California property tax
West region · 58 counties · Census ACS 2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year)
California has a population-weighted effective property-tax rate of 0.72% of home value (Census ACS 2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year)) — -33.3% versus the US average of 1.08%, below the US average effective rate. The typical bill is about $5,368 on a median home worth around $754,609. California ranks #36 of 51 states by property-tax rate (1 = highest). Within the state, Kern County is highest at 0.91% and Trinity County is lowest at 0.54%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates. Data as of June 2026.
California property tax at a glance
| Figure | California |
|---|---|
| Effective property-tax rate (pop-weighted) | 0.72% |
| Median-of-counties rate | 0.70% |
| Typical median bill | $5,368 |
| Typical median home value | $754,609 |
| Versus US average rate | -33.3% (US avg 1.08%) |
| State rank (1 = highest of 51) | #36 |
| Counties | 58 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates. Data as of June 2026.
California counties ranked by property-tax rate
Counties in California, highest effective rate first (top 40 of 58 shown). Counties with their own page are linked.
| Rank | County | Median tax/yr | Median home value | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kern County | $2,833 | $310,600 | 0.91% |
| 2 | Placer County | $5,600 | $658,800 | 0.85% |
| 3 | Imperial County | $2,348 | $279,500 | 0.84% |
| 4 | Contra Costa County | $6,903 | $830,800 | 0.83% |
| 5 | Riverside County | $4,189 | $510,300 | 0.82% |
| 6 | San Benito County | $6,078 | $751,500 | 0.81% |
| 7 | Sutter County | $3,111 | $399,400 | 0.78% |
| 8 | Sierra County | $2,590 | $334,100 | 0.78% |
| 9 | Yolo County | $4,567 | $593,800 | 0.77% |
| 10 | Mono County | $3,936 | $514,300 | 0.77% |
| 11 | San Joaquin County | $3,782 | $494,500 | 0.77% |
| 12 | Alameda County | $8,061 | $1,057,400 | 0.76% |
| 13 | Sacramento County | $3,768 | $498,900 | 0.76% |
| 14 | Yuba County | $2,865 | $380,000 | 0.75% |
| 15 | Kings County | $2,295 | $305,700 | 0.75% |
| 16 | Solano County | $4,408 | $589,600 | 0.75% |
| 17 | Fresno County | $2,704 | $362,600 | 0.75% |
| 18 | Nevada County | $4,468 | $602,800 | 0.74% |
| 19 | Tulare County | $2,213 | $303,000 | 0.73% |
| 20 | Lake County | $2,295 | $316,800 | 0.72% |
| 21 | Plumas County | $2,360 | $327,400 | 0.72% |
| 22 | Lassen County | $1,868 | $259,500 | 0.72% |
| 23 | Marin County | $10,001 | $1,390,000 | 0.72% |
| 24 | Sonoma County | $5,580 | $779,000 | 0.72% |
| 25 | Calaveras County | $3,154 | $441,800 | 0.71% |
| 26 | Stanislaus County | $3,025 | $426,600 | 0.71% |
| 27 | Inyo County | $2,392 | $338,400 | 0.71% |
| 28 | Santa Clara County | $9,766 | $1,382,800 | 0.71% |
| 29 | El Dorado County | $4,510 | $640,500 | 0.70% |
| 30 | San Bernardino County | $3,346 | $475,000 | 0.70% |
| 31 | San Luis Obispo County | $5,475 | $777,200 | 0.70% |
| 32 | Shasta County | $2,442 | $347,200 | 0.70% |
| 33 | Madera County | $2,575 | $367,700 | 0.70% |
| 34 | San Diego County | $5,542 | $791,600 | 0.70% |
| 35 | Napa County | $5,840 | $838,800 | 0.70% |
| 36 | Amador County | $2,939 | $422,800 | 0.69% |
| 37 | Mendocino County | $3,376 | $486,000 | 0.69% |
| 38 | Los Angeles County | $5,438 | $783,300 | 0.69% |
| 39 | Ventura County | $5,326 | $768,400 | 0.69% |
| 40 | Butte County | $2,819 | $408,700 | 0.69% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates. Data as of June 2026.
How California compares with other states
| State | Effective rate | Median bill | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| California (this state) | 0.72% | $5,368 | -33.3% |
| North Carolina | 0.73% | $1,965 | -32.6% |
| Mississippi | 0.74% | $1,181 | -31.0% |
| New Mexico | 0.75% | $1,717 | -30.3% |
| Indiana | 0.77% | $1,614 | -28.4% |
| Montana | 0.78% | $2,616 | -28.1% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the property-tax rate in California?
California's population-weighted effective property-tax rate is 0.72% of home value (Census ACS 2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year)), -33.3% versus the US average of 1.08%. The typical bill works out to about $5,368 on a $754,609 home. It ranks #36 of 51 states (1 = highest).
Which California county has the highest property tax?
In California, Kern County has the highest effective property-tax rate at 0.91% (median tax $2,833). The lowest is Trinity County at 0.54%. Source: Census ACS 2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year).
Is property tax high in California?
California is low on property tax at a 0.72% effective rate, below the US average effective rate. The median California home is worth about $754,609 and the median bill is around $5,368. Rates vary widely between its 58 counties.
How is the California property-tax rate calculated?
It is a population-weighted average of each county's effective rate (median real estate taxes paid / median home value), using Census ACS 2023 5-year tables B25103 and B25077. A median-of-counties rate (0.70%) is also computed as a check. These are area medians, not statutory mill rates.
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Source & accuracy
State figures aggregate county-level Census ACS (2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year)) data (median real estate taxes paid B25103, median home value B25077), population-weighted. US public domain. These are area medians, not statutory rates or your individual bill — your property tax depends on your assessed value, exemptions and local levy. Verify with your county assessor. See our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20