🌻 COUNTRY A Ohio VS 🤠 COUNTRY B Texas

Texas has a marginally higher average effective property tax rate (1.60%) versus Ohio (1.53%). On most homes the difference is small — 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.

Ohio allows school districts to levy their own income tax on residents — 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 — 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.

Yes — 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.