Felton, Santa Cruz County, California Property Taxes
Property Taxes in Felton, California
Median Felton, California effective property tax rate: 1.33%, significantly higher than the national median of 1.02%, and higher than the California state median of 1.21%.
Median Felton, California home value: $441,680
Median annual Felton, California tax bill: $5,882, $3,482 higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Santa Cruz calculated?
Property taxes in Felton, 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 Felton's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Felton, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
Felton, Santa Cruz County, California Property Tax Bill Calculator
$100,000
$1,500,000
$3,000,000
Median Effective Tax Rate
1.33%
Estimate Property Tax Bill
$5,874
$5,451
How Does the Felton Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Felton property tax calculator to estimate your annual property tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Felton's median effective tax rate of 1.33% — based on actual property records in Santa Cruz County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure the local assessment system uses to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. Our calculator applies Felton'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 Felton: rates are 1.33% in 95018, primarily due to differences in school district levies and local assessment districts. Felton's median property tax rate is higher than the 1.21% state median and above the national median property tax rate of 1.02%.
For a more precise estimate, scroll down to explore ZIP code-level tax rate trends across Felton.
About Felton Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Felton, Santa Cruz, California
Felton’s median effective property tax rate of 1.33% is higher than the California state median of 1.21% and higher than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the Santa Cruz County base levy combined with local school district levies and other local assessments that can affect the final tax bill.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Felton. Homeowners in the 95018 ZIP code carry a median effective rate of 1.33%, while the same ZIP also reflects the city’s median tax bill of $5,882. That is well above the national median property tax bill of $2,400 and higher than the California state median by $3,482.
Felton homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the Santa Cruz County Tax Assessor before the November 30, 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 Felton, Santa Cruz 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 Felton'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 Felton Tax Rate
1.33%
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 Cruz County Tax Rate
1.23%
Median Effective California Tax Rate
1.21%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.02%
Property Tax Rates Across Felton, Santa Cruz County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95018 | 1.22% | 1.26% | 1.33% | 1.47% | 1.86% |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Felton, Santa Cruz County, California
When examining property taxes in Felton, 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 Cruz 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 Cruz County, assessment notices are sent in the spring each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of May.
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. By providing insights into how assessed and market values are determined, this section helps property owners navigate their tax responsibilities and understand the valuation processes affecting their property taxes in Felton.
For example, the median home price in Felton is $441,680, with tax bills ranging significantly across the county. 95018 has the highest median home price at $441,680.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Felton, Santa Cruz County, California
Source: Ownwell
$76,183
$445,766
$815,349
Median Felton Market Value
$441,680
Median Santa Cruz County Market Value
$500,310
Median California Market Value
$427,605
Median United States Market Value
$235,294
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Felton, Santa Cruz County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95018 | $104,463 | $243,783 | $441,680 | $654,546 | $866,121 |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Bills Across Felton, Santa Cruz County, California
How are property tax bills calculated in Felton?
Property tax bills in Felton are based on the assessed value of a home and the local tax rate set by Santa Cruz County and other taxing authorities. When a property’s assessed value rises, the tax bill usually rises too, which can affect homeowners even if they have not made major changes to the home. The median home price is $441,680, and the median property tax bill is $5,882 in zip code 95018.
What factors are considered?
Assessors look at the home’s market value, location, and any applicable local levies when determining the bill. For many homeowners, the amount owed can vary widely: the 25th percentile tax bill is $3,544, while the 75th percentile is $8,394 and the 90th percentile is $10,754. Compared with the national median property tax bill of $2,400 and national median rate of 1.02%, Felton homeowners often face significantly higher property tax costs.
Median Felton Tax Bill
$5,882
Median Santa Cruz County Tax Bill
$6,340
Median California Tax Bill
$5,134
Median United States Tax Bill
$2,400
Property Tax Bills Across Felton, Santa Cruz County, California
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95018 | $2,020 | $3,544 | $5,882 | $8,394 | $10,754 |
Source: Ownwell
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Property Valuation Date | January 1 |
| Appeal Deadline | November 30 |
| Tax Bill | |
| Issued | October 1 |
| Due Date #1 | December 10 |
| Due Date #2 | April 10 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Tax Assessor | |
| Website | sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us |