20879 Property Tax Rate

Property owners in ZIP code 20879 (Gaithersburg, Maryland) pay a median of $3,471/year in property taxes on homes valued at $433,500. This translates to an effective tax rate of 0.80%, which is 17% below the Maryland state average of 0.96%.

The monthly property tax burden for a median-valued home in 20879 is approximately $289, which factors into escrow payments on mortgages. This ZIP code is located within Montgomery County. This is $503 less than the Maryland average of $3,974/year.

Compared to similar ZIP codes in Maryland, 20879 has higher property taxes. ZIP codes with similar effective rates include 21060 (0.80%) and 21631 (0.80%).

In Gaithersburg, property taxes represent approximately 3.3% of the median household income of $105,109, providing context for the relative tax burden on homeowners in this area.

Maryland's Homestead Tax Credit caps annual assessment increases at 10% for your primary residence, though your initial purchase-year assessment is unrestricted — file for the credit with Montgomery County's tax office. The credit applies automatically to qualifying primary residences but requires proper registration; contact the Montgomery County Assessor to ensure your homestead classification is recorded within 45 days of purchase. Request a copy of your Notice of Assessment and confirm your assessment ratio is correct (owner-occupied property should be assessed on market value).