Ohio vs Wyoming
Same underlying data as the individual state pages, side by side. Statutory rates and redemption windows only — always confirm against the county's own auction notice before bidding.
| | Ohio | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Sale type | Tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure | Tax lien certificate |
| Rate / penalty | Up to 18%, bid down or negotiated | 15% + one-time 3% penalty, no bidding |
| Redemption | 1+ year | 4+ years |
These aren't the same kind of sale: Ohio runs a tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure, while Wyoming runs a tax lien certificate. That changes what you actually hold after the sale — a claim against the debt in one case, the property itself (or a right to it) in the other.
Redemption windows differ: Ohio gives owners 1+ year, Wyoming gives 4+ years — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Ohio county treasurers may sell tax certificates (R.C. 5721.31): at auction the rate is bid down from 18% in quarter-point steps and the owner pays at least 6% of the price on redemption (R.C. 5721.32, 5721.30(E)), or the whole list goes to one buyer in a negotiated sale (R.C. 5721.33). The holder can file for foreclosure after one year (R.C. 5721.37) and the owner can redeem until the sale is confirmed. Where no certificate is sold, the county forecloses and the sheriff sells the property (R.C. 5721.18–5721.19).
Full Ohio page →Wyoming certificates are sold for the amount due, with no bidding on rate or price; when several buyers want a parcel, the county draws a number. The owner repays the price plus a one-time 3% and 15% simple interest a year (W.S. 39-13-109(e)(iv)), and can redeem until the holder's deed application is accepted, which is allowed from four to six years after the sale (W.S. 39-13-108(e)(v)).
Full Wyoming page →Property & tax market
| | Ohio | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $214,800 | $309,700 |
| Median property tax / year | $2,822 | $1,767 |
| Tax / home value | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| Tax / household income | 4.0% | 2.3% |
| Homes owned outright | 39.4% | 44.2% |
| “Other vacant” homes | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1981 |
A typical home in Ohio pays 1.6× the property tax of one in Wyoming ($2,822 against $1,767 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Ohio lien ties up about 1.6× the money of a Wyoming one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.6× the dollars.
Homes owned outright — where no lender has a reason to pay the delinquent bill for the owner — are 39.4% of owner-occupied homes in Ohio and 44.2% in Wyoming. The Census “other vacant” share (foreclosures, homes in legal limbo or needing repairs, abandoned homes) is 4.3% against 4.4%: about the same, so neither state's lists should carry noticeably more empty properties.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25077, B25103, B25081, B25002, B25004, B25035, B19013). Medians of what owners report paying, not statutory rates. County-level figures are on each state page.
Quick answers
Is Ohio or Wyoming a tax lien state?+
Ohio is a tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure state. Wyoming is a tax lien certificate state.
Which has the higher rate, Ohio or Wyoming?+
Ohio: Up to 18%, bid down or negotiated. Wyoming: 15% + one-time 3% penalty, no bidding. Compare the actual statutory ceiling, not just the headline number — most "up to" rates get bid down at auction.
Which redeems faster, Ohio or Wyoming?+
Redemption windows differ: Ohio gives owners 1+ year, Wyoming gives 4+ years — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Are property taxes higher in Ohio or Wyoming?+
The median homeowner pays $2,822 a year in Ohio and $1,767 in Wyoming (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates). A typical home in Ohio pays 1.6× the property tax of one in Wyoming ($2,822 against $1,767 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Ohio lien ties up about 1.6× the money of a Wyoming one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.6× the dollars.
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See where these two rank against all 50 states: full rankings.
This page is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates and redemption periods are set by state statute and can change by county or legislative session — always confirm against the county's own auction notice before bidding.