Iowa · County property tax · ACS 2024
Buena Vista County Property Taxes
The median homeowner in Buena Vista County pays $1,931 a year, an effective rate of 1.21%, 3% below the U.S. average.
- $1,931
- Median tax / yr
- 1.21%
- Effective rate
- -3%
- vs U.S. average
- #75 of 99
- rank in IA
The verdict
Homeowners in Buena Vista County pay a median $1,931 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 1.21%, more affordable than 23% of U.S. counties.
- $1,931
- Median annual tax bill, 2024
- 1.21%
- Effective rate on median home
- #2418 of 3135
- U.S. counties by tax burden
- -3%
- vs the national average bill
Effective rate is the median property tax bill divided by the median home value ($159,500). U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024.
Census Bureau ACS property tax data for Iowa. Owner-occupied homes: 5,525.
The median annual property tax in Buena Vista County is $1,931, which is 33% lower than the Iowa state average and 3% below the national average. The effective tax rate is 1.21% on a median home value of $159,500. Property taxes represent 2.7% of the median household income in this county. All property tax data shown below is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, which aggregates self-reported tax payments from homeowner households across the county. This page includes tax trends over multiple years, comparisons with neighboring counties, and a rent-versus-own cost analysis.
What This Data Tells Us About Buena Vista County
Homeowners in Buena Vista County pay a median annual property tax of $1,931, which is 3% lower than the national average and 33% below the Iowa state average. The effective tax rate of 1.21% on a median home value of $159,500 reflects how the local assessment base and millage combine into an actual bill.
Property taxes in Buena Vista County represent about 2.7% of the median household income of $71,719, compared with a common national benchmark of 2% to 4%. Homeowners with a mortgage report a median of $2,125 in annual property tax while those without a mortgage report $1,725 - a gap that usually reflects differences in home value rather than differences in tax rate. Compared with 2023, the median tax bill changed by 6.0%, which tracks reassessment cycles and changes in the underlying home value distribution.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe the median homeowner household in Buena Vista County as reported to the Census Bureau, your own bill can differ based on your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and municipal overlays. Always consult your county assessor, tax collector, or a qualified professional before making decisions that depend on these numbers.
With vs Without Mortgage
Homeowners with a mortgage typically own higher-valued properties, which can result in higher tax bills.
How Buena Vista County compares
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value), ACS 2024.
Buena Vista County's effective rate is higher than 24% of the 99 counties in Iowa - ranking #75 of 99 for property tax burden.
Where Buena Vista County sits among every U.S. county
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value)
1.21% more affordable than 23% of 3,135 U.S. counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more U.S. counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024
Buena Vista County vs Benchmarks
| Metric | Buena Vista County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Tax | $1,931 | $2,897 | $1,993 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 1.21% | 1.39% | 0.92% |
| Median Home Value | $159,500 | $208,000 | $227,791 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates. Tax-burden differences across rows reflect millage decisions, assessment-ratio practices, and the residential-vs-commercial mix of each tax base.
Think your Buena Vista County property tax bill is too high?
A successful appeal can lower your assessed value by 10-25%, cutting your annual tax bill by hundreds or thousands of dollars. Use our free Appeal Savings Estimator to project savings on your specific home, then read our step-by-step appeal guide for the exact procedure in Iowa.
Property Tax History
| Year | Median Tax | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,931 +6.0% | 1.21% |
| 2023 | $1,822 +2.0% | 1.24% |
| 2022 | $1,786 +11.0% | 1.29% |
| 2021 | $1,609 +6.6% | 1.27% |
| 2020 | $1,509 | 1.25% |
Tax Burden
Tax Affordability Score
Based on the effective tax rate of 1.21% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Property taxes in Buena Vista County are near the national average.
How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale derived mechanically from the ratio of this county's effective rate to the national average effective rate (0.92%) - a ratio at or below 0.5× scores 10, a ratio at or above 2.0× scores 1, with a linear scale between. It is a factual comparison of Census figures only, not a recommendation, quality rating, or endorsement of Buena Vista County or any other county.
Other Counties in Iowa
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average property tax in Buena Vista County, Iowa? ▼
How does Buena Vista County property tax compare to the national average? ▼
Does having a mortgage affect property taxes in Buena Vista County? ▼
What percentage of income goes to property taxes in Buena Vista County? ▼
Are property taxes increasing in Buena Vista County? ▼
How can I appeal my property tax assessment in Buena Vista County? ▼
What this means in Buena Vista County
How to use Buena Vista County's property-tax numbers, for budgeting, comparison, or an appeal.
- At Buena Vista County's 1.21% effective rate, a $159,500 home implies about $1,931/yr, plug in your own home's value to estimate your bill. Estimate your bill
- Buena Vista County ranks #75 of 99 counties in Iowa by effective rate, compare it against the rest of the state before you judge your bill. Iowa overview
- If your assessed value looks high relative to Buena Vista County's typical home, you may have grounds to appeal, most jurisdictions have a filing window each year. How to appeal
Effective rate is the county median tax divided by the county median home value ($159,500); your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, and local levies determine your actual bill. U.S. Census Bureau ACS · 2024.
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Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.
Property tax data reflects median amounts paid by homeowners. Effective rates are calculated as median tax divided by median home value.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.