Powell · Lewis Center · Delaware · Tax Guide
Delaware County Property Tax: Ohio’s Highest Bills
Delaware County consistently carries the highest average property tax bills in the state. Here is why, what it costs you versus Franklin County, and how to plan for it.
The headline: highest average bills in Ohio
Delaware County regularly ranks first in Ohio for average property tax bill. Two things drive that: home values here are among the highest in the state, and the effective rates in the most popular districts — especially Olentangy schools, which covers Powell and Lewis Center — run high, commonly in the 1.8% to 2.0%+ range on market value. High values times high rates produces big bills.
This is the most important fact for any Powell or Lewis Center buyer. The same Epcon home that costs ~1.69% in Franklin County Hilliard can cost ~1.9% in Powell. On a $540,000 home that is roughly $1,100 more per year — about $12,800 over a decade — purely from the rate. The Powell address may be worth it. It should be a choice, not a surprise.
Powell vs. Hilliard: the same house, two bills
| Location | Effective rate | Annual tax ($540k) | 10-yr tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilliard (Franklin County) | ≈1.69% | $9,126 | ~$103,100 |
| Powell (Delaware/Olentangy) | ≈1.90% | $10,260 | ~$115,900 |
| Delaware premium | +0.21% | +$1,134/yr | ~+$12,800 |
Why Olentangy runs high
The Olentangy Local School District is one of the largest and fastest-growing in Ohio. Rapid enrollment growth means repeated school construction, funded through levies that residents approve — which is exactly what keeps the millage, and the effective rate, elevated. The schools’ strong reputation is part of what makes Powell and Lewis Center desirable and supports resale; the tax is the cost of that reputation. It is a real trade-off, not a flaw.
Same Ohio mechanics, higher result
Delaware County uses the same Ohio formula as Franklin: market value set by the auditor, 35% assessed value, total millage applied, reduction factors and rollbacks. The mechanics are identical — it is the higher local millage (chiefly schools) that produces the larger bill. And like Franklin, Delaware reappraises on a cycle, so strong home-value growth has pushed many bills up.
Planning for it as a retiree
The Ohio 65+ homestead exemption applies in Delaware County exactly as it does countywide — it shields a portion of your home’s value if you meet the age and income tests, with a larger exemption for disabled veterans. It softens the bill but does not erase the rate difference. If keeping your tax lower matters more than the Powell address, a Franklin County community is the structural answer.
Is Powell worth the premium for you?
We will run the exact Delaware County parcel tax and compare it to a Franklin County alternative on your budget.
Compare the numbersRates and thresholds are estimates for planning and change over time; effective rates vary by taxing district and reappraisal cycle. Confirm current figures with the Delaware County Auditor before making decisions. This is general information, not tax advice.