Values jump for residential, commercial parcels in West OC, south Worcester County
Property taxes will rise this year for many homeowners in West Ocean City and in southern Worcester County after the latest round of statewide tax assessments showed a rise in values for more than 90% of affected properties.
The state mailed assessments Dec. 30 to 15,300 residential and commercial accounts in the areas of Newark, Snow Hill, Girdletree, Stockton and Pocomoke City, as well as West Ocean City and the South Point area. This year’s reassessment area is known as Group 2.
According to the state’s Department of Assessments and Taxation, or SDAT, more than 90% of residential properties in Group 2 will see higher assessments, along with about 76% of commercial parcels. Any increases will be phased in over the next three years. Property owners may appeal their new values at the county level.
SDAT divides Worcester County into three different areas, with each reassessed once every three years.
The most recent residential Group 2 assessment data from January 2023 showed a total property value of $3.46 billion. For 2025, the new residential total is $3.82 billion, a 10.5% increase. Commercial assessments rose about 8.5% over the same period.