With Texas lawmakers back in session, property taxes are a major focus, as homeowners struggle with rising costs. Pearland, Conroe, Atascocita, and Sugar Land rank among the nation’s highest property tax areas, prompting calls for tax relief and reform.
As the Texas Legislature reconvenes, addressing property tax relief has emerged as a key focus for lawmakers. Gov. Greg Abbott has recognized it as one of his seven emergency priorities, highlighting that Texans are experiencing a crisis of affordability.
The state begins this two-year budget cycle with a $24 billion surplus, and a University of Houston study revealed that half of Texans prefer it allocated for property tax relief. Home values have increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, intensifying the problem. According to the Tax Foundation, Texas has a property tax rate of 1.47%, placing it as the seventh highest in the United States.
The suburbs of Houston rank among the highest in the nation for taxes.
A study by SmartAsset revealed that Pearland holds the highest effective property tax rate in Texas and ranks 10th in the nation, with a rate of 2.16% of assessed value. In 2023, homeowners paid a median of $7,847, while the median home value stood at $380,000, which is significantly lower than the national median of $420,000.
Several communities in the Houston area also stand out as some of the highest-taxed cities in the United States:
The significant property tax burdens arise as Houston suburbs such as Conroe and Atascocita are recognized as some of the fastest-growing regions in the country.
Homeowners in Texas are not the only ones dealing with high property taxes. Peoria, IL (2.64%) and Rockford, IL (2.46%) lead the national rankings. Texas stands out due to its absence of a state income tax, which positions property taxes as the main source of revenue for schools, cities, and counties.
As tax relief becomes a significant legislative focus, Texans are paying close attention to how lawmakers will tackle the increasing property tax burdens in 2024.
The controversy surrounding the now-shuttered Turkey Leg Hut deepened this week as former frontman Lyndell "Lynn" Price was arrested on federal arson charges tied to a 2020 explosion at a Houston bar.
Texas hospitals — including major systems in Houston — reported spending $121 million in November 2024 caring for undocumented immigrants, according to a new state report prompted by an executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott.