Essex County property tax, in one number.
The typical Essex County homeowner pays $6,430 a year on a $619,100 home. That's close to the Massachusetts rate (1.07%) and above the U.S. rate (0.94%).
Estimate my taxEssex County at a glance
Five numbers that shape a typical property tax bill here.
Property tax calculator
Enter a home value to see a typical yearly bill at Essex County's average effective rate, or pick another area.
- Bills are up, rates are down.The median tax paid rose from $4,696 in 2015 to $6,494 in 2024 (+38%), while home values rose 75%. That pushed the effective rate down.
- 9th highest rate in Massachusetts.Out of 14 Massachusetts counties with full data. Nationally, the rate is higher than in 68% of U.S. counties.
- Mortgage or not, bills are similar.Homes with a mortgage paid a median $6,371, and homes owned outright paid $6,577.
The data, charted
Median tax paid & effective rate
Owners vs renters
Effective rate by city
Largest Massachusetts counties
| County | Median tax | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester County | $5,438 | 1.28% |
| Plymouth County | $6,502 | 1.17% |
| Norfolk County | $7,261 | 1.06% |
| Essex County | $6,430 | 1.04% |
| Middlesex County | $7,501 | 1.03% |
| Massachusetts | $5,992 | 1.07% |
Compare neighboring counties
Effective property tax rates in and around Essex County.
Cities and towns in Essex County
Places with at least 2,000 owner-occupied homes and reliable survey data.
- Lynn1.06% · $5,384
- Haverhill1.05% · $4,772
- Peabody0.85% · $5,065
- Methuen1.01% · $5,061
- Beverly1.05% · $6,836
- Salem1.13% · $6,114
- Lawrence0.82% · $3,422
- Gloucester1.02% · $6,152
- Saugus1.00% · $6,049
- Danvers1.03% · $6,654
- Marblehead0.88% · $8,309
- Newburyport0.95% · $7,944
- Amesbury1.42% · $7,360
- Swampscott1.03% · $7,936
- Lynnfield1.09%+ · $10,000+
- Andover1.25% · $9,040
Good to know
What is the property tax rate in Essex County?
The effective rate is about 1.04%. The median homeowner pays $6,430 a year on a home worth a median $619,100 (ACS 2020–2024). The legal tax rates set by each taxing unit are different numbers; the effective rate is what owners actually pay as a share of value.
How much is property tax on a $600,000 home in Essex County?
About $6,240 a year, or roughly $520 a month, at Essex County's average effective rate of 1.04%. Homestead, senior, veteran or other exemptions can lower the real bill, and a recent purchase or reassessment can raise it.
Why is my bill different from this estimate?
Your bill depends on your home's assessed value from the city or town assessor, the exact taxing units where you live (county, city, school district, special districts) and any exemptions you get. These figures are medians across all owner-occupied homes, not a bill for any address.
How current is this data?
It comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020–2024, the latest release. Homeowners report the taxes they paid, so the numbers lag current bills by one to two years. We update the site when the Census Bureau publishes new estimates each December.
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