Cowlitz County, WA Property Tax Rate
Homeowners in Cowlitz County pay an effective 0.81% of home value in property tax — about $2,976 a year on the median $367,400 home, above the Washington county median of 0.79%.
Cowlitz County, WA: 0.81% effective property tax — ~$2,976/yr on the median home.
- Effective rate0.81%
- Median home value$367,400
- Median annual bill$2,976
- WA county median0.79%
- U.S. county median0.84%
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2023 5-year (median taxes paid ÷ median value), compiled June 2026.
Cowlitz County vs. Washington and the U.S.
| Effective rate | On the county's $367,400 median home | |
|---|---|---|
| Cowlitz County | 0.81% | $2,976 |
| Washington county median | 0.79% | $2,902 |
| U.S. county median | 0.84% | $3,086 |
Median household income here is $72,932, putting the median tax bill at about 4.1% of income. Effective rates fold in homestead exemptions and assessment practice — they're what owners actually pay, which is why they beat statutory rates for comparison.
Highest & lowest rates in Washington
| County | Effective rate | Median bill |
|---|---|---|
| Pierce County | 0.94% | $4,553 |
| Walla Walla County | 0.90% | $3,380 |
| Thurston County | 0.90% | $4,064 |
| Grays Harbor County | 0.87% | $2,432 |
| San Juan County | 0.57% | $4,141 |
| Wahkiakum County | 0.60% | $2,067 |
| Lincoln County | 0.60% | $1,634 |
| Garfield County | 0.61% | $1,307 |
Full picture: Washington property tax calculator · interactive county atlas · all county pages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Cowlitz County, WA?
The effective rate is about 0.81% of home value — the median homeowner pays roughly $2,976 a year on a $367,400 median home (ACS 2023 five-year data).
Is Cowlitz County's property tax high?
It's above the Washington county median (0.79%) and below the U.S. county median (0.84%).
How is the effective rate calculated?
Median real-estate taxes paid ÷ median home value, from the Census American Community Survey — what owners actually pay, after exemptions, rather than the statutory millage.
Sources & methodology
Sources: Census ACS 2023 5-year tables B25103/B25077.
Effective rate = median real-estate taxes ÷ median home value (owner-occupied). Individual bills vary with exemptions, assessment timing and local levies — verify with the county assessor.