Preston County, West Virginia Property Taxes

Name: Property Tax Bills Across Preston County, West Virginia
Creator: Ownwell
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Median Preston County effective property tax rate: 0.64%, significantly lower than the national median of 1.02%.
Median Preston County home value: $68,500
Median annual Preston County tax bill: $473, $1,927 lower than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.

How are property taxes in Preston County calculated?

Property taxes in Preston County 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 your county's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Whether you live in Kingwood or another part of Preston County, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.

Last Updated March 1, 2025

Preston County, West Virginia Property Tax Bill Calculator

Property Assessed Value

$100,000

$1,500,000

$3,000,000

Median Effective Tax Rate

0.64%

Estimate Property Tax Bill

$438

$407

Ownwell’s Preston County Property Tax Bill Calculator empowers homeowners, real estate investors, and potential buyers to estimate their annual property taxes in Preston County with just two data points.

By entering your property's estimated assessed value, our calculator applies Preston County’s median effective tax rate to accurately estimate your property tax bill. Note that your property's assessed value — determined by your county — reflects any exemptions you may have, ensuring a more precise calculation for your property tax obligations.

This insightful tool helps you understand potential tax liabilities and highlights how Ownwell can assist in reducing property taxes in Preston County.

For those interested in more localized information, please scroll down to explore city-level trends!

Property Tax Rates Across Preston County, West Virginia

Local government entities set tax rates, which can vary widely within a state. 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 Preston County's effective property tax rate to other counties in West Virginia or the U.S. median property tax rate. Preston County's median property tax rate stands at 0.64%, notably lower than the national median of 1.02%. This rate is consistent across cities within the county, such as Rowlesburg and Moatsville, both reflecting the same rate. This lower tax rate can be appealing for property owners, offering a financial advantage compared to many other regions in the U.S. With property tax bills often being a significant annual expense, understanding and potentially appealing your property tax assessment in Preston County could lead to substantial savings.

Property Tax Rates Across Preston County, West Virginia

Source: Ownwell

0.64%

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 Preston County Tax Rate

0.64%

Median Effective West Virginia Tax Rate

0.72%

Median Effective United States Tax Rate

1.02%

Property Tax Rates Across Preston County, West Virginia

City	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Tax Rate	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
Albright	0.40%	0.55%	0.64%	0.64%	1.27%
Aurora	0.38%	0.48%	0.64%	0.64%	1.27%
Bruceton Mills	0.54%	0.64%	0.64%	0.64%	1.27%
Eglon	0.32%	0.45%	0.64%	0.64%	1.27%
Kingwood	0.45%	0.61%	0.64%	0.86%	1.27%
Masontown	0.41%	0.53%	0.64%	0.79%	1.27%
Moatsville	0.37%	0.47%	0.64%	0.64%	0.65%
Newburg	0.33%	0.49%	0.64%	0.79%	1.27%
Reedsville	0.45%	0.53%	0.64%	0.64%	1.27%
Rowlesburg	0.31%	0.50%	0.64%	0.79%	1.56%
Terra Alta	0.41%	0.56%	0.64%	0.83%	1.27%
Thornton	0.38%	0.53%	0.64%	0.64%	1.27%
Tunnelton	0.31%	0.46%	0.64%	0.64%	1.27%
Arthurdale	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Bretz	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Independence	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Morgantown	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Parsons	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Source: Ownwell

Property Tax Assessment Values Across Preston County, West Virginia

When examining property taxes in Preston County, 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 Preston County Assessor's 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:

Assessment notices in Preston County are sent in the spring each year. They’ll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of April.

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. By providing insights into how assessed and market values are determined, this section helps property owners navigate their tax responsibilities and understand the valuation processes affecting their property taxes in Preston County.

For example, the median tax bill in Preston County is $726, with tax bills ranging significantly across the county. Reedsville has the highest median home price at $112,850.

Property Tax Assessment Values Across Preston County, West Virginia

Source: Ownwell

$22,100

$67,475

$112,850

Median Preston County Market Value

$68,500

Median West Virginia Market Value

$80,900

Median United States Market Value

$235,294

Property Tax Assessment Values Across Preston County, West Virginia

City	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Home Price	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
Albright	$12,620	$40,900	$86,000	$131,000	$188,720
Aurora	$25,780	$58,400	$86,100	$125,500	$171,120
Bruceton Mills	$6,900	$12,100	$22,100	$109,200	$198,920
Eglon	$30,050	$62,575	$95,050	$131,100	$171,750
Kingwood	$15,610	$54,100	$93,100	$135,775	$195,480
Masontown	$13,420	$40,400	$84,900	$125,300	$182,160
Moatsville	$18,200	$49,200	$83,400	$124,000	$157,480
Newburg	$6,830	$22,575	$52,500	$97,050	$143,970
Reedsville	$8,330	$62,950	$112,850	$152,575	$201,410
Rowlesburg	$6,670	$26,000	$49,350	$79,175	$126,180
Terra Alta	$15,420	$47,850	$91,900	$146,200	$212,880
Thornton	$12,340	$47,000	$85,650	$145,075	$199,390
Tunnelton	$2,360	$25,700	$61,000	$101,600	$139,440
Arthurdale	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Bretz	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Independence	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Morgantown	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Parsons	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Source: Ownwell

Property Tax Bills Across Preston County, West Virginia

Property tax bills in Preston County, WV, are determined by assessing the property's value and applying the local tax rate. The median home price in the county is $68,500. Homeowners can expect a property tax bill that varies widely depending on their property's assessed value and location within the county. For instance, the median property tax bill in Reedsville is the highest at $726, while Bruceton Mills has the lowest median tax bill at $176. These figures highlight the variability within the county.

Compared to the national median property tax rate of 1.02%, Preston County's rates are relatively modest, offering some financial relief to homeowners. However, the tax bill can still significantly impact household budgets, especially for those at the 90th percentile, where bills can reach $1,291. Factors such as property improvements, neighborhood developments, and changes in local government spending can influence the assessed value, thereby affecting the tax bill. Understanding these elements can help homeowners anticipate changes in their property tax obligations.

Property Tax Bills Across Preston County, West Virginia

Source: Ownwell

$176

$451

$726

Median Preston County Tax Bill

$473

Median West Virginia Tax Bill

$607

Median United States Tax Bill

$2,400

Property Tax Bills Across Preston County, West Virginia

City	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Tax Bill	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
Albright	$144	$299	$534	$845	$1,263
Aurora	$184	$336	$535	$785	$1,070
Bruceton Mills	$55	$94	$176	$727	$1,323
Eglon	$163	$325	$534	$765	$1,085
Kingwood	$176	$396	$691	$1,054	$1,524
Masontown	$140	$305	$551	$839	$1,234
Moatsville	$204	$281	$519	$707	$961
Newburg	$93	$192	$362	$644	$933
Reedsville	$187	$439	$726	$1,008	$1,356
Rowlesburg	$79	$178	$346	$600	$896
Terra Alta	$157	$336	$612	$972	$1,438
Thornton	$150	$309	$538	$962	$1,256
Tunnelton	$95	$195	$389	$641	$946
Arthurdale	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Bretz	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Independence	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Morgantown	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Parsons	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Source: Ownwell