Property taxes are an unavoidable expense for any homeowner, and they range widely between U.S. states. As home prices have continued to rise, many homeowners are struggling with their monthly property tax bills. How much can you expect to pay each year?For most people, a decent place to start is looking at where your state ranks when it comes to property taxes. The best part? You don't have to guess where you stand—Here's a neat little table that shows the property tax rates for each state.

Top 10 States with the highest property tax rates

1. New Jersey: 9.96%

2. New York: 7.86%

3. Connecticut: 7.47%

4. New Hampshire: 7.44%

5. Vermont: 6.92%

6. Illinois: 6.62%

7. Rhode Island: 6.18%

8. Massachusetts: 5.73%

9. Wisconsin: 5.32%

10. Texas 5.14%.

Top 10 states with the lowest property tax rates

1. Alabama: 1.17%

2. West Virginia: 1.5%

3. Arkansas: 1.67%

4. South Carolina: 1.75%

5. Louisiana: 1.82%

6. Wyoming: 2.11%

7. Delaware: 2.12%

8. Indiana: 2.13%

9. Hawaii: 2.15%

10. Mississippi: 2.15%

Like it or not, property taxes are a big part of the cost of living in any city. But with state and local governments so dependent on property taxes to fund everything from schools to water treatment plants and fire departments, the burden can be unevenly distributed. Choosing where to live shouldn't be solely based on your property tax bill. Generally, high property taxes indicate that public schools and other services are well funded and are worth the cost to residents. They can also reflect a strong local economy and the strength of real-estate values in the region.

How much do you need to budget for property taxes?

When you're shopping for a home, it's important to look at what you'll be paying in property taxes. In many states, the property tax is the largest single bill homeowners have to pay. The amount you pay depends on your home's value and your location—in some places, the property tax is a manageable part of your mortgage payment and overall budget; in others, it could mean that you spend more on property taxes than on food. Homeowners in New Jersey have to cough up 9.96% of their household income to property taxes, with the medium property tax payment at $8,488 and the median household income at $85,245. New York follows closely behind as the second state with the highest household income (7.86%) budgeted toward property taxes ($5,590). Connecticut has the third-highest property tax, with 7.47% of household income paid toward property taxes, totaling $5,966.

In states where home prices are lower and incomes are relatively low compared to other parts of the country, homeowners don't have to shell out as much money for their homes; this is one reason why places like Alabama and West Virginia can afford lower property taxes than other states.