Sour Lake, Hardin County, Texas Property Taxes
Property Taxes in Sour Lake, Texas
Median Sour Lake, Texas effective property tax rate: 1.08%, slightly higher than the national median of 1.02%, and lower than the Texas state median of 1.48%.
Median Sour Lake, Texas home value: $195,820
Median annual Sour Lake, Texas tax bill: $1,724, $676 lower than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Hardin calculated?
Property taxes in Sour Lake, Texas 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 Sour Lake's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Sour Lake, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
Sour Lake, Hardin County, Texas Property Tax Bill Calculator
$100,000
$1,500,000
$3,000,000
Median Effective Tax Rate
1.08%
Estimate Property Tax Bill
$2,115
$1,963
How Does the Sour Lake Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Sour Lake property tax calculator to estimate your annual property tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Sour Lake's median effective tax rate of 1.08% — based on actual property records in Hardin 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 Sour Lake'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 Sour Lake: rates range from 1.08% in 77659 to 1.08% in 77659, 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 Sour Lake.
About Sour Lake Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Sour Lake, Hardin, Texas
Sour Lake’s median effective property tax rate of 1.08% is lower than the Texas state median of 1.48% and higher than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the Hardin County base levy combined with local school district levies and Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Sour Lake. Homeowners in the 77659 ZIP code carry a median effective rate of 1.08%, while those in 77659 pay 1.08%. This spread — 0 percentage points across the same city — reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across Hardin County. Understanding which part of Sour Lake you live in can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Sour Lake homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the local Appraisal District before the May 15, 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 Sour Lake, Hardin County, Texas
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 Sour Lake's effective property tax rate to other cities in Texas and the median property tax rates in Texas 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 Sour Lake Tax Rate
1.08%
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 Hardin County Tax Rate
1.10%
Median Effective Texas Tax Rate
1.48%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.02%
Property Tax Rates Across Sour Lake, Hardin County, Texas
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77659 | 0.37% | 0.65% | 1.08% | 1.61% | 2.02% |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Sour Lake, Hardin County, Texas
When examining property taxes in Sour Lake, Texas, 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 Hardin 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 Hardin County, assessment notices are sent in the spring each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of April.
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 context, the median home price in Sour Lake is $195,820, while the median tax bill is $1,724. Tax bills range from $645 at the 25th percentile to $4,887 at the 90th percentile, and ZIP code 77659 has the highest median home price at $195,820.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Sour Lake, Hardin County, Texas
Source: Ownwell
$63,948
$129,884
$195,820
Median Sour Lake Market Value
$195,820
Median Hardin County Market Value
$132,461
Median Texas Market Value
$258,851
Median United States Market Value
$235,294
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Sour Lake, Hardin County, Texas
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77659 | $24,679 | $77,061 | $195,820 | $296,938 | $398,795 |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Bills Across Sour Lake, Hardin County, Texas
Property tax bills in Sour Lake are calculated by applying the local tax rate to the assessed value of a home, not its market price alone. That assessed value is shaped by factors such as the property’s characteristics, location, and any exemptions a homeowner may qualify for. For homeowners, this means the final bill can change even when the market shifts, since taxes are based on the value assigned for tax purposes.
In Sour Lake, the median home price is $195,820, and the median property tax bill is $1,724 in ZIP code 77659. That is below the national median property tax bill of $2,400 and below the national median property tax rate of 1.02%. Bills can still vary widely, with the 25th percentile at $645, the 75th percentile at $3,296, and the 90th percentile at $4,887.
Median Sour Lake Tax Bill
$1,724
Median Hardin County Tax Bill
$1,105
Median Texas Tax Bill
$3,441
Median United States Tax Bill
$2,400
Property Tax Bills Across Sour Lake, Hardin County, Texas
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77659 | $254 | $645 | $1,724 | $3,296 | $4,887 |
Source: Ownwell
Don't miss the deadline to protest!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Appeal Deadline | May 15 |
| Tax Bill | |
| Issued | October 1 |
| Due Date #1 | November 30 |
| Due Date #2 | June 30 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| Hardin Appraisal District | |
| Website | esearch.hardin-cad.org |