Payotte study · 106 places

Local transfer taxes in the US: what each county and city adds

Rates read on October 19, 2026 from county, city and state sources; median home values from the Census Bureau.

In short

Payotte computed the local transfer taxes of 106 counties, cities and districts in 13 states and DC, from the rates their official sources publish. On each place's own median home, the highest local bills are Crested Butte ($30,318 on $1,010,600), Berkeley ($23,019 on $1,429,700), District of Columbia ($21,269 on $733,400). On the same $500,000 home, local taxes range from $100 in Washoe County to $20,000 in Pittsburgh; in Miami-Dade County the county rate is lower than the state's usual rate.

State guides give the state tax. This page adds what the county, the city or a regional authority charges on top, which is often larger. Each row links to a page with the rates, who pays, the exemptions given by the source, and the source itself.

Ranked by the local tax on each place's median home

#PlaceMedian homeLocal taxesState taxTotalShare of price
1Crested Butte, CO$1,010,600$30,318 $101$30,419 3.01%
2Berkeley, CA$1,429,700$23,019 $0$23,019 1.61%
3District of Columbia, DC$733,400$21,269 —$21,269 2.9%
4Albany, CA$1,202,200$19,356 $0$19,356 1.61%
5Snowmass Village, CO$1,729,900$17,299 $173$17,472 1.01%
6Alameda, CA$1,160,500$15,203 $0$15,203 1.31%
7El Cerrito, CA$1,124,400$14,737 $0$14,737 1.31%
8Oakland, CA$884,000$14,232 $0$14,232 1.61%
9Vail, CO$1,400,700$14,007 $140$14,147 1.01%
10Montgomery County, MD$660,800$13,648 $3,304$16,952 2.57%
11Aspen, CO$819,900$11,299 $82$11,380 1.39%
12New York City, NY$778,600$11,095 $3,116$14,211 1.83%
13Howard County, MD$630,300$11,031 $3,152$14,183 2.25%
14San Leandro, CA$851,400$10,302 $0$10,302 1.21%
15Breckenridge, CO$1,012,700$10,127 $101$10,228 1.01%
16San Mateo, CA$1,639,400$10,000 $0$10,000 0.61%
17San Francisco, CA$1,314,700$9,860 $0$9,860 0.75%
18Philadelphia, PA$253,600$9,074 $2,536$11,610 4.58%
19Talbot County, MD$409,700$9,017 $2,049$11,066 2.7%
20Pittsburgh, PA$220,400$8,816 $2,204$11,020 5%
21Charles County, MD$462,100$8,786 $2,311$11,096 2.4%
22Mountain View, CA$1,947,100$8,568 $0$8,568 0.44%
23Prince George's County, MD$436,000$8,502 $2,180$10,682 2.45%
24Hayward, CA$884,700$8,493 $0$8,493 0.96%
25Anne Arundel County, MD$486,300$8,269 $2,432$10,700 2.2%
26Emeryville, CA$604,800$7,923 $0$7,923 1.31%
27Yonkers, NY$521,700$7,826 $2,088$9,914 1.9%
28Winter Park, CO$775,300$7,753 $78$7,831 1.01%
29Bellevue, WA$1,508,500$7,543 $18,364$25,906 1.72%
30St. Mary's County, MD$415,300$7,477 $2,077$9,554 2.3%
31Baltimore County, MD$359,000$7,180 $1,795$8,975 2.5%
32Frederick County, MD$503,700$7,056 $2,519$9,575 1.9%
33Queen Anne's County, MD$462,700$6,897 $2,314$9,211 1.99%
34Harford County, MD$405,400$6,730 $2,027$8,757 2.16%
35Culver City, CA$1,142,900$6,400 $0$6,400 0.56%
36Baltimore City, MD$247,400$6,186 $1,237$7,423 3%
37Carroll County, MD$462,500$6,013 $2,313$8,325 1.8%
38San Jose, CA$1,271,200$5,595 $0$5,595 0.44%
39Richmond, CA$663,900$5,378 $0$5,378 0.81%
40Los Angeles, CA$947,900$5,309 $0$5,309 0.56%
41Calvert County, MD$492,500$4,925 $2,463$7,388 1.5%
42Cecil County, MD$362,900$4,791 $1,815$6,606 1.82%
43Seattle, WA$950,800$4,754 $11,225$15,979 1.68%
44Dorchester County, MD$262,400$4,593 $1,312$5,905 2.25%
45Caroline County, MD$290,100$4,356 $1,451$5,806 2%
46Worcester County, MD$374,700$4,349 $1,874$6,222 1.66%
47Redondo Beach, CA$1,302,800$4,300 $0$4,300 0.33%
48Washington County, MD$318,800$4,018 $1,594$5,612 1.76%
49Garrett County, MD$235,300$4,002 $1,177$5,178 2.2%
50Oak Park, IL$465,500$3,957 $466$4,422 0.95%
51Peekskill, NY$395,600$3,956 $1,584$5,540 1.4%
52Dover, DE$258,900$3,884 $6,473$10,356 4%
53Kent County, MD$330,900$3,839 $1,655$5,494 1.66%
54Chicago, IL$341,200$3,756 $342$4,098 1.2%
55Wilmington, DE$245,100$3,677 $6,128$9,804 4%
56Renton, WA$703,500$3,518 $8,060$11,577 1.65%
57Kent, WA$632,100$3,161 $7,146$10,306 1.63%
58Berwyn, IL$299,800$3,148 $300$3,448 1.15%
59Federal Way, WA$609,200$3,046 $6,853$9,899 1.62%
60Everett, WA$598,900$2,995 $6,721$9,715 1.62%
61City of Falls Church, VA$1,055,600$2,991 see state— —
62Wilmette, IL$810,600$2,837 $811$3,648 0.45%
63Cicero, IL$261,000$2,741 $261$3,002 1.15%
64Evanston, IL$489,700$2,693 $490$3,183 0.65%
65Arlington County, VA$945,700$2,679 see state— —
66Tacoma, WA$500,500$2,503 $5,506$8,008 1.6%
67Vancouver, WA$479,800$2,399 $5,278$7,677 1.6%
68Loudoun County, VA$790,400$2,239 see state— —
69Fairfax County, VA$760,400$2,154 see state— —
70Pomona, CA$636,700$2,102 $0$2,102 0.33%
71Spokane Valley, WA$412,100$2,061 $4,533$6,594 1.6%
72City of Fairfax, VA$722,600$2,047 see state— —
73City of Alexandria, VA$704,200$1,995 see state— —
74Sacramento, CA$515,800$1,986 $0$1,986 0.39%
75Wicomico County, MD$275,900$1,932 $1,380$3,312 1.2%
76Spokane, WA$379,300$1,897 $4,172$6,069 1.6%
77Allegany County, MD$149,900$1,800 $750$2,549 1.7%
78Prince William County, VA$571,200$1,618 see state— —
79Oak Lawn, IL$281,200$1,547 $282$1,828 0.65%
80Skokie, IL$420,600$1,472 $421$1,893 0.45%
81Riverside, CA$616,400$1,356 $0$1,356 0.22%
82Erie, PA$135,200$1,352 $1,352$2,704 2%
83City of Manassas, VA$449,900$1,275 see state— —
84Calumet City, IL$145,200$1,234 $146$1,380 0.95%
85Somerset County, MD$173,200$1,145 $866$2,011 1.16%
86City of Manassas Park, VA$395,900$1,122 see state— —
87Des Plaines, IL$335,600$839 $336$1,175 0.35%
88Summit County, OH$229,300$688 $229$917 0.4%
89Franklin County, OH$315,100$630 $315$945 0.3%
90Hamilton County, OH$270,900$542 $271$813 0.3%
91Clark County, NV$451,000$541 $1,759$2,300 0.51%
92Lucas County, OH$175,200$526 $175$701 0.4%
93Schaumburg, IL$349,900$525 $350$875 0.25%
94Montgomery County, OH$204,700$409 $205$614 0.3%
95Washoe County, NV$571,800$114 $2,231$2,345 0.41%
96Miami-Dade County, FL$547,200−$547 $3,830$3,283 0.6%

Median value of owner-occupied homes (Census ACS 2024 1-year where available, otherwise 2020-2024 5-year; owner estimates, not sale prices). Before exemptions and first-time buyer credits. “See state”: the state tax depends on more than the price (Virginia) and is explained in the state guide. A negative local figure means the county rate is lower than the state's usual rate (Miami-Dade).

On the same $500,000 home

PlaceLocal taxesShare of price
Pittsburgh, PA$20,0004%
Philadelphia, PA$17,8903.58%
Crested Butte, CO$15,0003%
District of Columbia, DC$14,5002.9%
Baltimore City, MD$12,5002.5%
Talbot County, MD$11,0002.2%
Baltimore County, MD$10,0002%
Prince George's County, MD$9,7501.95%
Charles County, MD$9,5001.9%
Montgomery County, MD$9,4501.89%
St. Mary's County, MD$9,0001.8%
Dorchester County, MD$8,7501.75%
Howard County, MD$8,7501.75%
Anne Arundel County, MD$8,5001.7%
Garrett County, MD$8,5001.7%
Harford County, MD$8,3001.66%
Oakland, CA$8,0501.61%
Berkeley, CA$8,0501.61%
Albany, CA$8,0501.61%
Caroline County, MD$7,5001.5%
Yonkers, NY$7,5001.5%
New Castle County (unincorporated), DE$7,5001.5%
Wilmington, DE$7,5001.5%
Kent County (unincorporated), DE$7,5001.5%
Dover, DE$7,5001.5%
Sussex County (unincorporated), DE$7,5001.5%
Queen Anne's County, MD$7,4501.49%
Piedmont, CA$7,0501.41%
Frederick County, MD$7,0001.4%
Cecil County, MD$6,6001.32%
Alameda, CA$6,5501.31%
Emeryville, CA$6,5501.31%
El Cerrito, CA$6,5501.31%
Carroll County, MD$6,5001.3%
Aspen, CO$6,5001.3%
Washington County, MD$6,3001.26%
San Leandro, CA$6,0501.21%
Allegany County, MD$6,0001.2%
Kent County, MD$5,8001.16%
Worcester County, MD$5,8001.16%
Chicago, IL$5,5001.1%
Berwyn, IL$5,2501.05%
Cicero, IL$5,2501.05%
Calvert County, MD$5,0001%
New York City, NY$5,0001%
Peekskill, NY$5,0001%
Erie, PA$5,0001%
Snowmass Village, CO$5,0001%
Vail, CO$5,0001%
Breckenridge, CO$5,0001%
Winter Park, CO$5,0001%
Hayward, CA$4,8000.96%
Oak Park, IL$4,2500.85%
Calumet City, IL$4,2500.85%
Richmond, CA$4,0500.81%
Wicomico County, MD$3,5000.7%
San Francisco, CA$3,4000.68%
Somerset County, MD$3,3000.66%
San Mateo, CA$3,0500.61%
Los Angeles, CA$2,8000.56%
Culver City, CA$2,8000.56%
Evanston, IL$2,7500.55%
Oak Lawn, IL$2,7500.55%
Seattle, WA$2,5000.5%
Spokane, WA$2,5000.5%
Tacoma, WA$2,5000.5%
Vancouver, WA$2,5000.5%
Bellevue, WA$2,5000.5%
Kent, WA$2,5000.5%
Everett, WA$2,5000.5%
Renton, WA$2,5000.5%
Spokane Valley, WA$2,5000.5%
Federal Way, WA$2,5000.5%
San Jose, CA$2,2000.44%
Mountain View, CA$2,2000.44%
Palo Alto, CA$2,2000.44%
Santa Monica, CA$2,0500.41%
Sacramento, CA$1,9250.39%
Skokie, IL$1,7500.35%
Wilmette, IL$1,7500.35%
Pomona, CA$1,6500.33%
Redondo Beach, CA$1,6500.33%
Summit County, OH$1,5000.3%
Lucas County, OH$1,5000.3%
Arlington County, VA$1,4170.28%
Fairfax County, VA$1,4170.28%
Loudoun County, VA$1,4170.28%
Prince William County, VA$1,4170.28%
City of Alexandria, VA$1,4170.28%
City of Fairfax, VA$1,4170.28%
City of Falls Church, VA$1,4170.28%
City of Manassas, VA$1,4170.28%
City of Manassas Park, VA$1,4170.28%
Des Plaines, IL$1,2500.25%
Riverside, CA$1,1000.22%
Franklin County, OH$1,0000.2%
Hamilton County, OH$1,0000.2%
Montgomery County, OH$1,0000.2%
Schaumburg, IL$7500.15%
Hampton Roads localities, VA$7170.14%
Clark County, NV$6000.12%
California counties (cities without their own tax), CA$5500.11%
Other Virginia counties and cities, VA$4170.08%
Cook County (unincorporated), IL$2500.05%
Washoe County, NV$1000.02%
Miami-Dade County, FL−$500-0.1%

Not ranked: median home above $2 million

The Census publishes the median only as “$2,000,000 or more” in these cities, so they are not ranked by median; they are in the $500,000 table above.

Rules that cover a whole group of places

How Payotte computed it

Each rate was read on the county, city or state page or code cited on its own page, on October 19, 2026. Brackets that apply to the whole price (as in San Francisco, Los Angeles or Washington, DC) and brackets that apply only to the slice above a threshold are computed differently, as each source states. Taxes on the mortgage are not included. Where a county rate already includes the state share (Nevada, Ohio, Miami-Dade), the local figure is what is left once the state share is taken out.

The data is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0, with a link to this page.

Questions

Which US city or county charges the most local transfer tax?

Among the 106 places Payotte covers, on a $500,000 home: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ($20,000); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ($17,890); Crested Butte, Colorado ($15,000). On each place's own median home: Crested Butte ($30,318); Berkeley ($23,019); District of Columbia ($21,269).

Where is the local transfer tax highest in California?

On a $500,000 home: Oakland $8,050, Berkeley $8,050, Albany $8,050; lowest: California counties (cities without their own tax) $550.

Where is the local transfer tax highest in Colorado?

On a $500,000 home: Crested Butte $15,000, Aspen $6,500, Snowmass Village $5,000; lowest: Winter Park $5,000.

Where is the local transfer tax highest in Delaware?

On a $500,000 home: New Castle County (unincorporated) $7,500, Wilmington $7,500, Kent County (unincorporated) $7,500; lowest: Sussex County (unincorporated) $7,500.

Where is the local transfer tax highest in Illinois?

On a $500,000 home: Chicago $5,500, Berwyn $5,250, Cicero $5,250; lowest: Cook County (unincorporated) $250.

Where is the local transfer tax highest in Maryland?

On a $500,000 home: Baltimore City $12,500, Talbot County $11,000, Baltimore County $10,000; lowest: Somerset County $3,300.

Where is the local transfer tax highest in Nevada?

On a $500,000 home: Clark County $600, Washoe County $100; lowest: Washoe County $100.

Where is the local transfer tax highest in New York?

On a $500,000 home: Yonkers $7,500, New York City $5,000, Peekskill $5,000; lowest: Peekskill $5,000.

Where is the local transfer tax highest in Ohio?

On a $500,000 home: Summit County $1,500, Lucas County $1,500, Franklin County $1,000; lowest: Montgomery County $1,000.

Where is the local transfer tax highest in Pennsylvania?

On a $500,000 home: Pittsburgh $20,000, Philadelphia $17,890, Erie $5,000; lowest: Erie $5,000.

Where is the local transfer tax highest in Virginia?

On a $500,000 home: Arlington County $1,417, Fairfax County $1,417, Loudoun County $1,417; lowest: Other Virginia counties and cities $417.

Where is the local transfer tax highest in Washington?

On a $500,000 home: Seattle $2,500, Spokane $2,500, Tacoma $2,500; lowest: Federal Way $2,500.

General information drawn from the official sources cited and dated on this page. It is not legal, tax or financial advice: for your own situation, ask a licensed professional.

State rules

Sources