Property Tax in North Carolina by County
The typical North Carolina homeowner pays $1,815 per year in property taxes, with a median home value of $259,400 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023). This page lists the same figures for each of the state's 100 counties with published Census data. That state median is about 39% lower than the US median of $2,969.
At the top of the North Carolina table sits Orange County, NC (median $4,105); at the bottom, Hyde County, NC (median $753). One state, one tax system on paper — but the bills are set locally, county by county and district by district.
A few distribution facts: the median of North Carolina's county medians is $1,277, 2 of 100 counties exceed the national median of $2,969, and the distance between the cheapest county (Hyde County, $753) and the most expensive (Orange County, $4,105) is $3,352 a year.
Two reference points for the state's geography: Wake County is North Carolina's most populous county with 1,151,009 residents, while Robeson County is the largest by land area at 947 square miles. Both appear in the table with their own median figures.
The state's population centres are Wake County (1,151,009 residents; median tax $3,023 on a median value of $422,800), Mecklenburg County (1,130,906; $2,780 on $371,200) and Guilford County (542,987; $2,075 on $234,900).
North Carolina counties: median property tax
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County, NC | $4,105 | $428,500 | 0.96% | 147,292 |
| Wake County, NC | $3,023 | $422,800 | 0.71% | 1,151,009 |
| Durham County, NC | $2,951 | $351,700 | 0.84% | 329,405 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | $2,780 | $371,200 | 0.75% | 1,130,906 |
| Chatham County, NC | $2,671 | $397,800 | 0.67% | 78,319 |
| Cabarrus County, NC | $2,429 | $318,600 | 0.76% | 231,262 |
| Union County, NC | $2,298 | $374,400 | 0.61% | 244,975 |
| Dare County, NC | $2,245 | $425,400 | 0.53% | 37,534 |
| Buncombe County, NC | $2,163 | $360,000 | 0.60% | 271,790 |
| Guilford County, NC | $2,075 | $234,900 | 0.88% | 542,987 |
| New Hanover County, NC | $2,075 | $353,700 | 0.59% | 231,214 |
| Forsyth County, NC | $1,934 | $227,800 | 0.85% | 386,740 |
| Gaston County, NC | $1,872 | $235,000 | 0.80% | 231,485 |
| Pender County, NC | $1,858 | $267,100 | 0.70% | 63,475 |
| Iredell County, NC | $1,843 | $292,300 | 0.63% | 191,800 |
| Johnston County, NC | $1,840 | $267,600 | 0.69% | 226,623 |
| Cumberland County, NC | $1,823 | $183,700 | 0.99% | 336,749 |
| Brunswick County, NC | $1,789 | $314,700 | 0.57% | 145,889 |
| Camden County, NC | $1,784 | $289,800 | 0.62% | 10,743 |
| Moore County, NC | $1,784 | $315,300 | 0.57% | 102,840 |
| Franklin County, NC | $1,732 | $240,900 | 0.72% | 71,962 |
| Lee County, NC | $1,707 | $213,800 | 0.80% | 64,565 |
| Granville County, NC | $1,694 | $235,700 | 0.72% | 61,439 |
| Henderson County, NC | $1,667 | $317,800 | 0.53% | 117,387 |
| Lincoln County, NC | $1,660 | $279,500 | 0.59% | 90,359 |
| Pitt County, NC | $1,649 | $194,300 | 0.85% | 172,279 |
| Harnett County, NC | $1,642 | $220,700 | 0.74% | 136,503 |
| Polk County, NC | $1,627 | $281,100 | 0.58% | 19,689 |
| Currituck County, NC | $1,600 | $351,200 | 0.46% | 29,612 |
| Davie County, NC | $1,570 | $235,300 | 0.67% | 43,526 |
| Pasquotank County, NC | $1,547 | $223,300 | 0.69% | 40,830 |
| Transylvania County, NC | $1,539 | $336,100 | 0.46% | 33,243 |
| Haywood County, NC | $1,532 | $254,900 | 0.60% | 62,432 |
| Alamance County, NC | $1,440 | $221,200 | 0.65% | 174,286 |
| Onslow County, NC | $1,431 | $219,500 | 0.65% | 208,537 |
| Wilson County, NC | $1,428 | $171,800 | 0.83% | 78,648 |
| Rowan County, NC | $1,411 | $216,100 | 0.65% | 148,487 |
| Chowan County, NC | $1,403 | $204,400 | 0.69% | 13,814 |
| Craven County, NC | $1,372 | $206,200 | 0.67% | 101,074 |
| Carteret County, NC | $1,369 | $304,200 | 0.45% | 68,652 |
| Hoke County, NC | $1,357 | $196,000 | 0.69% | 53,102 |
| Stanly County, NC | $1,334 | $214,300 | 0.62% | 63,557 |
| Watauga County, NC | $1,334 | $321,500 | 0.41% | 54,607 |
| Nash County, NC | $1,320 | $171,100 | 0.77% | 95,451 |
| Catawba County, NC | $1,319 | $218,100 | 0.60% | 162,051 |
| Perquimans County, NC | $1,316 | $211,600 | 0.62% | 13,146 |
| Madison County, NC | $1,307 | $263,500 | 0.50% | 21,640 |
| Person County, NC | $1,288 | $192,800 | 0.67% | 39,275 |
| Edgecombe County, NC | $1,282 | $116,800 | 1.10% | 48,777 |
| Beaufort County, NC | $1,277 | $181,200 | 0.70% | 44,597 |
| Gates County, NC | $1,273 | $163,900 | 0.78% | 10,437 |
| Davidson County, NC | $1,262 | $200,100 | 0.63% | 171,063 |
| Pamlico County, NC | $1,257 | $209,800 | 0.60% | 12,315 |
| Cleveland County, NC | $1,240 | $180,200 | 0.69% | 100,170 |
| Randolph County, NC | $1,236 | $171,600 | 0.72% | 145,322 |
| Tyrrell County, NC | $1,233 | $138,400 | 0.89% | 3,376 |
| Northampton County, NC | $1,232 | $102,200 | 1.21% | 17,212 |
| Rockingham County, NC | $1,230 | $156,000 | 0.79% | 91,585 |
| Wayne County, NC | $1,210 | $162,700 | 0.74% | 117,606 |
| Yadkin County, NC | $1,210 | $176,400 | 0.69% | 37,419 |
| Alleghany County, NC | $1,202 | $199,000 | 0.60% | 11,075 |
| Washington County, NC | $1,202 | $107,000 | 1.12% | 10,905 |
| Alexander County, NC | $1,199 | $190,000 | 0.63% | 36,440 |
| Burke County, NC | $1,191 | $170,500 | 0.70% | 87,863 |
| Clay County, NC | $1,188 | $263,300 | 0.45% | 11,391 |
| Vance County, NC | $1,179 | $146,300 | 0.81% | 42,361 |
| Martin County, NC | $1,176 | $109,900 | 1.07% | 21,773 |
| Halifax County, NC | $1,163 | $102,500 | 1.14% | 48,219 |
| Stokes County, NC | $1,158 | $186,800 | 0.62% | 44,889 |
| Bladen County, NC | $1,137 | $125,800 | 0.90% | 29,591 |
| Ashe County, NC | $1,136 | $221,900 | 0.51% | 26,831 |
| Richmond County, NC | $1,122 | $120,800 | 0.93% | 42,818 |
| Columbus County, NC | $1,120 | $128,300 | 0.87% | 50,453 |
| Anson County, NC | $1,113 | $119,300 | 0.93% | 21,903 |
| Caldwell County, NC | $1,112 | $174,000 | 0.64% | 80,618 |
| Hertford County, NC | $1,083 | $111,100 | 0.97% | 20,492 |
| Warren County, NC | $1,059 | $124,700 | 0.85% | 18,751 |
| Yancey County, NC | $1,058 | $222,300 | 0.48% | 18,676 |
| Montgomery County, NC | $1,057 | $150,300 | 0.70% | 25,874 |
| Rutherford County, NC | $1,053 | $180,800 | 0.58% | 64,850 |
| Sampson County, NC | $1,051 | $128,400 | 0.82% | 59,245 |
| Cherokee County, NC | $1,045 | $208,700 | 0.50% | 29,197 |
| Surry County, NC | $1,033 | $166,400 | 0.62% | 71,407 |
| Caswell County, NC | $1,023 | $151,200 | 0.68% | 22,689 |
| Mitchell County, NC | $1,014 | $202,100 | 0.50% | 14,973 |
| Wilkes County, NC | $1,003 | $161,400 | 0.62% | 65,983 |
| Scotland County, NC | $999 | $109,900 | 0.91% | 34,353 |
| Greene County, NC | $990 | $114,000 | 0.87% | 20,421 |
| Lenoir County, NC | $985 | $111,400 | 0.88% | 54,917 |
| Macon County, NC | $979 | $229,000 | 0.43% | 37,533 |
| Avery County, NC | $966 | $233,200 | 0.41% | 17,643 |
| Jackson County, NC | $938 | $253,900 | 0.37% | 43,089 |
| Jones County, NC | $926 | $122,600 | 0.76% | 9,245 |
| Duplin County, NC | $912 | $123,200 | 0.74% | 49,053 |
| McDowell County, NC | $871 | $168,300 | 0.52% | 44,679 |
| Swain County, NC | $844 | $209,800 | 0.40% | 14,065 |
| Graham County, NC | $842 | $155,800 | 0.54% | 8,041 |
| Robeson County, NC | $799 | $88,600 | 0.90% | 116,858 |
| Bertie County, NC | $764 | $95,800 | 0.80% | 17,482 |
| Hyde County, NC | $753 | $119,600 | 0.63% | 4,625 |
*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 North Carolina
Nobody in North Carolina pays a single statewide property tax. Instead, each property is assessed where it sits — usually by a county assessor — and taxed by the stack of local districts that cover it: the county, often a town or city, a school district, and sometimes fire, water or other special districts. Exemptions, above all a homestead exemption where offered, come off the assessed value before those rates are applied.
Disagree with the value on your assessment notice? The appeal route runs through the local office named on that notice. Ask for your property record card first and audit it for errors in area, rooms or condition; then support your case with recent comparable sales or a professional appraisal. Deadlines are printed on the notice and are strict, commonly only a month or two after assessments are mailed.
Keep in mind that the state-level medians shown here blend very different local markets inside North Carolina. They are a benchmark for comparison, never a prediction of an individual bill — for that, only your own assessment, exemptions and district rates count.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in North Carolina?
The median real estate tax paid in North Carolina is $1,815 per year, on a median home value of $259,400 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
Which North Carolina county has the highest property taxes?
Among counties with published Census data, Orange County has the highest median real estate taxes paid at $4,105 per year.
Which North Carolina county has the lowest property taxes?
Among counties with published Census data, Hyde County has the lowest median real estate taxes paid at $753 per year.
How do I appeal a property tax assessment in North Carolina?
Assessments in North Carolina 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.