Cowlitz County, WA property tax rate
Cowlitz County · Washington · #8 of 39 in the state
Median annual property tax $3,245 · median home value $397,500
$3,245 a year · $270 a month using the area benchmark. Enter a value such as 350,000 or 350,000.00.
A rough planning estimate, not a tax quote.
Below the U.S. benchmark 0.94% (0.87×), above the Washington benchmark 0.81%.
Ranked among 39 Washington counties with available benchmarks.
What this benchmark means
Median real estate taxes paid ÷ median owner-occupied home value, ACS 2020–2024 — a ratio of two medians, not a statutory rate, not the median of individual bills and not your property's rate. Exemptions people already claim are reflected in the survey; your bill depends on taxable value, local districts, exemptions and reassessment after a sale.
Census figures behind this page
| Median real estate taxes paid | $3,245 |
|---|---|
| With a mortgage / without | $3,358 / $3,005 |
| Median home value | $397,500 |
| Median household income | $76,531 · tax is 4.2% of it |
| Median gross rent | $1,206 / mo |
| Owner-occupied | 68% of 43,943 homes |
| Population | 112,360 |
When it's due in Washington
All states| First half | Due Apr 30 Late after May 1 under state law — the exact cutoff time, weekend/holiday carry-over and this year's date are on your bill. |
|---|---|
| Second half | Due Oct 31 Late after Nov 1 under state law — the exact cutoff time, weekend/holiday carry-over and this year's date are on your bill. |
| Late penalty | For residential property with four or fewer units, taxes levied in 2023 or later accrue 9% annual interest, calculated monthly, with no delinquency penalty. Other property accrues 12% annual interest plus a 3% penalty on June 1 and a further 8% on December 1 (RCW 84.56.020(5)). |
| Appeal window | July 1 or within 30 days (up to 60 days if county adopted) of assessment notice to County Board of Equalization (RCW 84.40.038) |
First half due April 30 (delinquent May 1); second half due October 31 (delinquent Nov 1). Taxes under $50 due in full April 30. Regular annual schedule; tax year: calendar 2026, bills mailed February. Source: RCW 84.56.020, rules checked 2026-09-19 (statute text re-read by Ori after ChatGPT review). Confirm the amount and deadline on your official tax bill.
Washington counties with a similar rate
All 39How this benchmark was computed
Median real estate taxes paid by owner-occupied households in Cowlitz County ($3,245) divided by the median value of those homes ($397,500), both from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. It is a ratio of two medians — a reasonable area benchmark, not the assessor's mill rate and not any one household's rate. Newly purchased homes are often reassessed to sale price, so a buyer's first bill can run above it. Data & method