Benjamin Franklin may have been right that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. But while taxes may be a certainty, the rate at which we'll pay them may not be. On average, the typical American household pays about $2,127 on property taxes in a given year, but, depending on the state you live in, taxes can range from about $500 up to more than $4,000 (based on a $176,000 home), WalletHub reports.
Along with its breathtaking views and beautiful scenery, Hawaii has the lowest effective real estate tax rate in the country, at 0.28 percent. This means that the annual taxes on a home priced at $176,000 (the current median home price in the United States) would be only $489. But a home value of $504,500 (which is the median home value in Hawaii) bumps up yearly taxes to $1,405, which is still on the low end.
Alabama has the second lowest tax rate at 0.43 percent, but unlike Hawaii, its median home value of $123,800 is actually under the $176,000 that is the nation's median, meaning the median household pays only $538 in property taxes per year.
On the other end of the spectrum are Illinois and New Jersey, with 2.25 percent and 2.29 percent tax rates respectively. With statewide median home prices on par with the national median, a typical Illinois resident ends up paying just under $4,000 in property taxes each year. Meanwhile, New Jersey residents would pay $4,029 in property taxes with a house at the national median, but $7,335 per year on a house around the state median price of $319,900.
Additionally, the average Republican state pays less in property taxes than its blue counterparts. To see the full list and accompanying infographics, click the link below.
