Property Tax in Jefferson County, Colorado
In Jefferson County, Colorado, the typical homeowner pays $2,867 a year in property taxes on a home worth a median of $604,400. The figures on this page are the Census Bureau's published medians (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023), shown exactly as released.
What the Jefferson County numbers mean
The median is the midpoint of the county's actual bills: half of Jefferson County homeowners pay more than $2,867 a year and half pay less. The exact bill for any one home depends on its assessed value, exemptions, and which school, municipal and special districts cover it.
Set against the median home value of $604,400, the median bill works out to a derived effective rate of 0.47%. That rate is an estimate computed from the two medians — no county publishes a rate calculated this way — but it adjusts for home prices, which makes comparisons between counties more meaningful.
The key figures for Jefferson County
| Measure | Jefferson County |
|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid per year | $2,867 |
| Median home value | $604,400 |
| Derived effective rate* | 0.47% |
| Equivalent monthly tax | $239 |
| Tax per $100,000 of value (derived) | $474 |
| Illustrative tax on a $400,000 home (derived rate) | $1,896 |
For context, the Colorado medians are $2,448 of tax on $502,200 of value, and the US medians are $2,969 on $303,400. *Derived figures are estimates from Census medians, not official rates.
Jefferson County at a glance
- Median tax rank in Colorado: #7 of 64 counties
- Median home value rank in Colorado: #11 of 64
- Population rank in Colorado: #4 of 64 (579,715 residents)
- Population density rank: #4 of 64 (758 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in Colorado: #50 of 64 (764 sq mi, 0.7% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $239; per $1,000 of home value: $0.47
How Jefferson County compares
Of the 64 Colorado counties with published data, 6 have a higher median property tax bill than Jefferson County's $2,867, putting the county at #7 in the state. Its bill is about 17% higher than the state median of $2,448 and about 3% lower than the national median of $2,969.
Rates and values pull in opposite directions: an expensive housing market can produce big bills at ordinary rates. Here the derived rate is 0.47%, versus 0.98% derived nationally, and the median home value ranks #11 within Colorado.
Some extra context for Jefferson County: the median bill works out to about $239 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $474 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 579,715 people — the #4 most populous county in Colorado, spread over 764 square miles, a density of about 758 people per square mile. Its median home value, $604,400, ranks #11 among the state's 64 counties with data.
Zooming out: of 3133 counties nationwide with published Census figures, only 491 record a higher median tax bill than Jefferson County — it sits in the top 16% nationally. The county holds roughly 10.0% of Colorado's people. Its homes are worth more than the state norm (median $604,400 versus $502,200), and a decade at the derived rate of 0.47% adds up to about 4.74% of the median home's value in tax. The cheapest county in the state, Prowers County, medians $494 — $2,373 less than Jefferson County per year.
Counties nearest Jefferson County in the Colorado ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle County, CO | $3,339 | $814,700 | 0.41% |
| Elbert County, CO | $2,981 | $664,600 | 0.45% |
| Adams County, CO | $2,770 | $458,400 | 0.60% |
| Arapahoe County, CO | $2,767 | $526,000 | 0.53% |
How the tax is worked out
The bill is built in stages. First the assessor puts a market value on the property. Exemptions — a homestead exemption above all — then reduce the taxable amount. Finally the combined local rate is applied. To see the scale: at the county's derived rate of 0.47%, each $100,000 of value corresponds to about $474 of tax a year, and a $400,000 home to roughly $1,896. Real bills use the official assessment and district rates, not this derived figure, so treat the example as a sense of scale only.
Checking your assessment in Jefferson County
If your bill looks wrong, work through these steps:
1. Get your property record card from the assessor and check the basics — living area, lot size, bedrooms, condition, and any exemptions you should have.
2. Compare your assessed value with recent sale prices of similar homes in Jefferson County.
3. Talk to the assessor's office informally first; clear errors are often fixed without a hearing.
4. If needed, file a formal appeal with the local review board before the deadline on your assessment notice, with your evidence attached.
5. Keep paying the bill as issued while the appeal runs, unless your notice says otherwise — unpaid taxes accrue penalties regardless of an appeal.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in Jefferson County, Colorado?
The median real estate tax paid in Jefferson County, Colorado is $2,867 per year, on a median home value of $604,400 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Jefferson County, Colorado?
Dividing Jefferson County's median tax bill ($2,867) by its median home value ($604,400) gives a derived effective rate of 0.47%. This is an estimate computed from two Census survey medians — it is not the county's official tax rate.
How does Jefferson County compare with the rest of Colorado?
By median taxes paid, Jefferson County stands at #7 among the 64 Colorado counties the Census publishes figures for. Its $2,867 median bill is about 17% higher than the state median ($2,448), and 6 counties in the state record a higher median.
How are property taxes calculated in Jefferson County, Colorado?
Three steps produce the bill: an assessment of market value by the local assessor, a reduction for exemptions you qualify for (a homestead exemption is the common one), and multiplication by the combined rates of the county, municipality, school district and any special districts covering the property. The median result in Jefferson County is $2,867 of tax on a $604,400 median home value.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Jefferson County, Colorado?
Yes. Request your property record card from the Jefferson County assessor's office and check it for errors, then compare your assessed value with recent sales of similar homes. If it still looks too high, file a formal appeal with the local review board named on your assessment notice before the deadline printed on the notice — windows are short, often 30 to 90 days.