Orange County Property Tax Calculator
Orange County property tax follows Proposition 13's now-familiar pattern: the Orange County Assessor sets your assessed value when you buy, and state law limits how much that figure can grow each year absent a sale or major addition. Because the cap resets at every ownership change, two neighboring homes of similar market value can carry noticeably different assessed values depending on when their current owners bought in. Use the calculator above — select Orange County and add a home value for an estimate.
Annual Property Tax
$6,190Monthly (Escrow)
$516Effective Rate
0.64%Orange County's effective rate (0.64%) is 8% lower than the California average (0.70%).
Edit inputs ↑Orange County Effective Rate
0.64%
Vs. California Average
8% lower
California National Rank
#32 of 51
1 = highest statewide rate
County Median Home Value
$962,600
Estimated Annual Tax (Median Home)
$6,190
Monthly Equivalent
$516
Property tax in Orange County, California
- The Orange County Assessor fixes assessed value at purchase and applies Proposition 13's capped annual growth from there.
- Selling, buying, or finishing significant new construction resets the assessed value to current market terms.
- A valuation an owner considers too high can be contested through an informal assessor review, or taken formally to the county's appeals board.
- Filing for the homeowners' exemption knocks additional value off an owner-occupied residence's tax base, independent of the Proposition 13 growth limit.
Other large California counties
Effective rate = aggregate real-estate taxes paid ÷ aggregate home value (ACS 2024 5-year).
| County | Effective Rate | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | 0.67% | $834,200 |
| San Diego County | 0.67% | $854,700 |
| Riverside County | 0.83% | $557,300 |
| San Bernardino County | 0.73% | $505,000 |
| Santa Clara County | 0.68% | $1,490,600 |
| Alameda County | 0.76% | $1,090,100 |
| Sacramento County | 0.76% | $534,200 |
| Contra Costa County | 0.78% | $866,800 |
| Kern County | 0.89% | $338,300 |
| Imperial County | 0.83% | $309,600 |
See property tax across every county in California at the California property tax calculator , or check your California income tax with the California income tax calculator .
Frequently asked questions
How is property tax calculated in Orange County, California?
The Orange County Assessor pegs your figure to the purchase price, with Proposition 13 setting a hard limit on annual growth from there, and voter-approved local levies are then applied to that number. The result is that assessed value, not current market value, drives most of what you owe.
How do I appeal my Orange County assessment?
Start with an informal request to the assessor's office, and if that doesn't resolve things, a formal case can be filed with the appeals board ahead of the annual deadline, armed with comparable sales evidence. Missing that window typically means waiting until the next cycle.
Does Orange County offer a homestead exemption?
Yes, through California's homeowners' exemption, which knocks down the taxable figure for an owner-occupied residence before local rates apply. It's separate from, and stacks on top of, the Proposition 13 cap on annual growth.
Why do two similar Orange County homes owe different property tax?
Because Proposition 13 ties assessed value to each home's purchase date rather than current market price, a longtime owner's capped assessed value can sit well below a recent buyer's freshly reset one. Local levy rates are largely uniform within a tax area, so the assessed-value gap is usually the real driver.
Sources
Related insights
Use these guides for rule explanations, planning context, and follow-up questions beyond the calculator result.