (7,131 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in Maryland: #24 of 24 (80 sq mi, 0.8% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $270; per $1,000 of home value: $1.48
How Baltimore city compares
Set against its state, Baltimore city's median bill of $3,236 is about 19% lower than the Maryland median ($3,989). Against the country as a whole it is about 9% higher than the US median ($2,969). That places the county #13 of 24 Maryland counties ranked by median taxes paid.
Remember what drives the ranking: bills follow home values as much as rates. Baltimore city's median home, at $219,300, ranks #21 by value in Maryland, while its derived rate of 1.48% compares with a derived US figure of 0.98%.
Some extra context for Baltimore city: the median bill works out to about $270 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $1,476 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 577,193 people — the #5 most populous county in Maryland, spread over 80 square miles, a density of about 7,131 people per square mile. Its median home value, $219,300, ranks #21 among the state's 24 counties with data.
Zooming out: of 3133 counties nationwide with published Census figures, only 385 record a higher median tax bill than Baltimore city — it sits in the top 12% nationally. The county holds roughly 9.4% of Maryland's people. Its homes are worth less than the state norm (median $219,300 versus $397,700), and a decade at the derived rate of 1.48% adds up to about 14.76% of the median home's value in tax. The cheapest county in the state, Somerset County, medians $1,603 — $1,633 less than Baltimore city per year.
Counties nearest Baltimore city in the Maryland ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harford County, MD | $3,424 | $367,300 | 0.93% |
| St. Mary's County, MD | $3,392 | $390,900 | 0.87% |
| Cecil County, MD | $3,059 | $311,800 | 0.98% |
| Kent County, MD | $2,896 | $307,100 | 0.94% |
How the tax is worked out
As an illustration of the arithmetic: at Baltimore city's derived rate of 1.48%, a home valued at $400,000 would carry a tax bill of roughly $5,904 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 Baltimore city
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 Baltimore city.
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.
More Maryland counties
Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in Baltimore city, Maryland?
The median real estate tax paid in Baltimore city, Maryland is $3,236 per year, on a median home value of $219,300 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Baltimore city, Maryland?
Dividing Baltimore city's median tax bill ($3,236) by its median home value ($219,300) gives a derived effective rate of 1.48%. This is an estimate computed from two Census survey medians — it is not the county's official tax rate.
How does Baltimore city compare with the rest of Maryland?
By median taxes paid, Baltimore city stands at #13 among the 24 Maryland counties the Census publishes figures for. Its $3,236 median bill is about 19% lower than the state median ($3,989), and 12 counties in the state record a higher median.
How are property taxes calculated in Baltimore city, Maryland?
Three steps produce the bill: an assessment of market value by the local assessor, a reduction for exemptions you qualify for (a homestead exemption is the common one), and multiplication by the combined rates of the county, municipality, school district and any special districts covering the property. The median result in Baltimore city is $3,236 of tax on a $219,300 median home value.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Baltimore city, Maryland?
Yes. Request your property record card from the Baltimore city assessor's office and check it for errors, then compare your assessed value with recent sales of similar homes. If it still looks too high, file a formal appeal with the local review board named on your assessment notice before the deadline printed on the notice — windows are short, often 30 to 90 days.