Delaware's average effective property tax rate is about 0.53%–0.54% of assessed home value, roughly half the national average (national average runs approximately 0.9%–1.0% depending on the source/year — e.g., 0.888% in 2024, often cited as ~0.99%). This makes Delaware one of the lowest-tax states in the country (commonly ranked around 7th-lowest to 8th-lowest nationally, or #43 out of 50 when ranked highest-to-lowest). A key driver is that most Delaware counties used property assessments frozen at 1970s–1980s valuation levels for decades; 2023 legislation now mandates reassessments every five years, which is starting to reshape effective rates. Rates vary notably by county: New Castle County is highest at about 0.67%, Kent County is around 0.42%, and Sussex County is lowest at about 0.31% (roughly one-third of the U.S. average).
Example: On a statewide median home value of roughly $280,000, the typical Delaware homeowner pays about $1,484/year in property tax. At the county level (using each county's own median home value), New Castle County homeowners pay a median of about $2,500/year (median home value ~$372,200, rate ~0.67%); Kent County median is about $1,422/year (median home value ~$339,800, rate ~0.42%); and Sussex County median is about $1,216/year (median home value ~$397,800, rate ~0.31%).
Delaware's low effective rates are partly an artifact of stale assessments (some counties hadn't done a full property reassessment since the 1970s-1980s), not necessarily low mill rates — assessed values are often far below true market value, which mechanically suppresses the effective rate calculation. This is changing: 2023 legislation now requires Delaware's three counties to conduct full property reassessments on a five-year cycle, so effective rates and tax bills in some areas may rise as updated (higher) assessed values phase in over the next few years. Homeowners should check with their county's Board of Assessment for current reassessment status, and confirm exact homestead exemption amounts with their specific county/municipality since those benefits are locally determined rather than set at the state level. Sources consulted: Tax Foundation (taxfoundation.org/location/delaware), SmartAsset Delaware Property Tax Calculator, Delaware Department of Finance Senior School Property Tax Relief page (finance.delaware.gov/senior-relief), and AppealDesk's summary of the Senior School Property Tax Credit and HB 73.
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.