Whatcom County property tax
Homeowners in Whatcom County, Washington typically pay about 0.70% of their home's value in property tax each year — a median bill of $4,087 on a median home value of $585,800.
Typical effective rate
0.70%
higher than 61% of U.S. counties
Median tax paid
$4,087
per year
Median home value
$585,800
In WA
#28
of 39 ranked counties
At a glance
- Effective rate 0.70% — 26% lower than the U.S. median of 0.94%, and 14% lower than the Washington median of 0.81%.
- With vs. without a mortgage — median tax $4,135 for mortgaged homes, $3,987 for homes owned outright.
- State ranking — 28th highest effective rate of 39 ranked Washington counties; nationally it sits around the 39th percentile.
Estimate a bill for Whatcom County
Apply this county's typical effective rate (0.70%) to a home value of your choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Whatcom County, WA?
The typical effective property-tax rate in Whatcom County is 0.70% of a home's value per year, based on median taxes paid ($4,087) divided by the median home value ($585,800) 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 Whatcom County?
The median owner-occupied home in Whatcom County is valued at $585,800, and the median real estate tax paid is $4,087 per year. Homes with a mortgage have a median tax of $4,135, versus $3,987 for homes without one.
How does Whatcom County compare to the rest of Washington?
Whatcom County's effective rate is 14% lower than the Washington median, ranking 28th of 39 ranked counties in the state.
Compare nearby Washington counties
Counties ranked closest to Whatcom County by in-state effective rate. Open the comparison tool or see all Washington counties.
| In-state | County | Effective rate | Median tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Chelan County | 0.71% | $3,503 |
| 26 | Kittitas County | 0.71% | $3,552 |
| 27 | Jefferson County | 0.71% | $3,818 |
| 29 | Island County | 0.67% | $3,999 |
| 30 | Lewis County | 0.67% | $2,581 |
| 31 | Skamania County | 0.67% | $3,532 |
Official data & resources for Whatcom County
- Whatcom County Census profile (data.census.gov) — housing, value and tax figures for this county.
- Table B25103 for Whatcom County — median real estate taxes paid (the source for the tax figures above).
- Table B25077 for Whatcom 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.