Plan the numbers
Cost of Living in Moore County, North Carolina
Property taxes are the one relocation cost you can check exactly before you buy, so this page starts there with the 2026-27 rates (effective July 1, 2026). Everything that varies by household is labelled as an estimate, not a published figure.
Property tax rates for 2026-27
Every property in the county pays the county rate. If the home sits inside town limits, the town rate is added on top. Outside town limits, municipal tax generally does not apply, but the bill can still include the county general tax, Advanced Life Support (ALS), and any applicable fire or other district levy. A mailing address does not establish tax jurisdiction, so check the specific parcel.
Moore County (all property) is taxed at $0.29 per $100 of valuation. Adopted county rate for FY2026-27, effective July 1, 2026.
| Town | Town rate | Combined with county | Yearly tax on a $400,000 home | Yearly tax on a $600,000 home | Yearly tax on a $900,000 home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinehurst | $0.22 | $0.51 | $2,040 | $3,060 | $4,590 |
| Southern Pines | $0.29 | $0.58 | $2,320 | $3,480 | $5,220 |
| Foxfire | $0.29 | $0.58 | $2,320 | $3,480 | $5,220 |
| Whispering Pines | $0.40 | $0.69 | $2,760 | $4,140 | $6,210 |
| Pinebluff | $0.40 | $0.69 | $2,760 | $4,140 | $6,210 |
| Aberdeen | $0.42 | $0.71 | $2,840 | $4,260 | $6,390 |
| Vass | $0.49 | $0.78 | $3,120 | $4,680 | $7,020 |
| Carthage | $0.505 | $0.795 | $3,180 | $4,770 | $7,155 |
| Cameron | $0.555 | $0.845 | $3,380 | $5,070 | $7,605 |
Rates are per $100 of assessed valuation, from the official Moore County rate chart (FY2026-27). Sample bills are simple arithmetic on those rates and exclude the county’s Advanced Life Support (EMS) district levy, fire district, solid waste, and municipal service fees. Homes outside town limits pay the county rate only.
What the tax rate does not tell you
A low rate on a high valuation can cost more than a high rate on a modest one. Cameron and Carthage carry the highest municipal rates in the table, yet in-town home prices there are usually lower. Pinehurst has the lowest rate and often the largest bill.
- Assessed value, not your purchase price, drives the bill. Check the county's record for the exact home.
- Homes outside town limits skip the municipal rate but usually rely on well and septic, which changes inspection and maintenance costs.
- Golf, lake, and gated communities add dues or club fees that are separate from taxes and vary widely by community.
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