Property Tax in Suffolk County, Massachusetts
In Suffolk County, Massachusetts, the typical homeowner pays $4,533 a year in property taxes on a home worth a median of $680,700. 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 Suffolk County numbers mean
The median is the midpoint of the county's actual bills: half of Suffolk County homeowners pay more than $4,533 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 $680,700, the median bill works out to a derived effective rate of 0.67%. 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 Suffolk County
| Measure | Suffolk County |
|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid per year | $4,533 |
| Median home value | $680,700 |
| Derived effective rate* | 0.67% |
| Equivalent monthly tax | $378 |
| Tax per $100,000 of value (derived) | $666 |
| Illustrative tax on a $400,000 home (derived rate) | $2,664 |
For context, the Massachusetts medians are $5,813 of tax on $525,800 of value, and the US medians are $2,969 on $303,400. *Derived figures are estimates from Census medians, not official rates.
Suffolk County at a glance
- Median tax rank in Massachusetts: #10 of 14 counties
- Median home value rank in Massachusetts: #4 of 14
- Population rank in Massachusetts: #4 of 14 (782,172 residents)
- Population density rank: #1 of 14 (13,426 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in Massachusetts: #13 of 14 (58 sq mi, 0.7% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $378; per $1,000 of home value: $0.67
How Suffolk County compares
Set against its state, Suffolk County's median bill of $4,533 is about 22% lower than the Massachusetts median ($5,813). Against the country as a whole it is about 53% higher than the US median ($2,969). That places the county #10 of 14 Massachusetts counties ranked by median taxes paid.
Remember what drives the ranking: bills follow home values as much as rates. Suffolk County's median home, at $680,700, ranks #4 by value in Massachusetts, while its derived rate of 0.67% compares with a derived US figure of 0.98%.
Some extra context for Suffolk County: the median bill works out to about $378 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $666 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 782,172 people — the #4 most populous county in Massachusetts, spread over 58 square miles, a density of about 13,426 people per square mile. Its median home value, $680,700, ranks #4 among the state's 14 counties with data.
Nationally, Suffolk County's median bill of $4,533 ranks #160 of 3133 counties with published data — inside the top 5% of counties by tax paid. The county accounts for about 11.2% of Massachusetts's population, its median home value is about 29% above the state median, and at the derived rate the median home would hand over roughly 6.66% of its value in tax across a decade. Within the state, the distance from Suffolk County to the most expensive county, Middlesex County ($7,240), is $2,707 a year.
Counties nearest Suffolk County in the Massachusetts ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol County, MA | $4,685 | $421,800 | 1.11% |
| Franklin County, MA | $4,595 | $303,400 | 1.51% |
| Hampden County, MA | $4,332 | $276,300 | 1.57% |
| Barnstable County, MA | $4,090 | $575,900 | 0.71% |
How the tax is worked out
As an illustration of the arithmetic: at Suffolk County's derived rate of 0.67%, a home valued at $400,000 would carry a tax bill of roughly $2,664 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 Suffolk County
Most successful appeals are won on facts, not arguments. Start with the property record card held by the Suffolk County assessor: wrong square footage, an extra room, or a missing homestead exemption are common and fixable. Next, line your assessed value up against recent sales of genuinely similar homes nearby. Many disputes end at an informal conversation with the assessor's office; if yours does not, file the formal appeal with the review board named on your notice before its deadline, evidence attached, and keep paying the bill in the meantime so penalties do not build up.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?
The median real estate tax paid in Suffolk County, Massachusetts is $4,533 per year, on a median home value of $680,700 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?
Dividing Suffolk County's median tax bill ($4,533) by its median home value ($680,700) gives a derived effective rate of 0.67%. This is an estimate computed from two Census survey medians — it is not the county's official tax rate.
How does Suffolk County compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
Suffolk County ranks #10 of 14 Massachusetts counties with published data by median taxes paid. Its median bill of $4,533 is about 22% lower than the Massachusetts median of $5,813.
How are property taxes calculated in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?
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 Suffolk County is $4,533 of tax on a $680,700 median home value.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Suffolk County, Massachusetts?
Yes — appeals are handled locally. Start with the Suffolk County assessor's property record card for your home, correct any factual errors, and back your case with comparable recent sales. Formal appeals go to the review board named on your assessment notice and must be filed by its deadline, typically within 30 to 90 days.