Westcliffe, Custer County, Colorado Property Taxes
Property Taxes in Westcliffe, Colorado
Median Westcliffe, Colorado effective property tax rate: 0.36%, significantly lower than the national median of 1.02%, and lower than the Colorado state median of 0.50%.
Median Westcliffe, Colorado home value: $346,262
Median annual Westcliffe, Colorado tax bill: $1,272, lower than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Custer calculated?
Property taxes in Westcliffe, Colorado 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 Westcliffe's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Westcliffe, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
Westcliffe, Custer County, Colorado Property Tax Bill Calculator
$100,000
$1,500,000
$3,000,000
Median Effective Tax Rate
0.36%
Estimate Property Tax Bill
$1,247
$1,157
How Does the Westcliffe Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Westcliffe property tax calculator to estimate your annual property tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Westcliffe's median effective tax rate of 0.36% — based on actual property records in Custer County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure the local assessor uses to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. Our calculator applies Westcliffe'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 Westcliffe: rates are 0.36% in 81252, primarily due to differences in school district levies and local assessment districts.
For a more precise estimate, scroll down to explore ZIP code-level tax rate trends across Westcliffe.
About Westcliffe Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Westcliffe, Custer, Colorado
Westcliffe's median effective property tax rate of 0.36% is lower than the Colorado state median of 0.50% and lower than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the Custer County base levy combined with local school district levies and metro districts that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Westcliffe. Homeowners in the 81252 ZIP code carry a median effective rate of 0.36%, while those in the same ZIP pay 0.36%. This spread — 0.00 percentage points across the same city — reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across Custer County. Understanding which part of Westcliffe you live in can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Westcliffe homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the local Tax Assessor before the June 1, 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 Westcliffe, Custer County, Colorado
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 Westcliffe's effective property tax rate to other cities in Colorado and the median property tax rates in Colorado 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 Westcliffe Tax Rate
0.36%
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 Custer County Tax Rate
0.36%
Median Effective Colorado Tax Rate
0.50%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.02%
Property Tax Rates Across Westcliffe, Custer County, Colorado
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81252 | 0.20% | 0.30% | 0.36% | 0.40% | 0.47% |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Westcliffe, Custer County, Colorado
When examining property taxes in Westcliffe, Colorado, 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 Custer 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 Custer County, assessment notices are sent in May 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. The median home price in Westcliffe is $346,262, and the median property tax bill is $1,272, compared with the national median property tax rate of 1.02% and national median property tax bill of $2,400. Tax bills range across the county, with ZIP code 81252 showing both the highest median home price and the highest median tax bill at $346,262 and $1,272.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Westcliffe, Custer County, Colorado
Source: Ownwell
$243,083
$404,177
$565,271
Median Westcliffe Market Value
$346,262
Median Custer County Market Value
$328,373
Median Colorado Market Value
$519,879
Median United States Market Value
$235,294
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Westcliffe, Custer County, Colorado
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81252 | $81,729 | $174,884 | $346,262 | $539,863 | $783,690 |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Bills Across Westcliffe, Custer County, Colorado
Property tax bills in Westcliffe are calculated by applying the local tax rate to a home’s assessed value, which is based on the market value of the property. The assessed value is then used to determine how much tax a homeowner owes to local taxing authorities, including schools, county services, and other public needs.
For a home with a median price of $346,262, the size of the tax bill can vary widely depending on the property’s assessed value and the taxing districts that apply. In Westcliffe, the 25th percentile tax bill is $555, while the 75th percentile is $2,120 and the 90th percentile is $3,210. The median tax bill is $1,272 in ZIP code 81252.
These property taxes directly affect homeowners by changing annual housing costs, making it important to understand how assessed value and local rates influence the final bill.
Median Westcliffe Tax Bill
$1,272
Median Custer County Tax Bill
$1,202
Median Colorado Tax Bill
$2,732
Median United States Tax Bill
$2,400
Property Tax Bills Across Westcliffe, Custer County, Colorado
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81252 | $180 | $555 | $1,272 | $2,120 | $3,210 |
Source: Ownwell
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Appeal Deadline | June 1 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| Custer Tax Assessor | |
| Website | qpublic.schneidercorp.com |