Seattle, WA Property Tax Calculator
Estimate property tax for a home in Seattle, WA. Homes in Seattle are assessed by King County, where the effective property tax rate runs about 0.88% of market value — so a median-priced Seattle home of $820,000 generates roughly $7,216 in annual property tax. Enter your specific home value below for a custom estimate.
Annual Tax
$7,216
0.88% of $820,000
Monthly Tax
$601
Typically escrowed with your mortgage
State Rank
#24 of 51
Highest rate = #1
vs. National Average
Highest property tax states
- New Jersey2.49%
- Illinois2.23%
- New Hampshire2.18%
- Connecticut2.15%
- Vermont1.90%
Lowest property tax states
- Hawaii0.32%
- Alabama0.41%
- Colorado0.55%
- Louisiana0.56%
- District of Columbia0.57%
These are state-level averages. Individual counties and cities can vary significantly — a home in Austin's urban core may have a far higher effective rate than the Texas state average, for example. For the most accurate estimate, get the exact millage rate from your county assessor and override the rate field above.
How to use it
A two-minute guide.
The Home Value field is pre-filled with Seattle's median home value of $820,000. Override with your actual home's market value for a specific estimate — your tax bill scales linearly with home value.
The rate is pre-filled with King County's effective rate of 0.88% — the county-level average for owner-occupied homes, which is more precise than Washington's statewide average of 0.98%. Individual school districts and special taxing zones within Seattle still shift the exact figure — if you know the rate from your latest tax bill, override it for the most precise estimate.
You'll see your estimated annual property tax, the monthly amount (which is typically escrowed with your mortgage payment), and a comparison to other states.
How it works
The math behind the result.
How Seattle's tax bill works out. Homes in Seattle are assessed and billed through King County. The effective rate there averages about 0.88% of market value — below Washington's statewide average of 0.98%. On Seattle's median home value of $820,000, that's approximately $7,216/year, or $601/month when escrowed with your mortgage.
How assessment works in Washington. County assessors value property annually at 100% of market value, but a 1% annual cap on each taxing district's levy growth means rates fall as values rise.
Exemptions worth claiming. Washington has no general homestead exemption, but seniors and disabled homeowners under the income threshold get a significant exemption and valuation freeze. Exemptions are the most common reason two identical Seattle homes pay different tax bills — make sure yours are on file with King County.
What property tax actually pays for. In Seattle — like the rest of Washington — property tax funds local schools, public safety (police, fire), road maintenance, parks, libraries, and county government. Most of your bill stays in your county and school district.
Comparing to other states. Effective rates vary enormously across the US — from about 0.3% in Hawaii to nearly 2.5% in New Jersey. Seattle's 0.88% puts it in the lower third nationally.
Questions
Frequently asked.
Buying in Seattle? Estimate your full mortgage payment with our Seattle Mortgage Calculator. Or see how Washington property tax rates compare across the state with our Washington Property Tax Calculator.
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