Research & Publications 2024

Examining the Accuracy, Uniformity & Equity of Philadelphia’s 2023 Real Estate Assessments

Topic Housing

Geography Pennsylvania

Written By

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS)

Center for Economic Policy Analysis

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This study examines two interrelated issues. First, we examine the accuracy and uniformity of Philadelphia residential tax assessments (generally called a “ratio study”). Second, we examine how racial, ethnic, and economic demographics interact with those assessments (an “equity study”). This ratio study examines assessed values of residential properties, with one to four units, certified by the Office of Property Assessment (OPA) for the 2023 tax year. The 2023 assessments represent the first citywide re-assessment since 2019.

Selected findings (using two different data reflective of properties in Philadelphia):

The median assessment ratio for residential properties in Philadelphia is close to where it should be, regardless of which dataset is used.
The average variation in assessments around the citywide median ratio exceeds IAAO standards when evaluated with Reinvestment Fund Sales and just barely meets the standard using OPA Sales.
For the city as a whole, regardless of which dataset is used, low value residential properties are over assessed relative to higher value properties at a rate that exceeds the IAAO standard.
Neighborhoods that contain the largest shares of Black residents, Hispanic residents, and low-income residents are more likely to be inaccurately assessed, over assessed, and suffer from under assessment of high value properties relative to lower value properties. In other words, if a person lives in a neighborhood that has a higher percentage of Black, Hispanic or low-income residents, they are more likely to experience property assessments that are not uniform and are disadvantageous to owners of lower value properties.

Learn more about our Housing Research and Analysis here.

About the Authors

Ira Goldstein

Senior Advisor, Policy Solutions

Ira Goldstein, Ph.D., is the Senior Advisor of Policy Solutions at Reinvestment Fund, a results-oriented, socially responsible community investment group. Dr. Goldstein has conducted detailed spatial and statistical analyses in many cities and regions across the US.

Colin Weidig

Senior Policy Analyst

Colin Weidig conducts evaluations, strategic planning, and quantitative analyses for philanthropic, government, and private clients. Employing both quantitative (including spatial, statistical, and analytics-based) and qualitative (including interviews and focus groups) analyses, Mr. Weidig uses research to help clients better understand their markets, programs, and policy advocacy.

Marci Monaco-Vavrik

Policy Analyst

Marci Monaco-Vavrik is the 2020 inaugural Jeremy Nowak Fellow at Reinvestment Fund. This competitive fellowship was created in honor of the late founder of Reinvestment Fund, Jeremy Nowak. She is currently involved with a project on Philadelphia’s property tax assessment system and a national study partnering with the Institute of Museum and Library Services to assess the impact of libraries and museums on the social wellbeing of communities.

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS)

Center for Economic Policy Analysis

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