These 11 Towns In Virginia Take The Least Amount Of Your Money
By Anna Strock|Updated on December 27, 2022(Originally published December 22, 2022)
×
Anna Strock
Author
Virginia staff writer for Only in Your State, freelance writer and journalist. Even though Anna has lived other places, somehow Virginia is where she always seems to land.
Although tax season is long gone and the next one has yet to begin, taxes are never far from our minds – especially when elections are looming. With that thought in mind, we thought we’d take a closer look at property taxes in Virginia – namely, the lowest property taxes in Virginia.
You may or may not know that Virginia does not have a set state property tax; instead, each individual county or city government is responsible for establishing its own tax rates. Tax Rates, an online tax resource, states that Virginians pay an average of $1,862 yearly in personal property tax (based on a median property home value of $252,600). This means that we pay an average tax rate of 0.74% or 2.53% of our median annual income of $73,565. While that may sound pretty steep, Virginia actually has one of the nation’s lower average tax rates.
By looking at each city and county’s median house value and the percentage of tax assessed on that property value, Tax Rates provides a breakdown of every local tax rate in Virginia. Considering that the highest property tax in the state occurs in Fall Church City where an average of $6,005, or 0.94% of median property value, is paid annually, it’s pretty impressive that these 11 counties all come in at $500 or less. How many of these amazing counties have you visited? Do you live in one instead? Tell us what you think in the comments!
At $284/year, Buchanan County residents pay 0.46% of their average home value, with a median value of $62,000. This equals 0.82% of the median annual income. While in Buchanan County, be sure to check out the Buchanan Swinging Bridge for a one-of-a-kind adventure.
At $368/year, Dickenson County residents pay 0.52% of their home value, with a median value of $71,300. This equals 1.16% of the median annual income. While you're in Dickenson county, it's definitely worth checking out the awesome Birch Knob Tower where it's almost like you can see the end of the world from there.
At $421/year, Lee County residents pay 0.54% of their home value, with a median value of $77,600. This equals 1.14% of the median annual income. Lee County's beautiful Virginia’s Wilderness Road State Park is an underrated treasure you're sure to fall in love with.
At $428/year, Wise County residents pay 0.56% of their home value, with a median value of $77,100. This equals 1.08% of the median annual income. The amazing Devil's Bathtub hiking trail is one of the coolest things you'll ever do in Wise County, so we're pretty thrilled about the low taxes, too.
At $435/year, Grayson County residents pay 0.47% of their home value, with a median value of $92,200. This equals 1.24% of the median annual income. Fun fact: Grayson County is home to Grayson Highlands State Park, which is often called the "best state park in Virginia". Cool!
At $449/year, Covington residents pay 0.68% of their home value, with an average value of $65,900. This equals 1.13% of the median annual income. Just outside of Covington is Lake Moomaw, one of the most beautiful outdoor attractions in Virginia. It's worth a trip!
At $457/year, Brunswick County residents pay 0.47% of their home value, with an average value of $97,500. This equals 1.02% of the median annual income. Lake Gaston, one of the main attractions in Brunswick County, is easily one of the most beautiful lakes in Virginia. Like many other places on this list, it's worthy of a day trip.
At $470/year, Henry County residents pay 0.52% of their home value, with an average value of $91,200. This equals 1.21% of the median annual income. Here, you'll also find the famed Dick and Willie Passage Rail Trail, one of our favorite hiking trails in Virginia.
At $472/year, Lunenburg County residents pay 0.47% of their home value, with an average value of $101,500. This equals 1.15% of the median annual income. While in Lunenburg County, the Bridge Trail State Park is the place to be, with tons of amazing trails, incredible views, and so much more to love.
At $477/year, Russell County residents pay 0.56% of their home value, with an average value of $85,200. This equals 1.25% of the median annual income. Nestled in Russell County is the underrated Big Cedar Creek Trail, which leads to one of the best waterfalls in Virginia. We're beginning to suspect every county in this little state is amazing...
At an even $500/year, Smyth County residents pay 0.58% of their home value, with an average value of $86,900. This equals 1.19% of the median annual income. Should you ever find yourself in Smyth County, you can't skip a trip to Hungry Mother State Park - easily one of the most beautiful places in the state.
As you can see, some places have higher percentages that they pay, but due to lower housing costs, the annual amounts come out lower – or higher – depending on the combination. Do you live in any of these counties? How about the taxes where you live? Do you feel that they are fair? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
If you can’t get enough of this beautiful life in Virginia, you might also want to check out the safest towns in VA while you’re here.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
More to Explore
Lowest Property Taxes in Virginia
Tori Jane|December 27, 2022
Does Virginia tax social security?
The state of Virginia does not tax social security benefits, and if said benefits are taxed at a federal level, this tax can be written off on the next tax return. Nice!
2. Which county has the lowest property taxes in Virginia?
Buchanan County is the county with the lowest property taxes in Virginia. Other counties with remarkably low property taxes include:
Wise County ($428)
Lee County ($421)
Henry County ($470)
Dickenson County ($368)
3. Which county has the highest property taxes in Virginia?
Loudoun County, at the time of this writing, has the highest property taxes in Virginia. Other counties with the highest property taxes in VA are:
