In short
Homeowners in California paid a median $5,124 a year in property tax on a home with a median value of $734,700, 0.7% of the value (Census ACS 2020-2024), rank 34 of 51 including DC. Across its 58 counties, the ratio ranges from 0.58% in Trinity County to 0.88% in Kern County; 2 counties have a median bill at the Census ceiling of $10,000 or more: Santa Clara County, Marin County.
Every county
| County | Tax ÷ value | Median tax, per year | Margin of error | Median home value | Owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kern County | 0.88% | $2,984 | ±$55 | $338,300 | 171,133 |
| Placer County | 0.84% | $5,812 | ±$89 | $688,100 | 118,103 |
| Contra Costa County | 0.83% | $7,156 | ±$82 | $866,800 | 281,819 |
| San Benito County | 0.81% | $6,441 | ±$246 | $793,400 | 13,970 |
| Alameda County | 0.78% | $8,474 | ±$77 | $1,090,100 | 325,509 |
| Riverside County | 0.78% | $4,348 | ±$38 | $557,300 | 535,986 |
| Alpine County | 0.77% | $4,530 | ±$457 | $590,200 | 340 |
| Imperial County | 0.77% | $2,394 | ±$125 | $309,600 | 28,210 |
| Yolo County | 0.77% | $4,749 | ±$155 | $620,700 | 41,637 |
| Kings County | 0.75% | $2,425 | ±$101 | $324,300 | 23,870 |
| Nevada County | 0.75% | $4,694 | ±$162 | $621,800 | 32,342 |
| San Joaquin County | 0.75% | $3,960 | ±$68 | $530,700 | 152,030 |
| Solano County | 0.75% | $4,621 | ±$86 | $617,700 | 99,263 |
| Sutter County | 0.75% | $3,268 | ±$167 | $433,500 | 20,417 |
| Fresno County | 0.74% | $2,861 | ±$42 | $388,800 | 180,371 |
| Inyo County | 0.74% | $2,576 | ±$235 | $348,700 | 5,339 |
| Yuba County | 0.74% | $3,071 | ±$203 | $412,300 | 18,182 |
| Calaveras County | 0.73% | $3,319 | ±$149 | $457,200 | 15,480 |
| Lake County | 0.73% | $2,369 | ±$131 | $324,300 | 19,441 |
| Sacramento County | 0.73% | $3,921 | ±$42 | $534,200 | 337,066 |
| Lassen County | 0.72% | $1,923 | ±$103 | $265,300 | 6,305 |
| Amador County | 0.71% | $3,172 | ±$199 | $449,800 | 12,941 |
| San Francisco County | 0.71% | $9,862 | ±$215 | $1,394,500 | 139,057 |
| Stanislaus County | 0.71% | $3,216 | ±$69 | $450,100 | 108,828 |
| El Dorado County | 0.7% | $4,753 | ±$121 | $679,900 | 58,844 |
| Madera County | 0.7% | $2,756 | ±$102 | $393,200 | 30,613 |
| Plumas County | 0.7% | $2,537 | ±$140 | $360,200 | 6,006 |
| San Bernardino County | 0.7% | $3,538 | ±$36 | $505,000 | 418,836 |
| Sonoma County | 0.7% | $5,695 | ±$106 | $815,500 | 119,598 |
| Tulare County | 0.7% | $2,318 | ±$61 | $330,100 | 83,701 |
| Butte County | 0.69% | $2,951 | ±$103 | $424,700 | 47,717 |
| Mendocino County | 0.69% | $3,545 | ±$174 | $512,200 | 21,500 |
| Modoc County | 0.69% | $1,561 | ±$234 | $224,700 | 2,530 |
| Napa County | 0.69% | $5,995 | ±$236 | $869,500 | 31,555 |
| Shasta County | 0.69% | $2,542 | ±$56 | $366,400 | 46,694 |
| Sierra County | 0.69% | $2,279 | ±$440 | $331,900 | 879 |
| Los Angeles County | 0.68% | $5,675 | ±$32 | $834,200 | 1,567,983 |
| San Diego County | 0.68% | $5,774 | ±$47 | $854,700 | 639,138 |
| San Luis Obispo County | 0.68% | $5,636 | ±$132 | $824,700 | 67,986 |
| Ventura County | 0.68% | $5,574 | ±$79 | $822,700 | 181,039 |
| Merced County | 0.67% | $2,634 | ±$86 | $391,800 | 46,474 |
| Santa Clara County | about 0.67% | $10,000 or more | — | $1,490,600 | 363,147 |
| Marin County | about 0.66% | $10,000 or more | — | $1,507,300 | 66,616 |
| Orange County | 0.66% | $6,330 | ±$53 | $962,600 | 610,659 |
| Tuolumne County | 0.66% | $2,864 | ±$147 | $433,200 | 16,771 |
| Mono County | 0.65% | $4,177 | ±$389 | $639,400 | 3,758 |
| Santa Barbara County | 0.65% | $5,103 | ±$149 | $790,700 | 78,344 |
| Glenn County | 0.64% | $2,263 | ±$211 | $352,400 | 6,002 |
| Humboldt County | 0.64% | $2,858 | ±$93 | $446,900 | 31,053 |
| Santa Cruz County | 0.64% | $6,538 | ±$166 | $1,027,500 | 58,079 |
| Siskiyou County | 0.64% | $1,973 | ±$88 | $309,500 | 13,203 |
| Monterey County | 0.63% | $4,910 | ±$119 | $781,000 | 68,993 |
| Colusa County | 0.62% | $2,426 | ±$207 | $393,400 | 4,674 |
| Tehama County | 0.62% | $2,118 | ±$123 | $339,600 | 16,640 |
| Del Norte County | 0.61% | $2,099 | ±$156 | $342,000 | 6,673 |
| Mariposa County | 0.61% | $2,377 | ±$161 | $387,900 | 5,611 |
| San Mateo County | 0.61% | $9,519 | ±$153 | $1,559,600 | 154,607 |
| Trinity County | 0.58% | $1,888 | ±$274 | $325,800 | 4,006 |
| California | 0.7% | $5,124 | ±$17 | $734,700 | 7,567,568 |
Owner-occupied homes, five-year estimates 2020-2024; 90% margins of error as published. “Tax ÷ value” is the median tax divided by the median value, a ratio of two medians. The Census caps reported taxes at $10,000 and values at $2,000,000: where a median hits the cap, the ratio is approximate. In small counties the margin of error can be large.
Questions
What is the property tax rate in California?
The median tax paid by owner-occupants, $5,124 a year, is 0.7% of the median home value ($734,700), ACS 2020-2024. Your own bill depends on your assessed value, local levies and exemptions.
Which county in California has the highest property tax?
As a share of home value: Kern County (0.88%), Placer County (0.84%), Contra Costa County (0.83%). In dollars: Santa Clara County, Marin County ($10,000 or more, the Census ceiling).
How property tax works in California, exemptions and appeals: California property tax guide. All states: property tax by county.
General information drawn from the official sources cited and dated on this page. It is not legal, tax or financial advice: for your own situation, ask a licensed professional.