Palo Alto, California property tax
Typical rate and yearly bill in Palo Alto, compared with Santa Clara County. Census survey 2020-2024.
Estimate my billThe Census survey records the typical bill in Palo Alto only as "$10,000 or more", so the 0.50% rate here is a floor. Real bills on a typical home are likely higher, so treat this estimate as a minimum.
How Palo Alto compares
Property tax in Palo Alto, in plain words
Homeowners in Palo Alto typically pay $10,000+ a year in property tax on a home worth $2,000,000+, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey for 2020-2024. That works out to an effective rate of about 0.50% of home value, though the survey caps one of those figures here, so treat it as approximate.
That rate is lower than Santa Clara County as a whole (0.67%) and lower than the California typical rate of 0.70%. Across the US, the typical rate is 0.94%.
Your own bill depends on your home's assessed value, the exact school district and special districts at your address, and any exemptions you claim. Your Santa Clara County tax office has the final number.
Common questions
What is the property tax rate in Palo Alto?
The typical effective rate is about 0.50% of home value per year, based on what homeowners report paying.
How much is property tax on a $400,000 home in Palo Alto?
About $2,000 a year at the typical rate. Exemptions and your exact district can move it either way.
Is Palo Alto higher or lower than Santa Clara County?
Palo Alto's typical rate (0.50%) is lower than the county's (0.67%).
Homestead exemptions · How to appeal · Where these numbers come from