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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in Contra Costa County, California

Contra Costa County has an effective property tax rate of 0.83%. On the median home value of $866,800, that's roughly $7,156 per year. Median household income is $127,229.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
0.83%
median tax $7,156 ÷ median home $866,800
Median Home Value1
$866,800
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$127,229
per-capita $62,927
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$7,156
at 0.83% effective rate

What you'll pay, at a glance

Property taxes are the largest local tax most homeowners pay. The effective rate measures the real tax bill as a share of home value — a more useful number than the nominal “mill rate,” because assessment practices vary county to county.

MetricContra Costa CountyCalifornia (state context)
Effective property tax rate10.83%0.70%
Median home value1$866,800—
State income tax3top rate 13.30%top rate 13.30%
State sales tax39.03% combined9.03% combined

How this is calculated

The effective property tax rate is the median real-estate tax bill divided by the median home value — both for owner-occupied homes, from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-year estimates)1. Median income is also from the ACS1. Federal and state income-tax figures use IRS2 and Tax Foundation3 data.

About Contra Costa County, CA

In Contra Costa County, buying a home means weighing a steep price against a tax rate that runs higher than much of California. The median home value sits at $866,800, and at an effective rate of 0.826%, that translates to a median annual property tax bill of $7,156. Statewide, the median rate is 0.698%, so this county lands above it, ranking third among California's 58 counties. The national median of 0.794% is also lower. Households here earn a median of $127,229, with per-capita income at $62,927, which helps offset the cost but does not erase it. For anyone eyeing Concord, Walnut Creek, Richmond, or elsewhere in the county, the math hinges on both a hefty purchase price and a tax rate that outpaces most of the state.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Contra Costa County, CA?
The effective rate is 0.83% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 0.83% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($866,800), the estimated annual bill is about $7,156.
Is Contra Costa County's rate high or low?
Compare it to the state median of 0.70% and the national average near 1.1%.
How does the effective rate differ from my mill rate?
A mill rate is the nominal levy per $1,000 of assessed value. The effective rate reflects what you actually pay after exemptions and assessments — it's the median tax bill as a share of median home value, so it better predicts your real cost.
Will a reassessment raise my tax bill?
Not necessarily. If your home's assessed value rises, your bill can go up, but only if the mill rate and exemptions stay flat. Contact the Contra Costa County assessor's office to review your current assessment.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment?
Yes. Most counties allow an appeal when you believe the assessed value exceeds the market value. File with the Contra Costa County assessor within the local deadline, typically with comparable sales as evidence.
Sources
[1] U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year (2023) — Median home value (B25077), median real-estate taxes (B25103), median household income (B19013), per-capita income (B19301).
[2] IRS — Statistics of Income — County income, AGI, and real-estate taxes paid.
[3] Tax Foundation — State income, sales, corporate, and estate/inheritance tax rates.