Homestead Exemption by State: All 50 States + DC Ranked
This comprehensive comparison ranks every state and the District of Columbia by the strength of their homestead exemption protections. Rankings consider property tax exemption amounts, bankruptcy protection levels, and availability of special exemptions for seniors, disabled homeowners, and veterans. Click any state for a complete breakdown of its homestead exemption rules.
This comparison provides general information, not legal or tax advice. Exemption amounts change frequently and local rules may differ. Consult your county assessor or a qualified attorney for advice on your specific situation.
All States Ranked by Homestead Exemption
States are ranked from strongest to weakest homestead exemption based on the maximum value of property tax exemptions, bankruptcy protections, and additional protections for seniors, disabled, and veterans.
| # | State | Exemption | Type | Bankruptcy | Senior | Veteran | Disabled | Deadline | Protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida (FL) | Unlimited | Flat Amount | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | March 1 | Strong |
| 2 | Iowa (IA) | Unlimited | Flat Amount | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | July 1 | Strong |
| 3 | Kansas (KS) | Unlimited | Flat Amount | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 15 | Strong |
| 4 | Oklahoma (OK) | Unlimited | Flat Amount | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | March 15 | Strong |
| 5 | South Dakota (SD) | Unlimited | Flat Amount | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 1 | Strong |
| 6 | Texas (TX) | Unlimited | Flat Amount | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 30 | Strong |
| 7 | New York (NY) | $1,000,000 | Flat Amount | $1,000,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | March 1 | Strong |
| 8 | Nevada (NV) | $605,000 | Flat Amount | $605,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | June 15 | Strong |
| 9 | California (CA) | $600,000 | Flat Amount | $600,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | February 15 | Strong |
| 10 | Massachusetts (MA) | $500,000 | Flat Amount | $500,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 1 | Strong |
| 11 | Rhode Island (RI) | $500,000 | Flat Amount | $500,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by city/town | Strong |
| 12 | Minnesota (MN) | 40% | Percentage of Value | $450,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | December 15 | Strong |
| 13 | Montana (MT) | $250,000 | Flat Amount | $250,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 15 | Strong |
| 14 | Idaho (ID) | $175,000 | Flat Amount | $175,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 15 | Moderate |
| 15 | Arizona (AZ) | $150,000 | Flat Amount | $150,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | September 1 | Moderate |
| 16 | Ohio (OH) | $25,000 | Flat Amount | $145,425 | Yes | Yes | Yes | June 3 | Moderate |
| 17 | Delaware (DE) | $125,000 | Flat Amount | $125,000 | Yes | No | No | April 30 | Moderate |
| 18 | Vermont (VT) | $125,000 | Flat Amount | $125,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 15 | Moderate |
| 19 | Washington (WA) | $125,000 | Flat Amount | $125,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by county | Moderate |
| 20 | New Hampshire (NH) | $120,000 | Flat Amount | $120,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 15 | Moderate |
| 21 | North Dakota (ND) | $100,000 | Flat Amount | $100,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | February 1 | Moderate |
| 22 | Colorado (CO) | $75,000 | Flat Amount | $75,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | July 15 | Moderate |
| 23 | Connecticut (CT) | $75,000 | Flat Amount | $75,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by town | Moderate |
| 24 | Louisiana (LA) | $75,000 | Flat Amount | $35,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by parish | Moderate |
| 25 | Mississippi (MS) | $7,500 | Flat Amount | $75,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 1 | Moderate |
| 26 | Wisconsin (WI) | $75,000 | Flat Amount | $75,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | January 31 | Moderate |
| 27 | District of Columbia (DC) | $74,850 | Flat Amount | $74,850 | Yes | No | Yes | September 15 | Moderate |
| 28 | Alaska (AK) | $72,900 | Flat Amount | $72,900 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by borough | Moderate |
| 29 | South Carolina (SC) | $50,000 | Flat Amount | $63,250 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by county | Moderate |
| 30 | Nebraska (NE) | $60,000 | Flat Amount | $60,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | June 30 | Moderate |
| 31 | New Mexico (NM) | $60,000 | Flat Amount | $60,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | February 28 | Moderate |
| 32 | Indiana (IN) | 60% | Percentage of Value | $22,750 | Yes | Yes | Yes | January 5 | Weak |
| 33 | Maine (ME) | $25,000 | Flat Amount | $47,500 | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 1 | Weak |
| 34 | Kentucky (KY) | $46,350 | Flat Amount | $5,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | December 31 | Weak |
| 35 | Michigan (MI) | $0 | Flat Amount | $44,625 | Yes | Yes | Yes | June 1 | Weak |
| 36 | Utah (UT) | 45% | Percentage of Value | $43,300 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by county | Weak |
| 37 | Oregon (OR) | $40,000 | Flat Amount | $40,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 15 | Weak |
| 38 | North Carolina (NC) | $35,000 | Flat Amount | $35,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | June 1 | Weak |
| 39 | Hawaii (HI) | $30,000 | Flat Amount | $30,000 | Yes | No | Yes | September 30 | Weak |
| 40 | Maryland (MD) | $0 | Flat Amount | $25,150 | Yes | Yes | Yes | September 1 | Weak |
| 41 | Pennsylvania (PA) | $25,000 | Flat Amount | $25,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | March 1 | Weak |
| 42 | West Virginia (WV) | $25,000 | Flat Amount | $25,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | July 1 | Weak |
| 43 | Georgia (GA) | $2,000 | Flat Amount | $21,500 | Yes | Yes | No | April 1 | Weak |
| 44 | Wyoming (WY) | $20,000 | Flat Amount | $20,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by county | Weak |
| 45 | Alabama (AL) | $16,450 | Flat Amount | $16,450 | No | No | No | December 31 | Weak |
| 46 | Illinois (IL) | $15,000 | Flat Amount | $15,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by county | Weak |
| 47 | Missouri (MO) | $15,000 | Flat Amount | $15,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by county | Weak |
| 48 | Tennessee (TN) | $5,000 | Flat Amount | $5,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | April 5 | Weak |
| 49 | Virginia (VA) | $5,000 | Flat Amount | $5,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by locality | Weak |
| 50 | Arkansas (AR) | $2,500 | Flat Amount | $2,500 | Yes | No | Yes | October 15 | Weak |
| 51 | New Jersey (NJ) | None | No Exemption | $0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | No |
Regional Patterns in Homestead Exemptions
South and Central: Unlimited Bankruptcy Protection
The strongest bankruptcy homestead protections are found in Texas, Florida, Kansas, Iowa, South Dakota, and Oklahoma. These states allow homeowners to protect unlimited home equity from creditors in bankruptcy, subject only to acreage limits. Texas stands out with both unlimited bankruptcy protection and a $100,000 school district property tax exemption. Florida combines unlimited bankruptcy protection with a $50,000 property tax exemption and the Save Our Homes 3% assessment cap.
Northeast: Variable Dollar Caps
Northeastern states show wide variation. New York's bankruptcy exemption ranges from $150,000 to $1,000,000 depending on the county. Massachusetts offers $500,000 with a filed declaration. Rhode Island provides $500,000. Connecticut has a more modest $75,000 exemption. New Jersey is notable for having no state homestead exemption at all, though it offers other property tax relief programs like the ANCHOR benefit.
West: Growing Protections
Western states have been increasing homestead protections. California raised its exemption to $300,000-$600,000 (tied to county median home prices). Nevada protects $605,000. Montana covers $250,000. Idaho provides $175,000. Oregon offers a more modest $40,000. Utah uses a unique 45% percentage-based exemption with no dollar cap, which can be quite valuable for expensive properties.
Midwest: Moderate to Strong
Iowa and Kansas stand out with unlimited bankruptcy protection. Minnesota provides $450,000 in bankruptcy protection with a 40% market value exclusion for property taxes. Indiana uses a 60% percentage exemption. Other Midwest states like Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin offer more modest exemptions in the $15,000-$75,000 range, supplemented by income-based credits and senior programs.
About This Comparison
States are ranked by the effective value of their homestead exemption, considering the maximum of their property tax exemption, any applicable caps, and bankruptcy protection amount. States with unlimited bankruptcy protection are ranked highest. The "Protection" rating considers the overall strength of homestead protections: Strong ($200,000+ or unlimited), Moderate ($50,000-$199,999), Weak ($1-$49,999), and None ($0).
This ranking provides a useful overview but cannot capture every nuance. Many states offer additional protections through senior programs, disabled veteran exemptions, assessment caps, and income-based credits that significantly enhance the effective protection. Use this as a starting point and review individual state pages for complete details.