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Iowa · County property tax · ACS 2024

Cedar County Property Taxes

The median homeowner in Cedar County pays $2,568 a year, an effective rate of 1.22%, 29% above the U.S. median.

$2,568
Median tax / yr
1.22%
Effective rate
+29%
vs U.S. median
#73 of 99
rank in IA

The verdict

Homeowners in Cedar County pay a median $2,568 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 1.22%, more affordable than 22% of U.S. counties.

$2,568
Median annual tax bill, 2024
1.22%
Effective rate on median home
#2433 of 3135
U.S. counties by tax burden
+29%
vs the national median bill

Effective rate is the median property tax bill divided by the median home value ($211,300). U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024.

Census Bureau ACS property tax data for Iowa. Owner-occupied homes: 6,210.

The median annual property tax in Cedar County is $2,568, which is 14% higher than the Iowa state average and 29% above the national average. The effective tax rate is 1.22% on a median home value of $211,300. Property taxes represent 3.2% 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 Cedar County

Homeowners in Cedar County pay a median annual property tax of $2,568, which is 29% higher than the national median and 14% above the Iowa state average. The effective tax rate of 1.22% on a median home value of $211,300 reflects how the local assessment base and millage combine into an actual bill.

Property taxes in Cedar County represent about 3.2% of the median household income of $80,602, compared with a common national benchmark of 2% to 4%. Homeowners with a mortgage report a median of $2,663 in annual property tax while those without a mortgage report $2,441 - a gap that usually reflects differences in home value rather than differences in tax rate. Compared with 2023, the median tax bill changed by 5.5%, 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 Cedar 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.

Median Annual Tax
$2,568
+14% vs State +29% vs US
Median Home Value
$211,300
+24% vs State -7% vs US
Effective Tax Rate
1.22%
-7% vs State +33% vs US

With vs Without Mortgage

With Mortgage
$2,663
$222/mo
Without Mortgage
$2,441
$203/mo

Homeowners with a mortgage typically own higher-valued properties, which can result in higher tax bills.

How Cedar County compares

Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value), ACS 2024.

Cedar County 1.22%
Iowa average 1.31%
U.S. average 0.92%

Cedar County's effective rate is higher than 26% of the 99 counties in Iowa - ranking #73 of 99 for property tax burden.

Where Cedar County sits among every U.S. county

Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value)

1.22% more affordable than 22% of 3,135 U.S. counties

0.00%–0.25%: 19 U.S. counties (1%). Below this entry. 0.25%–0.50%: 467 U.S. counties (15%). Below this entry. 0.50%–0.75%: 904 U.S. counties (29%). Below this entry. 0.75%–1.00%: 614 U.S. counties (20%). Below this entry. 1.00%–1.25%: 452 U.S. counties (14%). This entry sits in this band. 1.25%–1.50%: 331 U.S. counties (11%). Above this entry. 1.50%–1.75%: 181 U.S. counties (6%). Above this entry. 1.75%–2.00%: 79 U.S. counties (3%). Above this entry. 2.00%–2.25%: 48 U.S. counties (2%). Above this entry. 2.25%–2.50%: 28 U.S. counties (1%). Above this entry. 2.50%–2.75%: 8 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. 2.75%–3.00%: 3 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. 3.00%–3.25%: 0 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. 3.25%–3.50%: 0 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. 3.50%–3.75%: 1 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. 3.75%–4.00%: 0 U.S. counties (0%). Above this entry. This county 0.00% 4.00% every U.S. county, bucketed by value

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

Cedar County vs Benchmarks

Metric Cedar County Iowa Avg U.S. Avg
Median Annual Tax $2,568 $2,245 $1,993
Effective Tax Rate 1.22% 1.31% 0.92%
Median Home Value $211,300 $171,037 $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 Cedar 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.

Estimate Your Savings Read Appeal Guide

Property Tax History

Median annual property tax in Cedar County, 2020–2024 (ACS). Up +22% over the period.

$2,000$2,200$2,400$2,600 20202021202220232024 $2,568
Median annual property tax in Cedar County, 2020–2024 (ACS). Up +22% over the period.
Year Median Tax Effective Rate
2024 $2,568 +5.5% 1.22%
2023 $2,433 +6.0% 1.22%
2022 $2,295 +3.4% 1.27%
2021 $2,219 +5.4% 1.32%
2020 $2,106 1.29%

Tax Burden

Tax-to-Income Ratio
3.2%
of median household income
Median Income
$80,602
per year
Monthly Tax
$214
per month

Tax Affordability Score

5
Moderate

Based on the effective tax rate of 1.22% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Property taxes in Cedar County are near the national average.

Very Expensive Very Affordable

Other Counties in Iowa

Polk County
Tax: $4,396/yr Rate: 1.68%
Linn County
Tax: $3,547/yr Rate: 1.66%
Scott County
Tax: $3,273/yr Rate: 1.47%
Johnson County
Tax: $4,681/yr Rate: 1.52%
Black Hawk County
Tax: $2,842/yr Rate: 1.50%
Dubuque County
Tax: $2,919/yr Rate: 1.23%
View all counties in Iowa →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average property tax in Cedar County, Iowa? ▼
The median annual property tax in Cedar County is $2,568 based on the most recent Census Bureau American Community Survey data. The effective tax rate is 1.22% on a median home value of $211,300.
How does Cedar County property tax compare to the national average? ▼
Property taxes in Cedar County are 29% above the national average of $1,993. The effective rate of 1.22% compares to 0.92% nationally.
Does having a mortgage affect property taxes in Cedar County? ▼
In Cedar County, homeowners with a mortgage pay a median of $2,663 in annual property taxes, while homeowners without a mortgage pay $2,441. This difference often reflects the value of homes rather than different tax rates.
What percentage of income goes to property taxes in Cedar County? ▼
Property taxes in Cedar County represent approximately 3.2% of the median household income of $80,602. The national benchmark is generally 2-4% of household income.
Are property taxes increasing in Cedar County? ▼
Property taxes in Cedar County changed by +5.5% year-over-year, from $2,433 to $2,568. Check the historical table above for multi-year trends.
How can I appeal my property tax assessment in Cedar County? ▼
Property tax appeals in Cedar County typically start at the county assessor's office. You can challenge the assessed value of your property by providing evidence of comparable sales, property condition, or assessment errors. Most counties have a 30-90 day window after the assessment notice to file an appeal. See our guide on how to appeal property taxes for step-by-step instructions.

What this means in Cedar County

How to use Cedar County's property-tax numbers, for budgeting, comparison, or an appeal.

  • At Cedar County's 1.22% effective rate, a $211,300 home implies about $2,568/yr, plug in your own home's value to estimate your bill. Estimate your bill
  • Cedar County ranks #73 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 Cedar 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 ($211,300); your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, and local levies determine your actual bill. U.S. Census Bureau ACS · 2024.

Property Tax Guides

Property Tax Basics
How property taxes work, who pays, and what determines your bill.
How to Appeal Your Property Tax
Step-by-step guide to challenging your assessment and lowering your tax bill.
Property Tax Exemptions
Common exemptions that can reduce your property tax burden.
How Assessments Work
Understanding assessed value, market value, and how your county calculates taxes.

Explore more of Iowa

Iowa property tax overview → Highest effective rates → Rent vs. own analysis → Property tax estimator →

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.

Related

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Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainPropertyTax Editorial

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.