Homeowners in District of Columbia, DC pay a median $4,312 a year in property taxes, about 0.58% of the median home value of $737,100.
Data reviewed · ACS 2024 · Mortgage rates weekly · Methodology
Based on what homeowners in District of Columbia pay: median taxes paid divided by median home value. If you bought years ago, District of Columbia's assessment cap likely keeps your bill below this.
Enter any purchase price to see the full cost breakdown for District of Columbia.
Everything due at closing plus your first twelve months of ownership. The detail is below.
Your numbers as a one-page PDF: $737,100 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.
District of Columbia's 0.58% median tax-to-value ratio falls in the middle 50% of US counties, close to the national median of 0.81%. On the county's median home value of $737,100, the typical homeowner pays $4,312 annually in property tax, $2,683 more than the national median of $1,629. At closing, District of Columbia's 2.20% combined real estate transfer tax adds roughly $16,216 on a median-priced home, split between buyer and seller. FEMA data shows 54.0% of District of Columbia'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 District of Columbia may reduce their annual property tax. These programs apply statewide; verify county specifics with your local assessor.
Reduces the assessed value of a primary residence by $91,950 for tax year 2026 before computing property tax (saving approximately $781/year).
View official source →Reduces property tax by 50% for owners age 65+ or disabled who own at least 50% of the property, with household federal AGI (from 2024) under $163,500 for tax year 2026.
View official source →Limits annual taxable assessment increases on owner-occupied homestead property to 10% per year (2% for homes receiving Senior/Disabled relief).
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 District of Columbia.
Homeowners in District of Columbia pay a median $4,312 a year in property taxes, from 2024 US Census ACS 5-year estimates. There is no single property tax rate for District of Columbia. The 0.58% figure commonly quoted is a county-wide median: the median annual property tax paid ($4,312) divided by the median home value ($737,100), 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 10% assessment cap credit protects the current owner only. A buyer starts from the full assessed value. So a buyer paying today's market price usually pays more than 0.58% of the purchase price.
District of Columbia's combined real estate transfer tax is approximately 2.20% of the purchase price. On the median District of Columbia home value of $737,100, this adds roughly $16,216 at closing. Recordation Tax (buyer) and Transfer Tax (seller) each: 1.1% under $400k, 1.45% at $400k and above (applies to full price, not just portion). Combined 2.2% (under $400k) or 2.9% ($400k+). First-time DC homebuyers: reduced recordation rate of 0.725% on purchases up to $777,000.
Yes, substantially. FEMA National Risk Index data shows 54.0% of District of Columbia'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 District of Columbia's median home value of $737,100 with 20% down, buyer closing costs work out to roughly $7,922–$14,079, or 1.1–1.9% of the purchase price. That covers title insurance $800–$2,000; loan origination fee $2,948–$5,897; home appraisal $400–$700; home inspection $350–$600; real estate attorney $600–$1,500; recording fees $100–$300; prepaid mortgage interest $1,754; homeowners insurance (2 months) $250; property tax escrow (2-3 months) $719–$1,078. Transfer tax is listed separately. These are national ranges for each line item rather than District of Columbia 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 $4,312/yr median taxes paid (ACS 2024 5-year estimates, variable B25103_001E).
Source for the $737,100 median home value (variable B25077_001E). The 0.58% median tax-to-value ratio is median taxes paid divided by median home value.
Source for the transfer tax used in the calculator (buyer 1.10%, seller 1.10%). 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 District of Columbia.
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).
District of Columbia 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.
Read the guide →