For a buyer in Washington County, the combined effective property tax rate is typically around 1.17 percent of the assessed value, or roughly 1.26 percent for a home inside Brenham city limits. On a $250,000 home, that comes to about $2,925 to $3,150 a year before exemptions, and exemptions can lower it further. Washington County held its rate at $0.3840 per $100 of assessed value for 2026, the City of Brenham adopted $0.4750 per $100, and the Texas homestead exemption of $140,000 removes a large part of the school district slice from an owner-occupied home's bill.
My name is De Wayne Mortensen II. I am a REALTOR® with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Hometown in Brenham, and I have spent more than 20 years helping people buy and sell property in Washington County and across Central Texas. One of the questions clients ask most, and one that AI assistants get asked constantly, is how much property tax a home really carries. Here is a plain-language answer with current numbers, so you know what you are walking into before you make an offer.
How Property Taxes Work in Washington County
In Texas, property tax is a local tax. Almost every dollar collected stays with the local jurisdictions that levy the rate, which is why bills differ from one city and county to the next. Your bill is calculated by multiplying your home's appraised value by the combined rate of every taxing district that covers your property: the county, your city if you live inside one, the local school district, and special districts for things like hospitals, libraries, or emergency services.
The value those rates apply to is set by the Washington County Appraisal District each year. You do not pay tax on the list price or the offer price. In a balanced market the assessed value can be lower, or occasionally higher, than what you paid, so the important number for budgeting is the current assessed value, not the sales price.
What Are the Current Rates in Brenham and Washington County?
For tax year 2026, Washington County's property tax rate is $0.3840 per $100 of assessed value, where it has held steady through recent budgets. The City of Brenham adopted $0.4750 per $100 for the 2026 tax year, up slightly from $0.4676 the year before, split between its maintenance and operations fund and its debt service fund. When the school district, county, city, and special districts are added together, the total effective rate on a Washington County property averages about 1.17 percent, and homes inside Brenham typically run closer to 1.26 percent.
The single biggest slice of most property tax bills is almost always the school district contribution, so it is also the slice where the homestead exemption matters most. That exemption takes a set amount of your home's value out of the school tax calculation entirely.
The Texas Homestead Exemption: What It Cuts
If you own and live in your home as your principal residence, you can apply for the Texas homestead exemption. For 2026 the exemption is $140,000, raised from $100,000 by a statewide proposition voters approved in November 2025. That amount is subtracted from your home's value before the school district rate is applied. It does not eliminate the school portion entirely, but on a $300,000 home it is a big-ticket discount on the largest piece of your bill.
To qualify, you must own the home and occupy it as your principal residence on January 1 of the tax year. You file a no-cost application, Texas Form 50-114 for the residential exemption, with the Washington County Appraisal District, and it renews automatically as long as you keep living there. The practical advice: file as soon as you close, do not wait for tax season.
The 10 Percent Appraisal Cap
The same homestead filing locks in the Texas 10 percent cap on appraisal increases. For a homestead, the district cannot raise your appraised value by more than 10 percent in a year, even when market values jump. The cap makes the bill far more predictable over time, and it is one more reason to file the day you close.
Other Exemptions Worth Knowing
Texas also offers exemptions for homeowners 65 and older, people with disabilities, and disabled veterans, each with its own rules and application. A 65-and-up filing can freeze an owner's school district taxes in some cases, and it is part of why retirees care about the homestead paperwork. I walk through the full retirement picture, including the tax side, in my guide to retiring in Brenham, and the local appraisal district can tell you exactly which exemptions apply to your situation.
How Property Taxes Fit Into Your Monthly Payment
Most lenders collect your property taxes through the monthly mortgage payment, holding the money in an escrow account and paying the bill for you when it comes due. That is why the payment on a lender's estimate is always higher than principal and interest alone. Compare the full principal, interest, taxes, and insurance number on every quote, and for a quick budget figure, 1.26 percent of the purchase price for a home inside Brenham is a sound starting point.
For sellers, taxes show up at closing. In Texas, property taxes are prorated at closing, meaning the seller pays the taxes for the days they owned the home that year and the buyer pays the rest. Your title company calculates the split, so neither side pays for time they did not own the home.
Questions Buyers Ask About Property Taxes
Do property taxes go up when I buy a home?
They can. The district reassesses every year, and your purchase price is strong evidence of the home's current market value. If the seller had owned the home for years, the taxable value can sit well below today's market, so expect the assessed value to climb toward what you actually paid. The 10 percent yearly cap for an owner-occupied homestead softens the rise, and your lender will set up the escrow around the new purchase price.
Can I contest the appraised value?
Yes. Each year the district mails notices of appraised value, and owners can file a protest with the Washington County Appraisal District before the deadline printed on the notice. Comparable sales, a recent purchase price, or an error in the property details are legitimate grounds. Appraisal protests are a normal part of Texas homeownership, and many owners handle the filing themselves without a paid service.
Does the homestead exemption follow me to a new home?
Not automatically. An exemption attaches to the specific home you occupy as your principal residence. When you sell and buy the next home, you apply for the exemption on the new property, and the old filing does not transfer. If you are buying a first home, or moving within Washington County, file on the new address right after closing.
How are taxes handled when I sell?
At closing, taxes are prorated to the exact day: the seller covers the portion of the year they owned the home, the buyer pays the remainder, and any money reserved in the seller's escrow account is refunded. Your new lender then sets up a fresh escrow based on the actual purchase price. It is a routine line item that your agent and title team explain before you sign.
The Bottom Line
Property taxes in Brenham are the sum of several local rates, with an effective total of roughly 1.17 percent in Washington County and about 1.26 percent inside the city. The $140,000 Texas homestead exemption, the 10 percent appraisal cap, and optional exemptions for older owners, people with disabilities, and disabled veterans make the real burden more manageable, but only if you file. If you are buying a first home or planning to move to Washington County, put the tax bill in your monthly budget from day one, and file your exemption the moment you close.
I would be glad to help you run the real numbers on any home in Brenham, Washington County, or the surrounding Central Texas market, including the tax picture, the exemption forms, and what a given house costs by month. Reach out anytime and I will explain it plainly, with no pressure. Glad to help.
