District Of Columbia vs Hawaii
District of Columbia
Property‑Tax Comparison: District of Columbia vs. Hawaii
Both the District of Columbia (DC) and the state of Hawaii collect property taxes that are based on the assessed value of real‑estate. The two jurisdictions differ markedly in their effective tax rates, median home values, and the resulting annual tax bills for typical properties. The data below come from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (5‑year estimates).
Side‑by‑Side Metrics
| Metric | District of Columbia | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| Effective property‑tax rate | 0.58 % | 0.27 % |
| Median home value | $724,600 | $808,200 |
| Median annual property tax | $4,180 | $2,183 |
| Property tax on a $250,000 home | $1,442 | $675 |
| Property tax on a $500,000 home | $2,885 | $1,351 |
| Median household income | $106,287 | $98,317 |
| Relevant article links | District of Columbia property tax | Hawaii property tax |
Which jurisdiction has the lower tax burden?
- Winner (lower effective rate): Hawaii
- Tax‑rate difference: 0.31 percentage points, which represents a 53.2 % lower effective rate in Hawaii compared with DC.
- Annual tax difference for a $250 k home: $1,442 – $675 = $767 (Hawaii lower)
- Annual tax difference for a $500 k home: $2,885 – $1,351 = $1,534 (Hawaii lower)
Why Hawaii “wins”: The effective property‑tax rate in Hawaii (0.27 %) is less than half the rate in the District of Columbia (0.58 %). Because the rate is applied to the assessed value of the property, the lower rate translates directly into smaller annual tax bills across all price points, as shown in the examples for $250 k and $500 k homes.
Who is this comparison most relevant for?
| Audience | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Current or prospective homeowners | Understanding the relative tax burden helps in budgeting for home‑ownership costs in each market. |
| Retirees and fixed‑income households | Lower property taxes can reduce ongoing expenses, making Hawaii potentially more affordable from a tax standpoint despite higher median home values. |
| Real‑estate investors | The tax rate directly affects cash‑flow projections; a lower rate in Hawaii may improve net operating income for rental properties. |
| Policy analysts or researchers | The contrast illustrates how local tax policy can vary widely even among high‑cost housing markets. |
Summary
Based on the most recent ACS estimates, Hawaii’s effective property‑tax rate of 0.27 % is substantially lower than the District of Columbia’s 0.58 %. Consequently, property owners in Hawaii pay roughly $767 less per year on a $250 k home and $1,534 less per year on a $500 k home than comparable owners in DC. While Hawaii’s median home value is higher, the lower tax rate offsets a portion of the price difference, especially for households where property‑tax expenses represent a significant share of total housing costs.
All figures are drawn from U.S. Census Bureau data (2023 American Community Survey, 5‑year estimates).
Explore More Comparisons
Discover how property taxes compare across all states in our comprehensive comparison guide.
Data Source
All figures are drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (5‑year estimates). This comprehensive dataset provides reliable, standardized property tax information across all states.