Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Virginia to Maryland
Virginia has lower property taxes than Maryland — 0.90% versus 1.06% average effective rate. On a $600,000 DC-suburb home, Virginia saves approximately $960/year in property tax. Beyond property tax, Maryland levies a county income tax (typically 2.25–3.2% depending on county) on top of state income tax, creating a significantly higher combined income tax burden than Virginia. For DC-area professionals deciding between Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria) and Maryland suburbs (Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard counties), Virginia generally offers better overall tax value despite similar quality of life.
Avg Effective Rate
Below national average; rates vary significantly by locality — Northern VA higher
Avg Effective Rate
Above VA; county income tax adds significantly to Maryland's total burden
At $600,000 home income:
Virginia saves on property tax
| Income | VA Tax | MD Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $400,000 home | $3,600 | $4,240 | $640 | $6,400 |
| $500,000 home | $4,500 | $5,300 | $800 | $8,000 |
| $600,000 home | $5,400 | $6,360 | $960 | $9,600 |
| $750,000 home | $6,750 | $7,950 | $1,200 | $12,000 |
| $1,000,000 home | $9,000 | $10,600 | $1,600 | $16,000 |
| $1,500,000 home | $13,500 | $15,900 | $2,400 | $24,000 |
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Moving between Virginia and Maryland in the DC metro area? Maryland county tax credits, Virginia car tax, partial-year residency, and establishing domicile all need expert handling. Get matched with a CPA who specialises in DC-area state moves.
⚠ Not for simple single-state returns. Free filing is fine for straightforward W-2 situations.
Get Matched With a CPA →Virginia is generally cheaper in total taxes for most DC-area households. The key differences: (1) Virginia has no county income tax; Maryland charges 2.25–3.2% county income tax on top of state rates. On a $150,000 income, Maryland's county tax adds approximately $3,400–$4,800/year. (2) Virginia's property tax is moderately lower. (3) Virginia charges an annual personal property tax on vehicles (~$500–$2,000/year for most households); Maryland does not. For a DC-area household earning $150,000 in a $700,000 home: Virginia typically costs $2,000–$4,000 less per year in total taxes despite the car tax.
Maryland is one of the few US states that allows counties and Baltimore City to levy their own income tax. Rates range from 2.25% (Dorchester, Worcester) to 3.2% (several counties including Baltimore City, Prince George's, Anne Arundel). Montgomery County is 3.2%; Howard County is 3.2%; Prince George's is 3.2%. This is in addition to Maryland's state income tax of 2–5.75%. A Montgomery County resident earning $200,000 pays approximately $8,400 in county income tax alone — a cost Virginians in equivalent Northern VA localities avoid entirely.
Virginia's personal property tax on vehicles is a genuine cost that Maryland residents don't face. In Fairfax County, the rate is 4.57% of assessed value (using NADA clean trade-in value at 100% in most localities). A household with two cars worth $40,000 combined pays approximately $1,830/year. Some cities have rates above 5%. This partially offsets Virginia's property tax and county income tax advantages. However, for most households the income tax savings from avoiding Maryland's county tax still exceed Virginia's car tax cost. Vehicles depreciate; the car tax burden decreases over time.
Property tax rates vary significantly across Northern Virginia. Lower effective rates: Loudoun County approximately 0.87% (plus growing assessment base due to rapid development); Prince William County approximately 0.98%; Stafford County approximately 0.83%. Higher rates: Arlington County approximately 1.03%; Alexandria City approximately 1.07%; Fairfax County approximately 1.00%. By comparison, most Maryland DC suburbs (Montgomery, Howard, Prince George's counties) range from 0.95–1.20% effective rate. The combination of Loudoun or Prince William County Virginia rates plus no county income tax makes these areas particularly tax-efficient for DC-area homeowners.