Compared to pricey Salt Lake County to the south, Weber and Davis counties generally enjoy low taxes — with one major exception: Ogden.

Taxes in Ogden this year average a lofty $1,788 on a $200,000 home — higher than any other citywide average along the Wasatch Front.

That is also a hefty $326 a year (or 22 percent) higher than the countywide average in Weber, and $423 (or 31 percent) higher than the Davis County average.

In fact, of the 255 taxing districts in Weber and Davis counties (each drawn to charge different tax rates resulting from overlapping boundaries of cities, water districts and special service districts), the 30 with the highest rates are all in Ogden. And Ogden only has 31 taxing districts, so just one escaped the highest-taxed list.

Why are taxes higher there?

"It's typical of urban centers," says Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey, explaining that it has a higher percentage of lower-income residents who require more social services.

"We provide all social services for the county. When people get into a situation where they require intensive services of one kind or another, they end up moving to Ogden," he said.

That situation is shown through a Deseret Morning News review of tax records along the Wasatch Front as property taxes are due this month. Today's story focuses on Davis and Weber Counties.

Taxes average $1,365 on a $200,000 home in Davis County (up 0.8 percent from last year), and $1,462 in Weber County (up 2.1 percent). That is cheaper than Salt Lake County's average of $1,647, but higher than Utah County's average of $1,357.

Almost all residents of both Weber and Davis counties will see higher taxes this year.

Of the 56 taxing districts in Davis County, five had lower taxes this year and 50 saw them increase. Of the 199 in Weber, only one had lower taxes this year — and 190 had increases (while year-to-year comparisons were unavailable for eight districts).

An example of why taxes are high in some areas and low in others can be seen by comparing Ogden, where taxes are highest in the two-county area, and Plain City, the city with the lowest taxes. (Taxes are actually the lowest on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake — but no one actually lives there. But some concessionaires at the state park there pay personal property tax to Davis County.)

For example, for city services, Ogden residents pay $458 on a $200,000 home to Ogden City. Meanwhile, Plain City residents pay about one-eighth as much — $59.

For schools, Ogden residents pay $808 on a $200,000 home to the Ogden School District. In Plain City, residents pay $121 a year less — or $687 to the Weber School District. Plain City's 754 families live in an area of approximately 14 square miles.