The Property-Tax Revolution
Rising home values and property taxes have sparked a grassroots tax revolt across the United States, leading many states to implement tax relief measures. Florida is currently considering a significant expansion of its homestead exemption to further reduce the tax burden on homeowners.
Why it matters
The trend reflects widespread economic frustration among homeowners and could significantly impact local government revenue streams.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Shutterstock; Getty. September 13, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save The United States is in the throes of the largest tax revolt in a generation, and the revolutionaries are winning.
Since 2020, nationwide home values have climbed roughly 50 percent, leading property-tax bills to increase 19 percent and contributing to a 71 percent increase in the cost of homeowner’s insurance. At the same time, the price of gas, utilities, food, and everything else has risen, stamping out entrepreneurship, dimming the fertility rate, and making even six-figure earners feel financially strained.
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