Taxes & Fees Comparison
Aug. 26, 2022
The comparison below is based on taxes and rates approved by each municipality in their respective FY 2022-2023 budgets. The total costs are based on $200,000 value for a home and downtown business in each city for one year. According to this data, Lenoir has the lowest cost of living compared to several surrounding cities.
In addition to cost of living, residents in Caldwell and Burke counties pay a lower sales tax rate.
Sales Tax | Rate |
| Burke & Caldwell | 6.75% |
| Alexander & Catawba | 7.00% |
Lenoir | Rate | Period/Per $ | Home | Downtown Business |
| Property Tax Rate | $0.5785 | $100 | $1,157.00 | |
| Municipal District | $0.20 | $100 | $400.00 | |
| Caldwell County | $0.63 | $100 | $1,260.00 | |
| Motor Vehicle Fee | $5.00 | per year | $5.00 | |
| Solid Waste Fee | $11.00 | per month x 12 | $132.00 | |
| Water & Sewer 5,000 gal. | $52.22 | per month x 12 | $626.64 | |
| Lenoir Total per year | $3,180.64 | + $400.00 | ||
Morganton | Rate | Period/Per $ | Home | Downtown Business |
| Property Tax Rate | $0.57 | $100 | $1,140.00 | |
| Municipal District | $0.14 | $100 | $280.00 | |
| Burke County | $0.695 | $100 | $1,390.00 | |
| Motor Vehicle Fee | $20.00 | per year | $20.00 | |
| Solid Waste Fee | $12.00 | per month x12 | $144.00 | |
| Water & Sewer 5,000 gal. | $48.98 | per month x 12 | $587.76 | |
| Morganton Total per year | $3,281.76 | + $280.00 | ||
Hickory | Rate | Period/Per $ | Home | Downtown Business |
| Property Tax Rate | $0.6275 | $100 | $1,255.00 | |
| Municipal District | $100 | $0.00 | ||
| Catawba County | $0.575 | $100 | $1,150.00 | |
| Motor Vehicle Fee | $5.00 | per year | $5.00 | |
| Solid Waste Fee | $26.00 | per month x 12 | $312.00 | |
| Water & Sewer 5,000 gal. | $62.10 | per month x 12 | $745.20 | |
| Hickory Total per year | $3,467.20 | + $0.00 | ||
Taylorsville | Rate | Period/Per $ | Home | Downtown Business |
| Property Tax Rate | $0.40 | $100 | $800.00 | |
| Municipal District | $100 | |||
| Alexander County | $0.79 | $100 | $1,580.00 | |
| Fire Tax | $0.05 | $100 | $100.00 | |
| Motor Vehicle Fee | ||||
| Solid Waste Fee | $11.00 | per month x 12 | $132.00 | |
| Water & Sewer 5,000 gal. | $100.00 | per month x 12 | $1,200.00 | |
| Taylorsville Total per year | $3,812.00 | + $0.00 | ||
Newton | Rate | Period/Per $ | Home | Downtown Business |
| Property Tax Rate | $0.5400 | $100 | $1,080.00 | |
| Municipal District | $100 | |||
| Catawba County | $0.575 | $100 | $1,150.00 | |
| Motor Vehicle Fee | $30.00 | annual | $30.00 | |
| Solid Waste Fee | $20.90 | month | $250.80 | |
| Water & Sewer 5,000 gal. | $90.92 | month | $1,091.04 | |
| Newton Total per year | $3,601.84 | + $0.00 |