Arkansas has one of the lowest property tax burdens in the country. Multiple current (2026) sources converge on an average effective property tax rate of roughly 0.52%–0.57% (WalletHub: 0.55%, ranked #39 of 50 states; propertytaxrates.org and TaxByCounty: ~0.53%–0.57%; some sources citing a median-based 0.81% depending on methodology). That is roughly 40-45% below the commonly cited ~0.91-0.99% national average effective rate (the exact national benchmark varies slightly by source/year, e.g., WalletHub cites 0.92%, others ~0.99%). Within Arkansas there is real county variation: Pulaski County has the highest effective rate (~0.76%), followed by Jefferson (~0.69%) and Sebastian (~0.57%) counties, while Garland (~0.42%), White (~0.45%), and Faulkner (~0.51%) counties are among the lowest.
Example: Estimates vary by source/methodology, but converge on Arkansas having one of the nation's lowest median tax bills: the median Arkansas homeowner pays approximately $705-$870 per year statewide (median home value ~$132,000), and WalletHub's national-comparison methodology puts the "median payment on the median-value home" at about $1,040/year on a $188,000 home. This compares to a national median property tax bill of roughly $2,400-$2,690 — Arkansas has the third-lowest median property tax bill in the U.S. County-level bills range enormously, from about $196/year in Lafayette County to roughly $1,731-$2,203/year in Benton County.
Figures vary meaningfully by source depending on methodology (median tax ÷ median value vs. mill-rate-weighted averages vs. Census ACS 5-year estimates), so treat rates like 0.52%, 0.55%, and 0.57% as roughly consistent rather than contradictory. Also note the homestead credit is in flux in real time: the $600 figure applies to 2026 tax bills, but the legislature has already passed a bill raising it further to $675, so homeowners and preparers should confirm the exact figure in effect with the Arkansas DFA or their county assessor before filing, since implementation timing (which tax year the $675 first applies to) matters for accuracy.
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.