In tax year 2026, the median Iowa homeowner paid $2,542 in property taxes, a median effective rate of 1.55% of market value, compared with 1.27% nationally. Rates range from 0.98% in Dickinson County to 1.96% in Montgomery County, because each county, city, and school district sets its own tax rate.
- Median Iowa effective property tax rate: 1.55%
- Median Iowa home value: $169,700
- Median Iowa property tax bill: $2,542
- Highest median bill: Polk County $3,950
- Lowest median bill: Monona County $908
Last Updated October 26, 2026
How Property Taxes Work in Iowa
In Iowa, your city or county assessor estimates your home's value, and property is taxed at a percentage of market value set by the state's annual residential rollback. Your bill is that assessed value, minus any exemptions, multiplied by the combined tax rate of every local government that covers your property, usually your county, city, school district, and any special districts.
The Iowa Department of Revenue oversees property tax administration in Iowa and publishes guidance on assessments, exemptions, and appeals.
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Iowa Effective Property Tax Rate
1.55%
Median Iowa Home Value
$169,700
Median Iowa Tax Bill
$2,542
Every property tax bill comes from three inputs:
Assessed Value
A local assessor or appraisal district estimates your home's market value. Many states then apply an assessment ratio. For example, Georgia taxes homes at 40% of market value, while Texas uses 100%. Some states, like California, cap how fast assessed values can rise for homestead properties.
Exemptions
Homestead, senior, veteran, and disability exemptions reduce the taxable value of qualifying homes, usually for a primary residence only.
Tax Rates
Each taxing authority that covers your property, typically a county, city, school district, and sometimes special districts, sets its own rate. Rates are usually expressed as millage (dollars per $1,000 of taxable value) or as a rate per $100 of value.
Your bill is your taxable value (assessed value minus exemptions) multiplied by the combined tax rate.
What is the Median Effective Property Tax Rate?
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments. Because states and counties assess property differently, the effective rate is the clearest way to compare bills across Iowa.
Counties With the Highest and Lowest Property Taxes
Five Highest Median Property Tax Bills
| Rank | County | Median Tax Bill |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Polk County | $3,950 |
| 2. | Johnson County | $3,910 |
| 3. | Dallas County | $3,628 |
| 4. | Warren County | $3,356 |
| 5. | Madison County | $3,350 |
Five Lowest Median Property Tax Bills
| Rank | County | Median Tax Bill |
|---|---|---|
| 90. | Wayne County | $1,228 |
| 91. | Decatur County | $1,186 |
| 92. | Van Buren County | $1,057 |
| 93. | Pocahontas County | $1,022 |
| 94. | Monona County | $908 |
85 of 99 Iowa counties have a median effective rate above the national 1.27%. Montgomery County has the highest median effective rate at 1.96%, and Dickinson County has the lowest at 0.98%.
Property Tax Rates and Bills by County
| Rank | County | Median Effective Tax Rate | Median Home Value | Median Tax Bill | 25th % Bill | 75th % Bill | 90th % Bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polk County | 1.71% | $232,800 | $3,950 | $2,736 | $5,440 | $7,294 |
| 2 | Johnson County | 1.72% | $231,800 | $3,910 | $2,502 | $5,756 | $7,846 |
| 3 | Dallas County | 1.62% | $255,490 | $3,628 | $1,800 | $6,128 | $8,388 |
| 4 | Warren County | 1.64% | $217,200 | $3,356 | $1,824 | $4,960 | $7,024 |
| 5 | Madison County | 1.52% | $218,450 | $3,350 | $2,156 | $5,132 | $6,964 |
| 6 | Linn County | 1.74% | $184,700 | $3,148 | $2,138 | $4,622 | $6,212 |
| 7 | Story County | 1.42% | $220,900 | $3,111 | $1,962 | $4,615 | $6,324 |
| 8 | Mills County | 1.25% | $219,538 | $3,080 | $1,816 | $4,508 | $6,230 |
| 9 | Scott County | 1.56% | $187,580 | $2,900 | $2,076 | $4,386 | $6,390 |
| 10 | Sioux County | 1.44% | $220,520 | $2,892 | $1,936 | $4,198 | $5,781 |
| 11 | Bremer County | 1.44% | $199,030 | $2,844 | $1,872 | $4,128 | $5,696 |
| 12 | Pottawattamie County | 1.73% | $167,100 | $2,838 | $2,024 | $3,988 | $5,662 |
| 13 | Washington County | 1.55% | $177,800 | $2,830 | $1,790 | $4,068 | $5,507 |
| 14 | Winneshiek County | 1.33% | $202,495 | $2,802 | $1,817 | $4,011 | $5,417 |
| 15 | Dubuque County | 1.29% | $218,000 | $2,752 | $1,972 | $3,874 | $5,178 |
| 16 | Dickinson County | 0.98% | $268,500 | $2,724 | $1,366 | $5,001 | $8,974 |
| 17 | Marion County | 1.40% | $190,260 | $2,719 | $1,512 | $4,088 | $5,712 |
| 18 | Boone County | 1.52% | $186,813 | $2,680 | $1,708 | $3,800 | $5,182 |
| 19 | Cedar County | 1.34% | $197,330 | $2,652 | $1,784 | $3,757 | $5,079 |
| 20 | Benton County | 1.41% | $184,100 | $2,612 | $1,610 | $4,024 | $5,636 |
| 21 | Delaware County | 1.42% | $184,100 | $2,580 | $1,570 | $4,165 | $6,104 |
| 22 | Jasper County | 1.56% | $167,640 | $2,562 | $1,774 | $3,574 | $4,922 |
| 23 | Woodbury County | 1.62% | $159,500 | $2,500 | $1,726 | $3,568 | $4,920 |
| 24 | Black Hawk County | 1.63% | $151,040 | $2,474 | $1,444 | $3,572 | $5,121 |
| 25 | Buena Vista County | 1.58% | $153,920 | $2,412 | $1,528 | $3,580 | $5,237 |
| 26 | Poweshiek County | 1.37% | $173,290 | $2,384 | $1,498 | $3,500 | $4,996 |
| 27 | Plymouth County | 1.11% | $218,040 | $2,374 | $1,584 | $3,488 | $4,864 |
| 28 | Muscatine County | 1.55% | $159,855 | $2,372 | $1,578 | $3,426 | $4,640 |
| 29 | Shelby County | 1.51% | $158,371 | $2,348 | $1,470 | $3,510 | $4,940 |
| 30 | Jones County | 1.44% | $157,590 | $2,346 | $1,366 | $3,508 | $5,018 |
| 31 | Grundy County | 1.36% | $171,460 | $2,302 | $1,488 | $3,597 | $5,323 |
| 32 | Buchanan County | 1.45% | $155,470 | $2,284 | $1,342 | $3,358 | $4,705 |
| 33 | Iowa County | 1.31% | $166,155 | $2,222 | $1,470 | $3,124 | $4,515 |
| 34 | Guthrie County | 1.28% | $155,000 | $2,212 | $1,158 | $4,100 | $8,345 |
| 35 | Lyon County | 1.17% | $194,140 | $2,154 | $1,268 | $3,452 | $5,014 |
| 36 | Clinton County | 1.61% | $134,330 | $2,150 | $1,364 | $3,238 | $4,670 |
| 37 | Harrison County | 1.42% | $153,100 | $2,126 | $1,240 | $3,257 | $4,670 |
| 38 | Allamakee County | 1.28% | $158,200 | $2,120 | $1,296 | $3,189 | $4,522 |
| 39 | Henry County | 1.56% | $136,670 | $2,116 | $1,356 | $3,082 | $4,371 |
| 40 | Cerro Gordo County | 1.36% | $159,845 | $2,106 | $1,318 | $3,428 | $5,580 |
| 41 | Clarke County | 1.75% | $117,000 | $2,066 | $1,218 | $3,126 | $4,445 |
| 42 | Davis County | 1.55% | $129,050 | $2,058 | $1,072 | $3,244 | $4,512 |
| 43 | Jackson County | 1.30% | $159,200 | $2,048 | $1,286 | $3,170 | $4,489 |
| 44 | Butler County | 1.47% | $145,960 | $2,038 | $1,264 | $3,184 | $4,794 |
| 44 | Hamilton County | 1.66% | $128,580 | $2,038 | $1,266 | $3,121 | $4,774 |
| 46 | Clay County | 1.40% | $146,435 | $1,978 | $1,182 | $2,918 | $4,376 |
| 47 | Tama County | 1.59% | $124,870 | $1,964 | $1,223 | $2,910 | $3,956 |
| 48 | Winnebago County | 1.54% | $125,260 | $1,930 | $1,178 | $2,864 | $3,963 |
| 49 | Chickasaw County | 1.32% | $151,300 | $1,922 | $1,188 | $2,834 | $4,106 |
| 50 | Marshall County | 1.58% | $128,550 | $1,902 | $1,200 | $2,824 | $3,974 |
| 51 | Montgomery County | 1.96% | $97,500 | $1,884 | $916 | $2,982 | $4,510 |
| 52 | Mitchell County | 1.32% | $146,995 | $1,878 | $1,072 | $3,042 | $4,768 |
| 53 | Mahaska County | 1.49% | $127,090 | $1,838 | $1,090 | $2,984 | $4,420 |
| 54 | Cass County | 1.54% | $123,990 | $1,830 | $1,080 | $2,932 | $4,486 |
| 55 | Clayton County | 1.28% | $135,359 | $1,812 | $1,112 | $2,716 | $3,940 |
| 56 | Carroll County | 1.21% | $154,900 | $1,794 | $1,122 | $2,704 | $3,934 |
| 57 | Howard County | 1.52% | $121,480 | $1,788 | $1,132 | $2,698 | $4,053 |
| 58 | Greene County | 1.63% | $114,800 | $1,780 | $948 | $2,814 | $4,007 |
| 59 | Fremont County | 1.48% | $119,585 | $1,740 | $907 | $2,832 | $4,187 |
| 60 | Floyd County | 1.44% | $124,500 | $1,728 | $1,062 | $2,820 | $4,230 |
| 61 | Fayette County | 1.47% | $118,740 | $1,696 | $960 | $2,764 | $4,487 |
| 62 | Lee County | 1.65% | $100,180 | $1,695 | $964 | $2,634 | $3,868 |
| 63 | Worth County | 1.28% | $134,182 | $1,673 | $1,084 | $2,420 | $3,358 |
| 64 | Adair County | 1.49% | $116,840 | $1,648 | $1,034 | $2,492 | $3,661 |
| 65 | Adams County | 1.47% | $110,100 | $1,639 | $808 | $2,730 | $3,969 |
| 66 | Union County | 1.55% | $108,870 | $1,628 | $888 | $2,708 | $4,080 |
| 67 | Audubon County | 1.60% | $103,860 | $1,625 | $1,066 | $2,490 | $3,519 |
| 68 | Cherokee County | 1.27% | $123,560 | $1,600 | $912 | $2,456 | $3,526 |
| 69 | Page County | 1.63% | $101,510 | $1,586 | $848 | $2,518 | $3,751 |
| 70 | O'Brien County | 1.37% | $121,725 | $1,578 | $914 | $2,570 | $3,917 |
| 71 | Ringgold County | 1.41% | $102,285 | $1,568 | $738 | $3,578 | $6,964 |
| 71 | Sac County | 1.30% | $119,125 | $1,568 | $810 | $2,622 | $4,091 |
| 73 | Hancock County | 1.26% | $131,850 | $1,564 | $871 | $2,534 | $3,671 |
| 73 | Wright County | 1.63% | $99,200 | $1,564 | $936 | $2,324 | $3,458 |
| 75 | Lucas County | 1.68% | $93,692 | $1,534 | $690 | $2,604 | $3,599 |
| 76 | Emmet County | 1.56% | $98,400 | $1,530 | $920 | $2,316 | $3,318 |
| 77 | Palo Alto County | 1.37% | $112,420 | $1,518 | $809 | $2,615 | $4,036 |
| 78 | Crawford County | 1.47% | $102,040 | $1,509 | $640 | $2,470 | $3,683 |
| 79 | Franklin County | 1.49% | $105,000 | $1,507 | $884 | $2,357 | $3,428 |
| 80 | Des Moines County | 1.45% | $105,900 | $1,492 | $960 | $2,364 | $3,480 |
| 81 | Hardin County | 1.59% | $93,330 | $1,468 | $814 | $2,413 | $3,646 |
| 82 | Louisa County | 1.26% | $109,465 | $1,464 | $766 | $2,342 | $3,474 |
| 83 | Wapello County | 1.79% | $84,070 | $1,450 | $780 | $2,428 | $3,820 |
| 84 | Keokuk County | 1.39% | $103,730 | $1,448 | $778 | $2,308 | $3,394 |
| 85 | Calhoun County | 1.37% | $100,605 | $1,433 | $754 | $2,382 | $3,830 |
| 86 | Kossuth County | 1.50% | $86,273 | $1,407 | $768 | $2,284 | $3,436 |
| 87 | Osceola County | 1.37% | $100,185 | $1,302 | $764 | $2,148 | $3,231 |
| 88 | Monroe County | 1.33% | $87,600 | $1,278 | $572 | $2,314 | $3,492 |
| 89 | Taylor County | 1.52% | $81,910 | $1,264 | $500 | $2,254 | $3,692 |
| 90 | Wayne County | 1.46% | $81,350 | $1,228 | $605 | $2,057 | $3,136 |
| 91 | Decatur County | 1.76% | $67,022 | $1,186 | $540 | $2,194 | $3,451 |
| 92 | Van Buren County | 1.08% | $94,460 | $1,057 | $574 | $1,688 | $2,372 |
| 93 | Pocahontas County | 1.43% | $72,899 | $1,022 | $432 | $1,769 | $2,646 |
| 94 | Monona County | 1.36% | $70,064 | $908 | $248 | $1,778 | $2,866 |
| — | Appanoose County | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| — | Humboldt County | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| — | Ida County | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| — | Jefferson County | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| — | Webster County | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Ownwell
How Ownwell Can Help in Iowa
The below services are dependent on where you live in the United States. Not all products or services are available to every property owner or homeowner.
Appeal packet
Ownwell's appeal packet gives you the evidence and filing guidance you need to protest your assessment yourself.
Exemption filing
Ownwell checks whether you're missing any property tax exemptions and helps you apply for the ones you qualify for.
Bill reduction
Ownwell can also help lower your other recurring household bills.