Although Alabamians pay their property taxes in October, taxes are on everyone’s mind this week as federal and state income tax returns are due today. With that in mind, let’s take a look at closer look at property taxes in Alabama to see how we compare to other states and how the counties compare to one another.
It comes as no surprise that property taxes are relatively low in Alabama when compared to the rest of the nation. The average property owner in the United States paid $3,399 in property taxes in 2017, up 3 percent from 2016’s average of $3,296. The average homeowner in Alabama paid $761 in property taxes in 2017, a decrease of 1.6 percent from 2016’s average of $773.
But since millage rates vary by county and some municipalities choose to impose additional rates, usually to fund local schools, there is a surprising amount of variation within the state when you takes a closer look at each county’s average annual property tax payment.
Here are the top 10 counties in Alabama with the largest residential property tax bills in 2017.
10. Bullock County – With a total of 2,603 single family homes and owners paying an average of $671 each in property taxes, Bullock County is somewhat of a surprise at number 10. Residents pay a low effective property tax rate of 0.36 percent, and the average market value for the county is $186,280. Bullock County is the third smallest county in terms of number of single family homes. Greene County is the second smallest with 2,581 single family homes and Perry County is the smallest with 1,301 residences.
9. Russell County – With a total of 16,448 single family homes and owners paying an average of $679 each in property taxes, Russell County comes in at number 9. Residents pay an effective property tax rate of 0.54 percent. This is a relatively high rate for Alabama considering that only 3 counties have higher effective property tax rates: Chambers County (0.55 percent), Mobile County (0.60 percent), and Jefferson County (0.81 percent). The average market value for a single family home in Russell County is $125,447.
8. Mobile County – With a total of 147,334 single family homes and owners paying an average of $687 each in property taxes, Mobile County ranks 8th. Residents pay an effective tax rate of 0.60 percent and the average market value of a single family home in Mobile County is $114,435. Only Jefferson County (238,677) has more homes, while Madison County (109,374) is third.
7. Tallapoosa County – With a total of 14,694 single family homes and owners paying an average of $697 each in property taxes, Tallapoosa County is yet another surprise at number 7. While the effective tax rate of 0.30 percent is quite low, the average market value of a single family home in Tallapoosa County is $229,427. Only Baldwin County ($240,766) and Shelby County ($254,335) have higher average market values than Tallapoosa County.
6. Tuscaloosa County – With a total of 44,089 single family homes and owners paying an average of $732 each in property taxes, Tuscaloosa County ranks 6th. Residents pay an effective tax rate of 0.44 percent and the average market value of a single family home is $167,814. Tuscaloosa County ranks 8th in total number of single family homes, more than Calhoun County (9th with 40,551) but less than Colbert County (7th with 50,383).
5. Baldwin County – With a total of 70,428 single family homes and owners paying an average of $866 each in property taxes, Baldwin County is no surprise at 5th overall. While residents pay an average effective tax rate of 0.36 percent, the average market value in the county is $240,766, up from $215,245 in 2016. Annual property tax payments are also on the rise as the 2016 average payment was $722.
4. Madison County – With a total of 109,374 single family homes and owners paying an average of $936 each in property taxes, Madison County ranks 4th. The effective tax rate of 0.51 percent is 7th highest in the state, while the average market value of $181,749 ranks 10th. Surprisingly, average market value dropped 1.8 percent from 2016 ($185,117). The total number of single family homes increased 2.2 percent year-over-year.
3. Lee County – With a total of 33,844 single family homes and owners paying an average of $1,049 each in property taxes, Lee County comes in at 3rd. Residents pay an average effective tax rate of 0.54 percent and the average market value is $194,785. While the tax rate increased from 0.48 percent in 2016 to 0.54 percent in 2017, average market value declined from $210,049 in 2016 to $194,785 in 2017. The net difference for taxpayers, however, was minimal as the average tax payment increased $34 from 2016 to 2017.
2. Shelby County – With a total of 59,431 single family homes and owners paying an average of $1,382 each in property taxes, Shelby County is no surprise at number 2. Home to the highest average market value in the state at $254,335, residents pay an effective tax rate of 0.54 percent. Similar to Lee County, average market value decreased slightly from 2016 ($255,226) while effective tax rate increased slightly from the 2016 rate of 0.52 percent.
1. Jefferson County – With a total of 238,667 single family homes and owners paying an average of $1,429 each in property taxes, Jefferson County ranks 1st. Although it ranks 13th in average market value, the effective tax rate of 0.81 percent is highest in the state.
Here are the top 10 counties in Alabama with the highest effective property tax rates in 2017.
10. Etowah County – 0.47 percent
9. Lauderdale County – 0.49 percent
7. (tie) Calhoun County and Madison County – 0.51 percent
4. (tie) Lee County, Russell County, Shelby County – 0.54 percent
3. Chambers County – 0.55 percent
2. Mobile County – 0.60 percent
1. Jefferson County – 0.81 percent
Here are the top 10 counties in Alabama with the lowest effective property tax rates in 2017.
10. (tie) Hale County, Marengo County, Winston County – 0.26 percent
6. (tie) Crenshaw County, Lamar County, Monroe County, Washington County – 0.23 percent
5. Randolph County – 0.22 percent
4. Coosa County – 0.21 percent
3. Perry County – 0.19 percent
2. Clarke County – 0.17 percent
1. Barbour County – 0.13 percent
Click here to see 2016 and 2017 property tax data for all Alabama counties.
