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Talk to a Specialist →The headline number
Baldwin County's median annual property tax payment is roughly $1,093 — about one-third of the U.S. median — and its effective rate sits around 0.32–0.36% of market value, among the lowest of any county in the country. For a retiree relocating from a high-property-tax state, this is often the single biggest recurring saving of the move.
How the math works
Alabama assesses owner-occupied homes (Class III) at just 10% of appraised value. Your local millage rate — set by the county and your city/school district, typically in the high-20s to low-30s of mills — is then applied to that assessed value, minus exemptions.
| Step | Example |
|---|---|
| Appraised (market) value | $350,000 |
| × 10% Class III assessment ratio | $35,000 assessed |
| × ~30 mills (0.030) | ~$1,050 |
| − homestead exemption(s) | lower |
Illustrative; exact millage varies by tax district. Use the Baldwin County Revenue Commission's official property tax calculator for your specific parcel.
- H-3 — full exemption. If you're 65+ with taxable income (federal) of $12,000 or less combined — or permanently and totally disabled at any age — your primary residence is exempt from all property taxes.
- H-4 — state portion only. If you're 65+ with income above $12,000 (most retirees), you're exempt from the state portion of property tax, but the county, city and school millage still applies.
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A note for buyers from elsewhere
Unlike states with acquisition-value caps, Alabama reappraises to market value, but with a 10% assessment ratio and low millage the result stays modest. The bigger swing in your total coastal cost won't be property tax at all — it will be insurance. See how the two compare in the total cost comparison, and read the wind & flood insurance guide.
Estimate your Baldwin County tax bill
Give us a price range and your age/exemption situation; we'll estimate the property tax with the right homestead exemption applied.
Get Free Estimate →Sources: Baldwin County Revenue Commission (10% Class III assessment, millage, H-2/H-3/H-4 homestead exemptions, filing requirement); SmartAsset (median bill ~$1,093, effective rate ~0.32%); Alabama Department of Revenue. Illustrative; verify your parcel with the county. Verified 2026.