Property tax, by county.

Why a benchmark instead of the mill rate

Assessors publish mill rates against an assessed value that is often a fraction of market value, so two counties with the same mill rate can bill very differently. The benchmark here is the median real-estate tax homeowners reported paying divided by the median home value in the same county — a ratio of two medians that tracks the share of a typical home's value going to property tax each year. The U.S. benchmark is 0.94% (median tax $3,119, median home value $332,700). How the bill is built

Payment deadlines and penalties vary by state and locality

Texas bills are due Jan 31, California's two installments are delinquent after Dec 10 and Apr 10, and in Illinois each county sets its own calendar. Due dates by state lists installments, delinquency dates and penalties with the statute behind each — then confirm this year's deadline with your local tax collector.