Rochester Hills vs Waterford Township: property taxes compared
Waterford Township is the cheaper of the two. Its lowest homestead rate is 30.4079 mills against Rochester Hills's 30.8553 — about $78 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford Township | 30.4079–34.6099 | 14 of 52 | $3,801 | $5,321 | $7,602 |
| Rochester Hills | 30.8553–35.9928 | 16 of 52 | $3,857 | $5,400 | $7,714 |
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 $783 at today's rates on a $350,000 home — before any millage change. At $250,000 the annual difference is $56; at $500,000 it is $112. 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 Rochester Hills alone the homestead rate runs 30.8553 to 35.9928 mills — a $899 annual swing on a $350,000 home, wider than the $78 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 Rochester Hills or Waterford Township cheaper for property taxes?
Waterford Township is the cheaper of the two. Its lowest homestead rate is 30.4079 mills against Rochester Hills's 30.8553 — about $78 a year less on a $350,000 home at the uncapped taxable value.
How much more are property taxes in Rochester Hills than Waterford Township?
About $78 a year on a $350,000 home — 30.8553 mills versus 30.4079 at each city's lowest homestead rate, using the official 2025 Michigan Treasury millage report.
Do Rochester Hills and Waterford Township share any school districts?
No. Rochester Hills 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.