Johnston County Property Tax Rates (2025–26)
Homeowners in Johnston County, North Carolina pay a median $1,840 in property tax each year, or 0.69% of a median home value of $267,600. That rate is about the same as the North Carolina median and 30% lower than the national median of 0.98%.
Updated October 2026 · 2025–26 rates from the NC Department of Revenue; medians from the Census Bureau's 2019-2023 American Community Survey
Look up, pay or appeal your Johnston County property tax
This site estimates taxes; your actual bill, payments and appeals are handled by these official county offices.
- County tax office — Look up and pay your bill, listings, values and appeals: johnstonnc.gov/tax
Source: NC Department of Revenue: county property tax offices (county links verified on official county government websites).
Johnston County property tax calculator
Key property tax dates in Johnston County
- January 1Property is listed and valued as of this date.
- June 1Deadline to apply for the elderly or disabled homestead exclusion.
- July–AugustTax bills are mailed.
- September 1Taxes are due.
- January 5Last day to pay without interest (2% from January 6, then 0.75% a month).
Statewide deadlines; if a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday it moves to the next business day. Check the county office for local hearing dates.
Worked example: a median-value home in Johnston County
Take a home assessed at $267,600, the county's median value, inside Clayton, the county's largest municipality. North Carolina has no general homestead exemption, so each rate applies to the full assessed value. Outside city limits the bill would be the county line only: $1,392.
| Levy | Rate per $100 | Taxable value | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston County | 0.5200 | $267,600 | $1,392 |
| Clayton | 0.4900 | $267,600 | $1,311 |
| Total | $2,703 |
That is $225 a month — what a lender would typically collect in escrow with each mortgage payment.
Property tax at different home values in Johnston County
| Home value | In Clayton | Unincorporated | Monthly (in clayton) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $1,515 | $780 | $126 |
| $200,000 | $2,020 | $1,040 | $168 |
| $250,000 | $2,525 | $1,300 | $210 |
| $300,000 | $3,030 | $1,560 | $253 |
| $400,000 | $4,040 | $2,080 | $337 |
| $500,000 | $5,050 | $2,600 | $421 |
| $750,000 | $7,575 | $3,900 | $631 |
Based on 2025–26 county and municipal rates applied to assessed value.
Where a Johnston County property tax bill goes
For a $267,600 home inside Clayton, the $2,703 bill splits like this; the largest share goes to Johnston County.
| Taxing body | Tax | Share | Share of bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston County | $1,392 | 51% | |
| City (Clayton) | $1,311 | 49% |
Johnston County tax rates (2025–26)
The county rate is $0.5200 per $100 of assessed value — an effective $0.5137 per $100 once adjusted for the county's 98.8% sales assessment ratio. Property was last reappraised in 2025. Homes outside city limits pay the county rate only; inside a municipality you add its rate.
| Municipality | City rate | County + city | Effective combined | Tax on $267,600 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated | — | 0.5200 | 0.5137 | $1,392 |
| Archer Lodge | 0.3000 | 0.8200 | 0.8100 | $2,194 |
| Benson | 0.6100 | 1.1300 | 1.1162 | $3,024 |
| Clayton | 0.4900 | 1.0100 | 0.9977 | $2,703 |
| Four Oaks | 0.3950 | 0.9150 | 0.9039 | $2,449 |
| Kenly | 0.6500 | 1.1700 | 1.1558 | $3,131 |
| Micro | 0.3900 | 0.9100 | 0.8989 | $2,435 |
| Pine Level | 0.3900 | 0.9100 | 0.8989 | $2,435 |
| Princeton | 0.5850 | 1.1050 | 1.0916 | $2,957 |
| Selma | 0.6000 | 1.1200 | 1.1064 | $2,997 |
| Smithfield | 0.4500 | 0.9700 | 0.9582 | $2,596 |
| Wilsons Mills | 0.5000 | 1.0200 | 1.0076 | $2,730 |
Source: 2025-2026 tax rates, NC Department of Revenue. Rates per $100 of assessed value; tax shown on the median home value assuming it is assessed at that value.
How Johnston County tax rates changed this year
The county rate fell from 0.6700 in 2024–25 to 0.5200 in 2025–26 (−22.4%) per $100 of assessed value — $401 less a year on a home assessed at $267,600. The county reappraised in 2025; counties often lower the rate in a reappraisal year to offset higher values, so compare the change in your assessed value too.
2024–25 and 2025–26 rates for each municipality
| Municipality | 2024–25 | 2025–26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archer Lodge | 0.3200 | 0.3000 | −6.3% |
| Benson | 0.6100 | 0.6100 | no change |
| Clayton | 0.6500 | 0.4900 | −24.6% |
| Four Oaks | 0.5150 | 0.3950 | −23.3% |
| Kenly | 0.6900 | 0.6500 | −5.8% |
| Micro | 0.6200 | 0.3900 | −37.1% |
| Pine Level | 0.4800 | 0.3900 | −18.7% |
| Princeton | 0.6900 | 0.5850 | −15.2% |
| Selma | 0.6000 | 0.6000 | no change |
| Smithfield | 0.5700 | 0.4500 | −21.1% |
| Wilsons Mills | 0.5000 | 0.5000 | no change |
How Johnston County compares
| Johnston County | North Carolina | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median effective rate | 0.69% | 0.70% | 0.98% |
| Median annual property tax | $1,840 | $1,815 | $2,969 |
| Median home value | $267,600 | $259,400 | $303,400 |
| Median owner household income | $95,524 | $86,146 | $97,352 |
| Median tax as share of income | 1.9% | 2.1% | 3.0% |
| Median tax, homes with a mortgage | $1,990 | $2,011 | — |
| Median tax, homes without a mortgage | $1,416 | $1,444 | — |
48 counties have a higher median effective rate in North Carolina, and 51 a lower one. Medians come from the Census Bureau's 2019-2023 American Community Survey.
How property tax works in North Carolina
- Rates: counties and cities each set a rate per $100 of assessed value. Inside a city you pay both; outside, the county rate only.
- Reappraisal: counties revalue all property at least every eight years. Between reappraisals assessed values can drift below market value, which is why the state also publishes an effective rate adjusted by each county's sales assessment ratio.
- When it's due: bills are mailed in summer and due September 1, but can be paid without interest until January 5. After that, interest starts at 2% and adds 0.75% each month.
- Exemptions: there is no general homestead exemption. Owners 65+ or totally and permanently disabled with income under the state limit can exclude the greater of $25,000 or 50% of their home's value; apply by June 1.
How to lower your property tax in Johnston County
- Check your assessed value after each county reappraisal. You can ask for an informal review, then appeal to the county board of equalization and review — usually in the spring of a reappraisal year.
- Apply for the elderly or disabled exclusion (65+ or totally and permanently disabled, under the state income limit) by June 1: it excludes the greater of $25,000 or half of the home's value.
- Pay by January 5 to avoid interest — bills are due September 1, but interest only starts on January 6.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Johnston County?
The median effective property tax rate in Johnston County, North Carolina is 0.69%: homeowners pay a median $1,840 a year on homes with a median value of $267,600. The county's 2025–26 rate is 0.5200 per $100 of assessed value, plus a city rate inside municipalities.
How does Johnston County compare with the rest of North Carolina?
Its median effective rate is about the same as the North Carolina median of 0.70%, ranking 49th highest of 100 counties with data. The median tax bill of $1,840 is about the same as the statewide $1,815.
Do homeowners with a mortgage pay more property tax in Johnston County?
Owners with a mortgage pay a median $1,990 a year, against $1,416 for owners without one. The difference mostly reflects home values — newer buyers tend to own more expensive, more recently assessed homes — not a different tax rate.
What share of income do Johnston County homeowners spend on property tax?
The median homeowner household in Johnston County earns $95,524 a year, so the median property tax bill of $1,840 is about 1.9% of income, against 2.1% across North Carolina and 3.0% nationally.
When is property tax due in Johnston County?
North Carolina bills are due September 1, but you can pay without interest until January 5.
What property tax exemptions can Johnston County homeowners claim?
North Carolina has no general homestead exemption. Owners 65+ or totally and permanently disabled, with income under the state limit, can exclude the greater of $25,000 or 50% of their home's value.
How do I estimate my Johnston County property tax bill?
Multiply your home's taxable value by the combined rate of every taxing unit that covers your address, after subtracting exemptions. The calculator above does this with the official rates for each school district and city. For the exact amount, look up your property with the county's appraisal or assessment office.
Other North Carolina counties
Similar effective rates
- Wake County — 0.71%
- Onslow County — 0.65%
- Alamance County — 0.65%
- Iredell County — 0.63%
- Mecklenburg County — 0.75%
- Union County — 0.61%
Largest counties
- Guilford County — 0.88%
- Forsyth County — 0.85%
- Cumberland County — 0.99%
- Durham County — 0.84%
- Buncombe County — 0.60%
- Gaston County — 0.80%
- Cabarrus County — 0.76%
- New Hanover County — 0.59%
- Pitt County — 0.85%
Sources
- Median taxes paid, home values, owner counts and owner household income: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates, tables B25103, B25077, B25003 and B25119.
- Tax rates: North Carolina Department of Revenue, 2025–2026 and 2024–2025 county and municipal tax rates.
- How the figures are calculated: methodology.