Did property taxes increase from 2021-2024?
Executive summary
Property tax bills in the U.S. rose notably between 2021 and 2024, with multiple national data series and local reports showing increases: LendingTree estimated median property taxes rose 10.4% from 2021 to 2023 [1], CoreLogic and other analysts reported median tax bills up roughly 27% since 2019 through 2024 in some series [2] [3], and ATTOM/industry reporting showed total levies and average bills increased in 2023 and into 2024 [4] [5]. In short: available sources document widespread increases, though the magnitude varies by geography, dataset and time window [1] [4] [6].
1. Big-picture: yes, property tax burdens rose nationally
Multiple industry and media analyses show homeowners paid more in property taxes across recent years. LendingTree’s analysis put nationwide median property taxes up 10.4% between 2021 and 2023 [1]. ATTOM and Bloomberg data show total levies and average bills rose sharply in 2023 — ATTOM’s data underpins reporting that governments collected substantially more in 2023 and Bloomberg reported total levies rose the most in five years [4] [5]. These sources converge on a clear pattern: aggregate property tax collections and median bills rose in the 2021–2024 period, though exact numbers depend on the firm and the dates compared [1] [4] [5].
2. Differences by dataset and timeframe explain varying headlines
Not all studies measure the same thing. Some reports compare median bills (LendingTree’s 2021–2023 median change) while others report total levies collected (ATTOM/Bloomberg for 2023) or median payments across longer spans (CoreLogic/industry pieces noting large increases since 2019 into 2024) [1] [4] [2]. Local assessor dashboards focus on tax-year spikes in particular counties (Cook County’s data on 2021–2023 spikes) and can show much larger single-county jumps than national medians [7]. Different measurement windows, inclusion/exclusion of new construction, and whether tax-rate changes or assessed-value growth are emphasized produce different percentage figures [1] [7] [4].
3. Local extremes drove many of the largest increases
Several sources single out metros and counties with outsized jumps. Redfin and the New York Times highlighted metros where median taxes rose steeply from 2019 to 2024, with some metros seeing very large percentage gains [6]. Cook County’s assessor reported roughly 240,000 homeowners experienced single-year spikes of 25% or more between tax years 2021 and 2023, with a typical spike near $1,700 — illustrating how local reassessments can create sharp, concentrated bill increases even as national medians are smaller [7].
4. Why taxes rose: assessed values, levies and policy choices
Sources point to three main drivers: pandemic-era home-price gains pushed assessed values higher (affecting taxes when reassessments occur); local government levies rose in some places to pay for services; and state/local policy choices (caps, refunds, circuit breakers) altered outcomes. The Minneapolis Fed noted property taxes accounted for a rising share of housing budgets in 2021 (almost 17% for mortgage holders), tying property-tax burden to prices and affordability [8]. State-level actions — such as Colorado’s 2023 reimbursements and other states’ relief bills — show policymaking responding unevenly to the pressure [9] [6].
5. Policy responses and limits changed the story in places
Lawmakers introduced caps and relief programs in several states to blunt bill growth. Pew documented state bills that cap annual residential property tax increases (e.g., a 4% cap mentioned) and other reforms intended to ease homeowner pain; Colorado deployed $200 million to reimburse local governments after state-level exemption changes [9]. These interventions mean local outcomes differ: some homeowners faced big unrestricted increases while others benefitted from limits or refunds [9].
6. What the numbers don’t settle — and what reporters disagree about
Reports disagree on magnitude because of methodology. One widely cited headline — “tax bills climbed an average of 27% from 2019 to 2024” — comes from industry summaries that use different baselines and county coverage than mainstream median comparisons [3]. National medians and totals show increases but smaller percentages for some intervals (e.g., 10.4% from 2021–2023 per LendingTree; ATTOM and Bloomberg show strong 2023 increases in levies) [1] [4] [5]. Available sources do not mention a single uniform national percentage for 2021–2024 because measurement choices differ.
7. Bottom line for readers
Yes — available reporting documents rising property tax bills between 2021 and 2024, but the size of the rise depends on which data you use and where you live: national medians and total levies rose [1] [4], some markets and counties saw much larger spikes [6] [7], and policy interventions altered outcomes in particular states [9]. If you want a precise local answer, consult your county assessor or the analytical dataset covering your metro — national summaries mask large local variation [7] [6].