Property Taxes in Colorado: What Buyers Should Know

Shopping for a home in Eaton? Property taxes are a big part of your monthly budget and your long-term costs. If you understand how Colorado calculates them and where to find the right local numbers, you can compare homes confidently and avoid surprises at closing. In this guide, you will learn the core formula, how local mill levies work in Weld County, where to pull exact figures, and how to estimate your bill. Let’s dive in.

How Colorado property taxes work

Colorado property taxes come from three pieces that work together:

• The county assessor’s estimate of your home’s market value.
• A state-set assessment rate applied to that value.
• The total mill levy from all taxing jurisdictions serving the property.

Key terms you will see on your tax statement:

• Actual or market value: The assessor’s estimate of full market value.
• Assessment rate: A state percentage applied to market value.
• Assessed value: Market value × Assessment rate.
• Mill levy: Combined tax rate for all jurisdictions; 1 mill equals $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Core formulas:

• Assessed value = Market value × Assessment rate
• Annual property tax = Assessed value × (Total mills ÷ 1,000)

Quick example calculation

Here is a simple, illustrative example to show the math. Replace the numbers with the current assessment rate and your property’s actual mills:

• Market value: $400,000
• Example assessment rate: 7.15% → Assessed value = $400,000 × 0.0715 = $28,600
• Example total mills: 80 → Tax = $28,600 × (80 ÷ 1,000) = $2,288

Always confirm the current residential assessment rate with the Colorado Division of Property Taxation and use the parcel’s actual mill levy from county records before you finalize a budget.

Why taxes vary across Eaton and nearby towns

Two homes with the same market value can have different tax bills. That is because the total mill levy depends on which jurisdictions serve the property. In and around Eaton, a parcel’s mills may include the county, a specific school district, the town or city, and one or more special districts.

Local differences are common:

• School districts are often the largest piece of the mill levy.
• Special districts, such as fire, water, library, hospital, or metropolitan districts, add mills.
• Voter-approved bonds or levy overrides can increase mills within a district.

If you compare Eaton to a nearby area in Larimer County, use the same market value and assessment rate, then swap in each parcel’s mills. That gives you a true apples-to-apples comparison.

What to check for each property

• Identify the parcel’s taxing jurisdictions and total mills.
• Confirm the current residential assessment rate.
• Apply the formulas using the same market value for each comparison.

Where to find exact numbers in Weld and Larimer

For Eaton properties, start with these official sources:

• Weld County Assessor: Parcel search, market and assessed values, and parcel-level taxing districts and tax history.
• Weld County Treasurer: Current mill levies, payment schedules, and delinquency rules for the tax year.
• Larimer County Assessor and Treasurer: Use for comparisons with adjacent Larimer areas.
• Colorado Division of Property Taxation (DOLA): Current statewide assessment rates and guidance.
• Local school district and special district sites: Voter-approved bonds or levy changes.

On these sites, look for:

• Parcel/property record: Current and prior values, legal description, and tax history.
• Mill levy or taxing districts page: All mills that apply to the parcel and the total.
• Notices about recent or upcoming ballot measures affecting mills.
• Payment deadlines and penalty schedules.

Estimate your tax on an Eaton listing

Use this simple process to get a solid estimate:

1. Pull the parcel’s taxing districts and total mills from Weld County records.
2. Confirm the current residential assessment rate from DOLA.
3. Choose a market value to model: the list price or the assessor’s value.
4. Compute assessed value: Market value × Assessment rate.
5. Compute tax: Assessed value × (Total mills ÷ 1,000).
6. Ask your lender how this translates into a monthly escrow amount.

Tip: Save your math and sources. If you write an offer, you can revisit the estimate after the inspection period if anything changes in value assumptions or if new mill information becomes available.

Payments, escrow, and closing

Property taxes are billed by the county and paid to the county treasurer following county deadlines. Some counties allow either a single payment or split payments. Check Weld County’s payment options and due dates for each tax year.

At closing, taxes are commonly prorated between buyer and seller according to the contract and local practice. Your title company or closing agent will calculate the proration and show it on the settlement statement. If you are using a mortgage, your lender may collect a monthly escrow for taxes. Ask for the estimated escrow amount before you clear conditions.

Exemptions and relief programs

Colorado offers certain property tax relief programs, such as exemptions or deferrals for seniors, eligible disabled veterans, and some low‑income homeowners. Availability, rules, and applications vary by program and county. If you might qualify, contact the Weld County Assessor and the Colorado Division of Property Taxation for current eligibility and how to apply.

Smart comparison: Eaton vs. nearby Larimer areas

When you compare a home in Eaton to one just across the county line, focus on the full mill levy picture for each parcel. One property might sit inside an extra metropolitan district or a different school district, which can increase the total mills.

To compare fairly:

• Use the same market value and the current statewide assessment rate for both properties.
• Pull the exact total mills for each parcel from the appropriate county pages.
• Recalculate using the formulas so you are comparing total dollars, not averages.

Final thoughts

If you know how the assessment rate and mill levies fit together, you can budget with confidence and compare homes across Eaton and nearby towns without guesswork. When you are ready, I can help you pull parcel records, interpret mill levy tables, and work with your lender and title team so your escrow and closing proration are clear.

Have questions about a specific property or want help running the numbers? Reach out to Manuel Puente for local, step-by-step guidance.

FAQs

How are Colorado property taxes calculated for a home in Eaton?

• Taxes equal Assessed value × (Total mills ÷ 1,000), where Assessed value is Market value × the current statewide residential assessment rate.

Why might two similar Eaton homes have different tax bills?

• Parcels can sit in different school districts or special districts, which changes the total mill levy and the final tax amount.

Where do I find the total mill levy for an Eaton property?

• Use the Weld County Assessor parcel search for taxing districts and the Weld County Treasurer for current-year mill levies and payment details.

Will my property taxes change after I buy in Weld County?

• Yes. Taxes can change if the assessor updates market value, if the statewide assessment rate changes, or if local jurisdictions adjust mills through budget actions or voter measures.

How are property taxes handled at closing in Weld County?

• Taxes are typically prorated between buyer and seller based on the closing date and county billing cycle, and the title company calculates the proration.

Can my lender escrow my property taxes in Colorado?

• Often yes. Many lenders collect a monthly escrow for taxes; ask your lender for the current estimate and how it affects your total monthly payment.