Colorado Springs Property Tax Rate: What Owners Pay Each Year
Colorado Springs homeowners pay a median effective property tax rate of 0.37%, below Colorado's 0.50% and the national 1.02%. Your actual bill depends on your home's assessed value and the mill levies that apply at your address.
The Colorado Springs property tax rate is a median of 0.37% of home value, according to a third-party analysis of local data [1]. That is below the Colorado state median of 0.50% and the national median of 1.02% [1]. For the next step, see Colorado Springs CO Housing Market: Prices, Inventory and Pace.
An effective rate is your tax divided by home value. A lower rate means a smaller share of your home's value goes to tax each year, so it is a simple way to compare places with different home prices.
Your own bill depends on your address and assessed value, so treat the median as a starting estimate rather than a quote. This article explains how the bill is calculated, what a typical bill could look like at different home prices, and which local charges can change it.
How does the Colorado Springs rate compare with other places?
The table below puts those figures side by side.
The Colorado Springs figure, the state median and the national median all come from one provider, Ownwell [1]. Because the two sources use different providers and may cover different years, a small gap between them tells you little, so treat it with care.
This table compares effective rates, not mill levies. Effective rates are what change your share of value, so when you compare two areas, the one with the lower effective rate takes a smaller share of each dollar your home is worth.
How is a property tax bill calculated from mill levies?
You need two numbers for your address: the total levy and the assessed value.
Step by step
- Find your total mill levy. Open the El Paso County Treasurer's Mill Levies page and look up the area that covers your address. Use the total for that area, not the city's rate alone, because the levy combines several local taxing entities.
- Note your assessed value. This is the value the county uses to calculate tax. It can differ from the price you paid for the home.
- Multiply the assessed value by the levy. Here is the city's share alone as an example. On a $10,000 assessed value, that part alone comes to $35.54 ($10,000 × 3.554 = $35,540, with the decimal moved three places).
- Repeat the calculation for each entity's levy and add the results to get your total bill.
The levy changes from one area to another, so use the exact figure for your address on the Treasurer's page before you rely on any estimate. [2]
What could a typical bill look like at different home prices?
Colorado Springs's median effective property tax rate is 0.37% [1], and these examples apply that rate to three price points. For more detail, see Median Home Price in Colorado Springs: What the Numbers Mean.
Divide that by 12 if you want a monthly figure to set beside your mortgage and insurance.
These figures are estimates from the median rate, not your bill. Your assessed value and the total mill levy for your address set the real amount, so your tax can land above or below these numbers. Use them to size a yearly budget for a price range, then work out the figure for the specific home you are considering.
Which local charges can change what you pay?
Your total property tax rate depends on which taxing districts your property sits in. The city, the county and any special districts each add their own mill levy, so two homes at the same price can carry different bills. The total for your address is the figure that matters, and it is the combined rate for that location [3].
The El Paso County Treasurer publishes the mill levies used for each area, and the file can be downloaded in an Excel format [2]. Comparing the levies for two neighborhoods shows where the differences come from. Look for the separate lines for the city, the county and each special district that serves your address.
Third-party sites often publish an effective rate for a whole city. Those figures are estimates built from averages, so they may not match your county bill exactly. Use them to plan a budget, then rely on the Treasurer's levies for the real number.
Some taxes that owners worry about do not apply here. Colorado does not have an estate tax or inheritance tax [4]. Neither one is part of the yearly property tax you pay on your home, so you can leave them out of your annual estimate.
Can you lower your Colorado Springs property tax bill?
Your best chance to lower the bill is to challenge your assessed value before you accept it. Your tax is based on that value, so an assessed value that is out of line with the market is the most direct thing to question.
Compare your assessed value with the market
Start by finding recent sales of similar homes near you. Match them on size, age, condition and lot size, and write down each sale price and date. For example, if your assessed value is clearly higher than what three similar homes on your street sold for, you have a concrete reason to ask questions.
Look for several matches rather than one. A single high sale or a home with a major upgrade can skew the picture, so a list of five or six comparable homes gives you a fairer comparison.
Ask the assessor about exemptions
Next, contact the El Paso County Assessor and ask which exemptions you may qualify for. Don't assume you don't qualify just because you haven't heard of one. Ask what paperwork each exemption requires, whether it must be renewed, and what the filing deadline is for your property.
Bring a printed list with each comparable home's address, size and sale price when you call or visit. Pairing the exemption question with your value comparison gives the office a specific question to answer and keeps the conversation focused on your property's numbers.
Common questions about Colorado Springs property taxes
Where do I find my exact mill levy?
Use the El Paso County Treasurer's Mill Levies page to look up the levies for your area. The page offers the levy figures as a download in an Excel format [2]. Open the file and find the row for your own area, rather than relying on a citywide number.
Is one mill a lot?
Not on its own. One mill equals $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value [2]. The City of Colorado Springs general mill levy sits at 3.554 mills under its 2025 final budget [3]. Your total bill adds the other levies that apply to your address.
Is the median rate my rate?
No. The median effective property tax rate for Colorado Springs is 0.37%, which is lower than the Colorado state median of 0.50% and the national median of 1.02% [1]. A median is the middle figure across many homes, so it describes the city as a whole. Your bill depends on your address and your home's assessed value, so treat the median as a starting estimate, not a quote.
What should you plan for before buying or moving?
Colorado Springs's median effective property tax rate is 0.37% [1]. Multiply your target price by 0.0037, and you have a rough annual figure to test against your budget.
Before you make an offer, confirm your exact total levy for the address on the El Paso County Treasurer's Mill Levies page. The exact figure is what you will pay. Once you have the levy, apply it to the assessed value you expect, so the estimate reflects your own property.
For the wider cost picture, see the Colorado Springs housing market overview.