$ PlainPropertyTax

Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024

Iowa Property Taxes

The average Iowa homeowner pays $2,897 a year at an effective rate of 1.39%, 45% above the U.S. average. Compare 99 counties below.

$2,897
Avg median tax
1.39%
Effective rate
#10 of 51
U.S. rank (burden)
99
Counties

The verdict

The average Iowa homeowner pays $2,897 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 1.39%, the #10 highest burden of 51 U.S. states.

$2,897
Average median tax, 2024
1.39%
Statewide effective rate
#10 of 51
U.S. states by tax burden
99
counties measured

Effective rate is the median property tax bill divided by the median home value ($208,000). U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024.

The average median property tax in Iowa is $2,897/year, which is 45% above the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 1.39% on a median home value of $208,000. Taxes range from $1,111 in Pocahontas County to $5,001 in Dallas County.

What This Data Tells Us About Iowa

The statewide average property tax in Iowa is $2,897 per year, 45% above the national average of $1,993, based on Census ACS state-level estimates. The statewide effective rate of 1.39% on a median home value of $208,000 reflects how Iowa's assessment rules and local millage combine at the household level; the 99 counties below show how that varies locally.

Within Iowa, median annual tax ranges from $1,111 in Pocahontas County (effective rate 1.13%) to $5,001 in Dallas County (effective rate 1.41%). Median home values in Iowa ($208,000) compared with $227,791 nationally help explain why the same effective rate produces different dollar bills in different states. Within-state variation often tracks local school levies, county bonds, and municipal overlays rather than a single statewide rate.

This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe median homeowner households reported to the Census Bureau, individual bills can differ based on assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and local overlays. Always confirm current rates with your county assessor or a qualified professional before making decisions that rely on these numbers.

State Average vs National Average

Median Annual Tax
$2,897
+45% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$208,000
-9% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
1.39%
+51% vs US avg

How Iowa compares

Average effective property tax rate vs the national average, ACS 2024.

Iowa 1.39%
U.S. average 0.92%

Iowa has a higher effective property tax rate than 82% of U.S. states, ranking #10 of 51 for property tax burden.

Tax Affordability Score

3.9
Expensive

Based on the average effective tax rate of 1.39% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Iowa has above-average property tax rates, contributing to higher housing costs.

Very Expensive Very Affordable

How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale derived mechanically from the ratio of this state's average 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 Iowa or any other state.

All Counties in Iowa (99)

County (by tax bill) Median taxEff. rateHome value
Dallas County $5,001 1.41% $355,600
Johnson County $4,681 1.52% $308,600
Polk County $4,396 1.68% $262,100
Warren County $3,865 1.43% $269,600
Story County $3,632 1.40% $258,700
Madison County $3,624 1.48% $245,100
Linn County $3,547 1.66% $214,300
Mills County $3,494 1.47% $237,800
Scott County $3,273 1.47% $222,000
Pottawattamie County $3,067 1.57% $195,700
Dubuque County $2,919 1.23% $237,300
Boone County $2,910 1.37% $212,400
Winneshiek County $2,894 1.12% $259,200
Marion County $2,848 1.22% $233,000
Black Hawk County $2,842 1.50% $188,900
Bremer County $2,824 1.29% $219,600
Sioux County $2,801 1.12% $250,100
Washington County $2,788 1.37% $203,900
Muscatine County $2,732 1.50% $182,100
Benton County $2,727 1.31% $208,200
Woodbury County $2,656 1.45% $183,200
Jasper County $2,633 1.41% $186,300
Iowa County $2,629 1.36% $193,900
Clarke County $2,578 1.60% $161,100
Cedar County $2,568 1.22% $211,300
Poweshiek County $2,563 1.22% $209,300
Henry County $2,559 1.56% $164,300
Dickinson County $2,503 0.92% $270,700
Clinton County $2,461 1.53% $160,600
Plymouth County $2,455 1.07% $228,900
Jones County $2,450 1.33% $184,800
Cerro Gordo County $2,410 1.45% $166,400
Buchanan County $2,390 1.36% $176,000
Delaware County $2,382 1.34% $177,900
Harrison County $2,325 1.32% $176,000
Jefferson County $2,311 1.41% $163,400
Grundy County $2,273 1.14% $198,800
Davis County $2,269 1.40% $161,900
Butler County $2,226 1.35% $165,400
Guthrie County $2,199 1.22% $180,100
Union County $2,197 1.80% $122,000
Allamakee County $2,190 1.27% $172,300
Clayton County $2,181 1.29% $168,500
Jackson County $2,159 1.23% $175,000
Monroe County $2,149 1.37% $156,300
Webster County $2,138 1.39% $153,800
Ringgold County $2,098 1.34% $156,200
Shelby County $2,094 1.28% $164,000
Mahaska County $2,077 1.32% $157,800
Marshall County $2,067 1.42% $145,500
Des Moines County $2,058 1.51% $136,500
Adair County $2,050 1.28% $160,400
Clay County $2,050 1.15% $178,600
Tama County $2,043 1.37% $148,600
Cass County $2,019 1.34% $150,300
Humboldt County $2,011 1.29% $155,800
Montgomery County $2,007 1.65% $121,400
Lyon County $1,995 0.87% $230,000
Hamilton County $1,977 1.26% $156,400
Wapello County $1,974 1.58% $125,100
Crawford County $1,973 1.28% $153,700
Lee County $1,955 1.38% $141,400
Buena Vista County $1,931 1.21% $159,500
Floyd County $1,929 1.34% $143,500
Mitchell County $1,919 1.10% $175,100
Carroll County $1,916 1.09% $176,000
Fremont County $1,868 1.21% $154,400
Chickasaw County $1,863 1.02% $182,600
Howard County $1,853 1.25% $147,800
Decatur County $1,831 1.61% $113,900
Wright County $1,806 1.51% $119,600
Greene County $1,783 1.15% $155,400
Fayette County $1,782 1.30% $136,800
Winnebago County $1,781 1.32% $135,000
Page County $1,764 1.41% $125,300
Louisa County $1,751 1.17% $150,100
O'Brien County $1,701 0.98% $173,100
Hardin County $1,683 1.37% $122,500
Emmet County $1,680 1.47% $114,100
Hancock County $1,673 1.18% $141,400
Appanoose County $1,667 1.34% $124,200
Adams County $1,661 1.26% $131,600
Lucas County $1,645 1.37% $120,200
Audubon County $1,634 1.34% $121,900
Franklin County $1,633 1.32% $124,100
Worth County $1,600 1.10% $145,800
Cherokee County $1,569 0.99% $158,700
Calhoun County $1,567 1.32% $118,800
Sac County $1,556 1.10% $141,400
Wayne County $1,509 1.36% $111,300
Keokuk County $1,494 1.26% $118,700
Kossuth County $1,490 1.00% $148,300
Taylor County $1,482 1.26% $117,200
Palo Alto County $1,474 1.20% $123,200
Monona County $1,467 1.03% $142,900
Osceola County $1,387 1.13% $122,600
Van Buren County $1,355 1.18% $114,600
Ida County $1,260 1.16% $108,900
Pocahontas County $1,111 1.13% $98,100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average property tax in Iowa?
The average median property tax paid in Iowa is $2,897 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 1.39%.
How does Iowa compare to the national average?
Iowa property taxes are 45% above the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $2,897 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
Which county in Iowa has the lowest property taxes?
Pocahontas County has the lowest median property tax in Iowa at $1,111 per year with an effective rate of 1.13%. The highest is Dallas County at $5,001.
How are property taxes calculated?
Property taxes are calculated by multiplying the assessed value of a property by the local tax rate (mill rate). Rates vary by county, city, and school district. The effective tax rate shown here is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, which provides a standardized comparison across counties.
What is the median home value in Iowa?
The median home value across Iowa is $208,000, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
Can I appeal my property taxes in Iowa?
Yes. Every Iowa homeowner has the right to appeal their property tax assessment. The process typically starts at your county assessor's office within 30-90 days of receiving your assessment notice. You can challenge the assessed value by providing comparable sales data, evidence of property condition, or errors in the assessment. See our guide on how to appeal property taxes for detailed steps.

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PlainPropertyTax is rendered directly from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on the Census ACS state-level record for Iowa. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-06-09.