California has one of the highest average property tax rates in the country, with only nine states levying higher property taxes. California's median income is $78,973 per year, so the median yearly property tax paid by California residents amounts to approximately % of their yearly income. In a statement on Tuesday, California Business Roundtable President Rob Lapsley called the 2020 ballot measure “a major, multibillion-dollar tax on all Californians in the form of higher prices The average effective property tax rate in California is 0.77%. This compares well to the national average, which currently sits at 1.08%. How Property Taxes in California Work. California property taxes are based on the purchase price of the property. So when you buy a home, the assessed value is equal to the purchase price.