Quick Answer
- Property tax rates across Pine and Palm's coverage area range from approximately $0.485 per $100 of assessed value in Brunswick County to $0.85-$0.95 in New Hanover County, nearly double, despite the two counties sitting directly adjacent to each other along the Cape Fear River.
- The rate itself is only part of the picture. A lower rate lowers carrying cost, but it does not by itself indicate a better market, and a higher rate often buys access to deeper infrastructure, employment, and healthcare that some buyers value enough to offset the difference.
Buyers comparing two or three coastal NC markets almost always ask about price per square foot and rental income potential. Fewer ask about the county tax rate, even though it is one of the few costs on this list that never goes away and compounds every single year of ownership. Across the ten counties covered on this site, the combined rate varies by nearly double, which on a $750,000 property is the difference between roughly $3,600 and $7,100 in annual tax alone.
What follows is the full county-by-county picture, ranked from lowest to highest, with the towns each county covers and what the rate actually buys in return.
Approximate Combined Tax Rate by County, Low to High (per $100 assessed value)
Source: Town and county-level tax rate disclosures across Pine & Palm's town briefings, 2026. Rates shown are approximate combined county-plus-municipal midpoints and vary by specific jurisdiction, special districts, and fire district. Verify current rates with the county tax office before making a purchase decision.
Every County at a Glance (2026)
| County | Approx. Rate | Towns Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Brunswick | ~$0.485/$100 | Southport, Oak Island, Leland |
| Dare | ~$0.51/$100 | Duck, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Hatteras Village, Wanchese, Manteo |
| Currituck | ~$0.50-$0.56/$100 | Corolla |
| Onslow | ~$0.50-$0.73/$100 | Holly Ridge, North Topsail Beach, Swansboro, Jacksonville |
| Pender | ~$0.55-$0.62/$100 | Hampstead, Topsail Beach |
| Craven | ~$0.55-$1.08/$100 | Havelock, New Bern (city rate substantially higher than county base) |
| Carteret | ~$0.62-$0.70/$100 | Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle, Beaufort, Morehead City, Newport |
| Beaufort County | ~$0.65-$0.70/$100 | Washington, Chocowinity (not the Town of Beaufort, which is in Carteret County) |
| Hyde | ~$0.65-$0.72/$100 | Ocracoke |
| Wayne | ~$0.71-$0.77/$100 | Goldsboro |
| New Hanover | ~$0.85-$0.95/$100 | Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach |
Combined estimated rates as of 2026, reflecting county plus typical municipal levy where applicable. Individual towns, fire districts, and special assessment areas can shift the effective rate. Always verify current figures with the relevant county tax office before finalizing a purchase decision.
The Low End: Brunswick, Dare, and Currituck
Brunswick County, covering Southport, Oak Island, and Leland, holds the lowest combined rate on this list at approximately $0.485 per $100. Dare County, the backbone of the Outer Banks from Duck through Hatteras Island, plus Manteo and Wanchese on Roanoke Island, runs a close second at approximately $0.51. Currituck County, home to Corolla, lands in a similar range around $0.50 to $0.56. All three counties share a common trait: comparatively light municipal government layered over a base built primarily on tourism and residential service rather than the deeper city infrastructure that drives rates higher elsewhere on this list.
The Middle Tier: Onslow, Pender, Craven, and Carteret
Onslow County spans the widest range on this list, from roughly $0.50 in unincorporated areas near Holly Ridge and North Topsail Beach up to $0.73 inside Jacksonville's city limits, reflecting the difference between rural county land and incorporated municipal service. Pender County, covering Hampstead and Topsail Beach, sits in the $0.55 to $0.62 range. Craven County shows the starkest internal split on this entire list: a base county rate in the mid-$0.50s that jumps to roughly $0.97 to $1.08 once New Bern's city rate is added, while Havelock stays closer to the county baseline. Carteret County, covering Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle, Beaufort, Morehead City, and Newport, runs approximately $0.62 to $0.70.
Beaufort County and Hyde County: The Names That Confuse Buyers
Beaufort County, home to Washington and Chocowinity, runs approximately $0.65 to $0.70 per $100 and should not be confused with the historic Town of Beaufort on the Crystal Coast, which sits in Carteret County roughly an hour south. The two share a name and nothing else administratively. Hyde County, home to Ocracoke, runs a similar $0.65 to $0.72, a reasonable trade for the most remote, ferry-only market on this entire list.
The High End: Wayne and New Hanover
Wayne County, home to Goldsboro, runs approximately $0.71 to $0.77, still well below the top of this list despite Goldsboro's own positioning as a deep-value market. New Hanover County, home to Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, and Carolina Beach, tops this list at approximately $0.85 to $0.95, nearly double Brunswick County's rate despite sitting directly across the Cape Fear River from it. That gap is not an accident. Wilmington is a genuine city with city-scale services, public transit, and urban infrastructure that Southport and Oak Island simply do not carry.
A lower tax rate is a real, compounding advantage, but it is not the whole story. New Hanover County's higher rate buys access to Wilmington's airport, hospital system, and job market. Whether that trade is worth it depends entirely on what a specific buyer actually needs from the address, not just what the county charges for it.
What This Means for Your Search
Buyers comparing markets purely on purchase price are missing a real, permanent cost that compounds every year of ownership. A $750,000 property in Brunswick County carries roughly $3,638 in annual tax. The same price point in New Hanover County runs closer to $6,375 to $7,125, a difference that adds up to tens of thousands of dollars over a typical holding period. That gap should be part of the comparison from the start, not a surprise discovered after closing.
Comparing carrying costs across two or three markets? The inquiry process includes a direct, county-specific cost breakdown, not just a listing search.
Reach out directly: petertumbas@bhhsne.com or 412-225-0598.
Weighing tax rate against everything else a market offers? A private inquiry gets you a direct, market-specific read within two business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NC coastal county has the lowest property tax rate?
Brunswick County, home to Southport, Oak Island, and Leland, carries the lowest combined rate in this coverage area at approximately $0.485 per $100 of assessed value. Dare County, covering most of the Outer Banks from Duck through Hatteras Island, runs a close second at approximately $0.51 per $100.
Which NC coastal county has the highest property tax rate?
New Hanover County, home to Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, and Carolina Beach, runs the highest combined rate in this coverage area at approximately $0.85 to $0.95 per $100 of assessed value, nearly double Brunswick County's rate despite sitting immediately adjacent to it.
Why is New Hanover County's tax rate so much higher than Brunswick or Dare?
New Hanover County funds a larger municipal government, a full public transit system, and urban infrastructure that rural and resort counties like Brunswick and Dare do not carry at the same scale. Wilmington is a genuine city with city-level services, while Southport, Oak Island, and most Dare County towns operate with lighter municipal footprints built primarily around tourism and residential service.
Does a lower tax rate mean a better deal overall?
Not necessarily. A lower tax rate lowers annual carrying cost, but it says nothing about appreciation, rental income potential, insurance cost, or resale liquidity. Brunswick County's low rate is a genuine advantage, but New Hanover County's higher rate buys access to Wilmington's deeper job market, healthcare infrastructure, and airport, which some buyers value enough to offset the tax difference.
Is the Town of Beaufort in Beaufort County?
No, and this is one of the more common points of confusion for buyers new to the region. The historic Town of Beaufort on the Crystal Coast sits in Carteret County. Beaufort County, home to Washington and Chocowinity, is a separate county roughly an hour to the north along the Pamlico River. The two share a name but are unrelated tax jurisdictions.
How much would property tax actually cost on a $750,000 home in each county?
Using each county's approximate combined rate on a $750,000 assessed value: Brunswick County runs about $3,638 per year, Dare County about $3,825, Carteret County about $4,650 to $5,250, and New Hanover County about $6,375 to $7,125. These are directional estimates; actual bills depend on the specific municipality, special districts, and current assessment.