Tennessee— Property Tax & Closing Costs
2024 Census dataEffective tax rate
0.52%
of assessed value annually
Median home value
$249,000
2024 ACS survey
Median taxes paid
$1,302/yr
2024 data
Washington County's 0.52% effective property tax rate ranks 567th lowest among the 3,134 US counties tracked, placing it in the bottom 25% lowest nationally. Within Tennessee's 95 counties, it's the 27th highest. On the county's median home value of $249,000, the typical homeowner pays $1,302 annually in property tax — $327 less than the national median of $1,629. At closing, Tennessee's 0.37% combined real estate transfer tax adds roughly $921 on a median-priced home, typically paid by the seller. FEMA data shows 15.4% of the county's land area sits within a Special Flood Hazard Area — a high exposure level that may trigger mandatory flood insurance on mortgaged properties.
Calculate your true cost
Enter any purchase price to see the full cost breakdown for Washington County.
County median: $249,000
Leave at $0 if the property has no homeowners association.
LTV: 80.00%
At closing
Monthly ongoing
Year one
High flood risk. Flood insurance likely required by your lender. Verify the flood zone at msc.fema.gov.
All figures are estimates for planning purposes only. Mortgage payment assumes a 30-year fixed rate of 6.8% — 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.
Tennessee property tax exemptions
Ways buyers in Washington County may reduce their annual property tax. These programs apply statewide; verify county specifics with your local assessor.
Elderly / Disabled Homeowner Tax Relief
State reimbursement of property taxes paid by low-income homeowners 65+ or totally and permanently disabled, applied to the first portion of the home's appraised value.
View official source →Disabled Veteran Property Tax Relief
State reimburses property taxes on the first $175,000 of market value for veterans with 100% permanent and total service-connected disability. No income limit. Extends to surviving spouses.
View official source →Property Tax Freeze
Participating counties and municipalities may freeze property tax on primary residence of homeowners 65+ who meet county-specific income limits, locking in the base year amount.
View official source →Last verified 2026-04. Exemption amounts and eligibility change frequently — always confirm with your county assessor before claiming.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about buying a home in Washington County.
The effective property tax rate in Washington County is 0.52% — calculated as the median annual property tax paid ($1,302) divided by the median home value ($249,000), using 2024 US Census ACS 5-year estimates. Your actual bill depends on your purchase price, homestead or senior exemptions, and any special assessments applied in your taxing district.
Tennessee's combined real estate transfer tax is approximately 0.37% of the purchase price. On the median Washington County home value of $249,000, this adds roughly $921 at closing. Realty Transfer Tax $0.37/$100 (0.37%) on deed, seller-paid per Tenn. Code Ann. 67-4-409. Indebtedness Tax $0.115/$100 (0.115%) on loan amount above $2,000, paid by buyer — applies to mortgage, not purchase price, so not reflected in buyer_rate.
Partially. 15.4% of Washington County's land area lies within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. Whether flood insurance is required depends on your specific property — check msc.fema.gov before making an offer.
Closing costs for a buyer in Washington County typically run $4,980–$12,450 (2–5% of purchase price) on a median-priced home, including title insurance ($800–$2,000), appraisal ($400–$700), home inspection ($350–$600), recording fees ($100–$300), and loan origination (0.5–1.0% of the loan amount). Use the calculator above for a specific estimate at your purchase price.
Data sources for Washington County
Every figure on this page is traceable. Verify the numbers yourself against the original public data.
Source for the 0.52% effective property tax rate, median home value, and median taxes paid (ACS 5-year, 2024 vintage).
Source for county-level flood zone exposure, wildfire risk, and other natural hazard ratings. Updated quarterly by FEMA.
Look up a specific property's flood zone and insurance rate map before making an offer on a home in Washington County.
Guides for Tennessee home buyers
What every buyer should read before making an offer.
HOA Documents
HOA lawsuits — how to check for pending litigation against your future HOA before you close
A buyer closed on a house and only then found out about ongoing HOA lawsuits. Six checks you can run yourself before your contingencies expire.
Read the guide →HOA Documents
Undisclosed HOA special assessment — what you can do if you find out after closing
HOA special assessment not on the disclosure? One buyer got a $15,000 bill the day after closing. How to catch it before — and what to do after.
Read the guide →