Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $3,091/yr
- Without mortgage
- $2,633/yr
- Gap
- $458
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
Iowa Property Taxes
The average Iowa homeowner pays $2,897 a year at an effective rate of 1.39%. That bill is 45% above the U.S. median bill. Compare 99 counties below.
- $2,897
- Avg median tax
- 1.39%
- Effective rate
- #10 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 99
- Counties
Iowa is one of the most heavily property-taxed places in the country: a median bill of $2,897 a year at an effective rate of 1.39%, the 10th-highest of 51 U.S. jurisdictions (50 states and DC).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2024), the median Iowa homeowner pays $2,897 a year on a home worth $208,000, an effective rate of 1.39%. The bill runs 45% above the $1,993 national median. County medians range $1,111 (Pocahontas County) to $5,001 (Dallas County) across 99 counties.
What the statewide average misses
County medians in Iowa run from $1,111 in Pocahontas County to $5,001 (Dallas County). That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.
- $1,111–$5,001 (Dallas County)
- County median-bill range
- 1.43%
- Home-weighted county rate
- 45%
- Homes in the eight largest counties
County medians come from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024. The statewide effective rate in the hero is median tax divided by median home value.
Government haul · mid share
Iowa's government property-tax haul sits in the middle of the U.S. pack
In Census FY2024, Iowa's state and local governments collected $6.8B in property tax - 0.9% of the U.S. total (#25 of 51).
Spread across 943,396 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $7,205 per home - 2.5× the ACS median homeowner bill of $2,897. The gap is expected: LF0009 covers all taxable property (including commercial and other non-household parcels), while the ACS median is a household figure.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, FY2024, series LF0009 (property tax), government level State and Local (GOVTYPE 001). Amounts are published in thousands of dollars. This is a government-revenue series, not tax, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for the ACS homeowner median bill above.
ACS tenure & reporting signals · 2024
Mortgage tenure and zero-tax reporting in Iowa
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for Iowa from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 2.9%
- With mortgage
- 2.3%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 383,278
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
County effective-rate spread
Published medians span 0.87% in Lyon County to 1.80% in Union County - a 0.93 percentage-point gap across 99 counties.
Appeal guide for when a parcel sits above its county median.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024), Table B25087 (mortgage status medians) and county tax_distribution aggregates (zero-tax reporting shares). Informational only, not tax or legal advice.
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 (Dallas County).
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in Iowa
A rate compares places with different home values. The annual bill shows a typical dollar amount. County spread shows why neither is a parcel estimate.
The clearest local difference
County bills span a wide range
Across 99 measured counties, the published median runs from $1,111 in Pocahontas County to $5,001 (Dallas County). Local school levies, county bonds, municipal overlays, and assessment practice create this within-state spread.
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 with assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and local overlays. Confirm current rates with your county assessor or a qualified professional before making a decision.
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
Rate-band peers near Iowa
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so Iowa's 1.39% rate is read against real neighbors such as Wisconsin and Ohio.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs Iowa | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Also open Wisconsin for county spread | 1.42% | Wisconsin nearly matches Iowa | $3,792 |
| Ohio Also open Ohio for county spread | 1.31% | Ohio runs 0.08 pts below Iowa | $2,822 |
| Pennsylvania Also open Pennsylvania for county spread | 1.30% | Pennsylvania runs 0.09 pts below Iowa | $3,311 |
| Kansas Also open Kansas for county spread | 1.29% | Kansas runs 0.10 pts below Iowa | $2,798 |
| Nebraska Also open Nebraska for county spread | 1.49% | Nebraska runs 0.10 pts above Iowa | $3,549 |
| Texas Also open Texas for county spread | 1.49% | Texas runs 0.10 pts above Iowa | $4,232 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for Iowa, excluding Iowa itself so the link neighborhoods are not self-referential. Median-bill peers exclude the effective-rate peer set so the two axes stay disjoint.
Similar effective rate
Nearest other states by ACS effective rate. Iowa: 1.39%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. Iowa: $2,897/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where Iowa sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where Iowa sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC
1.39% more affordable than 18% of 51 U.S. jurisdictions
Show national distribution
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more U.S. jurisdictions. 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
Iowa has a higher effective property tax rate than 82% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #10 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Wisconsin (1.42%, nearly level); Ohio (1.31%, 0.08 pts lower than Iowa); Pennsylvania (1.30%, 0.09 pts lower than Iowa).
What Iowa's biggest counties actually charge
Effective rate in the eight Iowa counties holding the most owner-occupied homes, ordered largest first (highlighted) and together holding 45% of the state's. ACS 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). Counties ordered by owner-occupied housing units (B25003_002E), not by resident population.
Iowa's median county rate is 1.39%, but that figure counts every county equally. Weight each county by how many owner-occupied homes it actually holds and the rate a typical Iowa homeowner faces is 1.43%, close to the plain median, so Iowa's larger counties are not unusual for the state.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Top 5 Highest Tax Counties
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 from Iowa's 1.39% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Wisconsin and Ohio before treating the score as band-typical. A ratio at or below 0.5× scores 10, at or above 2.0× scores 1, linear between. Census figures only, not a recommendation or endorsement.
Counties in Iowa by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward , showing the top 80 of 99 measured counties so the page stays crawlable. Gold/silver/bronze mark the top three list positions; effective rate is the focal comparison when home values differ.
| # | County | Median tax | Eff. rate | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas County | $5,001 | 1.41% | $355,600 |
| 2 | Johnson County | $4,681 | 1.52% | $308,600 |
| 3 | Polk County | $4,396 | 1.68% | $262,100 |
| 4 | Warren County | $3,865 | 1.43% | $269,600 |
| 5 | Story County | $3,632 | 1.40% | $258,700 |
| 6 | Madison County | $3,624 | 1.48% | $245,100 |
| 7 | Linn County | $3,547 | 1.66% | $214,300 |
| 8 | Mills County | $3,494 | 1.47% | $237,800 |
| 9 | Scott County | $3,273 | 1.47% | $222,000 |
| 10 | Pottawattamie County | $3,067 | 1.57% | $195,700 |
| 11 | Dubuque County | $2,919 | 1.23% | $237,300 |
| 12 | Boone County | $2,910 | 1.37% | $212,400 |
| 13 | Winneshiek County | $2,894 | 1.12% | $259,200 |
| 14 | Marion County | $2,848 | 1.22% | $233,000 |
| 15 | Black Hawk County | $2,842 | 1.50% | $188,900 |
| 16 | Bremer County | $2,824 | 1.29% | $219,600 |
| 17 | Sioux County | $2,801 | 1.12% | $250,100 |
| 18 | Washington County | $2,788 | 1.37% | $203,900 |
| 19 | Muscatine County | $2,732 | 1.50% | $182,100 |
| 20 | Benton County | $2,727 | 1.31% | $208,200 |
| 21 | Woodbury County | $2,656 | 1.45% | $183,200 |
| 22 | Jasper County | $2,633 | 1.41% | $186,300 |
| 23 | Iowa County | $2,629 | 1.36% | $193,900 |
| 24 | Clarke County | $2,578 | 1.60% | $161,100 |
| 25 | Cedar County | $2,568 | 1.22% | $211,300 |
| 26 | Poweshiek County | $2,563 | 1.22% | $209,300 |
| 27 | Henry County | $2,559 | 1.56% | $164,300 |
| 28 | Dickinson County | $2,503 | 0.92% | $270,700 |
| 29 | Clinton County | $2,461 | 1.53% | $160,600 |
| 30 | Plymouth County | $2,455 | 1.07% | $228,900 |
| 31 | Jones County | $2,450 | 1.33% | $184,800 |
| 32 | Cerro Gordo County | $2,410 | 1.45% | $166,400 |
| 33 | Buchanan County | $2,390 | 1.36% | $176,000 |
| 34 | Delaware County | $2,382 | 1.34% | $177,900 |
| 35 | Harrison County | $2,325 | 1.32% | $176,000 |
| 36 | Jefferson County | $2,311 | 1.41% | $163,400 |
| 37 | Grundy County | $2,273 | 1.14% | $198,800 |
| 38 | Davis County | $2,269 | 1.40% | $161,900 |
| 39 | Butler County | $2,226 | 1.35% | $165,400 |
| 40 | Guthrie County | $2,199 | 1.22% | $180,100 |
| 41 | Union County | $2,197 | 1.80% | $122,000 |
| 42 | Allamakee County | $2,190 | 1.27% | $172,300 |
| 43 | Clayton County | $2,181 | 1.29% | $168,500 |
| 44 | Jackson County | $2,159 | 1.23% | $175,000 |
| 45 | Monroe County | $2,149 | 1.37% | $156,300 |
| 46 | Webster County | $2,138 | 1.39% | $153,800 |
| 47 | Ringgold County | $2,098 | 1.34% | $156,200 |
| 48 | Shelby County | $2,094 | 1.28% | $164,000 |
| 49 | Mahaska County | $2,077 | 1.32% | $157,800 |
| 50 | Marshall County | $2,067 | 1.42% | $145,500 |
| 51 | Des Moines County | $2,058 | 1.51% | $136,500 |
| 52 | Adair County | $2,050 | 1.28% | $160,400 |
| 53 | Clay County | $2,050 | 1.15% | $178,600 |
| 54 | Tama County | $2,043 | 1.37% | $148,600 |
| 55 | Cass County | $2,019 | 1.34% | $150,300 |
| 56 | Humboldt County | $2,011 | 1.29% | $155,800 |
| 57 | Montgomery County | $2,007 | 1.65% | $121,400 |
| 58 | Lyon County | $1,995 | 0.87% | $230,000 |
| 59 | Hamilton County | $1,977 | 1.26% | $156,400 |
| 60 | Wapello County | $1,974 | 1.58% | $125,100 |
| 61 | Crawford County | $1,973 | 1.28% | $153,700 |
| 62 | Lee County | $1,955 | 1.38% | $141,400 |
| 63 | Buena Vista County | $1,931 | 1.21% | $159,500 |
| 64 | Floyd County | $1,929 | 1.34% | $143,500 |
| 65 | Mitchell County | $1,919 | 1.10% | $175,100 |
| 66 | Carroll County | $1,916 | 1.09% | $176,000 |
| 67 | Fremont County | $1,868 | 1.21% | $154,400 |
| 68 | Chickasaw County | $1,863 | 1.02% | $182,600 |
| 69 | Howard County | $1,853 | 1.25% | $147,800 |
| 70 | Decatur County | $1,831 | 1.61% | $113,900 |
| 71 | Wright County | $1,806 | 1.51% | $119,600 |
| 72 | Greene County | $1,783 | 1.15% | $155,400 |
| 73 | Fayette County | $1,782 | 1.30% | $136,800 |
| 74 | Winnebago County | $1,781 | 1.32% | $135,000 |
| 75 | Page County | $1,764 | 1.41% | $125,300 |
| 76 | Louisa County | $1,751 | 1.17% | $150,100 |
| 77 | O'Brien County | $1,701 | 0.98% | $173,100 |
| 78 | Hardin County | $1,683 | 1.37% | $122,500 |
| 79 | Emmet County | $1,680 | 1.47% | $114,100 |
| 80 | Hancock County | $1,673 | 1.18% | $141,400 |
19 additional Iowa counties rank below this top-80 list in the same bill order. Open any county from the county directory or the Iowa calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 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.
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%.
Where does Iowa sit in U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, Iowa's state and local governments collected $6.8B in property tax - 0.9% of the U.S. total (#25 of 51). Spread across 943,396 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $7,205 per home - 2.5× the ACS median homeowner bill of $2,897. The gap is expected: LF0009 covers all taxable property (including commercial and other non-household parcels), while the ACS median is a household figure.
Do homeowners with a mortgage pay more property tax in Iowa? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $3,091/yr versus $2,633 for owners without a mortgage, a $458 gap. Our mortgage-gap research page ranks this spread against all states.
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.
What share of Iowa owners report paying no property tax? ▼
2.9% of owner-occupied homes in Iowa report zero property tax on the ACS survey (2.3% among mortgaged owners). That is a reporting signal, exemptions, caps, or non-levying jurisdictions, not an exemption headcount.
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.
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.
What to do with Iowa's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- Iowa's ACS 2024 median bill is $2,897/yr at 1.39% (45% above the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside Iowa, Pocahontas County posts the lowest median bill at $1,111/yr; Dallas County is highest at $5,001/yr. Open Pocahontas County
- Estimate a parcel bill at Iowa's published effective rate, or read the state's assessment and appeal path before treating the statewide median as your budget. State estimator
Statewide medians average across 99 counties; your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, and local levies set the real bill. U.S. Census Bureau ACS · 2024.
Editorial standards and provenance
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 2026-08-09.