What is the property tax rate in Benton County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Benton County, Oregon is approximately 1.05%.

Benton County Property Tax Calculator (2026) — Oregon Property Tax Almanac

Property Tax in Benton County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Corvallis-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Benton County — including Oregon's Measure 5 (1990) limit of $5/$1,000 RMV for education + $10/$1,000 RMV for general government, Measure 50's (1997) Maximum Assessed Value with 3% annual growth cap, the Senior and Disabled Citizen Property Tax Deferral (lien-based, not exemption), and the partial Disabled Veteran Exemption (~$31K AV reduction).

Benton County, home to Corvallis and 96k Oregonians, operates under Oregon's distinctive constitutional property tax system established by two voter initiatives: Measure 5 (1990) capping total taxes at $5 per $1,000 of Real Market Value (RMV) for education + $10 per $1,000 of RMV for general government, and Measure 50 (1997) establishing Maximum Assessed Value (MAV) with a 3% annual growth cap. Tax = Assessed Value × permanent tax rate per $1,000, where AV is the LESSER of MAV and RMV. New buyers inherit the seller's existing MAV — no reset on sale (unlike California's Proposition 13).

How the bill is built

Oregon's property tax calculation has multiple steps. Step 1: Real Market Value (RMV). The Benton County Assessor determines RMV every year as of January 1. Step 2: Maximum Assessed Value (MAV). MAV was initially set at 90% of 1995-96 RMV and grows at no more than 3% per year. Step 3: Assessed Value (AV). AV = lesser of MAV or RMV. For most long-term Oregon owners, MAV is well below RMV, so AV = MAV. Step 4: Apply permanent tax rate. Tax = AV × permanent rate ÷ $1,000. Benton's combined permanent rate is approximately $14.05/$1,000 of AV. Step 5: Measure 5 compression check. If total taxes exceed $5/$1,000 RMV (education) or $10/$1,000 RMV (general govt), local option levies are reduced first, then permanent rate components proportionally — known as "compression."

The 3% MAV cap creates dramatic disparities between long-term owners and new buyers. Two identical houses on the same Portland street — one owned since 1995, one purchased in 2026 — can have wildly different tax bills. The 1995-owner's MAV grew at 3%/year from a 1995-96 baseline; the 2026-buyer inherits the prior owner's MAV (not a reset to current RMV). For a typical Portland home, long-term owners often pay tax on AV that is 50-60% of current RMV. This is unique to Oregon — Oregon does NOT reset MAV when ownership changes, unlike California (Prop 13) which resets to purchase price on sale.

Oregon's Senior and Disabled Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program is a deferral, not an exemption. Owners 62+ (and disabled owners) with income below ~$57K and home value under $301K can defer property tax payments to the State of Oregon — which pays the bill annually and places a 6% interest lien on the property, repaid when the home is sold or transferred. This protects cash-poor / asset-rich seniors from being forced out by rising tax bills, but does NOT reduce the underlying tax. The home value cap excludes substantial portions of Portland metro housing — Multnomah County eligibility is limited.

Oregon's Disabled Veteran Exemption is partial, not full. Veterans with 40%+ service-connected disability receive a flat ~$26,400 reduction in AV (2026 indexed); 100% disabled veterans (or 60%+ with income below ~$25K single / $32K married) receive ~$31,400 reduction. Both are PARTIAL — substantially less generous than the full exemptions in TX, FL, NJ, VA, MD, MI, and other states. On a typical Oregon home with AV of ~$300K (post-MAV cap), this saves approximately $440-$555/year. Surviving spouses retain the exemption.

2026 Benton County rate breakdown (permanent rate per $1,000 of MAV-capped AV (Measure 50), Corvallis district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Corvallis School District 509J	5.1000
Benton County General	2.2500
City of Corvallis	6.2500
Corvallis-Benton County Public Library	0.4500
Combined total	14.0500

As of April 28, 2026 · From Benton County Assessor.

Note: Benton County is centered on Corvallis — home of Oregon State University (~32K students), the state's land-grant university and one of only three institutions in the United States with sea grant, space grant, sun grant, and land grant designations. Major employers include OSU (~5K employees), Hewlett-Packard (the original HP Inkjet printer R&D site), Samaritan Health Services, and the Corvallis-area technology cluster spawned by HP and OSU engineering programs.

Note: Benton's combined mill rate runs ~$14/$1,000 AV in Corvallis — producing typical effective rates around 1.05% on real market value. Oregon's Measure 50 (1997) caps assessment growth at 3%/year for properties not undergoing major changes, so long-term Corvallis homeowners pay substantially less than recent buyers. Median home values (~$425K) reflect Corvallis's desirable college-town status.

Note: Oregon's structural protections — Measure 5 (1990, 1.5% combined cap) + Measure 50 (1997, 3% AV growth cap + frozen base year value) — make Benton County's long-term homeowner tax burden extraordinarily favorable. The substantial OSU faculty/staff homeowner base benefits especially from Measure 50; Corvallis has been ranked among the most-livable US college towns multiple years in major rankings.

Deductions and exemptions for 2026

Oregon homeowner property tax relief operates almost entirely through Measure 50's structural MAV cap rather than line-item homestead deductions. The two explicit programs are: (1) the Senior and Disabled Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program (lien-based deferral, not exemption), and (2) the partial Disabled Veteran Exemption (~$26K-$31K AV reduction).

Measure 50 Maximum Assessed Value cap (universal)

Oregon's primary structural protection for ALL homeowners is Measure 50's 3% annual MAV growth cap. After Measure 50 took effect (1997-98), each property's MAV was set at 90% of its 1995-96 RMV; in subsequent years, MAV can grow by no more than 3% per year regardless of market value. AV = lesser of MAV or RMV. For long-term Oregon owners, MAV is typically well below RMV, producing assessed values 50-80% of current market. New buyers inherit the seller's existing MAV — no reset on sale (unlike CA Prop 13). This makes Measure 50 a meaningful tax benefit that transfers with the property.

Senior and Disabled Citizen Property Tax Deferral

Oregon's primary senior program is the Senior and Disabled Citizen Property Tax Deferral — owners 62+ (or any age with permanent disability) can defer property tax payments. The State of Oregon pays the bill annually and places a lien on the property at 6% interest, repaid when the home is sold or transferred. Eligibility: federal AGI under approximately $57,000 (2026, indexed annually) and home value under $301,000 (with exceptions for residents of 5+ years). Apply by April 15 with the Oregon Department of Revenue. This is a deferral, not an exemption — the underlying tax is still owed, just deferred. Useful for cash-poor / asset-rich seniors.

Disabled Veteran Exemption

Oregon's Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption (ORS 307.250) provides a flat-dollar reduction in AV. For tax year 2026 (indexed annually): veterans with 40%+ service-connected disability OR 100% disability rating receive a reduction of approximately $26,400; veterans with 100% disability OR 60%+ unemployable receive approximately $31,400. Both are partial — substantially less generous than full-exemption states (TX, FL, NJ, VA, MD, MI, etc.). For 100% disabled vets, an income limit applies for the higher tier ($25K single / $32K married). Surviving spouses retain. File Form 150-303-086 with the Benton County Assessor by April 1.

Appealing your assessment

Oregon property tax appeals run through the county Property Valuation Appeals Board (PVAB). Homeowners file a Petition for Review with the PVAB through December 31 of the tax year. The PVAB holds hearings beginning in February and through April 15 of the following year. PVAB decisions can be appealed to the Oregon Tax Court Magistrate Division, then to the Tax Court Regular Division, then to the Oregon Supreme Court. Most Oregon counties reassess RMV annually as of January 1; MAV (the typically-binding value) only changes by the 3% annual cap or new construction/remodeling exceptions.

Cities and towns in Benton County

Benton County contains 5 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Corvallis 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 Benton County is subject to Benton County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Corvallis County seat	city	60,000
North Albany Split	Census-designated place	8,500
Philomath	city	5,800
Adair Village	city	1,100
Monroe	city	700

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Corvallis tax district. Other cities in Benton 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 Benton County Assessor before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Oregon property taxes due?

Oregon property taxes can be paid in three installments OR as a single lump sum. Statements are mailed before October 25 each year. Due dates for the 2025-2026 tax year: November 15 (full payment, or first installment with 3% discount), February 17, 2026 (second installment), and May 15, 2026 (third installment). Lump-sum payment by November 15 receives a 3% discount; two-thirds payment by November 15 receives a 2% discount. Late payments accrue 1.333% per month (16% annually). Most Oregon homeowners pay through escrow via mortgage servicer.

How does Oregon's Measure 50 work, and how is it different from California's Prop 13?

Both Measure 50 (Oregon, 1997) and Proposition 13 (California, 1978) cap annual growth in taxable value, but with critical differences. Prop 13: caps annual growth at 2%, but RESETS taxable value to current market value when the property changes ownership. Measure 50: caps annual MAV growth at 3%, but does NOT reset on sale — new buyers inherit the seller's existing MAV. This means Oregon buyers can sometimes acquire a low-tax-basis property that retains its tax-favorable status. The trade-off: Oregon's MAV applies to permanent rates per $1,000 of AV (varies by district), while CA's 1% rate cap applies universally.

Does Oregon's Senior Deferral Program reduce my tax bill?

No — the Senior and Disabled Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program is a deferral, not exemption. The State of Oregon pays your annual tax bill and places a 6% interest lien on your property. The deferred amount + accumulated interest is repaid when the property is sold or transferred (including upon death, repaid from the estate). Eligibility: 62+ (or any age with disability), federal AGI under approximately $57,000 (2026), and home value under $301,000 (with exceptions for residents of 5+ years). Apply by April 15 with the Oregon Department of Revenue. Useful for cash-poor / asset-rich seniors, but does NOT reduce the underlying tax owed.

How do I qualify for Oregon's Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption?

Oregon's Disabled Veteran Exemption is partial only. For tax year 2026 (indexed annually): veterans with 40%+ service-connected disability OR 100% disability rating receive a flat AV reduction of approximately $26,400; veterans with 100% disability OR 60%+ unemployable receive approximately $31,400. For the higher tier, an income limit applies (~$25K single / $32K married). On a typical Oregon home with AV of ~$300K post-MAV-cap, this saves approximately $440-$555 per year. File Form 150-303-086 with the Benton County Assessor by April 1. Surviving spouses retain. Substantially less generous than full-exemption states (TX, FL, NJ, VA, MD, MI).

What is Measure 5 compression and when does it apply?

Measure 5 (1990) caps total property taxes at $5/$1,000 of Real Market Value for education + $10/$1,000 of RMV for general government. If a property's combined taxes (across all overlapping districts) would exceed these caps, taxes are "compressed" — local option levies are reduced first, then permanent rate components proportionally. Most properties don't hit the caps because Measure 50 substantially reduced AV (and thus tax) below RMV. However, properties in high-tax-rate districts (Multnomah, parts of Washington and Clackamas) may experience compression — meaning new local option levies don't actually raise their bills (the $5/$10 cap is binding). Compression cost Oregon cities ~$31 million in FY16-17 alone.

How do I appeal my Oregon assessment?

Oregon property tax appeals run through the county Property Valuation Appeals Board (PVAB). File a Petition for Review with the PVAB through December 31 of the tax year (the year of the disputed assessment). The PVAB holds hearings beginning in February and through April 15 of the following year. Bring comparable sales evidence, recent appraisals, or condition documentation (interior damage, deferred maintenance). PVAB decisions can be appealed to the Oregon Tax Court Magistrate Division (filed within 60 days of PVAB decision), then to the Tax Court Regular Division, then to the Oregon Supreme Court. Most homeowners resolve at the PVAB level — substantial appeal volume on commercial and complex residential properties at the Tax Court.

About Benton County

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

Weird fact

Corvallis is home to the original "Doomsday" microbiology project — researchers at Oregon State University maintain backup samples of historic Pacific Northwest crops, including the original Marion blackberry seeds (developed at OSU in 1956 and now the basis for Oregon's entire commercial blackberry industry). OSU's seed bank contains preserved specimens of dozens of crops developed in the Willamette Valley.

Hometown hero

Linus Pauling

Two-time Nobel Prize laureate (Chemistry 1954, Peace 1962) — the only person ever to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes. Born in Portland but graduated from Oregon Agricultural College (now OSU) in 1922 and maintained lifelong Oregon connections. The Linus Pauling Institute at OSU continues his research in nutrition and orthomolecular medicine. Pauling Plaza on the OSU campus honors him.

Biggest annual event

OSU Beavers football season (Civil War game)

Reser Stadium hosts OSU Beavers football each fall — the annual "Civil War" rivalry game vs the University of Oregon Ducks (since 1894) is one of the longest-running college football rivalries in the western United States. OSU home games and game-day spending drive substantial regional economic activity across Corvallis.

Property Tax in Benton County, 2026