The north country’s property tax burden is lower than the median in the state, according to a report from the Empire Center for Public Policy, but much of that comes from contributions from low tax rates outside of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

North country residents pay a median of $24.57 per $1,000 of assessed property value in taxes. That’s a smidge below $27.43, the state’s median.

Meanwhile, in the north country in general, St. Lawrence County residents are far and away the highest in the region. Of the 20 municipalities in the region, 18 are in St. Lawrence County.

Village of Potsdam residents pay the most in the county, at $49.89 per $1,000 assessed value.

Essex County has some of the lowest property tax burdens in the county, with 11 municipalities in the top 20.

Compared to St. Lawrence County, Jefferson County is doing just fine.

The town of Orleans in the Indian River school district has the fourth-lowest tax rate in the region, at $12.18 per $1,000. Also among the bottom 20 are the town of Alexandria in the Indian River school district (sixth, at $12.33), the town of Pamelia in the Indian River school district (eighth, at $12.47), the town of Theresa in the Indian River school district (16th, at $14.06), the town of LeRay at (19th, at $14.69) and the town of Henderson in the Belleville-Henderson (20th at $14.79)…..

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