The Oregon property tax calculator gives you a fast, reliable estimate of your annual and monthly property-tax bill based on your home value and the state’s average effective rate. Whether you are buying a first home in Portland, refinancing in Salem, comparing neighborhoods in Eugene, or sizing up a vacation property in Bend, you can see exactly what to budget in seconds — no spreadsheet required.
How the calculation works
Oregon property tax is levied on the assessed value of your property. For most homeowners, the assessed value is capped under Measure 50 (1997), which limits annual assessed-value growth to 3%, meaning long-held homes are often taxed on a figure well below their actual sale price.
The effective rate used in this calculator is the standard comparison shortcut:
Effective rate = total tax paid / market value
When this tool quotes Oregon’s statewide average of 0.97%, it means that Oregon homeowners pay roughly $9.70 in annual property tax for every $1,000 of their home’s market value. The formula is simply:
Annual tax = home value x (effective rate / 100)
Monthly tax is the annual figure divided by 12.
Worked example
Suppose you purchase a home in Washington County (Hillsboro / Beaverton area) for $550,000. Washington County’s average effective rate is approximately 1.01%.
- Annual property tax: $550,000 x 0.0101 = $5,555
- Monthly property tax: $5,555 / 12 = $463
- Tax per $1,000 of value: $10.10
Compare that with the statewide average of 0.97%: the same $550,000 home at the state figure would produce an annual bill of roughly $5,335 — a $220 per-year saving just from county location. Deschutes County (Bend) at 0.72% would cut the same home’s bill to $3,960 per year, or $330/month, despite Bend’s high market values.
| Home value | Eff. rate | Annual tax | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | 0.97% | $2,910 | $243 |
| $400,000 | 0.97% | $3,880 | $323 |
| $550,000 | 0.97% | $5,335 | $445 |
| $550,000 | 1.04% (Multnomah) | $5,720 | $477 |
| $550,000 | 0.72% (Deschutes) | $3,960 | $330 |
All figures are calculated in your browser — nothing is uploaded or stored.
Oregon’s unique Measure 5 rate caps
Oregon is one of the few states with a constitutional cap on property-tax rates. Measure 5 (1990) limits:
- Education levies to no more than $5 per $1,000 of assessed value
- General government levies to no more than $10 per $1,000 of assessed value
These caps apply to assessed value, not market value, and operate alongside the Measure 50 growth limit. The result is that even in high-value markets like Portland, the effective rate on market value remains moderate by national standards. Fast-appreciating markets such as the Portland metro saw assessed values fall far below market values during the 2010s housing boom, compressing effective rates even as nominal mill rates held steady.
County rates vary — here is what to check
Oregon millage rates are set at the tax district level (school district, county, city, fire district, special districts), not at the state level. The county averages shown in the presets above are useful for budgeting and comparison; your exact bill depends on which districts serve your specific address.
Before finalizing a purchase, verify:
- Your county’s current roll — published each October by the county assessor.
- Assessed value vs. market value — if you buy a home that previously benefited from Measure 50 growth limits, your assessed value resets to market value on purchase.
- Special district overlays — urban renewal districts and local improvement districts can add meaningful charges on top of standard mill rates.
- Exemptions you qualify for — senior deferral, veteran exemption, or disabled homeowner programs can substantially reduce your bill.
This calculator gives you the right ballpark for budgeting and comparison; your county assessor gives you the exact figure.