Howard County property tax
Homeowners in Howard County, Maryland typically pay about 1.17% of their home's value in property tax each year — a median bill of $6,987 on a median home value of $597,900.
Typical effective rate
1.17%
higher than 25% of U.S. counties
Median tax paid
$6,987
per year
Median home value
$597,900
In MD
#2
of 24 ranked counties
At a glance
- Effective rate 1.17% — 25% higher than the U.S. median of 0.94%, and 20% higher than the Maryland median of 0.97%.
- With vs. without a mortgage — median tax $6,967 for mortgaged homes, $7,039 for homes owned outright.
- State ranking — 2nd highest effective rate of 24 ranked Maryland counties; nationally it sits around the 75th percentile.
Estimate a bill for Howard County
Apply this county's typical effective rate (1.17%) to a home value of your choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Howard County, MD?
The typical effective property-tax rate in Howard County is 1.17% of a home's value per year, based on median taxes paid ($6,987) divided by the median home value ($597,900) in the Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates. This is a typical burden for comparison, not a statutory mill rate.
How much is property tax on a typical home in Howard County?
The median owner-occupied home in Howard County is valued at $597,900, and the median real estate tax paid is $6,987 per year. Homes with a mortgage have a median tax of $6,967, versus $7,039 for homes without one.
How does Howard County compare to the rest of Maryland?
Howard County's effective rate is 20% higher than the Maryland median, ranking 2nd of 24 ranked counties in the state.
Compare nearby Maryland counties
Counties ranked closest to Howard County by in-state effective rate. Open the comparison tool or see all Maryland counties.
| In-state | County | Effective rate | Median tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore city | 1.46% | $3,354 |
| 3 | Prince George's County | 1.12% | $4,771 |
| 4 | Baltimore County | 1.07% | $3,736 |
| 5 | Allegany County | 1.06% | $1,636 |
| 6 | Charles County | 1.01% | $4,339 |
| 7 | Frederick County | 0.99% | $4,584 |
Official data & resources for Howard County
- Howard County Census profile (data.census.gov) — housing, value and tax figures for this county.
- Table B25103 for Howard County — median real estate taxes paid (the source for the tax figures above).
- Table B25077 for Howard County — median home value.
- Federal forms & is property tax deductible? — IRS Pub 530, Schedule A and the SALT cap, plus your state tax agency.
Finding your exact bill
Your county or municipal assessor (sometimes called the appraisal district, property appraiser, or tax collector) sets the assessed value and the exact millage that produces your bill. Search for "[county name] [state] assessor" or "property tax" on an official .gov site.
Figures on this page are Census survey medians for the whole county (2020–2024 5-year), not an assessment of any individual property. Rates, exemptions and assessment practices vary by municipality and school district within a county.