Orchard Lake vs Waterford Township: property taxes compared
Orchard Lake is the cheaper of the two. Its lowest homestead rate is 29.8531 mills against Waterford Township's 30.4079 — about $97 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orchard Lake | 29.8531–33.6967 | 12 of 52 | $3,732 | $5,224 | $7,463 |
| Waterford Township | 30.4079–34.6099 | 14 of 52 | $3,801 | $5,321 | $7,602 |
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 $971 at today's rates on a $350,000 home — before any millage change. At $250,000 the annual difference is $69; at $500,000 it is $139. 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 Waterford Township alone the homestead rate runs 30.4079 to 34.6099 mills — a $735 annual swing on a $350,000 home, wider than the $97 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 Orchard Lake or Waterford Township cheaper for property taxes?
Orchard Lake is the cheaper of the two. Its lowest homestead rate is 29.8531 mills against Waterford Township's 30.4079 — about $97 a year less on a $350,000 home at the uncapped taxable value.
How much more are property taxes in Waterford Township than Orchard Lake?
About $97 a year on a $350,000 home — 30.4079 mills versus 29.8531 at each city's lowest homestead rate, using the official 2025 Michigan Treasury millage report.
Do Orchard Lake and Waterford Township share any school districts?
No. Orchard Lake and Waterford Township 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.