85251 Property Tax Rate
Scottsdale, Arizona · Part of Maricopa County
Effective Tax Rate
0.33%
3.9% below state avgMedian Annual Tax
$1,645
$137/mo escrow
Estimate Your Tax
Annual Tax
$1,645
Monthly
$137
Eff. Rate
0.33%
Buyer decision brief
What ZIP 85251 means for your housing budget
Use this ZIP page to compare recurring tax burden before you compare listing prices. The numbers below are Census ZCTA estimates, so they are strongest for neighborhood comparison and weakest for parcel-specific tax planning.
Monthly escrow signal
$137/mo
Based on median annual tax paid
State context
0.21 percentage points below the Arizona average
Arizona average: 0.54%
Data confidence
High confidenceThe Census margin of error is $112, about 7% of the median tax estimate.
Verify before you offer
- Confirm parcel assessed value with Maricopa County assessor.
- Check homestead, senior, veteran, and disability exemptions.
- Ask whether purchase triggers reassessment or value-cap reset.
- Review school district and special assessment boundaries.
Lower-rate similar ZIPs
This is informational content, not tax, legal, or mortgage advice. Local assessor records remain the source of truth for a specific property.
Data confidence ledger
Can you trust ZIP 85251 for comparison?
ACS vintage
2019-2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
Five-year Census ZCTA estimates.
ZCTA caveat
Census area, not parcel boundary
USPS ZIP routes and taxing districts can differ inside the same area.
Field completeness
3/3 required fields
Median tax, home value, and derived rate are present.
MOE status
Strong ACS confidence
$112 tax MOE, 7% of the median tax estimate.
Last site refresh
March 10, 2026
Dataset and page-quality audit run locally before publication.
County fallback
County advisory available
Maricopa County is used for assessor verification and broader context.
Tax bill anatomy
What can change your actual bill in ZIP 85251
Use the ZIP estimate to compare neighborhoods, then verify these parcel-level inputs before relying on a payment estimate.
Assessed value
The ZCTA median home value is $500,700, but your bill starts with the local assessed value for a specific parcel.
Effective rate
The displayed rate is 0.33%, derived from median tax paid divided by median home value.
Exemptions
Homestead, senior, veteran, disability, and local exemptions can reduce taxable value. Confirm eligibility before estimating escrow.
Reassessment
A purchase can change assessed value depending on Arizona and county rules. Ask how sale price affects the next assessment cycle.
Escrow impact
The median tax paid in this ZCTA equals about $137 per month before insurance, HOA dues, or special assessments.
Assessor verification
Maricopa County assessor or tax collector records are the source of truth for parcel taxes, appeal windows, and exemptions.
How ZIP 85251 Compares
Median Annual Property Tax
ZIP 85251
0.33%
Effective rate
Arizona Avg
0.54%
Effective rate
National Avg
1.10%
Effective rate
State Ranking
Property Tax Rank in Arizona
Lower than 95% of ZIP codes in Arizona(5th percentile, 328 ZIPs compared)
Property Tax Analysis
Property Tax Insights for ZIP 85251
Property owners in ZIP code 85251 (Scottsdale, Arizona) pay a median of $1,645/year in property taxes on homes valued at $500,700. This translates to an effective tax rate of 0.33%, which is 39% below the Arizona state average of 0.54%.
The monthly property tax burden for a median-valued home in 85251 is approximately $137, which factors into escrow payments on mortgages. This ZIP code is located within Maricopa County.
Compared to similar ZIP codes in Arizona, 85251 has lower property taxes. ZIP codes with similar effective rates include 85536 (0.33%) and 85329 (0.33%).
In Scottsdale, property taxes represent approximately 1.8% of the median household income of $89,151, providing context for the relative tax burden on homeowners in this area.
Arizona taxes owner-occupied primary residences at a 10% assessment ratio (vs. 18% for other property types), and your home will be reassessed at purchase price when you buy; the Limited Property Value limits annual increases to the lesser of 5% or CPI thereafter. The Maricopa County Assessor administers the Senior Valuation Protection program (age 65+, 10+ years residence) — apply at the assessor's office with proof of age and residency within 60 days of purchase. File for your owner-occupancy classification immediately upon closing to ensure the 10% rate applies to your first tax bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in ZIP code 85251?
How much are property taxes in Scottsdale, AZ (85251)?
How does ZIP 85251 compare to the Arizona average?
What is the median home value in ZIP 85251?
What county is ZIP code 85251 in?
Margin of Error
The median property tax estimate for this ZIP code has a margin of error of ±$112. ZCTA-level data has wider margins than county-level estimates due to smaller sample sizes.
County-Level Data
ZIP code 85251 is part of Maricopa County, Arizona. View the full county profile for broader context and more data.
View Maricopa County on TaxByCounty →Explore Scottsdale, AZ
View all 10 ZIP codes in Scottsdale with property tax comparisons.
View Scottsdale Property Tax Rates →Why compare these ZIPs?
Better comparison set for ZIP 85251
Each ZIP highlights a homebuyer tradeoff: lower rate, stronger value context, shared county rules, city boundary changes, or nearby missing data.
85257
Scottsdale, AZ
0.04 percentage points lower than ZIP 85251.
Rate
0.29%
Tax
$1,302
Quality
101
85354
Tonopah, AZ
0.06 percentage points lower than ZIP 85251.
Rate
0.27%
Tax
$746
Quality
89
85377
Carefree, AZ
0.06 percentage points lower than ZIP 85251.
Rate
0.27%
Tax
$2,866
Quality
89
85322
Arlington, AZ
0.04 percentage points lower than ZIP 85251.
Rate
0.28%
Tax
$676
Quality
84
85329
Cashion, AZ
0.00 percentage points lower than ZIP 85251.
Rate
0.33%
Tax
$793
Quality
74
85253
Paradise Valley, AZ
$1,499,301 higher median home value than ZIP 85251.
Rate
0.42%
Tax
$8,307
Quality
87
85262
Scottsdale, AZ
$677,900 higher median home value than ZIP 85251.
Rate
0.35%
Tax
$4,139
Quality
101
85266
Scottsdale, AZ
$526,200 higher median home value than ZIP 85251.
Rate
0.38%
Tax
$3,864
Quality
101
Data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates (ZCTA level). ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census approximations of USPS ZIP codes.
Estimates are informational only and should not be used as financial or legal advice.