Columbus, Ohio · Tax Head-to-Head
Franklin County vs. Delaware County Property Tax
The single most consequential money decision in a Columbus 55+ search isn’t the community — it’s which county you buy in. Here is the direct comparison.
The headline rates
Franklin County’s effective property tax rate runs around 1.69% of market value. Delaware County — which holds Ohio’s highest average property tax bills— runs higher, commonly 1.8% to 1.9%+ in its most popular districts like Olentangy (Powell, Lewis Center). Same state, same formula, different result.
What the gap costs you. On a $500,000 home, ~1.69% is about $8,450 a year; ~1.9% is about $9,500. That is roughly $1,050 more per year in Delaware County — about $12,000 over a decade — for the same-priced home. It recurs every single year you own, and grows as values rise.
Side by side, by home price
| Home price | Franklin (~1.69%) | Delaware (~1.9%) | Annual gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | ~$6,760 | ~$7,600 | ~$840 |
| $500,000 | ~$8,450 | ~$9,500 | ~$1,050 |
| $600,000 | ~$10,140 | ~$11,400 | ~$1,260 |
Why Delaware runs higher
It is mostly schools. The Olentangy Local School District is one of Ohio’s largest and fastest-growing; rapid enrollment growth drives repeated school construction funded by voter-approved levies, which keeps the millage — and the effective rate — elevated. Those same schools are part of why Powell and Lewis Center are desirable and hold value. The tax is the cost of the reputation, not a defect.
Which side should you buy on?
If a specific Delaware County community and its schools’ resale halo matter to you, the premium can be worth it — budget for it knowingly. If you are optimizing cost, Franklin County is the structural answer, and you do not have to sacrifice prestige to get it: Dublin offers a marquee address in Franklin County, and Grove City and Hilliard offer strong value. The Ohio 65+ homestead exemption applies in both counties and trims the tax either way, but it does not erase the rate difference.
Want the county math on your shortlist?
Send the homes you are weighing — we will run parcel-level tax for each and show the county gap clearly.
Get my comparisonEffective rates vary by taxing district and reappraisal cycle and change over time. Confirm current figures with the Franklin and Delaware County Auditors. This is general information, not tax advice.