Property Taxes in Highlands, North Carolina
Median Highlands, North Carolina effective property tax rate: 0.34%, significantly lower than the national median of 1.02%, and lower than the North Carolina state median of 0.81%.
Median Highlands, North Carolina home value: $752,720
Median annual Highlands, North Carolina tax bill: $2,495, $95 higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Macon calculated?
Property taxes in Highlands, North Carolina 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 Highlands's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Highlands, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
How Does the Highlands Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Highlands property tax calculator to estimate your annual property tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Highlands' median effective tax rate of 0.34% — based on actual property records in Macon County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure used to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. Our calculator applies Highlands' 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 Highlands, but the median tax bill is $2,495 in 28741. Highlands' property tax rate is lower than the North Carolina median tax rate of 0.81%, while the median tax bill is $95 higher than the state median.
For a more precise estimate, scroll down to explore ZIP code-level tax rate trends across Highlands.
About Highlands Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Highlands, Macon, North Carolina
Highlands’s median effective property tax rate of 0.34% is lower than the North Carolina state median of 0.81% and lower than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the Macon County base levy combined with local school district levies and special assessment districts that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Highlands. Homeowners in the 28741 ZIP code carry a median effective rate of 0.34%, while those in the same ZIP code pay 0.34%. This spread reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across Macon County. Understanding which part of Highlands you live in can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Highlands homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the Tax Assessor before the May 4, 2026 deadline each year.
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 Highlands, Macon County, North Carolina
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 Highlands's effective property tax rate to other cities in North Carolina and the median property tax rates in North Carolina 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 Highlands Tax Rate
0.34%
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 Macon County Tax Rate
0.39%
Median Effective North Carolina Tax Rate
0.81%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.27%
Property Tax Rates Across Highlands, Macon County, North Carolina
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28741 | 0.30% | 0.31% | 0.34% | 0.40% | 0.42% |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Highlands, Macon County, North Carolina
When examining property taxes in Highlands, North Carolina, 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 Macon County tax 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 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:
In Macon County, assessment notices are sent in February each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of February.
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 Highlands is $752,720, with a median tax bill of $2,495. Tax bills range from $1,566 at the 25th percentile to $4,154 at the 75th percentile, and $6,901 at the 90th percentile.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Highlands, Macon County, North Carolina
Source: Ownwell
$210,765
$481,743
$752,720
Median Highlands Market Value
$752,720
Median Macon County Market Value
$264,680
Median North Carolina Market Value
$221,500
Median United States Market Value
$274,101
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Highlands, Macon County, North Carolina
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28741 | $297,662 | $473,500 | $752,720 | $1,278,620 | $2,025,810 |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Bills Across Highlands, Macon County, North Carolina
Property tax bills in Highlands are based on the assessed value of a home, which is the amount the property is taxed on by Macon County. The bill is calculated by applying the local tax rate to that assessed value, so homes with higher market values usually face higher taxes. Factors such as location, property characteristics, and local assessment practices can all influence the final bill.
For homeowners, this means a property tax bill can change even if the mortgage stays the same. In Highlands, the median home price is $752,720, and property tax bills vary widely, with the 25th percentile at $1,566 and the 75th percentile at $4,154. The highest and lowest median tax bill in the area is $2,495 in ZIP code 28741. Compared with the national median property tax rate of 1.02% and the national median property tax bill of $2,400, local bills can have a meaningful impact on monthly housing costs.
Median Highlands Tax Bill
$2,495
Median Macon County Tax Bill
$966
Median North Carolina Tax Bill
$1,813
Median United States Tax Bill
$3,209
Property Tax Bills Across Highlands, Macon County, North Carolina
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28741 | $984 | $1,566 | $2,495 | $4,154 | $6,901 |
Source: Ownwell
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Appeal Deadline | April 26 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| Macon Tax Assessor | |
| Website | tax.maconnc.org |