North Dakota Property Taxes
In North Dakota, taxes on real estate help pay for local services including schools, parks and roads. They are a primary source of revenue for both city and county governments.
Property tax rates in North Dakota vary depending on where you live, but the average effective rate across the state is 0.9
If you’re thinking about becoming a homeowner in the Peace Garden State, take a look at our North Dakota mortgage guide. It explains the important information you’ll need before you start the process of getting a mortgage. The guide will also help if you are looking to refinance a property in North Dakota.
A financial advisor can help you understand how homeownership fits into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
What to Know About North Dakota Property Taxes
Property taxes in North Dakota are due on Jan. 1 of each year but are not considered late until March 1. Taxes paid by Feb. 15 receive a 5% discount on the total amount.
The property tax in North Dakota is an “ad valorem” tax, which means it is based on the value of the property to which it applies. Local assessors determine the true and fair value of property in their jurisdictions annually, generally through use of a mass appraisal, which relies on sales data and other factors.
The assessed value of all real property in North Dakota is equal to 50% of the market value. The taxable value is just a fraction of that - 9% for residential property. That means that for residential property, taxes are based on just 4.5% of the market value. So, for example, if your home is worth $200,000, your taxable value would be $9,000. Your total tax rate applies to that amount.
North Dakota Property Tax Rates
Homeowners in North Dakota face a single tax rate, which is the total of the rates levied by all the tax authorities in their area. This rate is expressed in mills. A mill is equal to 1/10th of a percent, or $1 of tax per $1,000 in taxable value.
Another way of calculating tax rates is as effective rates. An effective rate is the percentage of a home’s value paid annually in taxes, so if your home is worth $100,000 and you pay $2,000 annually in taxes, your effective rate is 2%.
The table below shows the average effective property tax rate for every North Dakota county, as well as their median home values and median annual property taxes paid.
| County | Median Home Value | Median Annual Property Tax Payment | Average Effective Property Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | $95,600 | $969 | 1.01% |
| Barnes County | $138,300 | $1,418 | 1.03% |
| Benson County | $79,800 | $740 | 0.93% |
| Billings County | $232,400 | $1,199 | 0.52% |
| Bottineau County | $157,300 | $1,132 | 0.72% |
| Bowman County | $154,300 | $1,227 | 0.80% |
| Burke County | $114,100 | $799 | 0.70% |
| Burleigh County | $266,800 | $2,400 | 0.90% |
| Cass County | $234,100 | $3,117 | 1.33% |
| Cavalier County | $108,600 | $1,163 | 1.07% |
| Dickey County | $129,600 | $1,401 | 1.08% |
| Divide County | $124,900 | $955 | 0.76% |
| Dunn County | $213,600 | $1,143 | 0.54% |
| Eddy County | $92,300 | $818 | 0.89% |
| Emmons County | $94,500 | $915 | 0.97% |
| Foster County | $151,200 | $1,563 | 1.03% |
| Golden Valley County | $113,700 | $924 | 0.81% |
| Grand Forks County | $208,200 | $2,559 | 1.23% |
| Grant County | $75,600 | $814 | 1.08% |
| Griggs County | $100,900 | $1,223 | 1.21% |
| Hettinger County | $109,500 | $1,133 | 1.03% |
| Kidder County | $101,600 | $658 | 0.65% |
| LaMoure County | $99,900 | $1,051 | 1.05% |
| Logan County | $84,500 | $790 | 0.93% |
| McHenry County | $119,500 | $854 | 0.71% |
| McIntosh County | $75,700 | $666 | 0.88% |
| McKenzie County | $283,400 | $1,352 | 0.48% |
| McLean County | $184,800 | $1,405 | 0.76% |
| Mercer County | $181,100 | $1,662 | 0.92% |
| Morton County | $220,900 | $2,198 | 1.00% |
| Mountrail County | $171,500 | $1,138 | 0.66% |
| Nelson County | $96,100 | $663 | 0.69% |
| Oliver County | $202,400 | $1,020 | 0.50% |
| Pembina County | $92,000 | $1,061 | 1.15% |
| Pierce County | $132,300 | $1,471 | 1.11% |
| Ramsey County | $154,800 | $1,453 | 0.94% |
| Ransom County | $139,200 | $1,589 | 1.14% |
| Renville County | $127,900 | $1,106 | 0.86% |
| Richland County | $132,800 | $1,682 | 1.27% |
| Rolette County | $85,600 | $823 | 0.96% |
| Sargent County | $110,900 | $1,391 | 1.25% |
| Sheridan County | $95,800 | $631 | 0.66% |
| Sioux County | $83,300 | $259 | 0.31% |
| Slope County | $91,000 | $360 | 0.40% |
| Stark County | $240,800 | $1,921 | 0.80% |
| Steele County | $87,000 | $983 | 1.13% |
| Stutsman County | $158,900 | $1,782 | 1.12% |
| Towner County | $93,500 | $790 | 0.84% |
| Traill County | $152,200 | $1,478 | 0.97% |
| Walsh County | $94,100 | $1,016 | 1.08% |
| Ward County | $217,700 | $2,455 | 1.13% |
| Wells County | $89,600 | $1,142 | 1.27% |
| Williams County | $254,800 | $1,788 | 0.70% |
You can also calculate your potential monthly mortgage payment with our mortgage calculator.
Cass County
Located in eastern North Dakota along the state border with Minnesota, Cass County has the highest average property tax rate in the state. Cass County’s average effective property tax rate is 1.33%. In the city of Fargo, the current mill levy is 292.44 for homes within the Fargo School District. That rate applies to a home’s taxable value, which is equal to 4.5% of market value.
Burleigh County
Burleigh County is situated along the Missouri River, in central North Dakota. It has property tax rates near the state average at 0.90%. The largest city in Burleigh County is Bismarck, the state capital. In 2019, the total property tax rate for Bismarck homeowners was 236.59 mills. About 107.19 mills of that total was dedicated to local school districts.
Grand Forks County
The third largest county by population in North Dakota, Grand Forks County also has among the highest property taxes. The median annual property tax paid by homeowners in Grand Forks County is $2,559. That is the second-highest payment amount in the state.
Ward County
The average effective property tax rate of 1.13% in Ward County ranks is the 20th-highest in the state. At that rate, the annual taxes on a home with a market value of $217,700 would be $2,455. The county’s largest city is Minot, where the 2019 mill rate was 337.70 mills.
Morton County
Located across the Missouri River from Burleigh County, Morton County has property tax rates above the state average. The county’s average effective property tax rate is 1.00%, which ranks as the 12th-highest in the state.
That is also slightly higher than the rate in neighboring Burleigh County, where a typical homeowner pays 0.90% of home value in property taxes each year.
Stark County
Stark County is located in western North Dakota, at the edge of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The median annual property tax payment in the county is $1,921.
The county’s average mill rate in 2020 was 256.24 mills. That is an average across all tax districts, so rates will vary depending on where you live. In Dickinson, the county seat of Stark County, the mill rate was 257.63.
Williams County
Compared to North Dakota’s other highly populated counties, Williams County has relatively low property tax rates. The county’s average effective property tax rate is 0.70%. A person whose home is worth $254,800 (the county median) would pay $1,788 a year in property taxes at that rate.
Stutsman County
This central North Dakota county has property tax rates above both state and national averages. The county’s average effective property tax rate is 1.12%.
