Homeowners in Baltimore city, MD pay a median $3,354 a year in property taxes, about 1.46% of the median home value of $229,600.
Data reviewed · ACS 2024 · Mortgage rates weekly · Methodology
Based on what homeowners in Baltimore city pay: median taxes paid divided by median home value. If you bought years ago, Maryland's assessment cap likely keeps your bill below this.
Enter any purchase price to see the full cost breakdown for Baltimore city.
Everything due at closing plus your first twelve months of ownership. The detail is below.
Your numbers as a one-page PDF: $229,600 home, 20% down, 30-year loan at this week's 7.24%. Rates move every week; the PDF keeps today's.
Very high flood risk. Over 30% of this county lies in a FEMA flood zone. Flood insurance is required for any federally-backed mortgage in the SFHA. Check your property at msc.fema.gov.
All figures are estimates for planning purposes only. Mortgage payment assumes a 30-year fixed rate of 7.24%, the Freddie Mac PMMS average for the week ending October 29, 2026. Your lender will confirm the actual rate. Closing costs vary by lender and transaction. Consult a licensed real estate attorney and lender before making any financial decisions.
Baltimore city's 1.46% median tax-to-value ratio ranks 389th highest among the 3,134 US counties tracked, placing it in the top 25% highest nationally. Within Maryland's 24 counties, it's the 1st highest. On the county's median home value of $229,600, the typical homeowner pays $3,354 annually in property tax, $1,725 more than the national median of $1,629. At closing, Maryland's 0.50% combined real estate transfer tax adds roughly $1,148 on a median-priced home, split between buyer and seller. FEMA data shows 51.7% of Baltimore city's land area falls within a Special Flood Hazard Area, a very high exposure level. Flood insurance is required for federally-backed mortgages in those zones and commonly adds $800–$3,000 per year.
Ways buyers in Baltimore city may reduce their annual property tax. These programs apply statewide; verify county specifics with your local assessor.
Caps annual taxable assessment increase on the principal residence at 10% statewide. Counties may set lower caps (e.g., Anne Arundel 2%, Prince George's 3%, Talbot 0%). One-time application required.
View official source →Income-based state credit limiting property tax on primary residence to a fixed percentage of gross income. Senior Tax Credit supplements vary by county.
View official source →Complete exemption from real property tax on the dwelling and surrounding yard for veterans with 100% service-connected permanent and total disability (and unremarried surviving spouses).
View official source →Last verified April 2026. Exemption amounts and eligibility change frequently. Always confirm with your county assessor before claiming.
Answers to common questions about buying a home in Baltimore city.
Homeowners in Baltimore city pay a median $3,354 a year in property taxes, from 2024 US Census ACS 5-year estimates. There is no single property tax rate for Baltimore city. The 1.46% figure commonly quoted is a county-wide median: the median annual property tax paid ($3,354) divided by the median home value ($229,600), from 2024 US Census ACS 5-year estimates. It is a statistic describing the county, not a rate levied on any particular property. Your own bill depends on your assessed value, the millage set by your overlapping taxing districts, any homestead or senior exemptions you qualify for, and special assessments. One thing to watch: the median reflects taxes paid by current owners. The Homestead Tax Credit caps assessment increases for the current owner. It does not transfer, so a buyer starts from the full assessed value. So a buyer paying today's market price usually pays more than 1.46% of the purchase price.
Maryland's combined real estate transfer tax is approximately 0.50% of the purchase price. On the median Baltimore city home value of $229,600, this adds roughly $1,148 at closing. State Transfer Tax 0.5% of price, customarily split 50/50 buyer/seller. Additional County Recordation Tax varies by jurisdiction ($2.50–$6.00 per $500 = 0.5%–1.2%), also customarily split. First-time MD buyers have the 0.25% buyer-side state portion waived (seller pays full 0.5%). As of July 1, 2025, state transfer tax rises from 0.5% to 1.5% on sales to 'real estate enterprises' (entities with >120 properties or >$12M statewide).
Yes, substantially. FEMA National Risk Index data shows 51.7% of Baltimore city's land area falls within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Flood insurance is required for any federally-backed mortgage on a property inside an SFHA and commonly adds $800–$3,000 per year. Check your specific property's flood zone at msc.fema.gov before buying.
On Baltimore city's median home value of $229,600 with 20% down, buyer closing costs work out to roughly $4,524–$8,572, or 2.0–3.7% of the purchase price. That covers title insurance $800–$2,000; loan origination fee $918–$1,837; home appraisal $400–$700; home inspection $350–$600; real estate attorney $600–$1,500; recording fees $100–$300; prepaid mortgage interest $547; homeowners insurance (2 months) $250; property tax escrow (2-3 months) $559–$839. Transfer tax is listed separately. These are national ranges for each line item rather than Baltimore city quotes, so treat them as a planning range and use the calculator above for your own purchase price.
Every county-specific figure on this page links to the exact public dataset it comes from. Verify the numbers yourself against the original source.
Source for the $3,354/yr median taxes paid (ACS 2024 5-year estimates, variable B25103_001E).
Source for the $229,600 median home value (variable B25077_001E). The 1.46% median tax-to-value ratio is median taxes paid divided by median home value.
Source for the transfer tax used in the calculator (buyer 0.25%, seller 0.25%). Verified April 2026.
Source for the county's flood hazard exposure (coastal and inland flood exposure area as a share of county area).
The national dataset behind the county report, including its technical documentation and release notes.
Look up a specific property's flood zone and insurance rate map before making an offer on a home in Baltimore city.
Closing cost line items are national ranges, not county data. The methodology lists each range's source and the calculator's assumptions (mortgage rate, insurance, PMI).
Maryland property tax exemptions: official sources
Verified April 2026.
What every buyer should read before making an offer.
Seven signs in an HOA's budget, reserve study, minutes and insurance that raise the risk of a special assessment, the numbers behind each, and what to ask.
Read the guide →Your HOA resale packet holds the CC&Rs, budget, reserve study and minutes. What each one says, where the costly rules hide, and the order to read them in.
Read the guide →An HOA capped rentals at 10 of 50 homes and grandfathered the existing landlords. How to find rental restrictions before closing, and what they cost you.
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