Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $3,908/yr
- Without mortgage
- $3,605/yr
- Gap
- $303
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
Wisconsin Property Taxes
The average Wisconsin homeowner pays $3,792 a year at an effective rate of 1.42%. That bill is 90% above the U.S. median bill. Compare 72 counties below.
- $3,792
- Avg median tax
- 1.42%
- Effective rate
- #9 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 72
- Counties
Wisconsin is one of the most heavily property-taxed places in the country: a median bill of $3,792 a year at an effective rate of 1.42%, the 9th-highest of 51 U.S. jurisdictions (50 states and DC).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2024), the median Wisconsin homeowner pays $3,792 a year on a home worth $266,500, an effective rate of 1.42%. The bill runs 90% above the $1,993 national median. County medians range $1,768 (Iron County) to $6,420 (Dane County) across 72 counties.
What the statewide average misses
County medians in Wisconsin run from $1,768 in Iron County to $6,420 (Dane County). That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.
- $1,768–$6,420 (Dane County)
- County median-bill range
- 1.45%
- 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
Wisconsin's government property-tax haul sits in the middle of the U.S. pack
In Census FY2024, Wisconsin's state and local governments collected $11.3B in property tax - 1.6% of the U.S. total (#19 of 51).
Spread across 1,682,214 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $6,745 per home - 1.8× the ACS median homeowner bill of $3,792. 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 Wisconsin
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for Wisconsin from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 3.5%
- With mortgage
- 1.1%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 653,748
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
County effective-rate spread
Published medians span 0.73% in Vilas County to 3.56% in Menominee County - a 2.83 percentage-point gap across 72 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 Wisconsin is $3,792/year, which is 90% above the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 1.42% on a median home value of $266,500. Taxes range from $1,768 in Iron County to $6,420 (Dane County).
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in Wisconsin
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
The typical bill sits well above the national median
The statewide median property-tax bill is $3,792 a year, 90% above the $1,993 national median. The Census ACS estimate describes the median homeowner household rather than an individual parcel.
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
$3,792
+90% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$266,500
+17% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
1.42%
+54% vs US avg
Rate-band peers near Wisconsin
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so Wisconsin's 1.42% rate is read against real neighbors such as Iowa and Nebraska.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs Wisconsin | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Also open Iowa for county spread | 1.39% | Iowa nearly matches Wisconsin | $2,897 |
| Nebraska Also open Nebraska for county spread | 1.49% | Nebraska runs 0.07 pts above Wisconsin | $3,549 |
| Texas Also open Texas for county spread | 1.49% | Texas runs 0.07 pts above Wisconsin | $4,232 |
| Ohio Also open Ohio for county spread | 1.31% | Ohio runs 0.11 pts below Wisconsin | $2,822 |
| Pennsylvania Also open Pennsylvania for county spread | 1.30% | Pennsylvania runs 0.12 pts below Wisconsin | $3,311 |
| New York Also open New York for county spread | 1.55% | New York runs 0.13 pts above Wisconsin | $6,582 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for Wisconsin, excluding Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin: 1.42%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. Wisconsin: $3,792/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where Wisconsin sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where Wisconsin sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC
1.42% more affordable than 16% 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
Wisconsin has a higher effective property tax rate than 84% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #9 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Iowa (1.39%, nearly level); Nebraska (1.49%, 0.07 pts higher than Wisconsin); Texas (1.49%, 0.07 pts higher than Wisconsin).
What Wisconsin's biggest counties actually charge
Effective rate in the eight Wisconsin 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.
Wisconsin's median county rate is 1.42%, but that figure counts every county equally. Weight each county by how many owner-occupied homes it actually holds and the rate a typical Wisconsin homeowner faces is 1.45%, close to the plain median, so Wisconsin's larger counties are not unusual for the state.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Top 5 Highest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
3.7
Expensive
Based on the average effective tax rate of 1.42% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin's 1.42% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Iowa and Nebraska 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 Wisconsin by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward across 72 measured counties. 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 | Dane County | $6,420 | 1.63% | $394,800 |
| 2 | Ozaukee County | $4,631 | 1.19% | $390,200 |
| 3 | Waukesha County | $4,554 | 1.14% | $398,200 |
| 4 | Pierce County | $4,551 | 1.36% | $333,700 |
| 5 | Milwaukee County | $4,444 | 1.93% | $230,700 |
| 6 | St. Croix County | $4,420 | 1.17% | $377,700 |
| 7 | Kenosha County | $4,179 | 1.57% | $265,500 |
| 8 | Racine County | $4,099 | 1.63% | $251,400 |
| 9 | Iowa County | $4,038 | 1.52% | $265,000 |
| 10 | Walworth County | $4,036 | 1.33% | $302,700 |
| 11 | Jefferson County | $4,005 | 1.46% | $274,100 |
| 12 | Green County | $4,003 | 1.60% | $250,200 |
| 13 | La Crosse County | $3,947 | 1.54% | $257,000 |
| 14 | Menominee County | $3,926 | 3.56% | $110,200 |
| 15 | Calumet County | $3,877 | 1.41% | $274,200 |
| 16 | Columbia County | $3,855 | 1.36% | $283,200 |
| 17 | Washington County | $3,802 | 1.10% | $344,800 |
| 18 | Sauk County | $3,755 | 1.45% | $258,600 |
| 19 | Rock County | $3,703 | 1.60% | $231,600 |
| 20 | Winnebago County | $3,679 | 1.63% | $225,800 |
| 21 | Outagamie County | $3,668 | 1.37% | $267,300 |
| 22 | Brown County | $3,663 | 1.38% | $266,000 |
| 23 | Eau Claire County | $3,514 | 1.35% | $261,000 |
| 24 | Portage County | $3,492 | 1.44% | $243,100 |
| 25 | Door County | $3,486 | 1.02% | $342,600 |
| 26 | Dodge County | $3,422 | 1.48% | $231,900 |
| 27 | Dunn County | $3,380 | 1.39% | $243,200 |
| 28 | Trempealeau County | $3,372 | 1.56% | $216,700 |
| 29 | Fond du Lac County | $3,365 | 1.51% | $222,800 |
| 30 | Sheboygan County | $3,236 | 1.39% | $232,700 |
| 31 | Marathon County | $3,218 | 1.47% | $219,600 |
| 32 | Kewaunee County | $3,190 | 1.44% | $222,200 |
| 33 | Polk County | $3,075 | 1.13% | $271,900 |
| 34 | Lafayette County | $3,053 | 1.57% | $194,500 |
| 35 | Vernon County | $2,978 | 1.33% | $223,800 |
| 36 | Waupaca County | $2,924 | 1.38% | $211,400 |
| 37 | Pepin County | $2,922 | 1.36% | $214,800 |
| 38 | Crawford County | $2,861 | 1.56% | $183,400 |
| 39 | Barron County | $2,843 | 1.31% | $216,600 |
| 40 | Monroe County | $2,826 | 1.35% | $210,000 |
| 41 | Buffalo County | $2,808 | 1.32% | $213,300 |
| 42 | Chippewa County | $2,798 | 1.08% | $257,900 |
| 43 | Taylor County | $2,748 | 1.39% | $197,100 |
| 44 | Richland County | $2,735 | 1.38% | $197,500 |
| 45 | Grant County | $2,729 | 1.36% | $200,700 |
| 46 | Oconto County | $2,727 | 1.18% | $231,400 |
| 47 | Jackson County | $2,725 | 1.39% | $196,100 |
| 48 | Green Lake County | $2,718 | 1.26% | $215,400 |
| 49 | Wood County | $2,697 | 1.54% | $175,600 |
| 50 | Manitowoc County | $2,695 | 1.44% | $186,900 |
| 51 | Marquette County | $2,659 | 1.26% | $210,400 |
| 52 | Shawano County | $2,644 | 1.36% | $194,000 |
| 53 | Juneau County | $2,605 | 1.47% | $177,700 |
| 54 | Douglas County | $2,599 | 1.26% | $205,800 |
| 55 | Lincoln County | $2,549 | 1.32% | $192,700 |
| 56 | Clark County | $2,505 | 1.45% | $172,800 |
| 57 | Waushara County | $2,464 | 1.21% | $203,100 |
| 58 | Bayfield County | $2,425 | 1.01% | $240,800 |
| 59 | Ashland County | $2,413 | 1.42% | $170,300 |
| 60 | Adams County | $2,407 | 1.20% | $200,800 |
| 61 | Washburn County | $2,377 | 1.05% | $226,100 |
| 62 | Vilas County | $2,197 | 0.73% | $300,000 |
| 63 | Price County | $2,150 | 1.32% | $162,500 |
| 64 | Burnett County | $2,140 | 0.93% | $231,300 |
| 65 | Oneida County | $2,123 | 0.89% | $238,400 |
| 66 | Florence County | $2,096 | 1.21% | $173,200 |
| 67 | Forest County | $1,988 | 1.07% | $185,000 |
| 68 | Langlade County | $1,972 | 1.25% | $158,200 |
| 69 | Marinette County | $1,907 | 1.20% | $158,600 |
| 70 | Sawyer County | $1,897 | 0.80% | $236,200 |
| 71 | Rusk County | $1,834 | 1.12% | $163,400 |
| 72 | Iron County | $1,768 | 1.07% | $165,900 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average? ▼
Wisconsin property taxes are 90% above the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $3,792 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
What is the average property tax in Wisconsin? ▼
The average median property tax paid in Wisconsin is $3,792 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 1.42%.
Which county in Wisconsin has the lowest property taxes? ▼
Iron County has the lowest median property tax in Wisconsin at $1,768 per year with an effective rate of 1.07%. The highest is Dane County at $6,420.
Where does Wisconsin sit in U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, Wisconsin's state and local governments collected $11.3B in property tax - 1.6% of the U.S. total (#19 of 51). Spread across 1,682,214 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $6,745 per home - 1.8× the ACS median homeowner bill of $3,792. The gap is expected: LF0009 covers all taxable property (including commercial and other non-household parcels), while the ACS median is a household figure.
What is the median home value in Wisconsin? ▼
The median home value across Wisconsin is $266,500, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
Do homeowners with a mortgage pay more property tax in Wisconsin? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $3,908/yr versus $3,605 for owners without a mortgage, a $303 gap. Our mortgage-gap research page ranks this spread against all states.
What share of Wisconsin owners report paying no property tax? ▼
3.5% of owner-occupied homes in Wisconsin report zero property tax on the ACS survey (1.1% 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 Wisconsin? ▼
Yes. Every Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- Wisconsin's ACS 2024 median bill is $3,792/yr at 1.42% (90% above the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside Wisconsin, Iron County posts the lowest median bill at $1,768/yr; Dane County is highest at $6,420/yr. Open Iron County
- Estimate a parcel bill at Wisconsin'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 72 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 Wisconsin. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.