What is the property tax rate in York County?

The combined effective property tax rate in York County, Pennsylvania is approximately 1.55%.

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

Property Tax in York County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for York-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to York 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.

York County, home to York and 461k 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 York, total millage is approximately 28.80 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 York 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 York County 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 York County rate breakdown (mills per $1,000 of assessed value × Common Level Ratio, York district)

Taxing entity	Rate
York County (millage per $1,000)	5.8000
Municipality + School District (typical York City)	23.0000
Combined total	28.8000

As of April 26, 2026 · From York County Assessment Office.

Note: York County sits in southern Pennsylvania along the Maryland border — the southernmost PA county in the Susquehanna Valley. The county is anchored by York City (the seat) and Hanover (the second-largest community), with substantial agricultural areas (York County is the largest dairy-farming county in Pennsylvania) plus the suburban-corridor townships along I-83 connecting York to Harrisburg.

Note: York's effective rate of approximately 1.55% is moderately above the PA average — driven by relatively low median home values combined with substantial school district millage. York County reassessed in 2005 (most recent), with current Common Level Ratio approximately 80% — meaning stated assessments are roughly 80% of current market values.

Note: York is the historical seat of the Continental Congress during 1777-1778 (when British forces occupied Philadelphia). The Articles of Confederation were drafted and adopted in York in 1777, making York technically the United States' first national capital. The York County Heritage Trust preserves the original Continental Congress meeting site at the York County Courthouse.

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 York County range from $300-$700 per year. Apply once with the York County 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 York County 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 York County

York County contains 7 incorporated municipalities, ranging from York 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 York County is subject to York County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
York County seat	city	44,849
Dover	township	22,008
Manchester	township	19,092
Hanover	borough	16,001
Spring Garden	township	12,698
Red Lion	borough	6,282
West York	borough	4,756

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the York tax district. Other cities in York 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 York County Assessment Office before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are York 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 York 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 York County

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

Weird fact

York is officially nicknamed the "White Rose City" while neighboring Lancaster is the "Red Rose City" — a reference to the English War of the Roses (1455-1487) between the rival House of York (white rose) and House of Lancaster (red rose). The two PA cities (named for their British counterparts) maintain a friendly rivalry, including an annual "Battle of the Roses" baseball series between local minor league teams.

Hometown hero

Thaddeus Stevens

The radical Republican congressman (1792-1868) — leader of the House Republicans during the Civil War and Reconstruction, principal architect of the 14th Amendment — practiced law in York and Lancaster during the 1820s-1830s before moving to Lancaster permanently in 1842. Stevens is buried at Shreiner-Concord Cemetery in Lancaster (he chose it specifically because it was one of the few cemeteries that didn't segregate by race). Stevens is widely considered one of the most important antislavery legislators in American history.

Biggest annual event

York Fair

The York Fair (annual, mid-September at the York Expo Center) — established 1765 — claims the title of America's First Fair (predating both the founding of the United States and most other US fairs). Annual attendance exceeds 500,000 over the fair's 10-day run. The York Fair is one of the largest agricultural fairs in the eastern United States.

Property Tax in York County, 2026