In Ohio the county auditor values every home, with a full reappraisal every six years and an update in between based on recent sales. Tax is charged on a fixed fraction of that value. The rate stacks levies for the county, the township or city, the school district, libraries, parks and others, most of them approved by voters for a set purpose.
Those voted levies come with tax reduction factors. When values rise across a district, the effective millage of each voted levy is reduced so that it raises roughly the same money as before, apart from new construction. Bills therefore climb more slowly than values, though inside millage and new levies are not reduced the same way. The state has been revising these rules after the large reappraisals of recent years, so recent bills may not predict the next one.
An owner-occupied home gets the owner occupancy credit, a reduction on qualifying levies that you claim once with the county auditor. Owners who are older or permanently disabled and under an income limit can apply for the homestead exemption, which removes a set amount of value. Disabled veterans can claim a larger one.
Ohio stands out for school district income taxes. Many districts tax the income of their residents, and moving into one means filing a separate school district return, which the paycheck may not withhold. Check the district before you buy. The seller pays the county’s conveyance fee on the deed, and property tax is paid in arrears in two halves, in winter and summer.
Property tax in Ohio
The median Ohio homeowner pays $2,822 a year in property tax on a home valued at $214,800, an effective rate of 1.3138% in the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-year 2020-2024). That ranks the 11th highest of the 50 states and DC, above the middle state's 0.8003%. At that rate each $100,000 of home value carries about $1,314 a year of tax, or $109.48 a month in the payment, and that rate is what the calculator above starts from.
Inside Ohio the rate more than doubles from the cheapest county to the dearest. Among counties whose survey figures pass both quality checks, the effective rate runs from 0.7213% in Noble County to 2.001% in Cuyahoga County. On a $214,800 home that gap is worth about $2,749 a year. Pick a county in the calculator to use its rate, or type the rate from a listing or a current tax bill.
The survey rate is what owners actually pay divided by what they say their homes are worth, with exemptions, caps and local levies folded in; it will not match any rate printed in Ohio law. Ask for the seller's latest bill and the assessed value too, since a new owner's assessment can differ from the long-held homes behind the median.
Ohio property tax rates by county
All 88 counties, sorted from the highest effective rate to the lowest. The rate is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, from the ACS 5-year 2020-2024 survey (figures to December 31, 2024). None of them carries a quality flag, so the calculator uses the figure of whichever county you pick.
| County | Effective rate | Median home value | Median tax a year | Survey | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga County | 2.001% | $195,400 | $3,910 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Montgomery County | 1.7286% | $180,900 | $3,127 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lucas County | 1.6919% | $163,900 | $2,773 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lake County | 1.6231% | $214,100 | $3,475 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Greene County | 1.6142% | $252,200 | $4,071 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Delaware County | 1.6009% | $445,500 | $7,132 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Summit County | 1.5309% | $208,700 | $3,195 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Hamilton County | 1.5097% | $241,900 | $3,652 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Franklin County | 1.4716% | $288,400 | $4,244 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Geauga County | 1.3784% | $331,100 | $4,564 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lorain County | 1.3687% | $223,200 | $3,055 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wood County | 1.344% | $227,600 | $3,059 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Trumbull County | 1.3089% | $141,800 | $1,856 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Mahoning County | 1.3025% | $154,700 | $2,015 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Stark County | 1.2886% | $186,400 | $2,402 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Fulton County | 1.2796% | $191,000 | $2,444 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Portage County | 1.2674% | $227,000 | $2,877 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Clermont County | 1.2521% | $266,200 | $3,333 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Richland County | 1.2506% | $164,800 | $2,061 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Medina County | 1.2404% | $287,000 | $3,560 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Licking County | 1.2224% | $275,200 | $3,364 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Erie County | 1.2158% | $199,700 | $2,428 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Butler County | 1.2151% | $258,500 | $3,141 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Ashtabula County | 1.2088% | $159,500 | $1,928 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Warren County | 1.2018% | $349,400 | $4,199 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Clark County | 1.1883% | $169,900 | $2,019 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Crawford County | 1.1865% | $136,700 | $1,622 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wayne County | 1.1715% | $222,100 | $2,602 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Athens County | 1.1714% | $185,000 | $2,167 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Henry County | 1.1684% | $168,600 | $1,970 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Union County | 1.1444% | $344,900 | $3,947 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Allen County | 1.1174% | $165,300 | $1,847 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Mercer County | 1.104% | $210,600 | $2,325 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Fairfield County | 1.1007% | $298,800 | $3,289 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Ottawa County | 1.0814% | $219,900 | $2,378 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Holmes County | 1.0788% | $267,700 | $2,888 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Defiance County | 1.0723% | $163,200 | $1,750 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Knox County | 1.071% | $239,400 | $2,564 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Morrow County | 1.0612% | $222,300 | $2,359 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Tuscarawas County | 1.0583% | $185,400 | $1,962 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Scioto County | 1.058% | $137,900 | $1,459 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Huron County | 1.0548% | $166,000 | $1,751 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Harrison County | 1.0527% | $121,500 | $1,279 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Hardin County | 1.0516% | $151,200 | $1,590 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Williams County | 1.0513% | $150,000 | $1,577 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Preble County | 1.0409% | $180,900 | $1,883 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Meigs County | 1.0377% | $119,300 | $1,238 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Seneca County | 1.0336% | $154,700 | $1,599 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Sandusky County | 1.0324% | $160,700 | $1,659 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Paulding County | 1.0298% | $140,800 | $1,450 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Champaign County | 1.0216% | $204,000 | $2,084 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Madison County | 1.016% | $250,100 | $2,541 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Guernsey County | 1.0101% | $157,700 | $1,593 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Columbiana County | 1.0073% | $151,600 | $1,527 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Logan County | 1.0049% | $203,200 | $2,042 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Hancock County | 0.9995% | $204,700 | $2,046 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pickaway County | 0.9992% | $256,800 | $2,566 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Ross County | 0.9959% | $171,500 | $1,708 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Ashland County | 0.9946% | $186,800 | $1,858 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Hocking County | 0.9936% | $186,400 | $1,852 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Miami County | 0.9838% | $229,100 | $2,254 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jefferson County | 0.9836% | $127,800 | $1,257 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Vinton County | 0.9793% | $150,000 | $1,469 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Putnam County | 0.9662% | $201,100 | $1,943 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Auglaize County | 0.9631% | $189,800 | $1,828 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Shelby County | 0.9519% | $208,100 | $1,981 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Marion County | 0.9496% | $156,800 | $1,489 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Perry County | 0.9487% | $191,100 | $1,813 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Belmont County | 0.9484% | $154,900 | $1,469 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Coshocton County | 0.9473% | $155,500 | $1,473 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Carroll County | 0.9421% | $183,100 | $1,725 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Fayette County | 0.9379% | $170,700 | $1,601 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Washington County | 0.9332% | $185,600 | $1,732 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Clinton County | 0.9259% | $211,900 | $1,962 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Darke County | 0.9145% | $173,200 | $1,584 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Van Wert County | 0.9125% | $152,000 | $1,387 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Gallia County | 0.9113% | $155,600 | $1,418 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Highland County | 0.9076% | $168,900 | $1,533 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Muskingum County | 0.905% | $182,200 | $1,649 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jackson County | 0.9044% | $150,700 | $1,363 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wyandot County | 0.8629% | $163,400 | $1,410 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lawrence County | 0.8438% | $144,000 | $1,215 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Morgan County | 0.8403% | $150,900 | $1,268 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pike County | 0.8272% | $163,800 | $1,355 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Adams County | 0.8258% | $164,200 | $1,356 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Monroe County | 0.8241% | $142,700 | $1,176 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Brown County | 0.8155% | $196,200 | $1,600 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Noble County | 0.7213% | $163,600 | $1,180 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
Worked example: the median Ohio home
The median owner-occupied home in Ohio is valued at $214,800 (ACS 5-year 2020-2024). Put $42,960 down, enough to keep the loan at 80% of the price so no PMI is charged, and borrow the rest over 30 years at 7.4%, the Freddie Mac average for the week of October 15, 2026. Insurance is the calculator's default of $1,500 a year, the same figure on every state page and 8.1% of this payment; real premiums vary widely from state to state and with a home's exposure to wind, flood and wildfire, so replace it with a premium for the Ohio home you are pricing.
| Line | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Principal and interest | $1,189.79 | $14,277.48 |
| Property tax | $235.17 | $2,822.04 |
| Homeowners insurance | $125.00 | $1,500.00 |
| Private mortgage insurance | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total payment | $1,549.96 | $18,599.52 |
Principal and interest dominate the bill; tax and insurance, usually collected through escrow, add $360.17 a month, 23.2% of the total. Over the full term the $171,840 loan costs $256,479 in interest.
With $21,480 down instead, the loan grows to $193,320 and PMI of $80.55 a month is added, for a first payment of $1,779.23. On the regular schedule the PMI stops after 10 years, with the payment in October 2036. A 15-year loan at the 6.71% average, with the larger down payment, raises the monthly figure to $1,876.99 but cuts the interest to $101,188.
What the median Ohio wage can buy
The median annual wage in Ohio is $49,380 (BLS wage survey, May 2025). Paid every two weeks as a single filer, that leaves about $3,395 a month after federal and Ohio paycheck deductions. With $60,000 saved for a down payment and $400 a month of other debts, the home affordability calculator's default 28/36 rule gives this range at 7.4% and the Ohio property tax rate:
| Level | Home price | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | $92,189 | $449 |
| Target | $171,080 | $1,081 |
| Stretch | $207,003 | $1,369 |
Here the limit is total debt: the housing payment plus the other $400 a month reaches 36% of gross pay first. The target falls $43,720 short of the $214,800 median home value: the median home costs 4.3 times the median wage, so a typical Ohio purchase usually needs a second income, a larger down payment or a cheaper area.
Everyday costs help: Ohio's prices for goods and rent run 7.2% below the national average, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price parities for 2024 (figures to December 31, 2024). That stretches the median wage to about $53,226 in national dollars.
Ohio mortgage questions
What is the mortgage payment on the median home in Ohio?
The median Ohio home is valued at $214,800 in the Census Bureau's ACS 5-year 2020-2024 figures. With $42,960 down and a 30-year loan at the 7.4% weekly average, the payment is $1,549.96 a month: $1,189.79 of principal and interest, $235.17 of property tax and $125.00 of insurance.
What is the property tax rate in Ohio?
Homeowners in Ohio pay a median of $2,822 a year on a median home value of $214,800, an effective rate of 1.3138%. That is the 11th highest of the 50 states and DC. It is a measure of what owners actually pay, not a rate set in law, and a new purchase can be taxed differently.
Which Ohio county has the highest property tax rate?
Among counties with reliable survey figures, Cuyahoga County has the highest effective rate at 2.001% and Noble County the lowest at 0.7213%. On the $214,800 median home, that gap is about $2,749 a year.
How much house can I afford on the median Ohio wage?
On the median wage of $49,380, take-home pay is about $3,395 a month. With $60,000 down and $400 a month of other debts, the 28/36 rule points to a home of about $171,080, against a median home value of $214,800.
Does a smaller down payment change the Ohio payment much?
With $21,480 down on the same home the loan is larger and private mortgage insurance is added, so the payment starts at $1,779.23 a month, $80.55 of it PMI. The PMI stops once the scheduled balance reaches 78% of the original value.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS 5-year 2020-2024), tables B25103 and B25077
- Freddie Mac, 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States [MORTGAGE30US], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, removing PMI
Mortgage rates: Freddie Mac weekly averages as of . Property tax rates: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2020-2024 as of . Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 as of . How we calculate.