Property taxes Spending

How much American households spend on property taxes — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$2,738
Share of total spending
3.5%
Change vs 2023
+2.7%
Change vs 2020
+16.4%

Spending Insight: Property taxes

American households spent an average of $2,738 on property taxes in 2024, representing 3.5% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was +2.7% (from $2,666 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.

Since 2020, property taxes spending has risen by 16.4% (from $2,353 to $2,738), broadly tracking with inflation-adjusted cost changes.

Income is the strongest predictor of property taxes spending: the top income quintile spends $5,816/year versus $1,054 for the lowest quintile — a 5.5x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($4,116/year) while the South spends the least ($2,000/year). Use the cross-cuts below — by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure — to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.

Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Year Annual Amount
2024 $2,738
2023 $2,666
2022 $2,570
2021 $2,475
2020 $2,353

By Income Level (2024)

How property taxes spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $1,054
Second 20% $1,643
Middle 20% $2,155
Fourth 20% $3,003
Highest 20% $5,816

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in property taxes spending

Midwest
$2,785
3.7%
Northeast
$4,116
4.9%
South
$2,000
2.8%
West
$2,919
3.2%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How property taxes spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $1,591
35–44 $2,729
45–54 $3,653
55–64 $3,307
65–74 $3,003
75 and older $2,767
Under 25 $229

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $1,597
2 People $3,228
3 People $3,022
4 People $3,151
5 or More $3,912

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $4,208
Homeowner (no mortgage) $4,689
Renter $3,574

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on property taxes? ▼
The average American household spent $2,738 on property taxes in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 3.5% of total household spending.
Is property taxes spending increasing? ▼
Property taxes spending increased by 2.7% from 2023 to 2024 ($2,666 to $2,738). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +16.4%.
How does income affect property taxes spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $1,054/year on property taxes, while the highest quintile spends $5,816/year — a 5.5x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on property taxes? ▼
The Northeast region spends the most at $4,116/year, while the South region spends the least at $2,000/year on property taxes.
Which age group spends the most on property taxes? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on property taxes at $3,653/year.
Does household size affect property taxes spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $1,597/year on property taxes, while 5 or More households spend $3,912/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Spending Guides

Average Household Budget
How the typical American household allocates spending
Housing Costs by Income
How shelter spending varies across income quintiles
Food Spending Breakdown
Groceries vs dining out and who spends what
Healthcare Spending by Age
How medical costs rise across the lifecycle
Transportation Costs
Vehicle ownership, fuel, and transit spending

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Category
Food
$10,169/yr avg
Category
Alcoholic beverages
$643/yr avg
Category
Housing
$26,266/yr avg
Category
Apparel and services
$2,001/yr avg
Category
Transportation
$13,318/yr avg

Related Economic Data

Cost of Living by Metro → Fair Market Rents → Salary Data by Occupation → ZIP Code Demographics →
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.