Illinois Property Taxes Ranked Near the Highest in America — Of Course We Did

Property taxes can either be a minor annual annoyance… or something that makes you stare at your mortgage statement a little too long.

According to a new WalletHub survey comparing real-estate property tax rates across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., the average American household pays about $3,119 per year in property taxes. In some states, it’s barely a blip. In others, it’s… noticeable.

You can probably guess which category Illinois falls into.

How States Compare on Property Tax Rates

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States like Hawaii (0.27%) and Alabama (0.38%) enjoy some of the lowest effective property tax rates in the country. On a median-priced home, that can mean thousands of dollars less per year compared to higher-tax states.

At the other end of the spectrum? A handful of states routinely top the list for the highest rates in America.

So, Where Does Illinois Rank?

Brace yourself.

READ MORE: The 22 Best Places to Live in Illinois for 2025, Ranked

Illinois comes in 50th out of 51 (counting D.C.), with an effective property tax rate of 2.01%. That translates to roughly $6,694 per year on a $332,700 home, more than double what homeowners pay in many lower-tax states.

Only one state ranks higher.

MORE: Income Family of 4 Needs to Live Comfortably in Illinois

What Illinois Homeowners Can Actually Do

While relocating to Hawaii isn’t practical for most people, there are ways to manage the damage:

• Review your property assessment for errors
• Appeal your assessment if it seems inflated
• Make sure you’re receiving any eligible homestead or senior exemptions
• Stay informed about local levies and referendums
• It may not fix the ranking. But at least it gives homeowners a fighting chance.

If you’d like to see exactly who beat Illinois… and who we managed to beat… you can check out the full WalletHub rankings and methodology here.

MORE: 5 Most Expensive Places to Live In Illinois