Property Taxes in Orcas, Washington
Median Orcas, Washington effective property tax rate: 0.54%, significantly lower than the national median of 1.02%, and lower than the Washington state median of 0.92%.
Median Orcas, Washington home value: $1,080,295
Median annual Orcas, Washington tax bill: $5,803, $3,403 higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in San Juan calculated?
Property taxes in Orcas, Washington are calculated based on the tax assessed value, which is often lower than the actual market value due to property tax exemptions such as the homestead or senior exemption.
Understanding Orcas's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Orcas, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
How Does the Orcas Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Orcas property tax calculator to estimate your annual tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Orcas's median effective tax rate of 0.54% — based on actual property records in San Juan County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure the local assessment process uses to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. Our calculator applies Orcas's median effective rate across all local levies, providing a more accurate estimate than applying a single county rate.
Your bill may vary by ZIP code within Orcas: rates are 0.54% in 98280, with no variation shown in the available data. That rate is lower than the 0.92% state median tax rate and well below the national median property tax rate of 1.02%.
If your estimate is higher than expected, Ownwell can appeal your Orcas assessment — you only pay if we save you money.
About Orcas Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Orcas, San Juan, Washington
Orcas’s median effective property tax rate of 0.54% is lower than the Washington state median of 0.92% and lower than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the San Juan County base levy combined with local school district levies and Local improvement districts (LIDs) that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Orcas. Homeowners in the 98280 ZIP code carry a median effective rate of 0.54%, while those in the lowest ZIP also pay 0.54%. This spread reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across San Juan County. Understanding which part of Orcas you live in can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Orcas homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the Tax Assessor before the November 5, 2026 deadline each year.
If your estimated bill above seems higher than expected, Ownwell can review your assessment and protest on your behalf. You only pay if we save you money.
Property Tax Rates Across Orcas, San Juan County, Washington
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 Orcas's effective property tax rate to other cities in Washington and the median property tax rates in Washington and the U.S.
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Orcas Tax Rate
0.54%
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective San Juan County Tax Rate
0.57%
Median Effective Washington Tax Rate
0.92%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.27%
Property Tax Rates Across Orcas, San Juan County, Washington
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98280 | 0.53% | 0.53% | 0.54% | 0.55% | 0.56% |
Source: Ownwell
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Orcas, San Juan County, Washington
When examining property taxes in Orcas, Washington, understanding the distinction between market value and assessed value is crucial.
The market value is what a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller in an open and competitive market, often influenced by location, property condition, and economic market trends. The San Juan County assessor estimates the market value for tax purposes.
The assessed value is the market value minus any applicable exemptions or limits determined by local laws and offerings. The tax assessed value is the figure used to calculate your property taxes or the amount multiplied by your tax rate to get your tax bill.
Assessment notices:
In San Juan County, assessment notices are sent in the spring each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of October.
Each property owner receives an assessment notice that contains both the market value and assessed value, along with an estimate of your property tax bill. For Orcas, the median home price is $1,080,295, and the median property tax bill is $5,803, compared with the national median property tax rate of 1.02% and national median property tax bill of $2,400. In 98280, the highest median home price is $1,080,295.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Orcas, San Juan County, Washington
Source: Ownwell
$324,480
$776,078
$1,227,675
Median Orcas Market Value
$1,080,295
Median San Juan County Market Value
$798,910
Median Washington Market Value
$501,600
Median United States Market Value
$274,101
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Orcas, San Juan County, Washington
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98280 | $470,453 | $704,378 | $1,080,295 | $1,938,035 | $3,532,344 |
Source: Ownwell
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Property Tax Bills Across Orcas, San Juan County, Washington
Property tax bills in Orcas are based on the assessed value of a home and the local tax rate set for San Juan County. With a median home price of $1,080,295, many homeowners face bills that can vary widely depending on where their property is located and how it is assessed. The 25th percentile tax bill is $3,675, while the 75th percentile is $10,368 and the 90th percentile reaches $18,762. The median tax bill in zip code 98280 is $5,803, showing how quickly property taxes can add up for homeowners.
These bills affect monthly housing costs and can make ownership more expensive than the national median property tax bill of $2,400. Ownwell helps homeowners lower their property tax bills by reviewing assessments, identifying opportunities to appeal, and pursuing exemptions when available.
Median Orcas Tax Bill
$5,803
Median San Juan County Tax Bill
$4,329
Median Washington Tax Bill
$4,512
Median United States Tax Bill
$3,209
Property Tax Bills Across Orcas, San Juan County, Washington
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98280 | $2,161 | $3,675 | $5,803 | $10,368 | $18,762 |
Source: Ownwell
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Appeal Deadline | October 8 |
| Tax Bill | |
| Issued | February 10 |
| Due Date #1 | April 30 |
| Due Date #2 | October 31 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| San Juan Tax Assessor | |
| Website | parcel.sanjuancountywa.gov |