Quick Summary: Same Home, Five Tax Bills
Here is the short answer. On a home assessed at $650,000 in 2026, the annual real estate tax would be about $5,233 in Loudoun, $5,623 in Prince William, $6,845 in Arlington, $7,280 in Fairfax, and $7,378 in Alexandria. The adopted 2026 rates per $100 of assessed value are Alexandria $1.135, Fairfax County $1.12, Arlington County $1.053, Prince William County $0.865, and Loudoun County $0.805. Same home, a swing of more than $2,100 a year.
How Virginia Property Taxes Work
Here is how the system works. Virginia localities reassess real property every year as of January 1, and the board or council sets the tax rate each spring as part of the budget. Your bill equals assessed value divided by 100, multiplied by the rate. The key quirk in Ashburn and the rest of Loudoun: assessments and rates move in opposite directions, so a rate cut does not guarantee a lower bill. Loudoun's rate has fallen every year for a decade, yet the average homeowner's 2026 bill rose about $141 because assessments kept climbing.
The 2026 Rates, Jurisdiction by Jurisdiction
Now the 2026 numbers. Fairfax County adopted $1.12 per $100 for tax year 2026, a quarter-cent cut, but residential assessments rose 3.77% on average, so the typical bill still rose about $337. Arlington raised its rate 2 cents to $1.053, adding about $466 a year for the average homeowner. Prince William cut its rate from $0.906 to $0.865, dropping the average residential bill $56 to $5,114. Alexandria held flat at $1.135 for 2026. Loudoun held steady at $0.805, the region's lowest, supported by data center revenue of about $1.3 billion a year, roughly 38 to 45% of local tax revenue.
The Second Tax Bill: Your Cars
On the same $650,000 assessed home, the 2026 annual bills look like this: Alexandria $7,378, Fairfax $7,280, Arlington $6,845, Prince William $5,623, Loudoun $5,233. These are base rates; most parcels carry small extra levies for stormwater or fire districts, so use this as the county-to-county comparison, not your exact bill. A $650,000 assessment is a realistic midpoint in Woodbridge or Sterling and below average in much of Fairfax and Arlington, where single-family averages have pushed past $1 million in places.
What It Does to Your Monthly Payment
Now the tax bill no relocation calculator warns you about: your cars. Virginia taxes vehicles as personal property every year. Alexandria's 2026 vehicle tax is $5.33 per $100 of assessed value, with bills due October 5. Loudoun cut its vehicle rate to $3.09 for tax year 2026 and plans $2.94 for 2027 (per Supervisor Letourneau's March 2026 newsletter). State car-tax relief softens the first tier: in Alexandria, qualifying personal-use vehicles assessed at $5,000 or less get 100% relief. A two-car household can owe $1,000 to $3,000 a year in vehicle taxes alone.
Can You Fight Your Assessment?
Lenders escrow property taxes with your mortgage, so divide any annual bill by 12 to see the monthly hit. The gap between Loudoun and Fairfax on our $650,000 example is $2,048 a year, or about $171 a month, for the life of the loan. That difference changes how much home you qualify for, which is why we run county-specific tax math with every relocating buyer before touring homes. Cross-county price comparisons mislead: a $700,000 home in Loudoun can cost less per month than a $650,000 home in Fairfax.
Virginia also taxes income at graduated rates from 2% to 5.75% across four brackets. Coming from Texas, Florida, or Washington, budget for both the property bill and the income tax from day one. Coming from Maryland or DC, the total picture may look familiar or slightly lighter, depending on the county.
Can you fight your assessment? Yes, and the window opens early. Counties reassess as of January 1 and mail notices in winter; every NoVA jurisdiction has an appeal path that starts with an administrative review and can continue to the Board of Equalization. The strongest evidence is recent comparable sales showing your assessed value exceeds market value; a recent purchase price works too. We help our buyers review assessments as part of the purchase, because an inflated assessment can cost you for years.
Sources: Fairfax County FY2027 Adopted Budget ($1.12 per $100, tax year 2026, adopted May 5, 2026; assessments up 3.77%; average bill up $337). Arlington County FY2027 Adopted Budget Guide ($1.053, adopted April 22, 2026; average homeowner up $466). Prince William County FY2027 Budget, pwcva.gov ($0.865, adopted April 21, 2026; average bill $5,114, down $56). ALXnow, April 30, 2026 (Alexandria $1.135 flat for 2026). The Zebra, August 30, 2026 (Alexandria vehicle tax $5.33 per $100, bills due Oct 5; 100% relief at $5,000 and below). Loudoun County FY2027 budget materials (real property $0.805; vehicle $3.09 for 2026, $2.94 for 2027; average RE bill up $141; data centers about $1.3 billion a year, roughly 38 to 45% of local tax revenue). Rate math illustrative; small special district levies may add to specific parcels.
Explore the Area - See Homes Nearby
Relocating to Northern Virginia and want the real monthly math before you buy? Cornerstone Realty Group closes 5 to 10 deals a month across Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Ashburn, and Woodbridge. Text (571) 441-1031 or request your free home valuation. Cornerstone Realty Group, rated 5.0.
FAQ
What is the 2026 real estate tax rate in Fairfax County?
$1.12 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2026, adopted May 5, 2026. That is a quarter-cent cut from $1.1225, but residential assessments rose 3.77% on average, so the typical homeowner's bill still rose about $337.
Which Northern Virginia county has the lowest property tax rate in 2026?
Loudoun County, at $0.805 per $100. The rate has fallen every year for a decade (from $1.145 in 2016), largely because data center revenue, about $1.3 billion a year, subsidizes residential services.
Does Virginia really tax your cars?
Yes, every NoVA jurisdiction levies an annual personal property tax on vehicles. In 2026 Loudoun charges $3.09 per $100 and Alexandria charges $5.33. State relief covers 100% of the tax on the first tier of qualifying vehicles (for example, vehicles assessed at $5,000 or less in Alexandria).
How much difference does the county make on a typical home?
On a $650,000 assessed home, the 2026 bill ranges from about $5,233 in Loudoun to $7,378 in Alexandria, roughly $2,145 a year or $179 a month in escrow.
Can I appeal my property assessment in Northern Virginia?
Yes. Every NoVA jurisdiction offers an appeal path starting with an administrative review and continuing to the Board of Equalization. The strongest evidence is recent comparable sales showing assessed value exceeds market value; a recent purchase price works too. Act in winter when assessment notices arrive.