Property Tax in Suffolk County, New York
In Suffolk County, New York, the typical homeowner pays $10,001 a year in property taxes on a home worth a median of $539,500. 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
A median is the middle household: half of owner-occupied households in Suffolk County pay more than $10,001, and half pay less. Your own bill is set by your home's assessed value, the exemptions you qualify for, and the local taxing districts your property sits in — so individual bills vary widely around the median.
Dividing the median tax by the median home value gives a derived effective rate of 1.85% for Suffolk County. It is an estimate built from two survey medians, not the county's official rate, but it is a fair way to compare the local tax burden with other counties where home values are very different.
The key figures for Suffolk County
| Measure | Suffolk County |
|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid per year | $10,001 |
| Median home value | $539,500 |
| Derived effective rate* | 1.85% |
| Equivalent monthly tax | $833 |
| Tax per $100,000 of value (derived) | $1,854 |
| Illustrative tax on a $400,000 home (derived rate) | $7,416 |
For context, the New York medians are $6,450 of tax on $403,000 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 New York: #1 of 62 counties
- Median home value rank in New York: #8 of 62
- Population rank in New York: #4 of 62 (1,525,680 residents)
- Population density rank: #9 of 62 (1,675 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in New York: #20 of 62 (910 sq mi, 1.9% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $833; per $1,000 of home value: $1.85
How Suffolk County compares
Of the 62 New York counties with published data, 0 have a higher median property tax bill than Suffolk County's $10,001, putting the county at #1 in the state. Its bill is about 55% higher than the state median of $6,450 and about 237% higher than the national median of $2,969.
Rates and values pull in opposite directions: an expensive housing market can produce big bills at ordinary rates. Here the derived rate is 1.85%, versus 0.98% derived nationally, and the median home value ranks #8 within New York.
Some extra context for Suffolk County: the median bill works out to about $833 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $1,854 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 1,525,680 people — the #4 most populous county in New York, spread over 910 square miles, a density of about 1,675 people per square mile. Its median home value, $539,500, ranks #8 among the state's 62 counties with data.
Nationally, Suffolk County's median bill of $10,001 ranks #14 of 3133 counties with published data — inside the top 1% of counties by tax paid. The county accounts for about 7.7% of New York's population, its median home value is about 34% above the state median, and at the derived rate the median home would hand over roughly 18.54% of its value in tax across a decade. Within the state, the distance from Suffolk County to the most expensive county, Nassau County ($10,001), is $0 a year.
Counties nearest Suffolk County in the New York ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County, NY | $10,001 | $448,000 | 2.23% |
| Rockland County, NY | $10,001 | $564,200 | 1.77% |
| Westchester County, NY | $10,001 | $638,400 | 1.57% |
| Orange County, NY | $8,463 | $361,100 | 2.34% |
How the tax is worked out
As an illustration of the arithmetic: at Suffolk County's derived rate of 1.85%, a home valued at $400,000 would carry a tax bill of roughly $7,416 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
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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk County, New York?
The median real estate tax paid in Suffolk County, New York is $10,001 per year, on a median home value of $539,500 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Suffolk County, New York?
Dividing Suffolk County's median tax bill ($10,001) by its median home value ($539,500) gives a derived effective rate of 1.85%. 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 New York?
Suffolk County ranks #1 of 62 New York counties with published data by median taxes paid. Its median bill of $10,001 is about 55% higher than the New York median of $6,450.
How are property taxes calculated in Suffolk County, New York?
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 Suffolk County, the median outcome of that process is a bill of $10,001 on a median home value of $539,500.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Suffolk County, New York?
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.