Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California Property Taxes
Property Taxes in Sunnyvale, California
Median Sunnyvale, California effective property tax rate: 1.17%, significantly lower than the national median of 1.02%, and lower than the California state median of 1.21%.
Median Sunnyvale, California home value: $737,947
Median annual Sunnyvale, California tax bill: $8,660, $6,260 higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Santa Clara calculated?
Property taxes in Sunnyvale, 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 Sunnyvale's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Sunnyvale, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
Sunnyvale, 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
$8,634
$8,012
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
How Does the Sunnyvale Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Sunnyvale property tax calculator to estimate your annual tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Sunnyvale'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 Sunnyvale'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 Sunnyvale: rates range from $2,906.00 in 94089 to $10,786.00 in 94087, primarily due to differences in school district levies and local assessment districts. Sunnyvale’s median property tax bill is $8,660, which is higher than the $2,400 national median property tax bill and higher than the 1.02% national median property tax rate.
If your estimate is higher than expected, Ownwell can appeal your Sunnyvale assessment — you only pay if we save you money.
About Sunnyvale Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, California
Sunnyvale’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 Sunnyvale. Homeowners in the 94085 ZIP code carry a median effective rate of 1.18%, while those in 94089 pay 1.17%. This spread — 0.01 percentage points across the same city — reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across Santa Clara County. Understanding which part of Sunnyvale you live in can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Sunnyvale homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the local Tax Assessor before September 15, 2026.
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 Sunnyvale, 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 Sunnyvale'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 Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94085 | 1.16% | 1.17% | 1.18% | 1.20% | 1.24% |
| 94086 | 1.16% | 1.17% | 1.17% | 1.19% | 1.22% |
| 94087 | 1.16% | 1.16% | 1.17% | 1.18% | 1.22% |
| 94089 | 1.06% | 1.11% | 1.17% | 1.19% | 1.22% |
| 95054 | 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 Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California
When examining property taxes in Sunnyvale, 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 appraisal district 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 the spring 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. The median home price in Sunnyvale is $737,947, with tax bills ranging significantly across the county. Zip code 94087 has the highest median home price at $921,302. Sunnyvale’s median property tax bill is $8,660, compared with the national median property tax bill of $2,400 and the national median property tax rate of 1.02%.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California
Source: Ownwell
$248,609
$1,619,295
$2,989,980
Median Sunnyvale Market Value
$737,947
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 Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94085 | $208,666 | $429,082 | $738,396 | $1,369,872 | $1,663,916 |
| 94086 | $115,455 | $367,193 | $757,638 | $1,249,105 | $1,819,104 |
| 94087 | $143,089 | $458,640 | $921,302 | $1,498,196 | $2,297,965 |
| 94089 | $66,060 | $100,404 | $248,609 | $744,349 | $1,254,313 |
| 95054 | 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 Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California
Sunnyvale property tax bills are based on the assessed value of a home, not its market price alone. Local tax rates and voter-approved charges are applied to that assessed value to determine the final bill, so two homes with similar prices can still have different property taxes depending on their location and assessment details. In Sunnyvale, the median home price is $737,947, and property tax bills vary widely across the city.
The typical tax burden can be substantial, with the 25th percentile tax bill at $3,839, the 75th percentile at $15,132, and the 90th percentile at $21,939. The median tax bill is $10,786 in ZIP code 94087, while ZIP code 94089 has a lower median bill of $2,906. Compared with the national median property tax rate of 1.02% and national median property tax bill of $2,400, Sunnyvale homeowners often face much higher costs.
Ownwell can help homeowners lower their property tax bills by reviewing assessments, identifying savings opportunities, and filing appeals when a home is overassessed.
Property Tax Bills Across Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California
Source: Ownwell
$2,906
$19,795
$36,683
Median Sunnyvale Tax Bill
$8,660
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 Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94085 | $2,554 | $5,111 | $8,682 | $15,975 | $19,348 |
| 94086 | $1,412 | $4,348 | $8,874 | $14,555 | $21,200 |
| 94087 | $1,759 | $5,383 | $10,786 | $17,395 | $26,708 |
| 94089 | $765 | $1,114 | $2,906 | $8,793 | $14,690 |
| 95054 | 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 | |