Buying on the Alabama side and torn between Phenix City and Smiths Station? On the same $300,000 house, Smiths Station’s property tax runs about $390 a year below Phenix City’s. Phenix City is about 11 minutes closer to the main gate, and Smiths Station homes sell for roughly $70,000 more at the median.
Your tax bill on both sides
Enter a price to see the yearly property tax in each area, using each county’s latest published millage.
Georgia 2026 and Alabama 2025 millage, the latest published. Georgia assesses at 40% of value and Alabama at 10% for a home you live in. Rates change every year and some parcels sit in a different district, so confirm with the county tax office. Educational estimate, not tax advice.
Choosing between Phenix City and Smiths Station? Our PCS Buyer Game Plan puts the decision in order before you tour.
Get the PCS Buyer Game PlanPhenix City vs. Smiths Station at a glance
| Phenix City (Russell County part) | Smiths Station (Lee County) | |
|---|---|---|
| Millage (latest published, 2025) | 59.0 | 46.0 |
| Sales tax | 9.75% | about 9% (confirm with the city) |
| Median sale price | $249,342 (ZIP 36867, 3 mo. to Aug 2026) | $319,848 (3 mo. to Sep 2026) |
| List-to-sold ratio | 97.7% | 98.5% |
| Schools | Phenix City Schools inside city limits; Russell County outside | Lee County Schools, Smiths Station district |
| Trash | 121 Disposal (city service) | Waste Management, mandatory, $23 a month |
| Water and sewer | City of Phenix City; rates rise Jan 1, 2027 | Smiths Water & Sewer Authority |
Sources: Alabama 2025 millage; Redfin 36867 and Smiths Station; Smiths Station trash; utilities.
Property tax: same state, different millage
Alabama taxes owner-occupied homes on 10% of value, so both bills sit far below the Georgia side. The difference is millage: Phenix City’s 59.0 is 6.5 state, 12.0 county, 21.5 school and 19.0 city; Smiths Station’s 46.0 is 6.5 state, 13.5 county, 21.0 school and 5.0 city. Homestead takes $4,000 off the state portion and $2,000 off the county portion, and at 65 you stop paying the state portion.
Two things could move these numbers. In May 2026 voters rejected renewal of Phenix City’s 4-mill and Russell County’s 4.5-mill school taxes; both are back on the November 3, 2026 ballot. If they fail again, Phenix City’s millage could fall from the 2027 tax year. And part of Phenix City is in Lee County, where the millage differs, so look up the parcel.
Commute to Fort Benning
| From | I-185 / Lindsey Creek gate | Eddy Bridge gate |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Phenix City | about 15 min, 13th St bridge to US-27/280 | about 22 min, MLK Pkwy and AL-165 |
| Smiths Station | about 26 min, US-280/431 to US-27/280 | about 33 min, US-431 and AL-165 |
Free-flow estimates from OpenStreetMap routing. Both gates are open 24/7 per the garrison gate list.
Both towns keep Eastern time, so your day runs on the same clock as post. Your housing allowance follows your duty station, not the house. Check your rate by ZIP on the DoD BAH calculator. Smiths Station is in Lee County, so check its ZIP rather than assuming the Fort Benning rate.
Schools
A Phenix City address can be zoned for Phenix City Schools or Russell County Schools, depending on the city limits. Smiths Station is served by Lee County Schools, whose elementary schools split by grade from 2026–27. We don’t rank them; the ratings are on the Alabama State Report Card. Check an exact address on our Phenix City and Smiths Station school-zone pages.
Weighing two addresses? Get the game plan: what to settle before you tour, what to check on each address, and when to write the offer.
Get the PCS Buyer Game PlanRelated reading
Before you rely on any of this
This page is educational. It isn’t tax, legal or insurance advice, and it doesn’t rate neighborhoods or schools. Millage is set every year, exemptions depend on your circumstances and whether you file, and prices move monthly. Alabama’s 2026 millage table wasn’t published yet when we checked. Your county tax office, an insurance agent and the school district can give you the real numbers for a specific address. Checked October 13, 2026.
Arrio & Kelsey are licensed real estate agents in Georgia and Alabama with Coldwell Banker Kennon & Parker. Equal Housing Opportunity. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense, or Fort Benning.