Property Tax in San Francisco, California
Based on the latest US Census data, the median home value in San Francisco is $1,348,700, resulting in a median annual property tax bill of $8,835.
Estimate Your Property Tax in San Francisco
Enter your actual or desired home value below to see how much you can expect to pay annually based on San Francisco's effective tax rate of 0.66%.
Estimated Annual Tax
Understanding San Francisco Real Estate Taxes
Prospective buyers in San Francisco must factor local tax assessments into their debt-to-income ratios. With a median property value of $1,348,700, the local government levies an effective tax rate of 0.66%. This translates to an average annual tax bill of $8,835, which is usually escrowed into your monthly mortgage payments in California.
It's important to remember that local assessors determine assessed values, which may vary from current market values, altering your exact obligations.
Impact on Mortgages
Most lenders require property taxes to be rolled into your monthly mortgage payment via an escrow account. A 0.66% annual rate on a $500,000 home adds roughly $273 to your monthly overhead in San Francisco.
Special Assessments
Your exact tax bill may be influenced by hyper-local municipal bonds, school district levies, and utility assessments in California. Using the effective rate provides a highly accurate historical baseline for budgeting.
How it compares to local earnings
Housing affordability isn't just about property prices—it's about the correlation between your geographic tax obligations and your local income potential.
In San Francisco, the median household income is $136,689 annually. This means the median household commits 6.46% of their gross income directly to property taxes. Financial modelers typically recommend keeping total housing costs below 28% of gross income.
Local Tax Burden
6.46%
Of Median Household Gross Income
Frequently Asked Questions
The average effective property tax rate in San Francisco is 0.66%.
For a median-priced home of $1,348,700 in San Francisco, homeowners pay an average of $8,835 annually in property taxes.
While the average tax bill of $8,835 in San Francisco is an annual obligation, most homeowners pay this monthly through an escrow account managed by their mortgage lender.
The effective rate of 0.66% is calculated by dividing the median annual property taxes paid ($8,835) by the median home value ($1,348,700) for properties in San Francisco.
Yes, your property taxes in San Francisco can change based on reassessments of your home's market value by local California authorities or changes in municipal and school district tax levies.