How New York property tax rates work: per $1,000, level of assessment and effective rate

Rates are per $1,000 of assessed value

Each taxing jurisdiction (county, town or city, school district, library, village) sets a rate per $1,000 of assessed value. Your bill is the assessed value times each rate, divided by 1,000, plus any special districts.

Towns assess at different levels

Many New York towns do not assess at full market value. The Town of Kirkland assesses homes at about 33.5% of market value on the 2026 roll, so a home worth $250,000 there is assessed at about $83,750.

That is why a high rate per $1,000 does not always mean high taxes: a town with a low level of assessment has a higher rate on a smaller number.

Compare towns by the effective rate

Multiply the combined rate by the level of assessment to get the tax as a share of market value. In the Town of Kirkland (Clinton schools), the combined 2026 rate is about $66.40 per $1,000 of assessed value, or about 2.22% of market value: $5,560 a year on a $250,000 home before special districts and exemptions.

Questions

What does tax rate per $1,000 mean?

It is the tax charged for each $1,000 of assessed value. A home assessed at $100,000 with a combined rate of $30 per $1,000 pays $3,000 a year before special districts and exemptions.

What is the effective property tax rate?

The yearly tax as a share of the home’s market value: the combined rate per $1,000 times the town’s level of assessment. It is the fair way to compare towns.