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Best States for Retirement Home Buyers (2026)

Retirees on fixed incomes need to minimize recurring housing costs, and property taxes are often the largest variable expense after the mortgage is paid off. States with low effective tax rates let retirees stretch their savings further and keep more of their Social Security and pension income. Here are all 50 states ranked by property tax rate for retirement buyers.

1
Hawaii
Median: $830KTax: 0.28%Insurance: $1,200/yr
0.28%
Property Tax Rate
2
Alabama
Median: $230KTax: 0.41%Insurance: $1,950/yr
0.41%
Property Tax Rate
3
Colorado
Median: $520KTax: 0.51%Insurance: $3,200/yr
0.51%
Property Tax Rate
4
Nevada
Median: $425KTax: 0.53%Insurance: $1,700/yr
0.53%
Property Tax Rate
5
Louisiana
Median: $195KTax: 0.55%Insurance: $3,500/yr
0.55%
Property Tax Rate
6
Delaware
Median: $355KTax: 0.56%Insurance: $1,300/yr
0.56%
Property Tax Rate
7
Tennessee
Median: $340KTax: 0.56%Insurance: $2,400/yr
0.56%
Property Tax Rate
8
South Carolina
Median: $305KTax: 0.57%Insurance: $2,600/yr
0.57%
Property Tax Rate
9
Utah
Median: $480KTax: 0.58%Insurance: $1,200/yr
0.58%
Property Tax Rate
10
West Virginia
Median: $155KTax: 0.58%Insurance: $1,400/yr
0.58%
Property Tax Rate
11
Wyoming
Median: $340KTax: 0.61%Insurance: $1,800/yr
0.61%
Property Tax Rate
12
Arizona
Median: $380KTax: 0.62%Insurance: $2,100/yr
0.62%
Property Tax Rate
13
Arkansas
Median: $195KTax: 0.62%Insurance: $2,500/yr
0.62%
Property Tax Rate
14
Idaho
Median: $420KTax: 0.63%Insurance: $1,600/yr
0.63%
Property Tax Rate
15
California
Median: $785KTax: 0.73%Insurance: $2,200/yr
0.73%
Property Tax Rate
16
Montana
Median: $430KTax: 0.74%Insurance: $2,100/yr
0.74%
Property Tax Rate
17
North Carolina
Median: $340KTax: 0.78%Insurance: $2,300/yr
0.78%
Property Tax Rate
18
Mississippi
Median: $175KTax: 0.8%Insurance: $2,400/yr
0.8%
Property Tax Rate
19
New Mexico
Median: $280KTax: 0.8%Insurance: $1,900/yr
0.8%
Property Tax Rate
20
Virginia
Median: $400KTax: 0.82%Insurance: $1,700/yr
0.82%
Property Tax Rate
21
Kentucky
Median: $210KTax: 0.83%Insurance: $2,400/yr
0.83%
Property Tax Rate
22
Indiana
Median: $240KTax: 0.84%Insurance: $1,700/yr
0.84%
Property Tax Rate
23
Florida
Median: $395KTax: 0.86%Insurance: $4,200/yr
0.86%
Property Tax Rate
24
Oklahoma
Median: $210KTax: 0.88%Insurance: $3,600/yr
0.88%
Property Tax Rate
25
Georgia
Median: $340KTax: 0.92%Insurance: $2,200/yr
0.92%
Property Tax Rate
26
Oregon
Median: $480KTax: 0.93%Insurance: $1,400/yr
0.93%
Property Tax Rate
27
Missouri
Median: $235KTax: 0.97%Insurance: $2,200/yr
0.97%
Property Tax Rate
28
North Dakota
Median: $255KTax: 0.98%Insurance: $2,100/yr
0.98%
Property Tax Rate
29
Washington
Median: $580KTax: 0.98%Insurance: $1,600/yr
0.98%
Property Tax Rate
30
Maryland
Median: $420KTax: 1.09%Insurance: $1,700/yr
1.09%
Property Tax Rate
31
Minnesota
Median: $335KTax: 1.12%Insurance: $2,100/yr
1.12%
Property Tax Rate
32
Alaska
Median: $350KTax: 1.19%Insurance: $1,400/yr
1.19%
Property Tax Rate
33
Massachusetts
Median: $595KTax: 1.2%Insurance: $2,200/yr
1.2%
Property Tax Rate
34
South Dakota
Median: $295KTax: 1.22%Insurance: $2,300/yr
1.22%
Property Tax Rate
35
Maine
Median: $350KTax: 1.3%Insurance: $1,300/yr
1.3%
Property Tax Rate
36
Pennsylvania
Median: $280KTax: 1.36%Insurance: $1,400/yr
1.36%
Property Tax Rate
37
Kansas
Median: $225KTax: 1.41%Insurance: $2,900/yr
1.41%
Property Tax Rate
38
Iowa
Median: $210KTax: 1.52%Insurance: $1,800/yr
1.52%
Property Tax Rate
39
Rhode Island
Median: $425KTax: 1.53%Insurance: $2,200/yr
1.53%
Property Tax Rate
40
Michigan
Median: $240KTax: 1.54%Insurance: $1,800/yr
1.54%
Property Tax Rate
41
Ohio
Median: $215KTax: 1.56%Insurance: $1,400/yr
1.56%
Property Tax Rate
42
New York
Median: $430KTax: 1.72%Insurance: $2,100/yr
1.72%
Property Tax Rate
43
Nebraska
Median: $245KTax: 1.73%Insurance: $2,800/yr
1.73%
Property Tax Rate
44
Wisconsin
Median: $280KTax: 1.76%Insurance: $1,300/yr
1.76%
Property Tax Rate
45
Texas
Median: $310KTax: 1.8%Insurance: $3,800/yr
1.8%
Property Tax Rate
46
Vermont
Median: $380KTax: 1.9%Insurance: $1,100/yr
1.9%
Property Tax Rate
47
Illinois
Median: $270KTax: 2.07%Insurance: $1,900/yr
2.07%
Property Tax Rate
48
New Hampshire
Median: $430KTax: 2.09%Insurance: $1,400/yr
2.09%
Property Tax Rate
49
Connecticut
Median: $405KTax: 2.15%Insurance: $2,100/yr
2.15%
Property Tax Rate
50
New Jersey
Median: $505KTax: 2.47%Insurance: $1,500/yr
2.47%
Property Tax Rate
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