Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California Property Taxes
Property Taxes in Santa Clara, California
Median Santa Clara, California effective property tax rate: 1.17%, significantly higher than the national median of 1.02%, and slightly lower than the California state median of 1.21%.
Median Santa Clara, California home value: $715,731
Median annual Santa Clara, California tax bill: $8,367, higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Santa Clara calculated?
Property taxes in Santa Clara, California 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 Santa Clara's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Santa Clara, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California Property Tax Bill Calculator
$100,000
$1,500,000
$3,000,000
Median Effective Tax Rate
1.17%
Estimate Property Tax Bill
$8,374
$7,771
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
How Does the Santa Clara Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Santa Clara property tax calculator to estimate your annual tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Santa Clara's median effective tax rate of 1.17% — based on actual property records in Santa Clara County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure the local appraisal district uses to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. Our calculator applies Santa Clara's median effective rate across all local levies, providing a more accurate estimate than applying a single county millage rate.
Your bill may vary by ZIP code within Santa Clara: median tax bills range from $7,833.00 in 95050 to $9,570.00 in 95054, primarily due to differences in school district levies and local assessment districts.
Santa Clara's median property tax bill of $8,367 is higher than the $2,400 national median property tax bill and above the 1.02% national median property tax rate. If your estimate is higher than expected, Ownwell can appeal your Santa Clara assessment — you only pay if we save you money.
About Santa Clara Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Santa Clara, Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara’s median effective property tax rate of 1.17% is lower than the California state median of 1.21% and higher than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the Santa Clara County base levy combined with local school district levies and Mello-Roos Community Facility Districts that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Santa Clara. Homeowners in ZIP code 95050 carry a median effective rate of 1.18%, while those in 95054 pay 1.17%. This spread reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across Santa Clara County, and it can affect your annual tax bill.
Santa Clara homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal before the September 15, 2026 deadline each year.
If your estimated bill 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 Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California
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 Santa Clara's effective property tax rate to other cities in California and the median property tax rates in California 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 Santa Clara Tax Rate
1.17%
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 Santa Clara County Tax Rate
1.31%
Median Effective California Tax Rate
1.21%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.02%
Property Tax Rates Across Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95050 | 1.16% | 1.17% | 1.18% | 1.19% | 1.23% |
| 95051 | 1.16% | 1.17% | 1.17% | 1.19% | 1.23% |
| 95054 | 1.16% | 1.17% | 1.17% | 1.18% | 1.20% |
| 94087 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California
When examining property taxes in Santa Clara, California, 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 Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County, assessment notices are sent in August each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of August.
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 example, the median home price in Santa Clara is $715,731, with tax bills ranging significantly across the county. 95054 has the highest median home price at $817,506.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California
Source: Ownwell
$248,609
$1,619,295
$2,989,980
Median Santa Clara Market Value
$715,731
Median Santa Clara County Market Value
$717,300
Median California Market Value
$427,605
Median United States Market Value
$235,294
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95050 | $121,918 | $353,660 | $676,068 | $1,071,551 | $1,482,570 |
| 95051 | $127,016 | $355,740 | $693,654 | $1,206,288 | $1,700,000 |
| 95054 | $260,261 | $519,281 | $817,506 | $1,120,000 | $1,456,273 |
| 94087 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
Property Tax Bills Across Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California
Property tax bills in Santa Clara are based on the assessed value of a home, not its market price alone. Local tax rates are applied to that assessed value, so homeowners with higher-value properties generally face larger bills. In Santa Clara, the median home price is $715,731, and property tax bills can vary widely across the city, with the 25th percentile at $4,426 and the 75th percentile at $13,399. The highest median tax bill is $9,570 in ZIP code 95054, while the lowest median tax bill is $7,833 in ZIP code 95050.
Because property taxes are tied to assessed value, even small errors can lead to homeowners paying more than they should. That can make a meaningful difference for families trying to manage housing costs in a market like Santa Clara, where tax bills are already well above the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
Ownwell helps homeowners lower their property tax bills by reviewing assessments and identifying opportunities to appeal overassessments and secure exemptions.
Property Tax Bills Across Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California
Source: Ownwell
$2,906
$19,795
$36,683
Median Santa Clara Tax Bill
$8,367
Median Santa Clara County Tax Bill
$9,592
Median California Tax Bill
$5,134
Median United States Tax Bill
$2,400
Property Tax Bills Across Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95050 | $1,364 | $4,083 | $7,833 | $12,536 | $17,339 |
| 95051 | $1,520 | $4,208 | $8,132 | $14,104 | $19,880 |
| 95054 | $3,046 | $6,075 | $9,570 | $13,081 | $16,973 |
| 94087 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Property Valuation Date | January 1 |
| Appeal Deadline | September 15 |
| Tax Bill | |
| Issued | October 1 |
| Due Date #1 | December 10 |
| Due Date #2 | April 10 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| Santa Clara Tax Assessor | |
| Phone | (408) 299-5372 |
| Website | asr.santaclaracounty.gov |
| dawn.cieslik@asr.sccgov.org | |