Property Tax in Knox County
via TaxByCounty
Knox taxes above national average
Knox County's 1.253% effective tax rate significantly exceeds the national median of 1.1%, placing it in the 65th percentile nationally. Residents pay $3,643 annually on a median home value of $290,800—slightly above the national median home value—making Knox one of America's higher-taxed counties. This coastal county charges premium rates for scenic coastal living.
Second-highest tax rate in Maine
Knox's 1.253% effective rate ranks second-highest among Maine's 16 counties, trailing only Androscoggin (1.256%). The median property tax of $3,643 exceeds Maine's state median of $2,598 by $1,045 annually, a 40% premium. Knox combines high tax rates with coastal appeal and above-average home values.
Highest taxes on Maine's midcoast
Knox's 1.253% rate substantially exceeds neighboring Lincoln (0.931%) and Hancock (0.878%), the state's most tax-friendly coastal counties. On a median $290,800 home, Knox residents pay roughly $1,040 more annually than Hancock residents on comparable properties. Knox's higher taxes reflect its exclusive island and peninsula communities.
Premium rates for premium coastal location
A median Knox home valued at $290,800 carries an estimated annual property tax of $3,643, among Maine's highest. Homeowners with mortgages pay approximately $3,599, while those without mortgages pay around $3,709 annually. Over 30 years, that totals roughly $109,000 in property taxes on a median-priced home.
High-value properties need assessment accuracy
With homes valued at $290,000-plus and tax rates above 1.25%, even modest assessment errors cost significant money annually. Knox homeowners should carefully review their assessments against recent comparable sales, especially after market activity. Successful appeals on coastal properties often recover hundreds in annual overages.