What is the property tax rate in Orange County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Orange County, New York is approximately 2.45%.

Orange County Property Tax Calculator (2026) — New York Property Tax Almanac

Property Tax in Orange County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Newburgh-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Orange County — including New York's two-regime property tax system (NYC Class 1 vs. suburban/upstate full-value), the STAR + Enhanced STAR exemptions, and the Alternative Veterans Exemption with disability boost.

Orange County, home to Goshen and 410k New Yorkers, operates within New York State's suburban property tax framework. New York suburban and upstate counties carry some of the highest effective property tax rates in the United States, driven by substantial school district spending and limited tax-base growth.

How the bill is built

NY suburban/upstate calculation has three steps. Step 1: Assessed Value. Each town/city assessor determines AV based on local assessment practices — some towns assess at full market value (RAR = 100%), others at fractional assessment with the Residential Assessment Ratio (RAR) bridging stated AV to market. Step 2: Tax Rates. Each taxing authority (county + town/city + school district + special districts) sets its own tax rate per $1,000 AV. School district rates typically dominate — often 60-70% of total bill. Step 3: Tax. Tax = AV × combined rate / 1,000. Orange County's average effective rate is approximately 2.45%, applied to current market value.

Intra-county variation is substantial. Within Orange County, individual school districts can vary in rate by 30-50%. Strategic school-district selection within the same town can change a homeowner's annual tax bill by $3,000-$8,000 on similar-priced homes — making "what school district is this in?" the single most important question for NY suburban relocation buyers.

Basic STAR + Enhanced STAR provide school-tax relief. Basic STAR (income limit $250K) reduces school taxes by approximately $1,800/year — applied as an exemption against AV in some districts, as a credit check in others (depends on enrollment timing). Enhanced STAR (65+, income limit $110,750 in 2026) provides a substantially larger exemption — typically $1,000-$1,800/year above Basic STAR. Senior Citizens Homeowner Exemption (SCHE) layers on top with up to 50% AV reduction for income-qualified seniors.

Alternative Veterans Exemption is generous but capped. Basic 15% AV reduction (25% combat-zone) + disability boost can produce $100K+ AV reduction for fully-disabled combat-zone veterans in opted-in school districts — but never reaches full exemption. School district opt-in is required (~80% of NY school districts participate). File Form RP-458-a with municipal assessor.

2026 Orange County rate breakdown (pre-calibrated effective rate as % of market value, Goshen district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Newburgh Enlarged City School District	19.5000
Orange County (general)	4.1800
City of Newburgh	11.9000
Combined total	35.5800

As of April 27, 2026 · From Orange County Real Property Tax Services.

Note: Orange County is the Hudson Valley's most populous county — spanning the Hudson River from Newburgh (the largest city) to Middletown (the second-largest), with the United States Military Academy at West Point on the Hudson's western shore. Substantial Hudson Valley wine and apple country agricultural acreage. The county sits 60-90 miles from NYC and serves as a more-affordable commuter alternative to Westchester.

Note: New York property tax is among the highest in the United States — Orange's ~2.45% effective rate is well above the national median (~1.02%). NY's STAR (School Tax Relief) Program provides Basic STAR ($30K AV reduction) for primary residences with HHI ≤ $500K, and Enhanced STAR for 65+ at lower income limits. The Alternative Veterans Exemption (RPTL §458-a) provides up to 25% AV reduction for combat veterans + 50% for combat-disabled.

Note: Orange's substantial Hasidic Jewish community in Kiryas Joel and the surrounding Monroe area constitutes one of the fastest-growing US population centers — Kiryas Joel itself is among the youngest US cities by median age (~14 years). Multiple legal disputes between Kiryas Joel and Monroe over school district boundaries have been substantial property tax issues.

STAR, exemptions, and senior programs for 2026

New York's homeowner tax relief works through layered school-tax exemptions plus a comprehensive senior program structure plus the Alternative Veterans Exemption.

Basic STAR (School Tax Relief)

Basic STAR provides a school-tax-only exemption for owner-occupied 1-3 family homes (and condos/coops). Income limit is $250,000 (combined household, prior year). For homes purchased after Aug 2015, STAR is delivered as a credit check rather than an upfront exemption — homeowners file with the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance via Form RP-425 and receive a check each fall. Typical Basic STAR savings range from $1,400-$2,500/year depending on school district.

Enhanced STAR (65+)

Enhanced STAR provides a substantially larger school-tax exemption for senior homeowners. Eligibility: 65+ in primary residence, with 2024 income under $110,750 (limit increased for 2026). Enhanced STAR replaces (rather than layers on top of) Basic STAR, providing typically $2,200-$4,000/year in school-tax savings. Senior homeowners must also enroll in the Income Verification Program for automatic annual verification. File Form RP-425-IVP with municipal assessor.

Senior Citizens Homeowner Exemption (SCHE)

SCHE provides additional AV reduction (up to 50%) for income-qualified senior homeowners — sliding scale set by local jurisdiction. Income limits are typically $32,000-$58,400 for the maximum 50% reduction, scaling down to 5% at higher incomes. SCHE layers on top of Enhanced STAR and can produce combined savings of $3,000-$5,000+/year for income-qualified Long Island or Westchester seniors. File Form RP-467 with municipal assessor.

Alternative Veterans Exemption

The Alternative Veterans Exemption provides AV reduction for honorably-discharged veterans:

Basic veteran: 15% AV reduction (max $54,000 AV)
Combat-zone veteran: 25% AV reduction (max $90,000 AV)
Disabled veteran: additional reduction equal to disability rating × $40,000 (max $180,000 AV)

For 100% disabled combat-zone veterans, total AV reduction can reach $270,000 — substantial, but never reaches full exemption. School district opt-in is required (~80% of NY school districts participate). File Form RP-458-a with municipal assessor.

Appealing your assessment

NY's appeal process is called grievance, with a Grievance Day held annually in each town/city (typically the 4th Tuesday of May, but varies). Homeowners file Form RP-524 with the local Board of Assessment Review, providing comparable sales evidence (preferably within the prior 12 months). The Board decides cases within ~30 days; further appeal to Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) is available for owner-occupied 1-3 family homes. Appeal volume in NY is exceptionally high — Nassau County alone processes 200,000+ appeals annually, and Westchester / Suffolk see similarly high volumes.

Cities and towns in Orange County

Orange County contains 6 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Goshen to the smallest village. Search volume for property tax is often city-specific, so here is the complete list — with population from the 2020 US Census, rounded to the nearest 100.

Data: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Populations rounded. Cities marked as "split" straddle a county border — the portion inside Orange County is subject to Orange County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Warwick	town	32,100
Middletown	city	30,200
Newburgh	city	28,200
Monroe	town	23,700
Port Jervis	city	8,900
Goshen County seat	village	5,400

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Goshen tax district. Other cities in Orange County may pay into different school districts, city rates, and special districts — so their combined rates can differ, sometimes substantially. Always verify the specific rates for your address with the Orange County Real Property Tax Services before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Orange property taxes due?

NY suburban/upstate property taxes are typically billed annually with options for installment payments. School taxes are usually billed in fall (September-October), with town/county taxes billed in early winter (December-January). Each taxing authority has its own discount/face/penalty schedule — the dates vary by jurisdiction.

Why is the school district rate so high?

NY school districts fund roughly 90% of school operating costs through property tax (vs. 50-60% in PA). Combined with high per-pupil spending in many suburban districts and limited tax-base growth in upstate cities, school district rates dominate the bill. Strategic school-district selection within a town can change a homeowner's annual tax bill by $3,000-$8,000 on similar-priced homes.

Should I apply for Basic STAR or wait for Enhanced STAR?

Apply for Basic STAR immediately upon becoming a homeowner — even if you're approaching 65. Enhanced STAR is administered separately and replaces (rather than layers on) Basic STAR when you qualify. The transition from Basic to Enhanced STAR is automatic for homeowners enrolled in the Income Verification Program. There's no penalty for being on Basic STAR before transitioning to Enhanced STAR at age 65.

How do I appeal my assessment?

NY's appeal process is called grievance. File Form RP-524 with the local Board of Assessment Review on Grievance Day (typically 4th Tuesday of May, but varies). Strong appeals require comparable sales data within the prior 12 months. Further appeal to Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) is available for 1-3 family homes. Appeal volume in NY is exceptionally high — Nassau alone processes 200,000+ appeals annually.

About Orange County

Beyond the property tax — a few things you might not know about the place.

Weird fact

The United States Military Academy at West Point — founded in 1802 on the Hudson River in Orange County — is the oldest continuously-operating military post in the United States. The Academy has produced 2 US Presidents (Grant, Eisenhower), 76 Medal of Honor recipients, and 18 NASA astronauts. Cadets refer to the campus as “the Rock,” and the campus is among the most architecturally distinctive in the United States.

Hometown hero

Dwight D. Eisenhower

34th President of the United States, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during WWII, and West Point graduate (class of 1915). Eisenhower’s connection to Orange County is anchored by his West Point years, and his bust stands in West Point’s Eisenhower Hall.

Biggest annual event

Army-Navy Game

While not played in Orange County itself (the game alternates between Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other neutral sites), the United States Military Academy at West Point is the home of Army Football. The annual Army-Navy Game is among America's most-watched college football events, drawing ~75,000 in-person attendees and substantial national TV viewership.

Property Tax in Orange County, 2026