District Of Columbia vs Ohio

Property‑tax comparison: District of Columbia vs. Ohio

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (5‑year estimates), the District of Columbia and Ohio differ markedly in effective property‑tax rates, median home values, and the resulting tax bills. The table below summarizes the key metrics used in the comparison.

Side‑by‑side metrics

Metric	District of Columbia	Ohio
Effective property‑tax rate	0.58 %	1.36 %
Median home value	$724,600	$199,200
Median annual property tax	$4,180	$2,712
Property tax on a $250,000 home	$1,442	$3,404
Property tax on a $500,000 home	$2,885	$6,807
Median household income	$106,287	$69,680

Sources: District of Columbia property tax and Ohio property tax.

Which jurisdiction has the lower tax burden?

Winner (lower effective tax rate): District of Columbia
Rate difference: 0.78 percentage points (the District’s rate is about 57.6 % lower than Ohio’s).
Annual tax difference on a $250,000 home: $1,962 in favor of the District of Columbia.
Annual tax difference on a $500,000 home: $3,922 in favor of the District of Columbia.

The lower effective property‑tax rate in the District of Columbia translates into smaller tax bills for comparable home values, even though the median home price is substantially higher than in Ohio.

Who is likely to benefit from this comparison?

Audience	Relevance of the comparison
Current or prospective homeowners	The effective tax rate determines the yearly cost of owning a home. Buyers of lower‑priced homes (e.g., $250 k) will see a larger relative tax advantage in the District of Columbia, while owners of higher‑priced homes still pay less in dollars per dollar of assessed value.
Retirees and fixed‑income households	Lower tax rates can reduce the cash‑flow burden of property taxes. However, retirees must also consider the higher median home values in the District, which can increase the total amount of tax owed despite the lower rate.
Real‑estate investors	Investors comparing cash‑on‑cash returns should factor in the effective tax rate; the District of Columbia’s lower rate improves net operating income for comparable properties.
Policy analysts and planners	The data illustrate how jurisdictional tax policy (rate setting) interacts with home‑price levels to produce different overall tax burdens.

Summary

Based on the most recent ACS estimates, the District of Columbia imposes a significantly lower effective property‑tax rate (0.58 %) than Ohio (1.36 %). This results in lower tax bills for identical home values, producing a dollar advantage of $1,962 on a $250,000 home and $3,922 on a $500,000 home. The comparison is most pertinent for homeowners, retirees, and investors who evaluate the ongoing cost of property ownership across jurisdictions.

District Of Columbia vs Ohio