Orange County, North Carolina property tax
Typical rate, yearly bill and how it compares. Census survey 2020-2024.
How Orange County compares
Property tax in Orange County, in plain words
Homeowners in Orange County pay a typical 0.91% of their home's value in property tax each year. On the median home, worth about $459,500, that comes to roughly $4,162 a year. That rate is above the North Carolina figure of 0.66% and about the same as the national figure of 0.94%.
It ranks 10th highest of 100 counties in North Carolina by rate, and 1337th of about 3,100 nationwide. Homes here cost more than the state median of $288,900, so bills run higher even at a similar rate.
Owners with a mortgage report a typical bill of $4,261, and owners without one $4,041. The gap usually reflects newer buyers paying tax on higher, more recent values, while long-time owners often have caps, senior exemptions or freezes.
North Carolina also has a state income tax (3.99% flat), which you can weigh alongside property tax when comparing places. The typical bill equals about 4.6% of the county's median household income of $90,089.
Common questions
What is the property tax rate in Orange County?
The typical effective rate is about 0.91% of a home's market value per year, based on what owners report paying in the Census American Community Survey. The rates printed on bills are set by each taxing body and applied to assessed value after exemptions.
How much is property tax on a typical home in Orange County?
About $4,162 a year on the median home worth $459,500.
Why is my bill different from this estimate?
These are county-wide figures. Your exact bill depends on your home's assessed value, your city, school district and special districts, and the exemptions you claim, such as a homestead or senior exemption.
Can I lower my Orange County property tax?
Make sure you have claimed every exemption you qualify for, and check your assessment notice each year. If the assessed value looks too high compared with recent sales of similar homes, you can appeal it. Our guide to appeals walks through the steps.
Is North Carolina a high property tax state?
North Carolina's typical rate of 0.66% ranks 36th highest of the 50 states and DC. The typical bill there is $1,896 a year.
How to appeal your assessment · How to read your bill · Where these numbers come from