Wake County, NC Property Tax Rate
Homeowners in Wake County pay an effective 0.71% of home value in property tax — about $3,002 a year on the median $422,800 home, above the North Carolina county median of 0.69%.
Wake County, NC: 0.71% effective property tax — ~$3,002/yr on the median home.
- Effective rate0.71%
- Median home value$422,800
- Median annual bill$3,002
- NC county median0.69%
- U.S. county median0.84%
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2023 5-year (median taxes paid ÷ median value), compiled June 2026.
Wake County vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
| Effective rate | On the county's $422,800 median home | |
|---|---|---|
| Wake County | 0.71% | $3,002 |
| North Carolina county median | 0.69% | $2,917 |
| U.S. county median | 0.84% | $3,552 |
Median household income here is $101,763, putting the median tax bill at about 2.9% 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 North Carolina
| County | Effective rate | Median bill |
|---|---|---|
| Northampton County | 1.21% | $1,237 |
| Halifax County | 1.13% | $1,158 |
| Washington County | 1.12% | $1,198 |
| Edgecombe County | 1.10% | $1,285 |
| Jackson County | 0.37% | $939 |
| Swain County | 0.40% | $839 |
| Watauga County | 0.41% | $1,318 |
| Avery County | 0.41% | $956 |
Full picture: North Carolina property tax calculator · interactive county atlas · all county pages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Wake County, NC?
The effective rate is about 0.71% of home value — the median homeowner pays roughly $3,002 a year on a $422,800 median home (ACS 2023 five-year data).
Is Wake County's property tax high?
It's above the North Carolina county median (0.69%) 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.