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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in Sierra County, California

Sierra County has an effective property tax rate of 0.69%. On the median home value of $331,900, that's roughly $2,279 per year. Median household income is $63,355.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
0.69%
median tax $2,279 ÷ median home $331,900
Median Home Value1
$331,900
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$63,355
per-capita $37,843
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$2,279
at 0.69% 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.

MetricSierra CountyCalifornia (state context)
Effective property tax rate10.69%0.70%
Median home value1$331,900—
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 Sierra County, CA

Sierra County's effective property tax rate of 0.687% sits just under California's statewide median of 0.698%, placing it 36th among the state's 58 counties. That ranking puts the county slightly below the middle of the pack, though the gap with the state figure is narrow. Against the national median of 0.794%, the difference is wider, and Sierra County homeowners pay less than what many Americans owe relative to their property's worth. With a median home value of $331,900, the median annual real-estate tax bill comes to $2,279. Households here earn a median of $63,355, while per-capita income reaches $37,843. Communities like Downieville, along with Alleghany and Goodyears Bar, make up the county's small population base. The rate signals a property tax climate that leans lighter than average nationwide, though only marginally better than California's own norm.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Sierra County, CA?
The effective rate is 0.69% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 0.69% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($331,900), the estimated annual bill is about $2,279.
Is Sierra 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 Sierra 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 Sierra 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.