Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
California Property Taxes
The average California homeowner pays $4,230 a year at an effective rate of 0.70%, 112% above the U.S. median. Compare 58 counties below.
- $4,230
- Avg median tax
- 0.70%
- Effective rate
- #34 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 58
- Counties
The verdict
The average California homeowner pays $4,230 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 0.70%, the #34 highest burden of 51 U.S. states.
- $4,230
- Average median tax, 2024
- 0.70%
- Statewide effective rate
- #34 of 51
- U.S. states by tax burden
- 58
- counties measured
Effective rate is the median property tax bill divided by the median home value ($604,112). U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024.
The average median property tax in California is $4,230/year, which is 112% above the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 0.70% on a median home value of $604,112. Taxes range from $1,561 in Modoc County to $10,001 in Santa Clara County.
What This Data Tells Us About California
Across 58 counties in California, the average median property tax is $4,230 per year, 112% above the national median of $1,993. The statewide effective rate of 0.70% on a median home value of $604,112 reflects how California's assessment rules and local millage combine at the household level.
Within California, median annual tax ranges from $1,561 in Modoc County (effective rate 0.69%) to $10,001 in Santa Clara County (effective rate 0.67%). Median home values in California ($604,112) compared with $227,791 nationally help explain why the same effective rate produces different dollar bills in different states. Within-state variation often tracks local school levies, county bonds, and municipal overlays rather than a single statewide rate.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe median homeowner households reported to the Census Bureau, individual bills can differ based on assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and local overlays. Always confirm current rates with your county assessor or a qualified professional before making decisions that rely on these numbers.
State Average vs National Average
How California compares
Average effective property tax rate vs the national average, ACS 2024.
California has a higher effective property tax rate than 34% of U.S. states, ranking #34 of 51 for property tax burden.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
Based on the average effective tax rate of 0.70% compared to the national average of 0.92%. California has below-average property tax rates, making it a more affordable state for homeowners.
All Counties in California (58)
| County (by tax bill) | Median tax | Eff. rate | Home value | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marin County | $10,001 | 0.66% | $1,507,300 | 257,969 |
| Santa Clara County | $10,001 | 0.67% | $1,490,600 | 1,902,047 |
| San Francisco County | $9,862 | 0.71% | $1,394,500 | 830,235 |
| San Mateo County | $9,519 | 0.61% | $1,559,600 | 742,340 |
| Alameda County | $8,474 | 0.78% | $1,090,100 | 1,649,473 |
| Contra Costa County | $7,156 | 0.83% | $866,800 | 1,165,012 |
| Santa Cruz County | $6,538 | 0.64% | $1,027,500 | 264,926 |
| San Benito County | $6,441 | 0.81% | $793,400 | 67,290 |
| Orange County | $6,330 | 0.66% | $962,600 | 3,165,820 |
| Napa County | $5,995 | 0.69% | $869,500 | 134,869 |
| Placer County | $5,812 | 0.84% | $688,100 | 419,156 |
| San Diego County | $5,774 | 0.68% | $854,700 | 3,288,774 |
| Sonoma County | $5,695 | 0.70% | $815,500 | 485,040 |
| Los Angeles County | $5,675 | 0.68% | $834,200 | 9,808,667 |
| San Luis Obispo County | $5,636 | 0.68% | $824,700 | 281,555 |
| Ventura County | $5,574 | 0.68% | $822,700 | 837,469 |
| Santa Barbara County | $5,103 | 0.65% | $790,700 | 443,701 |
| Monterey County | $4,910 | 0.63% | $781,000 | 437,613 |
| El Dorado County | $4,753 | 0.70% | $679,900 | 192,662 |
| Yolo County | $4,749 | 0.77% | $620,700 | 220,564 |
| Nevada County | $4,694 | 0.75% | $621,800 | 102,481 |
| Solano County | $4,621 | 0.75% | $617,700 | 451,918 |
| Alpine County | $4,530 | 0.77% | $590,200 | 1,616 |
| Riverside County | $4,348 | 0.78% | $557,300 | 2,478,600 |
| Mono County | $4,177 | 0.65% | $639,400 | 13,148 |
| San Joaquin County | $3,960 | 0.75% | $530,700 | 797,334 |
| Sacramento County | $3,921 | 0.73% | $534,200 | 1,594,006 |
| Mendocino County | $3,545 | 0.69% | $512,200 | 90,244 |
| San Bernardino County | $3,538 | 0.70% | $505,000 | 2,197,104 |
| Calaveras County | $3,319 | 0.73% | $457,200 | 46,248 |
| Sutter County | $3,268 | 0.75% | $433,500 | 98,857 |
| Stanislaus County | $3,216 | 0.71% | $450,100 | 553,990 |
| Amador County | $3,172 | 0.71% | $449,800 | 41,428 |
| Yuba County | $3,071 | 0.74% | $412,300 | 84,507 |
| Kern County | $2,984 | 0.88% | $338,300 | 915,075 |
| Butte County | $2,951 | 0.69% | $424,700 | 207,929 |
| Tuolumne County | $2,864 | 0.66% | $433,200 | 54,498 |
| Fresno County | $2,861 | 0.74% | $388,800 | 1,016,725 |
| Humboldt County | $2,858 | 0.64% | $446,900 | 134,541 |
| Madera County | $2,756 | 0.70% | $393,200 | 160,940 |
| Merced County | $2,634 | 0.67% | $391,800 | 290,201 |
| Inyo County | $2,576 | 0.74% | $348,700 | 18,739 |
| Shasta County | $2,542 | 0.69% | $366,400 | 181,436 |
| Plumas County | $2,537 | 0.70% | $360,200 | 19,423 |
| Colusa County | $2,426 | 0.62% | $393,400 | 21,984 |
| Kings County | $2,425 | 0.75% | $324,300 | 153,298 |
| Imperial County | $2,394 | 0.77% | $309,600 | 180,202 |
| Mariposa County | $2,377 | 0.61% | $387,900 | 17,082 |
| Lake County | $2,369 | 0.73% | $324,300 | 68,152 |
| Tulare County | $2,318 | 0.70% | $330,100 | 478,693 |
| Sierra County | $2,279 | 0.69% | $331,900 | 2,746 |
| Glenn County | $2,263 | 0.64% | $352,400 | 28,494 |
| Tehama County | $2,118 | 0.62% | $339,600 | 65,167 |
| Del Norte County | $2,099 | 0.61% | $342,000 | 27,107 |
| Siskiyou County | $1,973 | 0.64% | $309,500 | 43,466 |
| Lassen County | $1,923 | 0.72% | $265,300 | 30,356 |
| Trinity County | $1,888 | 0.58% | $325,800 | 15,860 |
| Modoc County | $1,561 | 0.69% | $224,700 | 8,600 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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