Benton County, Washington property tax
The median homeowner in Benton County, Washington pays $2,910 a year in property tax on a home worth $369,400, an effective rate of 0.79%. The national effective rate is 0.98%.
What the rate means here
At 0.79%, Benton County taxes property more lightly than the national 0.98%. Rate and bill part company here. The percentage is below national, the house is worth $369,400, and the bill lands at $2,910 anyway.
It ranks #17 of 36 Washington counties by effective rate, against a statewide 0.84%, and #1,498 nationally. The state runs from 0.94% in Pierce County down to 0.57% in San Juan County.
The median home costs 4.23 times the median household income of $87,316, close to the national 3.86. Incomes here run above the national median, which is what keeps that ratio ordinary despite the house prices. The county has 210,224 residents, which is small enough that the medians describe a reasonably coherent market.
The rate is derived rather than quoted. How and why.
What that costs at different home values
Arithmetic at the county effective rate, before any exemption or assessment cap.
Housing and income
| Benton County | Washington | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effective property tax | 0.79% | 0.84% | 0.98% |
| Median tax bill | $2,910 | $4,361 | $2,969 |
| Median home value | $369,400 | $519,800 | $303,400 |
| Median gross rent | $1,256 | $1,682 | $1,348 |
| Median household income | $87,316 | $94,952 | $78,538 |
| Home price to income | 4.23× | 5.47× | 3.86× |
| Rent as share of income | 17.26% | 21.26% | 20.6% |
| Owner-occupied | 68.5% | 63.89% | 65.02% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 five-year estimates. Population 210,224.
Nearby counties of similar size
| County | Rate | Median bill | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whatcom County | 0.71% | $3,819 | $536,100 |
| Yakima County | 0.82% | $2,299 | $281,100 |
| Kitsap County | 0.80% | $4,030 | $505,700 |
| Skagit County | 0.82% | $4,008 | $486,200 |
| Thurston County | 0.90% | $4,043 | $451,500 |
Benton County property tax: common questions
What is the property tax rate in Benton County, Washington?
The effective rate is 0.79% of home value, from a median tax bill of $2,910 against a median home value of $369,400. That is 0.19 points below the national 0.98%.
How much is property tax on a $400,000 home in Benton County?
Roughly $3,160 a year at the county effective rate of 0.79%.
Is Benton County expensive compared with the rest of Washington?
It ranks #17 of 36 Washington counties by effective property tax rate, and #1498 of 2,826 nationally. That is 0.05 points below the Washington average of 0.84%.
What does housing cost in Benton County?
The median home is worth $369,400 and median gross rent is $1,256 a month. Median household income is $87,316, which puts the home at 4.23 times annual income and rent at 17.26% of it.