Which NC city has the highest property tax burden? Hint: It’s not Raleigh or Cary.
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- SmartAsset ranked 343 cities; High Point has North Carolina’s highest 3% tax.
- Fayetteville and Greensboro charge 2.6% and Durham 2.5%; median bills differ.
- Larger NC metros show lower burdens; lawmakers study relief and revaluation cycles.
Even as state lawmakers weigh new property tax relief, a new SmartAsset study shows homeowners in North Carolina already pay a lighter property tax bill than many across the country.
SmartAsset ranked 343 of the largest U.S. cities, including 10 cities in the Old North State, based on the percentage of homeowner income that goes to paying property taxes each year.
While senior citizens, owner-occupants, and other groups may receive preferential tax treatment in some jurisdictions, homeowners still pay “anywhere from 1% to 10%” of their income on property taxes in the U.S., the study found. Those taxes fund local infrastructure and amenities.
North Carolina’s cities ranked 207 or higher, somewhere in the middle between metros with the highest and lowest property tax burdens.
Another uptake: The state’s larger metros show lower rates than some smaller towns.
Among key findings:
- High Point (No. 207) has the highest rate at 3%. Homeowners pay a median $2,501 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $1,618 and household income of $83,461.
- Fayetteville (No. 237) and Greensboro (No. 238) have the second-highest rate at 2.6%. In Fayetteville, homeowners pay a median $2,125 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $1,492 and household income of $80,642. In Greensboro, homeowners pay a median $2,514 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $1,517 and household income of $95,627.
- Durham (No. 247) has the third-highest rate at 2.5%. Homeowners pay a median $3,443 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $1,986 and household income of $138,914.
- Wilmington (No. 250), Cary (No. 254) and Raleigh (No. 257) have the fourth-highest rate at 2.4%. In Wilmington, homeowners pay a median $2,522 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $2,077 and household income of $103,261. In Cary, homeowners pay a median $4,265 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $2,477 and household income of $176,652. In Raleigh, homeowners pay a median $3,200 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $2,061 and household income of $134,182.
- Concord (No. 269), Charlotte (No. 272), Winston-Salem (No. 270), share the lowest rate at 2.3%. In Concord, homeowners pay a median $2,803 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $1,956 and household income of $123,030. In Charlotte, homeowners pay a median $2,976 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $2,029 and household income of $131,509. In Winston-Salem, homeowners pay a median $2,244 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $1,622 and household income of $98,894.
Nationwide, other findings:
- Paterson, NJ, has the highest rate at 9.8%. Homeowners pay a median $9,779 per year, with a median monthly housing cost of $2,869 and household income of $100,227.
- Montgomery, AL, has the lowest property taxes both relatively and absolutely, with 1.1% of homeowner income going to cover a $917 annual median bill.
NC’s push for property tax reform
While North Carolina’s largest cities rank relatively low in property tax burden, lawmakers are still exploring reforms and possible exemptions that could further ease costs.
In recent years, taxes have jumped for many who live in growing areas with increasing home values, such as the Triangle.
Earlier this month, the state’s House Speaker Destin Hall named 23 House members to a new committee chaired by Republicans, who control the House.
It’s currently reviewing property tax relief programs to modify or expand them. It’s also considering the frequency of property revaluations for homeowners.
State law requires property value reassessments every eight years, but some counties do them more frequently, including Wake County, which earlier this year moved to a cycle of every two years, The N&O previously reported.
“We’ve seen across the state, especially here in Wake County, but in Caldwell, where I’m from, as well, we’ve seen real estate values go up sometimes 100%, just over four years or so. And it’s made the tax bills go through the roof,” Hall said.
The committee plans to finish its work, and submit any proposed legislation, before the 2026 session begins.
