How much are property taxes in Descanso, CA?

Name: Property taxes in Descanso, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Homeowners in Descanso, CA pay a median of $3,838 (±$1,174) a year in real estate taxes (2020–2024 American Community Survey, table B25103).

Homes with a mortgage pay a median of $3,940.

That is about 0.6% of the median home value of $662,600.

In Descanso, the median real estate tax went from $2,603 in 2015–2019 to $3,838 in 2020–2024 (+47.4%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years; the change is not measurably different from the rise in prices.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Median real estate taxes: $3,838 (±$1,174)
With a mortgage: $3,940
Share of median value: 0.6%

Real estate taxes in Descanso against San Diego County, its state and the nation

Median real estate taxes paid a year, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Descanso	San Diego County	California	United States
Median real estate taxes	$3,838 (±$1,174)	$5,774 (±$47)	$5,124 (±$17)	$3,119
Homes with a mortgage	$3,940 (±$1,330)	$6,375 (±$55)	$5,839 (±$17)	$3,489
Homes without a mortgage	—	$4,129 (±$91)	$3,825 (±$19)	$2,576
Median home value	$662,600 (±$63,540)	$854,700 (±$3,996)	$734,700 (±$1,307)	$332,700

In Descanso, the median real estate tax is lower than in San Diego County ($5,774).

It is also lower than in California ($5,124).

It is not measurably different from the national figure ($3,119).

In San Diego County, Descanso ranks 43 of 48 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest median real estate taxes.

Statewide, it ranks 600 of 1,056.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Taxes as a share of home value in Descanso

The median tax ($3,838) is 0.6% of the median home value ($662,600).

Across San Diego County the same ratio is 0.7%.

Across California it is 0.7%.

This is a ratio of two medians, a rough effective rate: not the tax rate or mill rate the town, county or school district sets, and not any one home’s bill.

Owners report what they paid and what they think their home is worth; the assessor’s office publishes the actual rates and assessments.

How property taxes in Descanso have changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Median real estate taxes	$2,603 (±$515)	$3,838 (±$1,174)	+47.4%	No measurable change after inflation
Median home value	$380,700 (±$37,843)	$662,600 (±$63,540)	+74.0%	Up after inflation
Median owner cost with a mortgage	$1,928 (±$138)	$2,637 (±$162)	+36.8%	Up after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Median real estate taxes in places near Descanso

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Descanso
Place	Distance	Median real estate taxes	Compared with this place
Descanso	—	$3,838 (±$1,174)	—
Pine Valley	7.1 mi	$3,141 (±$594)	Not measurably different
Alpine	7.7 mi	$6,056 (±$498)	Higher
Harbison Canyon	13 mi	$3,930 (±$1,259)	Not measurably different
San Diego Country Estates	13 mi	$6,033 (±$367)	Higher
Julian	14 mi	$4,456 (±$1,196)	Not measurably different
Crest	15 mi	$3,997 (±$695)	Not measurably different
Lakeside	16 mi	$4,150 (±$512)	Not measurably different
Granite Hills	17 mi	$6,109 (±$1,213)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Alpine, CA ($6,056), San Diego Country Estates, CA ($6,033), Granite Hills, CA ($6,109).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Median real estate taxes across San Diego County, place by place

Rank	Place	Median real estate taxes
37	Julian	$4,456 (±$1,196)
38	Winter Gardens	$4,425 (±$653)
39	Lakeside	$4,150 (±$512)
40	La Presa	$4,105 (±$467)
41	Crest	$3,997 (±$695)
42	Harbison Canyon	$3,930 (±$1,259)
43	Descanso	$3,838 (±$1,174)
44	National City	$3,595 (±$225)
45	Campo	$3,373 (±$388)
46	Pine Valley	$3,141 (±$594)
47	Borrego Springs	$3,052 (±$1,100)
48	Bostonia	$2,845 (±$669)

Showing 12 of 48 places in San Diego County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Descanso is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Descanso

How much are property taxes in Descanso?

The median real estate tax paid by homeowners in Descanso, CA is $3,838 (±$1,174) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What is the property tax rate in Descanso?

The Census Bureau does not publish tax rates; as a rough guide, the median tax paid is 0.6% of the median home value in Descanso, and the actual rate is set by the town, county and school district.

Have property taxes in Descanso gone up?

In Descanso, the median real estate tax went from $2,603 in 2015–2019 to $3,838 in 2020–2024 (+47.4%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years; the change is not measurably different from the rise in prices.

Are property taxes in Descanso higher than in San Diego County?

In Descanso, the median real estate tax is lower than in San Diego County ($5,774).

It is also lower than in California ($5,124).

It is not measurably different from the national figure ($3,119).

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Descanso CDP, California (place:18940, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are B25103_001E, B25103_001M, B25077_001E, B25077_001M, B25088_002E, B25088_002M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

B25103_001E, B25103_001M, B25103_002E, B25103_002M, B25103_003E, B25103_003M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.