Harris County, Texas Property Tax Calculator
Figure basis: Official US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimatesThis Harris County, Texas property tax calculator estimates the annual property tax on a home using the county's median effective property tax rate, which the US Census Bureau reports as 1.62% of a home's value. Enter a home value to see the estimated yearly property tax at that median rate. The Census figure is derived from the median real estate taxes paid in Harris County, Texas ($4,489) divided by the median home value ($276,600), from the American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Property tax in the United States is set locally, so your actual rate depends on your city, school district and any special districts within Harris County, and on how your property is assessed. Two homes of the same value in different parts of the county can have different bills once exemptions and municipal rates are applied. Use this as a sound county benchmark, then check the Harris County assessor for your property's assessed value and the exact local millage rate, plus any homestead or senior exemptions you qualify for. The median real estate taxes and median home value here are official Census figures; the effective rate is the simple, disclosed ratio of the two.
Harris County, Texas's median effective property tax rate is 1.62% of home value (Census: median tax $4,489 on a median home worth $276,600). On a $400,000 home that is about $6,480 a year.
How Harris County property tax is estimated
estimated annual property tax = home value x effective rate / 100
Harris County median effective rate = median real estate taxes / median home value x 100
= $4,489 / $276,600 x 100 = 1.62%
Property tax is levied by local governments, so your exact rate is set by your county and municipality. The median rate above is a benchmark; check the Harris County assessor for the assessed value and local millage that apply to your home.
Why Harris County's 1.62% median rate lands above the Texas norm
At a 1.62% median effective rate, Harris County sits well above the Texas county median of 1.19%, roughly a third higher. On the county's median home value of $276,600, that works out to a typical annual property-tax bill of about $4,489.
Keep in mind this figure is a Census county median, not a fixed rate. What any single owner pays depends on the millage set by overlapping taxing units, the school district you fall in, and the assessed value the appraisal district places on your home. Two houses at the same price on different sides of the county can owe noticeably different amounts.
If your bill feels heavy, a few levers are worth checking:
- The homestead exemption on your primary residence
- Added relief for seniors and disabled veterans
- The appraisal-protest process when your valuation looks too high
Harris County, Texas property tax: frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Harris County, Texas?
The median effective property tax rate in Harris County, Texas is 1.62% of a home's value, based on US Census Bureau data (median real estate taxes of $4,489 on a median home value of $276,600). On a $400,000 home that is about $6,480 a year. Your exact bill depends on your assessed value and local millage.
How is Harris County property tax calculated?
Property tax is your home's assessed value multiplied by the combined local millage rate set by the county, city, school district and any special districts. This calculator estimates it from the Harris County, Texas median effective rate of 1.62%; for an exact figure, use the Harris County assessor's assessed value and local millage.
Is Harris County property tax higher or lower than the Texas average?
This page shows the Harris County median effective rate of 1.62% from the Census. Compare it with the Texas statewide median on the Texas property tax page. Rates vary across counties because local governments, not the state, set property tax.
Where does the Harris County property tax data come from?
From the US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024): table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid) and B25077 (median home value) for Harris County, Texas. The effective rate is taxes divided by value, verified as at Jul 16, 2026.
Official sources
- Harris County, Texas median real estate taxes paid and median home value (ACS 2024 5-year, tables B25103 and B25077): US Census Bureau, as at Jul 16, 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 26 June 2026. See our methodology. General information, not financial or tax advice. Effective rate is the Census county median; your local rate is set by your municipality and school district.