Hawaii vs Utah
Property‑Tax Comparison: Hawaii vs. Utah
Short introduction
Both Hawaii and Utah levy property taxes on real‑estate owners, but the rates and resulting dollar amounts differ markedly. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey (5‑year estimates), Hawaii’s effective property‑tax rate is less than half of Utah’s, while the median home values and household incomes also vary between the two states. The following sections present a side‑by‑side look at the key metrics and explain which jurisdiction has the lower tax burden.
Side‑by‑side comparison
| Metric (2023 ACS 5‑year) | Hawaii | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Effective property‑tax rate | 0.27 % | 0.53 % |
| Median home value | $808,200 | $455,000 |
| Median annual property tax | $2,183 | $2,412 |
| Property tax on a $250,000 home | $675 | $1,325 |
| Property tax on a $500,000 home | $1,351 | $2,651 |
| Median household income | $98,317 | $91,750 |
| Internal link – Hawaii | /hawaii-property-tax | |
| Internal link – Utah | /utah-property-tax |
Which state “wins” on property tax?
- Winner (lower tax rate): Hawaii
- Rate difference: 0.26 percentage points, representing a 49.05 % lower effective tax rate than Utah.
- Dollar difference for a $250 k home: $650 less per year in Hawaii.
- Dollar difference for a $500 k home: $1,300 less per year in Hawaii.
Why Hawaii wins: The effective tax rate of 0.27 % is the primary driver of the lower dollar amounts, even though Hawaii’s median home value ($808,200) is considerably higher than Utah’s ($455,000). The lower rate more than offsets the higher home values, resulting in a lower median annual tax bill ($2,183 vs. $2,412).
Who is this comparison most relevant for?
| Audience | Relevance of the data |
|---|---|
| Current homeowners | Understanding the ongoing tax burden on existing properties in each state. |
| Prospective homebuyers | Estimating future annual property‑tax costs when evaluating affordability of homes priced around $250k or $500k. |
| Retirees and fixed‑income households | Comparing the relative tax load alongside median household incomes to gauge disposable income after taxes. |
| Real‑estate investors | Assessing how property‑tax rates affect cash‑flow projections for rental or investment properties. |
| Policy analysts | Using the effective tax‑rate metric to compare tax structures across states. |
All figures are presented exactly as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey (5‑year estimates). No opinion or marketing language has been applied; the analysis is limited to the data supplied.
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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.