Hawaii Property Tax Rates
The quick answer
Hawaii’s average effective property tax rate is 0.29% of a home’s assessed value per year — below the national average of 0.99%. That ranks Hawaii 50th highest out of the 50 states (1st is the highest-taxed state).
Hawaii is among the dozen lowest property-tax states in the country, which makes owning real estate here comparatively cheap on this specific cost — though a low property tax rate doesn’t automatically mean low overall taxes; check Hawaii’s income and sales tax rates for the fuller picture.
What this means in dollars
On a $350,000 home — used here only as a fixed reference point so every state page is comparable on the same number — Hawaii’s average rate works out to roughly $1,015 a year in property tax, or about $85 a month if escrowed into a mortgage payment. Your actual bill depends on your specific county and municipality, which can differ substantially from the state average — see below.
Property tax varies a lot within Hawaii
The rate above is a statewide average, not a rate that applies uniformly everywhere in Hawaii. Property tax is levied almost entirely at the local level — by counties, cities, and school districts — so the actual rate in any specific place can run well above or below the state figure depending on local budgets and how the county assesses home values. Urban counties with above-average home prices often show higher median tax bills in dollar terms, even when their effective rate isn’t unusual.
How property tax is actually assessed
Local assessors estimate your property’s value on a regular cycle (often annually or every few years, depending on the jurisdiction), and your tax bill is that assessed value multiplied by the local mill rate (the tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value, set by your county, city, and school district budgets combined). Because assessments don’t always track real-time market value exactly, and because mill rates reset independently of home prices, your effective rate — taxes paid divided by actual market value — can drift from the official mill rate over time.
What is Hawaii's average property tax rate?
0.29% of a home’s assessed value per year, based on Tax Foundation analysis of Census Bureau data. That’s below the national average of 0.99%.
How much would I pay in property tax on a $350,000 home in Hawaii?
Roughly $1,015 a year at the state average rate. Use Hawaii’s actual county rate for a more precise figure, since local rates vary.
Is Hawaii a high or low property tax state?
Hawaii ranks 50th out of 50 states by effective property tax rate (1st is highest), putting it in the lower range nationally.
Why do property tax rates vary so much within Hawaii?
Because property tax is set locally, not statewide — each county, city, and school district sets its own mill rate based on its own budget needs, so the actual rate you pay depends on exactly where the property sits, not just which state it’s in.
Where can I find my exact property tax rate?
Your county assessor’s or tax collector’s office publishes the current local rate and can tell you your property’s assessed value. The Tax Foundation’s state-by-state data is a good starting benchmark, but your county office has the number that actually applies to you.
Property tax and your mortgage payment
If you’re financing a home, property tax is typically collected monthly by your lender and held in escrow until the annual bill is due — it’s one of the four components of a full PITI payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance). Use the Mortgage Payment tool to see how Hawaii’s property tax rate affects your full monthly payment on a specific home price.
This article is for educational purposes only and isn't legal, financial, or tax advice. See our Disclaimer for details.
