Property taxCaliforniaCensus ACS 2020–2024
California property tax rates by county
Homeowners in California pay a median $5,124 a year in property tax, 0.70% of the median home value.The median home is worth $734,700. California ranks 35th of 51 (50 states and DC, 1 = highest rate); its rate is 26% lower than the US rate (0.94%). Across its 58 counties the rate runs from 0.58% in Trinity County to 0.88% in Kern County.
Compared with other states
California's property tax rate is 26% lower than the US rate
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value). Grey ticks: the other 50 states and DC.
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates.
Estimate your property tax in California
Pick a county, or keep the state rate. Home value × the effective rate.
$427 a month at 0.70%, the effective rate for California.
| At the US rate (0.94%) | $6,888 |
An estimate from Census averages, not your bill. Your tax depends on your assessed value, local levies and any exemptions (homestead, senior, veteran) you claim.
Property tax rates across California's counties
Kern County has California's highest rate, 0.88%; Trinity County the lowest, 0.58%
Effective rate of each of 58 counties, highest to lowest; dashed line: California as a whole
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates.
Highest rates
| Kern County | 0.88% |
| Placer County | 0.84% |
| Contra Costa County | 0.83% |
| San Benito County | 0.81% |
| Riverside County | 0.78% |
Lowest rates
| Trinity County | 0.58% |
| San Mateo County | 0.61% |
| Mariposa County | 0.61% |
| Del Norte County | 0.61% |
| Colusa County | 0.62% |
Every county in California
Select a column heading to sort.
| County | Effective rate | Median tax | Median home value | Owner homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kern County | 0.88% | $2,984 | $338,300 | 171,133 |
| Placer County | 0.84% | $5,812 | $688,100 | 118,103 |
| Contra Costa County | 0.83% | $7,156 | $866,800 | 281,819 |
| San Benito County | 0.81% | $6,441 | $793,400 | 13,970 |
| Riverside County | 0.78% | $4,348 | $557,300 | 535,986 |
| Alameda County | 0.78% | $8,474 | $1,090,100 | 325,509 |
| Marin County | 0.77% | $10,000+ | $1,507,300 | 66,616 |
| Imperial County | 0.77% | $2,394 | $309,600 | 28,210 |
| Alpine County | 0.77% | $4,530 | $590,200 | 340 |
| Yolo County | 0.77% | $4,749 | $620,700 | 41,637 |
| Nevada County | 0.75% | $4,694 | $621,800 | 32,342 |
| Sutter County | 0.75% | $3,268 | $433,500 | 20,417 |
| Solano County | 0.75% | $4,621 | $617,700 | 99,263 |
| Kings County | 0.75% | $2,425 | $324,300 | 23,870 |
| San Joaquin County | 0.75% | $3,960 | $530,700 | 152,030 |
| Yuba County | 0.74% | $3,071 | $412,300 | 18,182 |
| Inyo County | 0.74% | $2,576 | $348,700 | 5,339 |
| Fresno County | 0.74% | $2,861 | $388,800 | 180,371 |
| Sacramento County | 0.73% | $3,921 | $534,200 | 337,066 |
| Lake County | 0.73% | $2,369 | $324,300 | 19,441 |
| Calaveras County | 0.73% | $3,319 | $457,200 | 15,480 |
| Lassen County | 0.72% | $1,923 | $265,300 | 6,305 |
| Stanislaus County | 0.71% | $3,216 | $450,100 | 108,828 |
| San Francisco County | 0.71% | $9,862 | $1,394,500 | 139,057 |
| Amador County | 0.71% | $3,172 | $449,800 | 12,941 |
| Plumas County | 0.70% | $2,537 | $360,200 | 6,006 |
| Tulare County | 0.70% | $2,318 | $330,100 | 83,701 |
| Madera County | 0.70% | $2,756 | $393,200 | 30,613 |
| San Bernardino County | 0.70% | $3,538 | $505,000 | 418,836 |
| El Dorado County | 0.70% | $4,753 | $679,900 | 58,844 |
| Sonoma County | 0.70% | $5,695 | $815,500 | 119,598 |
| Butte County | 0.69% | $2,951 | $424,700 | 47,717 |
| Modoc County | 0.69% | $1,561 | $224,700 | 2,530 |
| Shasta County | 0.69% | $2,542 | $366,400 | 46,694 |
| Mendocino County | 0.69% | $3,545 | $512,200 | 21,500 |
| Napa County | 0.69% | $5,995 | $869,500 | 31,555 |
| Sierra County | 0.69% | $2,279 | $331,900 | 879 |
| San Luis Obispo County | 0.68% | $5,636 | $824,700 | 67,986 |
| Los Angeles County | 0.68% | $5,675 | $834,200 | 1,567,983 |
| Ventura County | 0.68% | $5,574 | $822,700 | 181,039 |
| Santa Clara County | 0.68% | $10,000+ | $1,490,600 | 363,147 |
| San Diego County | 0.68% | $5,774 | $854,700 | 639,138 |
| Merced County | 0.67% | $2,634 | $391,800 | 46,474 |
| Tuolumne County | 0.66% | $2,864 | $433,200 | 16,771 |
| Orange County | 0.66% | $6,330 | $962,600 | 610,659 |
| Mono County | 0.65% | $4,177 | $639,400 | 3,758 |
| Santa Barbara County | 0.65% | $5,103 | $790,700 | 78,344 |
| Glenn County | 0.64% | $2,263 | $352,400 | 6,002 |
| Humboldt County | 0.64% | $2,858 | $446,900 | 31,053 |
| Siskiyou County | 0.64% | $1,973 | $309,500 | 13,203 |
| Santa Cruz County | 0.64% | $6,538 | $1,027,500 | 58,079 |
| Monterey County | 0.63% | $4,910 | $781,000 | 68,993 |
| Tehama County | 0.62% | $2,118 | $339,600 | 16,640 |
| Colusa County | 0.62% | $2,426 | $393,400 | 4,674 |
| Del Norte County | 0.61% | $2,099 | $342,000 | 6,673 |
| Mariposa County | 0.61% | $2,377 | $387,900 | 5,611 |
| San Mateo County | 0.61% | $9,519 | $1,559,600 | 154,607 |
| Trinity County | 0.58% | $1,888 | $325,800 | 4,006 |
What homeowners pay
70% of California homeowners pay $3,000 or more a year (US 49%)
Owner-occupied homes by yearly real estate taxes paid
| Yearly property tax paid | Share of homeowners |
|---|---|
| No real estate taxes paid | 4% |
| Less than $800 | 4% |
| $800 to $1,499 | 6% |
| $1,500 to $1,999 | 5% |
| $2,000 to $2,999 | 11% |
| $3,000 or more | 70% |
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25102.
Median tax with a mortgage: $5,839; without: $3,825.
Five years earlier
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median property tax paid | $3,818 | $5,124 | +34% |
| Median home value | $505,000 | $734,700 | +45% |
| Effective rate | 0.76% | 0.70% | -0.06 pts |
Nearby states
| State | Effective rate |
|---|---|
| Oregon median $3,876 | 0.81% |
| Washington median $4,556 | 0.81% |
| California median $5,124 | 0.70% |
| Utah median $2,525 | 0.52% |
| Colorado median $2,602 | 0.48% |
| Arizona median $1,879 | 0.48% |
| Nevada median $2,027 | 0.47% |
Where to check your own bill
Property tax in California is assessed and billed locally. State rules, exemptions and relief programs: California State Board of Equalization, property taxes.
Questions and answers
- What is the property tax rate in California?
- The effective rate is 0.70%: a median $5,124 a year on a median home value of $734,700 (Census ACS 2020-2024). It ranks 35th of the 50 states and DC.
- How much is property tax on a $300,000 house in California?
- About $2,092 a year at the state's effective rate; it varies by county, from $1,738 in Trinity County to $2,646 in Kern County.
- Which county in California has the highest property tax?
- By effective rate, Kern County (0.88%). By median bill, Marin County ($10,000+). The lowest rate is in Trinity County (0.58%).
- Does this include all property taxes?
- It is the real estate tax that owner-occupants report paying on their home. Business property, renters' indirect costs and personal property taxes on cars are not included.
Related
- Property taxes by stateranking
- Property tax calculatorany US county
- Where do my state taxes go in California?state budget
- California income tax calculatortake-home pay
- Federal money in CaliforniaUSAspending
Sources and notes
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates (released December 2025), tables B25103 (median real estate taxes paid by mortgage status), B25077 (median value), B25102 (mortgage status by real estate taxes paid), B25090 and B25082 (aggregate taxes paid and aggregate value) and B25003 (tenure). Owner-occupied homes. Public domain.
- Five years earlier: ACS 2015–2019 5-year estimates, tables B25103 and B25077. Dollars are nominal.
- Effective rate = median real estate taxes paid ÷ median home value. Taxes are what homeowners report paying for the year; values are what they say the home would sell for. Where the Census Bureau caps the median tax at “$10,000+”, the rate is total taxes paid ÷ total home value instead. ± figures are the Census 90% margins of error.
- Page built 2026-10-10.