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.
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.