Birmingham vs Royal Oak: property taxes compared
Royal Oak is the cheaper of the two. Its lowest homestead rate is 37.9610 mills against Birmingham's 38.1422 — about $32 a year less on a $350,000 home at the uncapped taxable value.
Side by side
| Municipality | Homestead mills | County rank | $250,000 | $350,000 | $500,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Oak | 37.9610–42.7595 | 34 of 52 | $4,745 | $6,643 | $9,490 |
| Birmingham | 38.1422 | 35 of 52 | $4,768 | $6,675 | $9,536 |
Dollar columns are the annual homestead bill at the uncapped taxable value — roughly half the purchase price. Multi-district cities show their full rate range; the rank and dollar figures use each city's lowest district.
What the difference costs over time
Held for 10 years, that gap compounds to $317 at today's rates on a $350,000 home — before any millage change. At $250,000 the annual difference is $23; at $500,000 it is $45. The gap scales with price, so it matters more at the top of each city's market than at the bottom.
Choosing the district can matter more than choosing the city. Inside Royal Oak alone the homestead rate runs 37.9610 to 42.7595 mills — a $840 annual swing on a $350,000 home, wider than the $32 gap between the two cities. Two houses on the same street can sit either side of that line.
All figures use each city's lowest homestead rate at the uncapped taxable value — roughly half the purchase price — from the Michigan Department of Treasury's 2025 Total Rates report. A non-homestead property adds about 18 mills on top in either city.
Common questions
Is Birmingham or Royal Oak cheaper for property taxes?
Royal Oak is the cheaper of the two. Its lowest homestead rate is 37.9610 mills against Birmingham's 38.1422 — about $32 a year less on a $350,000 home at the uncapped taxable value.
How much more are property taxes in Birmingham than Royal Oak?
About $32 a year on a $350,000 home — 38.1422 mills versus 37.9610 at each city's lowest homestead rate, using the official 2025 Michigan Treasury millage report.
Do Birmingham and Royal Oak share any school districts?
No. Birmingham and Royal Oak draw from different school districts, so a move between them changes both the city millage and the school levy underneath it.
Will my bill match what the listing shows?
Usually not, in either city. Michigan taxable value uncaps the year after a sale and resets to roughly half the purchase price, so the seller's capped bill on the listing is almost always lower than what you will pay.