How much is property tax in Delaware?

Delaware has among the lowest property taxes in the country, with effective rates that vary by county but generally fall well under 1% of market value. Sussex County tends to be the lowest, New Castle County the highest of the three, with Kent County in between. Most of the bill is school-district tax rather than county tax.

Why did my Delaware assessment change recently?

A court-ordered statewide reassessment in 2024-2025 required all three Delaware counties to revalue properties at full current market value, replacing decades-old base years. Many assessed values rose sharply, but counties adjusted their mill rates to limit the overall revenue impact, so a higher assessment does not always mean a proportionally higher bill.

What is the Delaware senior school property tax credit?

Delaware residents age 65 and older can receive a credit of up to $500 against the school property tax portion of their bill on their primary residence. There are residency-length requirements to qualify. This tool subtracts up to $500 from the gross tax when you check the senior box.

What makes up a Delaware property tax bill?

A Delaware bill combines several levies: county tax, school-district tax (usually the largest piece), and smaller vocational-technical school and library levies. Because school taxes dominate, two homes of equal value in different school districts can have noticeably different bills even within the same county.

Is this estimate exact?

No. It uses a blended effective rate per county applied to market value, which is a close approximation. Your actual bill depends on your specific school district, municipal rates, the post-reassessment assessed value, and any exemptions you qualify for. Confirm with your county's billing office for the precise amount.

Delaware Property Tax Estimator

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The Delaware Property Tax Estimator gives a quick estimate of your annual property tax using Delaware’s notably low effective rates. Delaware consistently ranks among the lowest-property-tax states in the country, and most of a homeowner’s bill is school-district tax rather than county tax — which is why the tool works from a blended effective rate per county.

How it works

The estimate is straightforward:

gross tax = market value × effective rate
net tax   = gross tax − senior school credit (if eligible)

Each county carries a different blended effective rate (county + school + vocational + library), with Sussex typically lowest, New Castle highest, and Kent in between. Enter your home’s market value and the tool multiplies by the county rate. If you are 65 or older, checking the senior box subtracts up to $500 for the school property tax credit.

The 2024-2025 reassessment

For decades Delaware counties assessed property on very old base years, which made assessed values far below market value. A court-ordered statewide reassessment completed in 2024-2025 moved all three counties to full current market value. Counties lowered their mill rates at the same time to limit windfall revenue, so a much higher assessed value does not necessarily translate into a proportionally larger bill. This tool therefore works directly from market value with an effective rate, which sidesteps the assessment-ratio confusion.

Notes and example

A $350,000 home in New Castle County at a 0.74% blended effective rate yields about $2,590 per year — roughly $216 per month if escrowed. A 65-year-old owner could reduce that by up to $500 with the senior school credit. Treat the figure as an estimate; the exact bill depends on your school district, municipality, and current assessment.