Ohio and Texas have similar average property tax rates β€” Ohio at 1.53% and Texas at 1.60% effective rate. On a $400,000 home, the difference is minimal: approximately $6,120/year in Ohio versus $6,400 in Texas. The much bigger difference is income tax: Ohio's top rate is 3.99% while Texas has none. Ohioans moving to Texas save significantly on income tax (potentially $5,000–$10,000+/year for middle earners) while paying only slightly more in property tax. Ohio's school district income tax (an additional 1–3% in many districts) makes the actual Ohio tax burden considerably higher than headline rates suggest.

By Daniel, Founder of CountryTaxCalc

Daniel has spent 5+ years researching tax systems across 95+ countries and all US states to make tax comparison accessible to everyone. For corrections, contact us.

Last Updated: April 2026

The Big Picture

🌻 Ohio

1.53%

Avg Effective Rate

High property tax; CAUV farm exemptions; school district tax adds 1–2%

🀠 Texas

1.60%

Avg Effective Rate

No income tax; property tax is primary state revenue source

Typical Annual Savings

At $400,000 home income:

$280

Ohio saves slightly on property tax

Tax Savings by Income Level

IncomeOH TaxTX TaxSavings10-Year
$200,000 home $3,060$3,200$140$1,400
$300,000 home $4,590$4,800$210$2,100
$400,000 home $6,120$6,400$280$2,800
$500,000 home $7,650$8,000$350$3,500
$600,000 home $9,180$9,600$420$4,200
$800,000 home $12,240$12,800$560$5,600
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Ohio Pros and Cons

βœ… Pros

  • Marginally lower average effective rate
  • Lower home prices mean lower dollar tax bills
  • CAUV reduces farmland assessment significantly
  • 2.5% owner-occupancy rollback credit available

❌ Cons

  • State income tax up to 3.99%
  • School district income tax (additional 1–3% in many areas)
  • Municipal income tax on top in many cities
  • High overall tax burden vs Texas

Texas Pros and Cons

βœ… Pros

  • No state income tax β€” saves $3,000–$10,000+/year
  • No local school district income tax
  • Homestead exemption: $100,000 off taxable value for school tax
  • Over-65 school tax freeze available

❌ Cons

  • Slightly higher average effective property tax rate
  • High wind/hail insurance in some areas
  • MUD (Municipal Utility Districts) add special assessments
  • No cap on general property assessment increases

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Ohio or Texas have higher property taxes?

Texas has a marginally higher average effective property tax rate (1.60%) versus Ohio (1.53%). On most homes the difference is small β€” approximately $280/year on a $400,000 home. However, Ohio adds a school district income tax in many areas (typically 1–3% on top of state income tax), which significantly increases Ohio's total tax burden. Texas has no income tax at all. Most Ohio households moving to Texas pay more in property tax on equivalent homes but substantially less in total taxes overall.

Q: What is Ohio's school district income tax?

Ohio allows school districts to levy their own income tax on residents β€” separate from state income tax. As of 2024, over 200 Ohio school districts charge this additional tax, ranging from 0.5% to 3%. In areas like Dublin (2%), New Albany (1%), or Westerville (1%), this adds a meaningful amount. A household earning $100,000 in a 2% school district pays an additional $2,000/year in school district income tax β€” on top of the state's 3.99% rate. This makes Ohio's real total income tax burden considerably higher than headline state rates suggest.

Q: Is Texas property tax exemption really $100,000?

Yes β€” Texas's homestead exemption removes $100,000 from the school district taxable value of a primary residence (increased from $40,000 in 2023 under HB 3). On a $400,000 home, the taxable value for school tax purposes is $300,000. At a typical Texas combined rate of 1.60%, this saves approximately $1,600/year in school tax. Residents aged 65+ also get an additional $10,000 exemption and can freeze school district taxes at the level when they turn 65, providing significant protection against rising school levies.

Q: Where are Ohio's highest property tax counties?

Ohio's highest effective rates are in urban and suburban counties: Cuyahoga County (Cleveland area) averages approximately 2.0–2.5%; Montgomery County (Dayton) approximately 1.8%; Summit County (Akron) approximately 1.9%. Rural Ohio counties tend to have lower effective rates. By contrast, smaller cities and suburban Texas areas range from 1.4–2.2%, meaning in some Ohio–Texas comparisons (e.g., Cleveland suburb vs Houston suburb), Ohio is actually more expensive on property tax despite the lower statewide average.

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