Owning in Pennsylvania
Data from January 2026
Property tax in Pennsylvania
The typical owner in Pennsylvania pays $3,311 a year, about 1.30% of the home’s value (0.94% nationwide). Here are the exemptions and discounts the state publishes, the deadlines to claim them or appeal, and every county’s figure.
Key numbers in Pennsylvania
- Typical tax
- $3,311
- per year, typical household
- 6% more than the U.S.
- Effective rate
- 1.30%
- tax ÷ value (estimate)
- 38% more than the U.S.
- United States
- 0.94%
- national effective rate
- Exemptions and relief
- 2
- published by the state, with the source
How it works
Where your bill comes from
The local government puts a value on your home, subtracts the exemptions you apply for and applies the rate of each body that taxes it: the county, the city, the school district and others.
- The value assigned to your home
- The exemptions you apply for
- The rates of each taxing body (county, city, schools)
- Your yearly bill
The effective rate on this page is something else: our estimate (typical tax ÷ typical value, from Census data) for comparing places. It is not the rate your local government sets.
By place
Every county, with its figure
What the typical owner pays in each county of Pennsylvania, with the typical home value and the effective rate. Highest tax first.
| Chester County | $6,308 | $485,600 | 1.30% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | $6,124 | $332,200 | 1.84% |
| Montgomery County | $5,875 | $436,700 | 1.35% |
| Bucks County | $5,826 | $445,700 | 1.31% |
| Northampton County | $4,700 | $308,600 | 1.52% |
| Lehigh County | $4,651 | $300,400 | 1.55% |
| Monroe County | $4,447 | $267,600 | 1.66% |
| Berks County | $4,239 | $257,300 | 1.65% |
| York County | $4,006 | $248,600 | 1.61% |
| Lancaster County | $3,975 | $301,100 | 1.32% |
| Adams County | $3,561 | $268,500 | 1.33% |
| Pike County | $3,542 | $272,600 | 1.30% |
| Allegheny County | $3,451 | $227,600 | 1.52% |
| Centre County | $3,386 | $323,500 | 1.05% |
| Lebanon County | $3,310 | $242,000 | 1.37% |
| Cumberland County | $3,254 | $277,600 | 1.17% |
| Dauphin County | $3,198 | $236,400 | 1.35% |
| Carbon County | $3,088 | $211,400 | 1.46% |
| Wayne County | $3,039 | $242,100 | 1.26% |
| Lackawanna County | $3,012 | $201,800 | 1.49% |
| Butler County | $2,970 | $294,200 | 1.01% |
| Perry County | $2,859 | $236,400 | 1.21% |
| Erie County | $2,830 | $177,000 | 1.60% |
| Wyoming County | $2,817 | $215,400 | 1.31% |
| Union County | $2,744 | $240,100 | 1.14% |
| Franklin County | $2,740 | $249,800 | 1.10% |
| Beaver County | $2,704 | $190,900 | 1.42% |
| Lycoming County | $2,649 | $202,200 | 1.31% |
| Luzerne County | $2,530 | $174,100 | 1.45% |
| Montour County | $2,507 | $248,100 | 1.01% |
| Westmoreland County | $2,501 | $203,500 | 1.23% |
| Washington County | $2,485 | $228,500 | 1.09% |
| Snyder County | $2,388 | $215,300 | 1.11% |
| Susquehanna County | $2,365 | $216,400 | 1.09% |
| Indiana County | $2,297 | $152,800 | 1.50% |
| Columbia County | $2,286 | $206,200 | 1.11% |
| Mifflin County | $2,266 | $156,700 | 1.45% |
| Armstrong County | $2,161 | $157,300 | 1.37% |
| Juniata County | $2,147 | $217,000 | 0.99% |
| Schuylkill County | $2,140 | $153,000 | 1.40% |
| Fulton County | $2,120 | $208,500 | 1.02% |
| Tioga County | $2,078 | $181,100 | 1.15% |
| Crawford County | $2,064 | $153,200 | 1.35% |
| Clinton County | $2,046 | $175,900 | 1.16% |
| Bradford County | $2,044 | $187,500 | 1.09% |
| Sullivan County | $2,015 | $197,100 | 1.02% |
| Philadelphia County | $2,003 | $243,100 | 0.82% |
| Lawrence County | $1,967 | $147,200 | 1.34% |
| Greene County | $1,960 | $153,900 | 1.27% |
| Mercer County | $1,936 | $164,000 | 1.18% |
| Potter County | $1,857 | $153,100 | 1.21% |
| Northumberland County | $1,794 | $162,400 | 1.10% |
| Blair County | $1,724 | $161,100 | 1.07% |
| Huntingdon County | $1,718 | $183,200 | 0.94% |
| Elk County | $1,697 | $133,600 | 1.27% |
| Warren County | $1,687 | $127,500 | 1.32% |
| McKean County | $1,660 | $104,500 | 1.59% |
| Fayette County | $1,607 | $143,200 | 1.12% |
| Venango County | $1,520 | $119,800 | 1.27% |
| Clarion County | $1,503 | $155,700 | 0.97% |
| Clearfield County | $1,500 | $137,000 | 1.09% |
| Cambria County | $1,492 | $121,000 | 1.23% |
| Somerset County | $1,477 | $150,600 | 0.98% |
| Bedford County | $1,444 | $179,000 | 0.81% |
| Cameron County | $1,414 | $88,900 | 1.59% |
| Jefferson County | $1,402 | $139,700 | 1.00% |
| Forest County | $1,145 | $115,300 | 0.99% |
- Chester $6,3081.30%
- Delaware $6,1241.84%
- Montgomery $5,8751.35%
- Bucks $5,8261.31%
- Northampton $4,7001.52%
- Lehigh $4,6511.55%
- Monroe $4,4471.66%
- Berks $4,2391.65%
- York $4,0061.61%
- Lancaster $3,9751.32%
- Adams $3,5611.33%
- Pike $3,5421.30%
- Allegheny $3,4511.52%
- Centre $3,3861.05%
- Lebanon $3,3101.37%
- Cumberland $3,2541.17%
- Dauphin $3,1981.35%
- Carbon $3,0881.46%
- Wayne $3,0391.26%
- Lackawanna $3,0121.49%
- Butler $2,9701.01%
- Perry $2,8591.21%
- Erie $2,8301.60%
- Wyoming $2,8171.31%
- Union $2,7441.14%
- Franklin $2,7401.10%
- Beaver $2,7041.42%
- Lycoming $2,6491.31%
- Luzerne $2,5301.45%
- Montour $2,5071.01%
- Westmoreland $2,5011.23%
- Washington $2,4851.09%
- Snyder $2,3881.11%
- Susquehanna $2,3651.09%
- Indiana $2,2971.50%
- Columbia $2,2861.11%
- Mifflin $2,2661.45%
- Armstrong $2,1611.37%
- Juniata $2,1470.99%
- Schuylkill $2,1401.40%
- Fulton $2,1201.02%
- Tioga $2,0781.15%
- Crawford $2,0641.35%
- Clinton $2,0461.16%
- Bradford $2,0441.09%
- Sullivan $2,0151.02%
- Philadelphia $2,0030.82%
- Lawrence $1,9671.34%
- Greene $1,9601.27%
- Mercer $1,9361.18%
- Potter $1,8571.21%
- Northumberland $1,7941.10%
- Blair $1,7241.07%
- Huntingdon $1,7180.94%
- Elk $1,6971.27%
- Warren $1,6871.32%
- McKean $1,6601.59%
- Fayette $1,6071.12%
- Venango $1,5201.27%
- Clarion $1,5030.97%
- Clearfield $1,5001.09%
- Cambria $1,4921.23%
- Somerset $1,4770.98%
- Bedford $1,4440.81%
- Cameron $1,4141.59%
- Jefferson $1,4021.00%
- Forest $1,1450.99%
Effective rate: typical tax ÷ typical value, our estimate from two Census medians. Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Exemptions
Which exemption fits you?
What Pennsylvania publishes for each case. You have to apply for almost all of them: none is applied on its own.
-
If you are an older owner
At 65 or older (or a widow or widower 50 or older) with household income of $48,110 or less a year, the Property Tax/Rent Rebate pays back $380 to $1,000 of the tax you paid, by income. Some low-income owners get a supplemental rebate. You apply every year; for the 2025 rebate the deadline is Dec. 31, 2026. Payments begin July 1.
What the source says
“This program provides a rebate ranging from $380 to $1,000 to eligible older adults and people with disabilities age 18 and older. … Age Criteria 65 and older Widows and widowers 50 and older People with disabilities 18 and older … In addition to age requirements, to qualify for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate, your household income must be $48,110 or less annually. … The deadline to submit your rebate application is December 31, 2026 .”
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue · Verified November 6, 2026
-
If you have a disability
If you are disabled and 18 or older, you can apply for the same rebate, $380 to $1,000 by income, with household income of $48,110 or less a year. You apply every year.
What the source says
“This program provides a rebate ranging from $380 to $1,000 to eligible older adults and people with disabilities age 18 and older. … In addition to age requirements, to qualify for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate, your household income must be $48,110 or less annually.”
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue · Verified November 6, 2026
Buying or selling
Taxes on the sale
Some states charge a tax or fee when the deed is recorded. What the official source says:
-
State realty transfer tax (1 percent) plus local tax
The State charges 1 percent of the value of real estate transferred by deed; buyer and seller are jointly liable, though in practice they often split it. County recorders of deeds also collect a local realty transfer tax (in most places another 1 percent; each locality sets it).
72 P.S. §8102-C · Pennsylvania Department of Revenue · Verified October 23, 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much is property tax in Pennsylvania?
The typical owner pays $3,311 a year, about 1.30% of the home’s value, per the Census (Average 2020–2024). Nationwide the effective rate is 0.94%. Your bill depends on your county, city, school district and the exemptions you claim.
Which county in Pennsylvania pays the most property tax?
By amount, the highest typical tax is in Chester County ($6,308) and the lowest in Forest County ($1,145). By effective rate, the highest is Delaware County (1.84%) and the lowest Bedford County (0.81%).
What is the effective rate?
The typical tax divided by the typical home value in the same place. It is our estimate from two Census medians, not the rate your local government sets; it is for comparing places.