How are property tax rates determined in Texas?

Property tax rates in Texas are set by each taxing district (municipality, school district, park district, library, etc.) based on their annual levy (the amount of tax revenue they need). The rate is calculated by dividing the levy by the total assessed value of all property in the district.

What is the composite tax rate?

The composite tax rate is the sum of all overlapping taxing district rates that apply to a specific property. A typical property may be taxed by several overlapping districts. The composite rate determines your total tax bill when multiplied by your property's assessed value.

Why do tax rates vary within the same town?

Properties within the same municipality can have different composite rates because overlapping districts (school, park, fire, library) have different boundaries. A home in one school district may have a different rate than a home two blocks away in a different school district.

Santa Fe, TX Property Tax Rate 2026 — Full Breakdown by District

Showing latest tax year with year-over-year changes. Full rate history available with a paid plan. View plans →

Property Tax — Tax Year 2025 (payable 2026)i

TX Comptroller

Composite Ratei

1.57%–1.88%-9.8%YoY

Varies by school district

Municipal Portioni

0.2316%-5.9%YoY13.4% of total

Effective Ratei

1.57%–1.88%

Est. Annual Taxi

$5K–$6K

Median Home Valuei

$325,800

Total Leviedi

$666.7M

Tax Per Capitai

$302

Rate varies by school district. Your actual rate depends on which school district your property falls in.

Rate Trend — click a year to explorei

20242025

Municipal

Other Districts

Where Your Tax Dollar Goesi

$0.67 High Island ISD

$0.67 Texas City ISD

$0.66 Dickinson ISD

$0.64 Santa Fe ISD

$0.60 Hitchcock ISD

$0.60 Friendswood ISD

$0.56 Clear Creek ISD

$0.49 Galveston ISD

$0.19 Galveston County

$0.13 City of Santa Fe

$0.05 College of the Mainland

$0.05 Galveston County Navigation District #1

Estimated Tax by Home Valuei

$200K

$3,133–$3,765

$250K

$3,917–$4,706

$300K

$4,700–$5,648

$350K

$5,483–$6,589

$400K

$6,267–$7,530

$450K

$7,050–$8,471

$500K

$7,834–$9,413

Highlighted value is closest to median home value ($326K)

12 Overlapping Taxing Districtsi

High Island ISDUnit K-12i

67.1%1.1573%

$5.1M levied

Texas City ISDUnit K-12i

66.9%1.1543%

$80.9M levied

Dickinson ISDUnit K-12i

66.2%1.1420%

$75.7M levied

Santa Fe ISDUnit K-12i

63.9%1.1014%

$22.8M levied

Hitchcock ISDUnit K-12i

59.7%1.0301%

$14.7M levied

Friendswood ISDUnit K-12i

59.7%1.0300%

$43.3M levied

Clear Creek ISDUnit K-12i

56.2%0.9690%

$102.0M levied

Galveston ISDUnit K-12i

48.8%0.8415%

$116.9M levied

Galveston Countyi

18.7%0.3227%

$176.4M levied

City of Santa Fei

13.4%0.2316%

$3.9M levied

College of the Mainlandi

5%0.0855%

$18.0M levied

Galveston County Navigation District #1i

5%0.0855%

$7.0M levied