Property Tax in Yakima County, Washington
In Yakima County, Washington, the typical homeowner pays $2,299 a year in property taxes on a home worth a median of $281,100. 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 Yakima County numbers mean
A median is the middle household: half of owner-occupied households in Yakima County pay more than $2,299, 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 0.82% for Yakima 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.
Yakima County by the numbers
| Measure | Yakima County | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid | $2,299 | $4,361 | $2,969 |
| Median home value | $281,100 | $519,800 | $303,400 |
| Derived effective rate* | 0.82% | 0.84% | 0.98% |
| Median tax per month | $192 | $363 | $247 |
*Estimate derived from Census medians (tax ÷ value), not an official rate.
Yakima County at a glance
- Median tax rank in Washington: #27 of 39 counties
- Median home value rank in Washington: #31 of 39
- Population rank in Washington: #8 of 39 (256,605 residents)
- Population density rank: #16 of 39 (60 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in Washington: #2 of 39 (4,294 sq mi, 6.5% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $192; per $1,000 of home value: $0.82
How Yakima County compares
Of the 39 Washington counties with published data, 26 have a higher median property tax bill than Yakima County's $2,299, putting the county at #27 in the state. Its bill is about 47% lower than the state median of $4,361 and about 23% lower 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 0.82%, versus 0.98% derived nationally, and the median home value ranks #31 within Washington.
Some extra context for Yakima County: the median bill works out to about $192 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $818 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 256,605 people — the #8 most populous county in Washington, spread over 4,294 square miles, a density of about 60 people per square mile. Its median home value, $281,100, ranks #31 among the state's 39 counties with data.
Zooming out: of 3133 counties nationwide with published Census figures, only 831 record a higher median tax bill than Yakima County — it sits in the top 27% nationally. The county holds roughly 3.3% of Washington's people. Its homes are worth less than the state norm (median $281,100 versus $519,800), and a decade at the derived rate of 0.82% adds up to about 8.18% of the median home's value in tax. The cheapest county in the state, Garfield County, medians $1,306 — $993 less than Yakima County per year.
Counties nearest Yakima County in the Washington ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis County, WA | $2,433 | $341,500 | 0.71% |
| Klickitat County, WA | $2,401 | $388,700 | 0.62% |
| Asotin County, WA | $2,289 | $286,200 | 0.80% |
| Grant County, WA | $2,268 | $275,700 | 0.82% |
How the tax is worked out
Think of the final bill as three ingredients: the assessed value of the property, the exemptions subtracted from it, and the combined rate of every district the property sits in. Yakima County's medians imply a derived rate of 0.82%; applied illustratively, a $400,000 home would owe about $3,272 a year, or around $273 a month spread evenly. Individual properties depart from the illustration in both directions.
Checking your assessment in Yakima 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 Yakima 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 Yakima County, Washington?
The median real estate tax paid in Yakima County, Washington is $2,299 per year, on a median home value of $281,100 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Yakima County, Washington?
Dividing Yakima County's median tax bill ($2,299) by its median home value ($281,100) gives a derived effective rate of 0.82%. This is an estimate computed from two Census survey medians — it is not the county's official tax rate.
How does Yakima County compare with the rest of Washington?
Yakima County ranks #27 of 39 Washington counties with published data by median taxes paid. Its median bill of $2,299 is about 47% lower than the Washington median of $4,361.
How are property taxes calculated in Yakima County, Washington?
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 Yakima County, the median outcome of that process is a bill of $2,299 on a median home value of $281,100.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Yakima County, Washington?
Yes — appeals are handled locally. Start with the Yakima 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.