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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in Harris County, Texas

Harris County has an effective property tax rate of 1.62%. On the median home value of $276,600, that's roughly $4,489 per year. Median household income is $74,983.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
1.62%
median tax $4,489 ÷ median home $276,600
Median Home Value1
$276,600
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$74,983
per-capita $41,006
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$4,489
at 1.62% 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.

MetricHarris CountyTexas (state context)
Effective property tax rate11.62%1.18%
Median home value1$276,600—
State income tax3No state income taxNo state income tax
State sales tax38.20% combined8.20% 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 Harris County, TX

In Harris County, Texas — home to Houston and neighboring Pasadena and Spring — the median home value sits at $276,600, yielding an annual real-estate tax bill of roughly $4,489 based on an effective rate of 1.623%. That rate climbs well above both the state median of 1.183% and the national median of 0.794%, placing the county 22nd of 250 Texas counties for property tax rate. Buyers weighing affordability here should factor in household finances: median household income is $74,983, with per-capita income at $41,006. The tax bill amounts to about 6% of median household earnings, a meaningful slice of annual budgets. Compared with cheaper-tax regions elsewhere in Texas or the country, owning property in Harris County costs more each year, though home values remain below many major metro areas.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Harris County, TX?
The effective rate is 1.62% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 1.62% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($276,600), the estimated annual bill is about $4,489.
Is Harris County's rate high or low?
Compare it to the state median of 1.18% 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 Harris 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 Harris 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.