Harris County Property Tax Calculator
Texas leans hard on local property tax to fund schools and services since there's no state income tax to share the load, and Harris County is no exception. The Harris Central Appraisal District values every parcel in the county each year, and school districts, the county, cities, and special districts each set their own rate against that value. Pick Harris County in the calculator above and drop in a home value for a quick read.
Annual Property Tax
$4,163Monthly (Escrow)
$347Effective Rate
1.50%Harris County's effective rate (1.50%) is 7% higher than the Texas average (1.40%).
Edit inputs ↑Harris County Effective Rate
1.50%
Vs. Texas Average
7% higher
Texas National Rank
#7 of 51
1 = highest statewide rate
County Median Home Value
$276,600
Estimated Annual Tax (Median Home)
$4,163
Monthly Equivalent
$347
Property tax in Harris County, Texas
- The Harris Central Appraisal District determines market value annually; local taxing units — schools, county, city, utility districts — each set a separate rate applied to it.
- Owners who disagree with their appraised value can file a formal protest with the county's appraisal review board.
- Filing for a homestead exemption cuts a primary residence's taxable figure, and state law also puts a lid on yearly appraisal growth once that filing is on record.
- With no Texas state income tax to lean on, property tax here shoulders a bigger load of local funding than it would in most other states.
Other large Texas counties
Effective rate = aggregate real-estate taxes paid ÷ aggregate home value (ACS 2024 5-year).
| County | Effective Rate | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|
| Travis County | 1.31% | $523,000 |
| Collin County | 1.48% | $475,600 |
| Dallas County | 1.44% | $303,000 |
| Tarrant County | 1.54% | $323,900 |
| Bexar County | 1.55% | $262,200 |
| El Paso County | 1.80% | $180,400 |
| Fort Bend County | 1.77% | $374,500 |
| Brazoria County | 1.69% | $301,600 |
| Mitchell County | 1.68% | $85,800 |
| Hidalgo County | 1.63% | $140,900 |
See property tax across every county in Texas at the Texas property tax calculator , or check your Texas income tax with the Texas income tax calculator .
Frequently asked questions
How is property tax calculated in Harris County?
The Harris Central Appraisal District puts a value on your property, and every overlapping taxing unit — school district, county, city, plus whatever special districts apply — bills its own rate against it, with everything folded into one statement. There's no single Harris County rate; it's the sum of whatever units cover your specific address.
How do I protest my Harris County appraisal?
A written protest goes to the Harris Central Appraisal District's appraisal review board ahead of the printed deadline, with comparable sales or inconsistency evidence as your ammunition. Plenty of protests get settled informally with an appraiser before ever reaching a hearing.
Does Harris County offer a homestead exemption?
Yes — a Texas homestead exemption lowers what a primary residence owes and also puts a statutory lid on how fast a homesteaded property's appraised figure can climb each year, softening bill growth even in a hot market.
Why is property tax such a big deal in Harris County?
Texas doesn't levy a state income tax, so property tax — along with sales tax — carries more of the weight of funding schools and local government than it does in income-tax states. That's part of why appraised value and exemptions matter so much to what Harris County homeowners actually pay.
Sources
Related insights
Use these guides for rule explanations, planning context, and follow-up questions beyond the calculator result.