Property Tax in Pennsylvania by County
The typical Pennsylvania homeowner pays $3,241 per year in property taxes, with a median home value of $240,500 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023). This page lists the same figures for each of the state's 67 counties with published Census data. That state median is about 9% higher than the US median of $2,969.
The extremes inside Pennsylvania are far apart: Chester County, PA records the state's highest median bill at $6,191, while Forest County, PA records the lowest at $1,162. Home values explain much of that distance, with local district rates explaining the rest.
How do the counties compare with the nation? 17 of the 67 counties listed here sit above the US median bill of $2,969. Take the county medians themselves and the middle one is $2,373; the full range runs from $1,162 (Forest County) up to $6,191 (Chester County).
For orientation: the county with the most residents is Philadelphia County (1,582,432 people), and the county covering the most land is Lycoming County (1,229 square miles). Their own tax and value medians are in the table below.
The state's population centres are Philadelphia County (1,582,432 residents; median tax $1,952 on a median value of $232,400), Allegheny County (1,240,476; $3,399 on $216,700) and Montgomery County (861,225; $5,776 on $409,900).
Pennsylvania counties: median property tax
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester County, PA | $6,191 | $461,800 | 1.34% | 540,896 |
| Delaware County, PA | $6,001 | $302,400 | 1.98% | 576,195 |
| Bucks County, PA | $5,833 | $421,700 | 1.38% | 645,993 |
| Montgomery County, PA | $5,776 | $409,900 | 1.41% | 861,225 |
| Northampton County, PA | $4,710 | $285,000 | 1.65% | 315,927 |
| Lehigh County, PA | $4,591 | $276,100 | 1.66% | 375,408 |
| Monroe County, PA | $4,435 | $241,200 | 1.84% | 167,784 |
| Berks County, PA | $4,238 | $239,700 | 1.77% | 429,989 |
| York County, PA | $3,947 | $235,000 | 1.68% | 459,312 |
| Lancaster County, PA | $3,941 | $279,400 | 1.41% | 555,151 |
| Adams County, PA | $3,569 | $256,100 | 1.39% | 105,183 |
| Pike County, PA | $3,502 | $250,900 | 1.40% | 59,691 |
| Allegheny County, PA | $3,399 | $216,700 | 1.57% | 1,240,476 |
| Centre County, PA | $3,282 | $308,100 | 1.06% | 158,041 |
| Cumberland County, PA | $3,180 | $261,900 | 1.21% | 264,422 |
| Lebanon County, PA | $3,180 | $227,300 | 1.40% | 143,592 |
| Dauphin County, PA | $3,171 | $222,300 | 1.43% | 287,484 |
| Butler County, PA | $2,950 | $275,600 | 1.07% | 195,870 |
| Carbon County, PA | $2,914 | $193,700 | 1.50% | 65,191 |
| Lackawanna County, PA | $2,910 | $189,900 | 1.53% | 215,834 |
| Wayne County, PA | $2,882 | $228,200 | 1.26% | 51,189 |
| Perry County, PA | $2,775 | $222,800 | 1.25% | 45,988 |
| Wyoming County, PA | $2,763 | $205,600 | 1.34% | 26,075 |
| Erie County, PA | $2,754 | $169,500 | 1.62% | 269,544 |
| Beaver County, PA | $2,672 | $185,500 | 1.44% | 166,993 |
| Union County, PA | $2,667 | $222,900 | 1.20% | 42,570 |
| Lycoming County, PA | $2,647 | $195,600 | 1.35% | 113,570 |
| Franklin County, PA | $2,634 | $236,300 | 1.11% | 156,626 |
| Luzerne County, PA | $2,506 | $163,800 | 1.53% | 325,978 |
| Montour County, PA | $2,475 | $240,300 | 1.03% | 18,079 |
| Westmoreland County, PA | $2,473 | $193,100 | 1.28% | 353,345 |
| Washington County, PA | $2,445 | $220,600 | 1.11% | 209,778 |
| Snyder County, PA | $2,402 | $205,500 | 1.17% | 39,711 |
| Susquehanna County, PA | $2,373 | $206,700 | 1.15% | 38,349 |
| Indiana County, PA | $2,271 | $145,400 | 1.56% | 83,213 |
| Columbia County, PA | $2,266 | $199,200 | 1.14% | 65,055 |
| Mifflin County, PA | $2,227 | $142,900 | 1.56% | 46,074 |
| Armstrong County, PA | $2,175 | $146,300 | 1.49% | 65,069 |
| Juniata County, PA | $2,167 | $206,300 | 1.05% | 23,419 |
| Schuylkill County, PA | $2,147 | $140,400 | 1.53% | 143,259 |
| Fulton County, PA | $2,118 | $206,000 | 1.03% | 14,545 |
| Bradford County, PA | $2,110 | $182,300 | 1.16% | 59,971 |
| Crawford County, PA | $2,099 | $143,400 | 1.46% | 83,189 |
| Tioga County, PA | $2,093 | $176,000 | 1.19% | 41,078 |
| Clinton County, PA | $2,047 | $179,100 | 1.14% | 37,707 |
| Lawrence County, PA | $1,983 | $136,700 | 1.45% | 85,423 |
| Sullivan County, PA | $1,959 | $186,400 | 1.05% | 5,849 |
| Philadelphia County, PA | $1,952 | $232,400 | 0.84% | 1,582,432 |
| Mercer County, PA | $1,943 | $153,600 | 1.26% | 109,852 |
| Greene County, PA | $1,893 | $146,200 | 1.29% | 35,265 |
| Potter County, PA | $1,868 | $146,200 | 1.28% | 16,276 |
| Northumberland County, PA | $1,778 | $151,600 | 1.17% | 90,925 |
| Blair County, PA | $1,711 | $156,700 | 1.09% | 121,854 |
| Warren County, PA | $1,694 | $121,800 | 1.39% | 38,174 |
| Elk County, PA | $1,686 | $128,600 | 1.31% | 30,703 |
| Huntingdon County, PA | $1,648 | $180,300 | 0.91% | 43,844 |
| McKean County, PA | $1,615 | $98,700 | 1.64% | 40,149 |
| Fayette County, PA | $1,516 | $126,900 | 1.20% | 126,967 |
| Venango County, PA | $1,509 | $114,500 | 1.32% | 50,096 |
| Clearfield County, PA | $1,488 | $125,000 | 1.19% | 78,902 |
| Cambria County, PA | $1,487 | $115,900 | 1.28% | 132,355 |
| Clarion County, PA | $1,477 | $152,100 | 0.97% | 37,297 |
| Cameron County, PA | $1,470 | $88,200 | 1.67% | 4,475 |
| Somerset County, PA | $1,449 | $130,600 | 1.11% | 73,255 |
| Jefferson County, PA | $1,411 | $126,700 | 1.11% | 44,099 |
| Bedford County, PA | $1,403 | $172,900 | 0.81% | 47,503 |
| Forest County, PA | $1,162 | $111,900 | 1.04% | 6,785 |
*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 Pennsylvania
Nobody in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania?
The median real estate tax paid in Pennsylvania is $3,241 per year, on a median home value of $240,500 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
Which Pennsylvania county has the highest property taxes?
Among counties with published Census data, Chester County has the highest median real estate taxes paid at $6,191 per year.
Which Pennsylvania county has the lowest property taxes?
Among counties with published Census data, Forest County has the lowest median real estate taxes paid at $1,162 per year.
How do I appeal a property tax assessment in Pennsylvania?
Assessments in Pennsylvania 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.