Guides / Property Taxes / Arizona

Property Taxes in Arizona

Effective Rate

Arizona has one of the lowest effective property tax rates in the country. Sources converge in the roughly 0.42%–0.51% range for the average/median effective rate on owner-occupied homes (Tax Foundation puts Arizona's median rate at about 0.44%-0.45% for 2025-2026; other trackers cite 0.48%-0.51%), compared to a national average/median of roughly 0.90%-1.02%. That means Arizona homeowners pay less than half the national average as a share of home value. WalletHub's 2026 property tax study ranks Arizona 4th-lowest among all states for real-estate property taxes. There is meaningful county-level variation: Pima County has the highest effective rate in the state (~0.65%) and highest median dollar bill (~$2,248/year), while Coconino, Mohave, and Yavapai counties have the lowest effective rates (~0.36%-0.37%), and Greenlee County has the lowest median bill (~$489/year).

Example: Estimates cluster in the $1,350–$1,900/year range depending on source and year: the median tax paid across Arizona's 15 counties is roughly $1,349–$1,695, while a median-valued Arizona home (~$358,900-$394,500) generates an annual bill of about $1,828-$1,879 in several 2025-2026 calculator estimates. A representative figure to cite is "around $1,800-$1,900 per year for a median-value home," noting Pima County runs much higher (~$2,248) and rural counties like Greenlee run far lower (~$489).

Exemptions

Widow/Widower, Totally & Permanently Disabled, or Disabled Veteran Exemption (A.R.S. 42-11111)
Amount: $4,873 off assessed Limited Property Value (LPV) for 2026
Not a general homestead exemption — must qualify as a widow/widower, be totally and permanently disabled, or be a veteran with a service- or non-service-connected disability. Subject to an asset/income-style cap: total combined assessed LPV across all property owned cannot exceed $36,454 for the applicant's ownership share. Applied first to real property, then to mobile homes/vehicle registration. Apply through the county assessor (e.g., Maricopa County) by February 28, or by September 1 with an approved waiver.
Senior Property Valuation Protection Option ("Senior Freeze")
Amount: Freezes the property's Limited Property Value for 3 years (no fixed dollar exemption; income limits for 2026 are $47,712 for a single owner and $59,640 for two-or-more owners)
Available to homeowners 65+ who have lived in the primary residence at least 2 years; income is averaged over the prior 3 years from all sources (including Social Security, pensions, capital gains). Does not reduce the current bill directly but locks in valuation so future increases don't raise the taxable value; renewable. Apply via county assessor (Form 82104) between roughly March 1 and September 1, 2026.
No general Homestead Exemption for property tax (common misconception)
Amount: $0 (not applicable)
Unlike Texas or Florida, Arizona does NOT have a broad-based homestead exemption that reduces property taxes for all owner-occupants. Arizona's 'homestead exemption' (A.R.S. 33-1101, currently protecting home equity around $250,000+) is a creditor-protection/bankruptcy law shielding home equity from most judgment creditors — it has no effect on the annual property tax bill. Some low-quality sites conflate the two concepts, so this distinction should be called out explicitly.

Figures vary somewhat by source because they use different methodologies (Tax Foundation uses aggregate levy/value ratios, ATTOM/SmartAsset/Ownwell use median assessed bills, WalletHub uses its own state ranking model) — treat the effective rate as "roughly 0.4%-0.5%" and the median bill as "roughly $1,350-$1,900" rather than a single precise number, and always verify current-year figures directly with the relevant county assessor (Maricopa, Pima, etc.) or azdor.gov before publishing, since exemption dollar amounts and Senior Freeze income limits adjust annually for inflation.

Facts on this page reflect research current as of 2026-07-05. Programs, rates, and laws change — confirm current figures with the relevant state agency before relying on them.

Related Resources
Down Payment Assistance in ArizonaTransfer Tax & Closing Costs in ArizonaBuyer-Agent Agreements in ArizonaSeller Disclosure Laws in ArizonaFind Agents in ArizonaHome Affordability Calculator