Property Taxes in Secretary, Maryland
Median Secretary, Maryland effective property tax rate: 1.33%, significantly higher than the national median of 1.02%, and higher than the Maryland state median of 1.21%.
Median Secretary, Maryland home value: $137,800
Median annual Secretary, Maryland tax bill: $1,745, $655 lower than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Dorchester calculated?
Property taxes in Secretary, Maryland are calculated based on the tax assessed value, which is often lower than the actual market value due to property tax exemptions such as the homestead or senior exemption.
Understanding Secretary's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Secretary, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
How Does the Secretary Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Secretary property tax calculator to estimate your annual property tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Secretary's median effective tax rate of 1.33% — based on actual property records in Dorchester County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure the local assessment office uses to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. Our calculator applies Secretary's median effective rate across all local levies, providing a more accurate estimate than applying a single county millage rate.
Your bill may vary by ZIP code within Secretary: rates range from 1.33% in 21664 to 1.33% in 21664, primarily due to differences in school district levies and local assessment districts.
For a more precise estimate, scroll down to explore ZIP code-level tax rate trends across Secretary.
About Secretary Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Secretary, Dorchester, Maryland
Secretary’s median effective property tax rate of 1.33% is higher than the Maryland state median of 1.21% and higher than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the Dorchester County base levy combined with local school district levies and special taxing districts that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Secretary. Homeowners in the 21664 ZIP code carry a median effective rate of 1.33%, while those in the same ZIP code pay 1.33%. This spread reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across Dorchester County. Understanding which part of Secretary you live in can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Secretary homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the Tax Assessor before February 14, 2026.
If your estimated bill above seems higher than expected, Ownwell can review your assessment and protest on your behalf. You only pay if we save you money.
Property Tax Rates Across Secretary, Dorchester County, Maryland
As noted earlier, local government entities set tax rates, which can vary widely within a state.
Why? Because annually, each county estimates its required budget to provide services and divides that by the total value of all taxable property within its jurisdiction. This calculation results in the property tax rate.
While there are votes and laws involved in setting tax rates and budgets, in a nutshell, this is the annual process.
Below, you can compare Secretary's effective property tax rate to other cities in Maryland and the median property tax rates in Maryland and the U.S.
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Secretary Tax Rate
1.33%
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Dorchester County Tax Rate
1.13%
Median Effective Maryland Tax Rate
1.21%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.27%
Property Tax Rates Across Secretary, Dorchester County, Maryland
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21664 | 1.21% | 1.25% | 1.33% | 1.33% | 1.35% |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Secretary, Dorchester County, Maryland
When examining property taxes in Secretary, Maryland, understanding the distinction between market value and assessed value is crucial.
The market value is what a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller in an open and competitive market, often influenced by location, property condition, and economic market trends. The Dorchester County assessment office estimates the market value for tax purposes.
The assessed value is the market value minus any applicable exemptions or limits determined by local laws and offerings. The tax assessed value is the figure used to calculate your property taxes or the amount multiplied by your tax rate to get your tax bill.
Assessment notices are sent in the spring each year and typically reach your mailbox by the middle of the season. Each property owner receives an assessment notice that contains both the market value and assessed value, along with an estimate of your property tax bill.
For example, the median home price in Secretary is $137,800, with a median tax bill of $1,745. Tax bills range across Dorchester County, and 21664 has both the highest median home price and the highest median tax bill.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Secretary, Dorchester County, Maryland
Source: Ownwell
$55,600
$205,600
$355,600
Median Secretary Market Value
$137,800
Median Dorchester County Market Value
$171,600
Median Maryland Market Value
$338,400
Median United States Market Value
$274,101
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Secretary, Dorchester County, Maryland
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21664 | $83,070 | $109,475 | $137,800 | $169,600 | $218,430 |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Bills Across Secretary, Dorchester County, Maryland
Property tax bills in Secretary are based on the assessed value of a home and the local property tax rate set for Dorchester County. When a home’s market value rises, the assessed value can increase as well, which may lead to a higher tax bill. For a home with a median market value of $137,800, the typical tax burden in the area is $1,745, which is below the national median property tax bill of $2,400 and also below the national median property tax rate of 1.02%.
What homeowners pay can vary widely depending on where the property is located and how it is assessed. In Secretary, tax bills commonly fall between $1,363 at the 25th percentile and $2,210 at the 75th percentile, with the 90th percentile reaching $2,937. These differences show how property taxes can affect household budgets, especially when assessments change or local rates shift.
Median Secretary Tax Bill
$1,745
Median Dorchester County Tax Bill
$2,005
Median Maryland Tax Bill
$4,092
Median United States Tax Bill
$3,209
Property Tax Bills Across Secretary, Dorchester County, Maryland
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21664 | $1,040 | $1,363 | $1,745 | $2,210 | $2,937 |
Source: Ownwell
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Appeal Deadline | February 14 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| Dorchester Tax Assessor | |
| Website | sdat.dat.maryland.gov |