Property Tax in Dallas County, Texas
In Dallas County, Texas, the typical homeowner pays $4,668 a year in property taxes on a home worth a median of $277,900. 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 Dallas County numbers mean
The median is the midpoint of the county's actual bills: half of Dallas County homeowners pay more than $4,668 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 $277,900, the median bill works out to a derived effective rate of 1.68%. 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 Dallas County
| Measure | Dallas County |
|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid per year | $4,668 |
| Median home value | $277,900 |
| Derived effective rate* | 1.68% |
| Equivalent monthly tax | $389 |
| Tax per $100,000 of value (derived) | $1,680 |
| Illustrative tax on a $400,000 home (derived rate) | $6,720 |
For context, the Texas medians are $4,111 of tax on $260,400 of value, and the US medians are $2,969 on $303,400. *Derived figures are estimates from Census medians, not official rates.
Dallas County at a glance
- Median tax rank in Texas: #15 of 250 counties
- Median home value rank in Texas: #28 of 250
- Population rank in Texas: #2 of 250 (2,603,816 residents)
- Population density rank: #1 of 250 (2,982 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in Texas: #175 of 250 (873 sq mi, 0.3% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $389; per $1,000 of home value: $1.68
How Dallas County compares
Set against its state, Dallas County's median bill of $4,668 is about 14% higher than the Texas median ($4,111). Against the country as a whole it is about 57% higher than the US median ($2,969). That places the county #15 of 250 Texas counties ranked by median taxes paid.
Remember what drives the ranking: bills follow home values as much as rates. Dallas County's median home, at $277,900, ranks #28 by value in Texas, while its derived rate of 1.68% compares with a derived US figure of 0.98%.
Some extra context for Dallas County: the median bill works out to about $389 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $1,680 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 2,603,816 people — the #2 most populous county in Texas, spread over 873 square miles, a density of about 2,982 people per square mile. Its median home value, $277,900, ranks #28 among the state's 250 counties with data.
Nationally, Dallas County's median bill of $4,668 ranks #148 of 3133 counties with published data — inside the top 5% of counties by tax paid. The county accounts for about 8.8% of Texas's population, its median home value is about 7% above the state median, and at the derived rate the median home would hand over roughly 16.80% of its value in tax across a decade. Within the state, the distance from Dallas County to the most expensive county, Travis County ($7,487), is $2,819 a year.
Counties nearest Dallas County in the Texas ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazoria County, TX | $4,831 | $276,800 | 1.75% |
| Comal County, TX | $4,827 | $398,800 | 1.21% |
| Brazos County, TX | $4,580 | $279,700 | 1.64% |
| Ellis County, TX | $4,472 | $306,400 | 1.46% |
How the tax is worked out
As an illustration of the arithmetic: at Dallas County's derived rate of 1.68%, a home valued at $400,000 would carry a tax bill of roughly $6,720 a year. That is only an illustration using the derived rate — a real bill is computed from the property's assessed value, its exemptions, and the combined rates of its specific taxing districts, so it can be higher or lower.
The usual sequence is: the local assessor values the property; exemptions are applied; the taxable value is multiplied by the combined local rates; and the county bills and collects the tax, distributing it to the schools, municipalities and districts that levied it.
Checking your assessment in Dallas 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 Dallas 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 Dallas County, Texas?
The median real estate tax paid in Dallas County, Texas is $4,668 per year, on a median home value of $277,900 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Dallas County, Texas?
On a derived basis, 1.68%: the county's median tax bill of $4,668 divided by its median home value of $277,900. Because it is calculated from two survey medians, read it as a comparison estimate rather than an official rate.
How does Dallas County compare with the rest of Texas?
Dallas County ranks #15 of 250 Texas counties with published data by median taxes paid. Its median bill of $4,668 is about 14% higher than the Texas median of $4,111.
How are property taxes calculated in Dallas County, Texas?
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 Dallas County is $4,668 of tax on a $277,900 median home value.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Dallas County, Texas?
Yes — appeals are handled locally. Start with the Dallas County assessor's property record card for your home, correct any factual errors, and back your case with comparable recent sales. Formal appeals go to the review board named on your assessment notice and must be filed by its deadline, typically within 30 to 90 days.