Monterey County, California Property Taxes
Median Monterey County effective property tax rate: 1.11%, slightly higher than the national median of 1.02%.
Median Monterey County home value: $410,665
Median annual Monterey County tax bill: $4,500, $2,100 higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Monterey County calculated?
Property taxes in Monterey County 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 your county's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Whether you live in Salinas or another part of Monterey County, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated March 1, 2025
Monterey County, California Property Tax Bill Calculator
$100,000
$1,500,000
$3,000,000
Median Effective Tax Rate
1.11%
Estimate Property Tax Bill
$4,558
$4,230
Property Tax Rates Across Monterey County, California
Local government entities are responsible for setting property tax rates, which can vary significantly within California. Each year, counties estimate their required budget to provide essential services and divide that by the total value of all taxable property within their jurisdiction. This calculation determines the property tax rate. While votes and laws play a role in setting these rates and budgets, this is essentially the annual process.
In Monterey County, the effective property tax rate stands at 1.11%, which is slightly above the national median of 1.02%. Comparatively, the highest median tax rate in the county is in San Lucas at 1.74%, while San Miguel boasts the lowest at 1.01%. These figures illustrate the diversity in tax rates across different regions. Understanding these variations can help property owners make informed decisions about their investments. By appealing or seeking exemptions, property owners may reduce their tax liabilities, thus optimizing their financial position.
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 Monterey County Tax Rate
1.11%
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 California Tax Rate
1.21%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.02%
Property Tax Rates Across Monterey County, California
| City | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aromas | 1.05% | 1.06% | 1.07% | 1.08% | 1.09% |
| Big Sur | 0.98% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 1.02% | 1.03% |
| Bradley | 1.02% | 1.07% | 1.09% | 1.10% | 1.12% |
| Carmel | 1.02% | 1.04% | 1.09% | 1.19% | 1.45% |
| Carmel Valley | 1.03% | 1.04% | 1.05% | 1.09% | 1.14% |
| Castroville | 1.09% | 1.11% | 1.14% | 1.24% | 1.66% |
| Chualar | 1.04% | 1.05% | 1.07% | 1.09% | 1.21% |
| East Garrison | 1.37% | 1.53% | 1.59% | 1.63% | 1.67% |
| Gonzales | 1.14% | 1.18% | 1.20% | 1.37% | 1.49% |
| Greenfield | 1.19% | 1.24% | 1.29% | 1.39% | 1.50% |
| Jolon | 1.04% | 1.07% | 1.10% | 1.11% | 1.12% |
| King City | 1.07% | 1.10% | 1.12% | 1.13% | 1.15% |
| Lockwood | 1.06% | 1.08% | 1.09% | 1.10% | 1.13% |
| Marina | 0.66% | 1.08% | 1.09% | 1.14% | 1.54% |
| Monterey | 1.06% | 1.07% | 1.08% | 1.09% | 1.13% |
| Moss Landing | 1.08% | 1.08% | 1.09% | 1.13% | 1.22% |
| Pacific Grove | 1.07% | 1.07% | 1.08% | 1.09% | 1.13% |
| Pebble Beach | 1.03% | 1.07% | 1.12% | 1.18% | 1.34% |
| Royal Oaks | 1.07% | 1.09% | 1.10% | 1.17% | 1.38% |
| Salinas | 1.08% | 1.09% | 1.12% | 1.18% | 1.26% |
| San Ardo | 1.04% | 1.12% | 1.13% | 1.16% | 1.19% |
| San Lucas | 1.16% | 1.44% | 1.74% | 2.32% | 3.75% |
| San Miguel | 0.99% | 1.00% | 1.01% | 1.06% | 1.08% |
| Seaside | 1.03% | 1.07% | 1.08% | 1.10% | 1.16% |
| Soledad | 1.14% | 1.18% | 1.22% | 1.38% | 1.49% |
| Spreckels | 1.12% | 1.14% | 1.16% | 1.19% | 1.21% |
| Watsonville | 1.08% | 1.09% | 1.11% | 1.17% | 1.27% |
| Carmel By The Sea | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Coalinga | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Del Rey Oaks | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Parkfield | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Sand City | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Monterey County, California
When examining property taxes in Monterey County, 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 Monterey County Assessor's Office 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 Monterey 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. By providing insights into how assessed and market values are determined, this section helps property owners navigate their tax responsibilities and understand the valuation processes affecting their property taxes in Monterey County. For example, the median tax bill in Monterey County is $4,800, with tax bills ranging significantly across the county. Pebble Beach has the highest median home price at $1,335,298.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Monterey County, California
Source: Ownwell
$99,981
$827,616
$1,555,251
Median Monterey County Market Value
$410,665
Median California Market Value
$378,421
Median United States Market Value
$235,294
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Monterey County, California
| City | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aromas | $196,440 | $322,858 | $487,394 | $727,118 | $973,400 |
| Big Sur | $216,724 | $422,272 | $990,976 | $2,311,201 | $3,769,277 |
| Bradley | $80,270 | $163,968 | $291,050 | $452,253 | $669,951 |
| Carmel | $215,309 | $516,742 | $1,015,544 | $1,849,813 | $3,264,000 |
| Carmel Valley | $189,397 | $404,645 | $750,538 | $1,192,401 | $1,763,395 |
| Castroville | $82,838 | $183,008 | $250,790 | $431,429 | $617,611 |
| Chualar | $153,273 | $180,523 | $222,127 | $417,295 | $768,302 |
| East Garrison | $532,619 | $576,670 | $689,470 | $801,786 | $871,679 |
| Gonzales | $110,988 | $183,752 | $251,270 | $376,490 | $485,160 |
| Greenfield | $110,608 | $156,685 | $229,754 | $352,283 | $490,186 |
| Jolon | $149,521 | $185,989 | $263,378 | $336,883 | $734,800 |
| King City | $106,394 | $166,753 | $259,998 | $367,462 | $491,756 |
| Lockwood | $114,353 | $231,107 | $394,417 | $679,018 | $886,911 |
| Marina | $138,552 | $282,566 | $519,844 | $726,240 | $919,597 |
| Monterey | $127,032 | $271,756 | $519,825 | $843,941 | $1,280,597 |
| Moss Landing | $128,989 | $242,043 | $535,900 | $1,003,962 | $1,384,098 |
| Pacific Grove | $100,358 | $296,650 | $633,812 | $967,858 | $1,404,642 |
| Pebble Beach | $309,466 | $714,340 | $1,335,298 | $2,679,530 | $5,359,289 |
| Royal Oaks | $85,446 | $223,516 | $393,032 | $600,699 | $824,268 |
| Salinas | $126,010 | $222,777 | $356,358 | $545,700 | $738,684 |
| San Ardo | $49,836 | $70,093 | $156,226 | $258,292 | $384,800 |
| San Lucas | $41,784 | $64,547 | $99,981 | $146,542 | $242,002 |
| San Miguel | $216,726 | $313,110 | $599,381 | $749,094 | $875,843 |
| Seaside | $75,323 | $180,853 | $353,469 | $574,076 | $775,088 |
| Soledad | $81,586 | $189,362 | $289,474 | $441,132 | $546,485 |
| Spreckels | $103,881 | $260,676 | $446,092 | $662,809 | $789,329 |
| Watsonville | $120,842 | $210,104 | $341,628 | $564,355 | $670,251 |
| Carmel By The Sea | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Coalinga | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Del Rey Oaks | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Parkfield | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Sand City | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Bills Across Monterey County, California
Median Monterey County Tax Bill
$4,500
Median California Tax Bill
$4,683
Median United States Tax Bill
$2,400
Property Tax Bills Across Monterey County, California
| City | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aromas | $2,013 | $3,410 | $5,214 | $7,610 | $10,281 |
| Big Sur | $1,798 | $4,065 | $9,536 | $20,777 | $36,684 |
| Bradley | $626 | $1,709 | $3,036 | $4,929 | $7,164 |
| Carmel | $2,883 | $5,825 | $10,715 | $18,780 | $32,956 |
| Carmel Valley | $2,022 | $4,219 | $7,653 | $12,074 | $17,823 |
| Castroville | $853 | $1,948 | $3,355 | $4,652 | $6,477 |
| Chualar | $1,634 | $1,947 | $2,548 | $4,358 | $7,542 |
| East Garrison | $8,463 | $9,108 | $10,302 | $12,302 | $13,079 |
| Gonzales | $1,243 | $2,174 | $3,228 | $4,726 | $6,303 |
| Greenfield | $1,376 | $1,976 | $2,941 | $4,369 | $6,036 |
| Jolon | $1,226 | $1,934 | $2,827 | $3,501 | $7,680 |
| King City | $1,001 | $1,708 | $2,611 | $3,872 | $5,113 |
| Lockwood | $1,229 | $2,459 | $3,986 | $6,824 | $9,061 |
| Marina | $1,126 | $2,620 | $5,085 | $8,352 | $10,602 |
| Monterey | $1,360 | $2,832 | $5,344 | $8,736 | $13,197 |
| Moss Landing | $903 | $2,092 | $4,966 | $9,520 | $14,371 |
| Pacific Grove | $1,043 | $2,995 | $6,533 | $10,005 | $14,326 |
| Pebble Beach | $3,811 | $7,921 | $14,532 | $28,172 | $54,771 |
| Royal Oaks | $1,087 | $2,497 | $4,237 | $6,639 | $8,938 |
| Salinas | $1,350 | $2,461 | $4,011 | $6,047 | $8,166 |
| San Ardo | $569 | $794 | $1,623 | $2,524 | $3,680 |
| San Lucas | $1,107 | $1,432 | $1,773 | $2,287 | $2,928 |
| San Miguel | $1,611 | $3,083 | $5,560 | $7,533 | $8,775 |
| Seaside | $762 | $1,861 | $3,622 | $5,909 | $7,885 |
| Soledad | $809 | $2,157 | $3,622 | $5,584 | $6,940 |
| Spreckels | $1,237 | $2,961 | $5,072 | $7,513 | $8,784 |
| Watsonville | $838 | $1,865 | $3,593 | $5,423 | $7,067 |
| Carmel By The Sea | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Coalinga | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Del Rey Oaks | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Parkfield | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Sand City | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Ownwell
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Property Valuation Date | January 1 |
| Appeal Deadline | November 30 |
| Tax Bill | |
| Issued | October 1 |
| Due Date #1 | December 10 |
| Due Date #2 | April 10 |