Houston, Fort Bend County, Texas Property Taxes

As noted earlier, local government entities set tax rates, which can vary widely within a state.

Why? Because annually, each county estimates its required budget to provide services and divides that by the total value of all taxable property within its jurisdiction. This calculation results in the property tax rate.

While there are votes and laws involved in setting tax rates and budgets, in a nutshell, this is the annual process.

Below, you can compare Houston's effective property tax rate to other cities in Texas and the median property tax rates in Texas and the U.S.

Property tax bills in Houston are based on the assessed value of a home and the local tax rates set by taxing authorities. For homeowners in Fort Bend County, the bill can vary widely depending on the property’s market value, exemptions, and the specific zip code. With a median home price of $242,374, many homeowners see bills that differ significantly from one neighborhood to another.

The 25th percentile tax bill is $1,802, while the 75th percentile is $4,149 and the 90th percentile reaches $5,291. The highest median tax bill is $3,478 in zip code 77083, compared with $2,244 in zip code 77085. Since the national median property tax rate is 1.02% and the national median property tax bill is $2,400, Houston homeowners may pay more or less depending on their assessed value and exemptions.

Ownwell helps homeowners challenge inaccurate assessments and find savings through available exemptions, which can lower property tax bills and reduce long-term costs.