What is the property tax rate in Dauphin County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania is approximately 1.74%.

Dauphin County Property Tax Calculator (2026) — Pennsylvania Property Tax Almanac

Property Tax in Dauphin County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Harrisburg-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Dauphin County — including Pennsylvania's millage-per-$1,000-AV system, the Common Level Ratio that bridges stale assessments to market value, the per-school-district Homestead Exclusion (Act 1), and the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program for income-qualified seniors.

Dauphin County, home to Harrisburg and 290k Pennsylvanians, operates within PA's complex multi-layered property tax system. Each county sets its own predetermined assessment ratio, the State Tax Equalization Board issues an annual Common Level Ratio (CLR) to bridge stale assessments to market value, and total tax combines three independent authorities: county + municipality + school district. School district millage typically dominates the bill — often 70%+ of the total.

How the bill is built

Pennsylvania's calculation has three steps. Step 1: Assessed Value. Each county uses its own ratio — some assess at 100% of current market value (Lancaster, Allegheny since 2012), others at lower stated ratios (Bucks at ~3% effective ratio, Philadelphia at 100%). Step 2: Common Level Ratio (CLR). The State Tax Equalization Board calculates an annual CLR to bridge stated AV to current market value. This matters most for stale-assessment counties (Bucks, Chester, Allegheny, Lehigh) where the CLR can be the basis for tax appeal valuation. Step 3: Tax. Multiply AV by the combined millage (county + municipality + school district) and divide by 1,000. For Harrisburg, total millage is approximately 45.56 mills.

School district millage is the largest portion of the bill. Pennsylvania has 501 independent school districts, each setting their own millage and Homestead Exclusion. Within Dauphin County, school district choice can change a homeowner's annual tax bill by $1,500-$5,000+ on similar-priced homes — making "what school district is this in?" the single most important question for PA relocation buyers.

Homestead Exclusion (Act 1, 2006) is state-funded. Each school district allocates its slot of the state Property Tax Reduction Allocation to homestead-qualified properties — typical reduction is $300-$700 per year. Apply once with the Dauphin County Tax Assessment Office (Form available March 1; deadline March 1 of the following year for that year's bill).

Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) for seniors and disabled. PA's PTRR program provides up to $1,000 base rebate for income-qualified homeowners 65+ or disabled (income limit raised to $46,520 in 2024). Residents of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Scranton receive supplemental rebates of $500-$1,500. PA also exempts retirement income (including Social Security) from state income tax, which substantially boosts the effective retiree benefit. File Form PA-1000 with PA Department of Revenue.

2026 Dauphin County rate breakdown (mills per $1,000 of assessed value × Common Level Ratio, Harrisburg district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Dauphin County General	6.8760
Harrisburg School District	28.7000
City of Harrisburg	9.6300
Dauphin Library System	0.3500
Combined total	45.5560

As of April 29, 2026 · From Dauphin County Tax Assessment Office.

Note: Dauphin County is home to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's state capital, and Hershey, the town built around the Hershey Chocolate Company. Major employers include the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (~17,000 state workers in Harrisburg), Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (~13,000 employees), Hershey Foods Corporation (~6,000 in Dauphin County), and substantial state-government-adjacent legal, lobbying, and consulting firms. Three Mile Island (the 1979 partial nuclear meltdown site) is partially in Dauphin County.

Note: Dauphin's combined millage rate runs ~45 mills in Harrisburg proper — producing typical effective rates around 1.74% on full market value, above the Pennsylvania median (~1.40%). Pennsylvania uses 100% AR with periodic Common Level Ratio (CLR) adjustments per county; Dauphin's CLR is currently around 70%, meaning assessed values are ~70% of market value. The substantial tax-exempt state government property and Penn State Hershey medical campus shifts more of the tax burden to residential homeowners.

Note: Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (income-tested for 65+, widows/widowers 50+, and disabled — recently expanded by Act 7 of 2023 to households up to $45,000 income) provides up to $1,000 in rebates. Dauphin's substantial state-employee retiree population uses the rebate program widely. The Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (Act 50 of 1998) provides additional Harrisburg-area homestead reductions. Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% income tax, plus many localities add 1-3% earned income tax.

Homestead, exemptions, and senior programs for 2026

Pennsylvania's homeowner tax relief works through three primary mechanisms: (1) the per-school-district Homestead Exclusion, (2) the income-tested Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) for seniors and disabled, and (3) the Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption for 100% service-connected disabled veterans.

Homestead Exclusion (Act 1, 2006)

Pennsylvania's Homestead Exclusion is funded by the state's gaming revenue and allocated to school districts via the Property Tax Reduction Allocation. Each school district then applies the allocation as a reduction in assessed value for owner-occupied homes. Typical reductions in Dauphin County range from $300-$700 per year. Apply once with the Dauphin County Tax Assessment Office; the application form becomes available March 1 of each year, with a March 1 deadline of the following year for that year's bill. Once granted, the exclusion auto-renews.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR)

Pennsylvania's PTRR is one of the more generous senior property tax programs in the country. Eligible homeowners (65+ or disabled with income under $46,520) receive a base rebate of up to $1,000. Residents of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton receive an additional $500-$1,500 supplemental rebate. The program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery and is filed annually with the PA Department of Revenue (Form PA-1000). The June 30 application deadline applies to the following year's rebate.

Pennsylvania also exempts retirement income (including Social Security) from state income tax — boosting the effective retiree benefit substantially. Combined with PTRR, PA retirees can have very low total state-tax burden despite the moderate-to-high property tax rates.

Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption

Pennsylvania veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating qualify for full property tax exemption — but the exemption is income-tested. Income limit is approximately $108,046 in 2025 (annual cost-of-living adjustment). File Form MV-77L with the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The State Veterans Commission reviews each application; approval can take several months. Surviving spouses retain the exemption under specific conditions.

Appealing your assessment

Pennsylvania's appeal deadline is typically August 1 in most counties for the following tax year (varies — check with the Dauphin County Tax Assessment Office). The county Board of Assessment Appeals reviews based on comparable sales evidence, with the Common Level Ratio applied to convert market value comparisons to assessed value comparisons. PA's stale-assessment counties (Bucks last reassessed 1972, Chester 1996, Allegheny 2012) have particularly favorable appeal dynamics — recent buyers can often reduce their assessment substantially by demonstrating their purchase price is below the indicated assessed value × CLR.

Cities and towns in Dauphin County

Dauphin County contains 6 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Harrisburg to the smallest village. Search volume for property tax is often city-specific, so here is the complete list — with population from the 2020 US Census, rounded to the nearest 100.

Data: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Populations rounded. Cities marked as "split" straddle a county border — the portion inside Dauphin County is subject to Dauphin County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Harrisburg County seat	city	50,000
Hershey	Census-designated place	14,600
Middletown	borough	9,200
Steelton	borough	6,100
Hummelstown	borough	4,500
Paxtang	borough	1,500

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Harrisburg tax district. Other cities in Dauphin County may pay into different school districts, city rates, and special districts — so their combined rates can differ, sometimes substantially. Always verify the specific rates for your address with the Dauphin County Tax Assessment Office before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Dauphin County property taxes due?

Pennsylvania has different bill cycles for the three taxing authorities. County and municipal taxes are billed in spring (typically March-April due) with discount available if paid early. School district taxes are billed in summer (typically July-September due). Each authority has its own discount/face/penalty schedule — typically a 2% discount for early payment, then face value, then 10% penalty for late payment.

Why is the school district millage so much higher than the county millage?

Pennsylvania has 501 independent school districts that fund roughly 50-60% of school operating costs through property tax (the remainder comes from state aid and federal funds). Combined with very modest county-level millage (typically 4-8 mills), the school portion ends up dominating the total bill. Within Dauphin County, school district choice can change a homeowner's annual tax bill by $1,500-$5,000+ on similar-priced homes.

What is the Common Level Ratio (CLR)?

PA's CLR is an annual State Tax Equalization Board calculation that bridges stated assessed values to current market value. In stale-assessment counties (Bucks last reassessed 1972, Chester 1996, Allegheny 2012, Lehigh 1991), the CLR adjusts upward to compensate for the gap. The CLR matters most for tax appeals — your assessment can be challenged if it produces an effective rate higher than the county's CLR-adjusted level.

How do I qualify for PTRR (Property Tax/Rent Rebate)?

You must be 65+ or disabled, with household income under approximately $46,520 (2024). Residents of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Scranton qualify for additional supplemental rebates. File Form PA-1000 with the PA Department of Revenue by June 30 for the following year's rebate. Pennsylvania also exempts retirement income from state income tax — making PA one of the more retiree-friendly states overall.

About Dauphin County

Beyond the property tax — a few things you might not know about the place.

Weird fact

Hershey, Pennsylvania (in Dauphin County) was deliberately designed in 1903 by Milton Hershey as a model company town, with streets named Chocolate Avenue and Cocoa Avenue. The streetlights along Chocolate Avenue are shaped like Hershey's Kisses (alternating wrapped and unwrapped designs). The town now hosts Hersheypark amusement park, Hershey's Chocolate World, and the Hotel Hershey — together drawing ~3 million visitors annually.

Hometown hero

Milton S. Hershey

Founder of The Hershey Chocolate Company in 1894 and the planned company town of Hershey, PA in 1903. Born in Derry Township (Dauphin County) in 1857. Famously childless, he founded the Milton Hershey School (1909) — a residential school for orphans — and endowed it with the entirety of his estate. The school still owns a controlling stake in Hershey Foods today; the Hershey Trust's assets exceed $17 billion.

Biggest annual event

Pennsylvania Farm Show

Annual January show at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg — the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the United States. Running since 1917, draws ~500,000 attendees over 8 days. Features the celebrated PA Preferred Butter Sculpture (a 1,000-pound butter sculpture unveiled each year), grand-champion livestock auctions, and the Pennsylvania State Fair Queen pageant.

Property Tax in Dauphin County, 2026