District Of Columbia vs West Virginia

Property‑Tax Comparison: District of Columbia vs. West Virginia

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (5‑year estimates), the effective property‑tax rates, median home values, and related figures differ markedly between the District of Columbia and West Virginia. The data below summarizes the key metrics that affect homeowners and other property owners in each jurisdiction.

Metric	District of Columbia	West Virginia
Effective property‑tax rate	0.58 %	0.54 %
Median home value	$724,600	$155,600
Median annual property tax	$4,180	$835
Property tax on a $250,000 home	$1,442	$1,341
Property tax on a $500,000 home	$2,885	$2,683
Median household income	$106,287	$57,917

Sources: District of Columbia property tax, West Virginia property tax.

Which jurisdiction has the lower tax burden?

Winner (lower effective tax rate): West Virginia
Tax‑rate difference: 0.04 percentage points (approximately a 6.99 % lower rate).
Annual tax difference on a $250,000 home: $101 less in West Virginia.
Annual tax difference on a $500,000 home: $202 less in West Virginia.

Why West Virginia wins:
The effective property‑tax rate of 0.54 % in West Virginia is slightly below the District of Columbia’s 0.58 %. Because the rate is applied to the assessed value of the property, the lower rate translates into modestly lower annual taxes for comparable‑value homes, even though median home values differ dramatically between the two areas.

Who is likely to benefit from this comparison?

Audience	Relevance of the comparison
Current or prospective homeowners	The lower effective rate in West Virginia means a smaller proportion of a home’s value is paid annually as tax, which can affect affordability calculations, especially for buyers of mid‑range homes.
Retirees and fixed‑income households	Lower property taxes can reduce the overall cost of living; however, retirees must also consider median home values and local income levels. West Virginia’s median household income is less than half that of D.C., which may offset some tax savings.
Real‑estate investors	Investors evaluating cash‑flow projections can use the effective tax rate to estimate operating expenses. West Virginia’s lower rate reduces the tax component of those expenses.
Policy analysts and local‑government researchers	The side‑by‑side figures illustrate how tax policy interacts with home‑value markets and income levels across jurisdictions.

Key takeaways

Effective tax rate is the primary determinant of who “wins” in a pure tax‑rate comparison; West Virginia’s 0.54 % beats D.C.’s 0.58 %.
Absolute tax amounts vary widely because median home values differ; a typical D.C. home incurs a higher dollar‑amount tax despite the higher rate.
Household income context matters: West Virginia’s median income is roughly 45 % of D.C.’s, which influences the relative burden of any tax level.
Decision‑making for homebuyers, retirees, and investors should weigh both the tax rate and the broader cost‑of‑living environment.

Based on the most recent ACS estimates, the figures presented here reflect average conditions and may not capture local exemptions, assessment practices, or recent legislative changes.

District Of Columbia vs West Virginia