Property Taxes in Burien, Washington
Median Burien, Washington effective property tax rate: 1.12%, significantly higher than the national median of 1.02%, and higher than the Washington state median of 0.92%.
Median Burien, Washington home value: $609,000
Median annual Burien, Washington tax bill: $6,688, $4,288 higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in King County calculated?
Property taxes in Burien, Washington 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 Burien's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Burien, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
How Does the Burien Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Burien property tax calculator to estimate your annual tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Burien's median effective tax rate of 1.12% — based on actual property records in King County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure the local assessment district uses to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. Our calculator applies Burien'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 Burien: rates range from $5,876.00 in 98168 to $7,423.00 in 98166, primarily due to differences in school district levies and local assessment districts. Burien's median property tax bill of $6,688 is higher than Washington's median tax bill and above the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
If your estimate is higher than expected, Ownwell can appeal your Burien assessment — you only pay if we save you money.
About Burien Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Burien, King, Washington
Burien’s median effective property tax rate of 1.12% is higher than the Washington state median of 0.92% and higher than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the King County base levy combined with local school district levies and local improvement districts that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Burien. Homeowners in ZIP code 98168 carry a median effective rate of 1.13%, while those in 98166 pay 1.11%. This spread of 0.02 percentage points across the same city reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across King County. Understanding which part of Burien you live in can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Burien homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the Tax Assessor before the July deadline each year.
If your estimated bill 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 Burien, King County, Washington
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 Burien's effective property tax rate to other cities in Washington and the median property tax rates in Washington 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 Burien Tax Rate
1.12%
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 King County Tax Rate
0.99%
Median Effective Washington Tax Rate
0.92%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.27%
Property Tax Rates Across Burien, King County, Washington
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98146 | 1.10% | 1.11% | 1.12% | 1.13% | 1.13% |
| 98148 | 1.10% | 1.12% | 1.12% | 1.13% | 1.13% |
| 98166 | 1.09% | 1.10% | 1.11% | 1.12% | 1.13% |
| 98168 | 1.11% | 1.12% | 1.13% | 1.13% | 1.14% |
Source: Ownwell
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Burien, King County, Washington
When examining property taxes in Burien, Washington, 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 King County 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:
In King County, assessment notices are sent in the spring each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of July.
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 Burien is $609,000, with tax bills ranging significantly across the county. 98166 has the highest median home price at $678,000.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Burien, King County, Washington
Source: Ownwell
$275,000
$3,858,750
$7,442,500
Median Burien Market Value
$609,000
Median King County Market Value
$774,000
Median Washington Market Value
$501,600
Median United States Market Value
$274,101
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Burien, King County, Washington
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98146 | $373,000 | $510,000 | $616,000 | $892,750 | $1,205,800 |
| 98148 | $282,000 | $492,000 | $558,000 | $636,000 | $732,500 |
| 98166 | $436,000 | $540,000 | $678,000 | $879,000 | $1,253,800 |
| 98168 | $418,000 | $463,000 | $526,000 | $591,000 | $670,800 |
Source: Ownwell
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Property Tax Bills Across Burien, King County, Washington
Property tax bills in Burien are based on the assessed value of a home and the local tax rate set for King County. When a home’s market value rises, the assessed value can increase too, which can push the tax bill higher. For Burien homeowners, the median home price is $609,000, and property tax bills can vary widely, with the 25th percentile at $5,487, the 75th percentile at $8,678, and the 90th percentile at $12,248. The highest median tax bill in the area is $7,423 in ZIP code 98166, while the lowest is $5,876 in ZIP code 98168. These bills can place a meaningful burden on homeowners, especially when local assessments outpace what the home is actually worth in the market.
Ownwell helps homeowners challenge unfair assessments and identify savings opportunities that can lower property tax bills. By reviewing your property’s assessed value and comparing it with market data, Ownwell works to make sure you are not paying more than you should.
Median Burien Tax Bill
$6,688
Median King County Tax Bill
$7,644
Median Washington Tax Bill
$4,512
Median United States Tax Bill
$3,209
Property Tax Bills Across Burien, King County, Washington
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98146 | $3,451 | $5,530 | $6,818 | $9,660 | $13,243 |
| 98148 | $2,619 | $5,127 | $6,179 | $7,012 | $8,148 |
| 98166 | $3,634 | $5,811 | $7,423 | $9,652 | $13,756 |
| 98168 | $4,254 | $5,108 | $5,876 | $6,580 | $7,456 |
Source: Ownwell
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Appeal Deadline | July 1 |
| Tax Bill | |
| Issued | February 10 |
| Due Date #1 | April 30 |
| Due Date #2 | October 31 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| King Tax Assessor | |
| Phone | (206) 296-7300 |
| Website | blue.kingcounty.com |
| assessor.info@kingcounty.gov | |