Iowa property taxes by county
Across Iowa, the median owner-occupied home pays $2,897 a year in real-estate taxes on a median home value of $208,000 — an effective property-tax rate of 1.393%. That ranks Iowa #10 of 51 states and the District of Columbia (1 = highest). This page carries all 99 Iowa county-equivalents in the Census data — 99 with a published effective rate — sortable by rate, taxes paid, home value, income, or five-year change. 2 of them also carry a full detail card here — every median with its Census margin of error, both rankings, the six nearest counties, and the five-year change. It also sets out how property tax actually works in Iowa: how property is assessed, which exemptions exist and who qualifies, the deadline and body for an appeal, and the payment schedule and penalties — each hand-sourced from official Iowa sources. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates.
- Effective tax rate
- 1.393%
- Median real-estate taxes
- $2,897 ± $13
- Median home value
- $208,000
- Median household income
- $75,059
- National rank
- #10 of 51
- County-equivalents
- 99
Median real-estate taxes ÷ median home value — a ratio of two independently-estimated medians, not a statutory (millage) rate.
How property tax varies across Iowa
Across Iowa's 99 county-equivalents with a published rate, the effective property-tax rate runs from 1.801% in Union County down to 0.867% in Lyon County — a 2.1× spread inside a single state, which is why a statewide average tells a buyer very little.
The largest median real-estate tax bill in Iowa is $5,001 in Dallas County, which ranks #27 of 99 by RATE — while the state's highest rate, 1.801%, is in Union County, where the median bill is $2,197. Dollars and rate are different questions and rank counties differently.
Measured against the national median effective rate of 0.937%, 97 of Iowa's 99 ranked counties sit above it and 2 below. Iowa as a whole ranks #10 of 51 (1 = highest).
Median home value statewide is $208,000, but within Iowa it ranges from $355,600 in Dallas County to $98,100 in Pocahontas County — the denominator of the effective rate, and the main reason two counties with similar bills can show very different rates.
Statewide, the median real-estate tax bill equals about 3.9% of median household income. That share is heaviest in Johnson County (6.3%) and lightest in Pocahontas County (1.8%).
Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015–2019 and 2020–2024, median real-estate taxes rose by a statistically significant amount in 96 of Iowa's 99 counties with a comparable trend, fell significantly in 0, and showed no statistically significant change in 3.
Estimate a Iowa property tax bill
A median-based estimate, not a quote, an assessment, or a tax bill — it cannot know your assessed value, exemptions, or special districts. How this is computed.
Every Iowa county
All 99 Iowa county-equivalents in the Census data (99 with a published effective rate). Click a column heading to sort. Counties in bold have a full detail card further down this page — margins of error, nearby counties, and their five-year trend.
| Union County | 1.801% | $2,197 | $2,357 | $2,062 | $122,000 | $57,772 | 3.8% | #1 | #151 | +21.7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 1.677% | $4,396 | $4,503 | $4,130 | $262,100 | $83,576 | 5.3% | #2 | #204 | +23.9% |
| Linn County | 1.655% | $3,547 | $3,570 | $3,501 | $214,300 | $77,649 | 4.6% | #3 | #221 | +25.7% |
| Montgomery County | 1.653% | $2,007 | $2,023 | $1,993 | $121,400 | $63,666 | 3.1% | #4 | #223 | +30.4% |
| Decatur County | 1.608% | $1,831 | $1,916 | $1,723 | $113,900 | $59,044 | 3.1% | #5 | #254 | +24.6% |
| Clarke County | 1.600% | $2,578 | $2,678 | $2,062 | $161,100 | $71,641 | 3.6% | #6 | #260 | +46.5% |
| Wapello County | 1.578% | $1,974 | $2,084 | $1,848 | $125,100 | $64,766 | 3.0% | #7 | #277 | +27.5% |
| Pottawattamie County | 1.567% | $3,067 | $3,232 | $2,844 | $195,700 | $73,602 | 4.2% | #8 | #287 | +19.1% |
| Henry County | 1.558% | $2,559 | $2,577 | $2,535 | $164,300 | $67,436 | 3.8% | #9 | #294 | +46.9% |
| Clinton County | 1.532% | $2,461 | $2,503 | $2,402 | $160,600 | $66,981 | 3.7% | #10 | #309 | +25.9% |
| Johnson County | 1.517% | $4,681 | $4,778 | $4,480 | $308,600 | $74,935 | 6.3% | #11 | #326 | +24.7% |
| Wright County | 1.510% | $1,806 | $1,910 | $1,670 | $119,600 | $67,190 | 2.7% | #12 | #334 | +36.7% |
| Des Moines County | 1.508% | $2,058 | $2,225 | $1,898 | $136,500 | $62,928 | 3.3% | #13 | #338 | +15.4% |
| Black Hawk County | 1.504% | $2,842 | $2,855 | $2,816 | $188,900 | $66,417 | 4.3% | #14 | #342 | +17.5% |
| Muscatine County | 1.500% | $2,732 | $2,860 | $2,547 | $182,100 | $69,396 | 3.9% | #15 | #344 | +22.2% |
| Madison County | 1.479% | $3,624 | $3,602 | $3,678 | $245,100 | $90,855 | 4.0% | #16 | #366 | +28% |
| Scott County | 1.474% | $3,273 | $3,339 | $3,140 | $222,000 | $78,277 | 4.2% | #17 | #369 | +19.5% |
| Emmet County | 1.472% | $1,680 | $1,762 | $1,518 | $114,100 | $63,730 | 2.6% | #18 | #372 | +18.6% |
| Mills County | 1.469% | $3,494 | $3,589 | $3,312 | $237,800 | $90,753 | 3.9% | #19 | #379 | +35.6% |
| Woodbury County | 1.450% | $2,656 | $2,817 | $2,424 | $183,200 | $73,658 | 3.6% | #20 | #407 | +31.2% |
| Cerro Gordo County | 1.448% | $2,410 | $2,464 | $2,327 | $166,400 | $68,189 | 3.5% | #21 | #410 | +34.4% |
| Warren County | 1.434% | $3,865 | $3,989 | $3,633 | $269,600 | $94,588 | 4.1% | #22 | #428 | +23.2% |
| Marshall County | 1.421% | $2,067 | $2,132 | $2,000 | $145,500 | $73,315 | 2.8% | #23 | #442 | +19.4% |
| Jefferson County | 1.414% | $2,311 | $2,463 | $2,194 | $163,400 | $61,620 | 3.8% | #24 | #449 | +20.9% |
| Jasper County | 1.413% | $2,633 | $2,699 | $2,525 | $186,300 | $71,311 | 3.7% | #25 | #453 | +23.6% |
| Page County | 1.408% | $1,764 | $1,799 | $1,725 | $125,300 | $57,953 | 3.0% | #26 | #459 | +18.7% |
| Dallas County | 1.406% | $5,001 | $5,406 | $4,238 | $355,600 | $102,379 | 4.9% | #27 | #460 | +31.3% |
| Story County | 1.404% | $3,632 | $3,773 | $3,466 | $258,700 | $69,685 | 5.2% | #28 | #464 | +26.1% |
| Davis County | 1.401% | $2,269 | $2,322 | $2,210 | $161,900 | $77,194 | 2.9% | #29 | #466 | +15.8% |
| Webster County | 1.390% | $2,138 | $2,284 | $1,970 | $153,800 | $68,975 | 3.1% | #30 | #476 | +34.9% |
| Lee County | 1.383% | $1,955 | $2,088 | $1,806 | $141,400 | $62,382 | 3.1% | #31 | #485 | +32.7% |
| Monroe County | 1.375% | $2,149 | $2,274 | $1,987 | $156,300 | $70,996 | 3.0% | #32 | #489 | +36.6% |
| Tama County | 1.375% | $2,043 | $2,062 | $2,020 | $148,600 | $70,781 | 2.9% | #33 | #490 | +26.4% |
| Hardin County | 1.374% | $1,683 | $1,688 | $1,678 | $122,500 | $65,069 | 2.6% | #34 | #491 | +23.7% |
| Boone County | 1.370% | $2,910 | $3,001 | $2,769 | $212,400 | $83,531 | 3.5% | #35 | #501 | +41.8% |
| Lucas County | 1.369% | $1,645 | $1,768 | $1,472 | $120,200 | $61,793 | 2.7% | #36 | #504 | −4.7% |
| Washington County | 1.367% | $2,788 | $2,665 | $3,033 | $203,900 | $75,647 | 3.7% | #37 | #508 | +25.5% |
| Buchanan County | 1.358% | $2,390 | $2,589 | $2,154 | $176,000 | $78,236 | 3.0% | #38 | #516 | +13.2% |
| Iowa County | 1.356% | $2,629 | $2,680 | $2,573 | $193,900 | $71,223 | 3.7% | #39 | #517 | +33.9% |
| Wayne County | 1.356% | $1,509 | $1,776 | $1,388 | $111,300 | $61,964 | 2.4% | #40 | #518 | +27.3% |
| Butler County | 1.346% | $2,226 | $2,319 | $2,083 | $165,400 | $73,715 | 3.0% | #41 | #530 | +28.3% |
| Floyd County | 1.344% | $1,929 | $1,964 | $1,866 | $143,500 | $68,557 | 2.8% | #42 | #536 | +30.6% |
| Cass County | 1.343% | $2,019 | $1,913 | $2,161 | $150,300 | $63,013 | 3.2% | #43 | #538 | +23.7% |
| Ringgold County | 1.343% | $2,098 | $2,543 | $1,759 | $156,200 | $73,346 | 2.9% | #44 | #539 | +49.8% |
| Appanoose County | 1.342% | $1,667 | $1,735 | $1,555 | $124,200 | $54,934 | 3.0% | #45 | #540 | +35.1% |
| Audubon County | 1.340% | $1,634 | $1,710 | $1,570 | $121,900 | $58,229 | 2.8% | #46 | #541 | +63.7% |
| Delaware County | 1.339% | $2,382 | $2,441 | $2,315 | $177,900 | $74,989 | 3.2% | #47 | #543 | +28.5% |
| Jones County | 1.326% | $2,450 | $2,548 | $2,337 | $184,800 | $73,531 | 3.3% | #48 | #554 | +31.6% |
| Harrison County | 1.321% | $2,325 | $2,427 | $2,148 | $176,000 | $79,535 | 2.9% | #49 | #563 | +45.2% |
| Calhoun County | 1.319% | $1,567 | $1,737 | $1,403 | $118,800 | $64,964 | 2.4% | #51 | #570 | +32.5% |
| Winnebago County | 1.319% | $1,781 | $1,756 | $1,801 | $135,000 | $67,642 | 2.6% | #50 | #569 | +27.3% |
| Franklin County | 1.316% | $1,633 | $1,811 | $1,416 | $124,100 | $59,894 | 2.7% | #53 | #577 | +21.8% |
| Mahaska County | 1.316% | $2,077 | $2,276 | $1,881 | $157,800 | $70,940 | 2.9% | #52 | #576 | +21.5% |
| Benton County | 1.310% | $2,727 | $2,839 | $2,557 | $208,200 | $86,962 | 3.1% | #54 | #584 | +29.3% |
| Fayette County | 1.303% | $1,782 | $1,777 | $1,791 | $136,800 | $60,165 | 3.0% | #55 | #594 | +19.9% |
| Clayton County | 1.294% | $2,181 | $2,248 | $2,116 | $168,500 | $67,242 | 3.2% | #56 | #603 | +26% |
| Humboldt County | 1.291% | $2,011 | $2,260 | $1,847 | $155,800 | $71,946 | 2.8% | #57 | #605 | +28.5% |
| Bremer County | 1.286% | $2,824 | $2,713 | $2,967 | $219,600 | $86,784 | 3.3% | #58 | #615 | +12.9% |
| Crawford County | 1.284% | $1,973 | $2,214 | $1,793 | $153,700 | $67,027 | 2.9% | #59 | #621 | +47% |
| Adair County | 1.278% | $2,050 | $2,192 | $1,926 | $160,400 | $68,092 | 3.0% | #60 | #627 | +43.5% |
| Shelby County | 1.277% | $2,094 | $2,038 | $2,152 | $164,000 | $72,738 | 2.9% | #61 | #629 | +20.9% |
| Allamakee County | 1.271% | $2,190 | $2,201 | $2,179 | $172,300 | $70,694 | 3.1% | #62 | #637 | +31.9% |
| Taylor County | 1.265% | $1,482 | $1,538 | $1,415 | $117,200 | $67,740 | 2.2% | #63 | #650 | +31% |
| Hamilton County | 1.264% | $1,977 | $2,010 | $1,946 | $156,400 | $72,432 | 2.7% | #64 | #652 | +27% |
| Adams County | 1.262% | $1,661 | $1,791 | $1,533 | $131,600 | $71,875 | 2.3% | #65 | #656 | +35.2% |
| Keokuk County | 1.259% | $1,494 | $1,579 | $1,404 | $118,700 | $62,329 | 2.4% | #66 | #663 | +7.5% |
| Howard County | 1.254% | $1,853 | $1,890 | $1,812 | $147,800 | $67,446 | 2.8% | #67 | #669 | +38.6% |
| Jackson County | 1.234% | $2,159 | $2,280 | $1,990 | $175,000 | $74,186 | 2.9% | #68 | #691 | +22.5% |
| Dubuque County | 1.230% | $2,919 | $2,858 | $3,068 | $237,300 | $77,630 | 3.8% | #69 | #695 | +16.2% |
| Poweshiek County | 1.225% | $2,563 | $2,572 | $2,550 | $209,300 | $67,391 | 3.8% | #70 | #704 | +27.4% |
| Marion County | 1.222% | $2,848 | $2,934 | $2,686 | $233,000 | $78,680 | 3.6% | #71 | #707 | +26.2% |
| Guthrie County | 1.221% | $2,199 | $2,377 | $1,933 | $180,100 | $77,711 | 2.8% | #72 | #709 | +35.3% |
| Cedar County | 1.215% | $2,568 | $2,663 | $2,441 | $211,300 | $80,602 | 3.2% | #73 | #716 | +34% |
| Buena Vista County | 1.211% | $1,931 | $2,125 | $1,725 | $159,500 | $71,719 | 2.7% | #74 | #723 | +23.4% |
| Fremont County | 1.210% | $1,868 | $2,020 | $1,740 | $154,400 | $71,621 | 2.6% | #75 | #727 | +19.4% |
| Palo Alto County | 1.196% | $1,474 | $1,524 | $1,436 | $123,200 | $72,781 | 2.0% | #76 | #739 | +11.4% |
| Hancock County | 1.183% | $1,673 | $1,821 | $1,521 | $141,400 | $70,601 | 2.4% | #77 | #757 | +30.2% |
| Van Buren County | 1.182% | $1,355 | $2,036 | $1,034 | $114,600 | $61,161 | 2.2% | #78 | #758 | +6% |
| Louisa County | 1.167% | $1,751 | $1,963 | $1,459 | $150,100 | $77,354 | 2.3% | #79 | #784 | +9.2% |
| Ida County | 1.157% | $1,260 | $1,317 | $1,166 | $108,900 | $63,073 | 2.0% | #80 | #803 | +18% |
| Clay County | 1.148% | $2,050 | $2,154 | $1,934 | $178,600 | $65,428 | 3.1% | #81 | #814 | +27.4% |
| Greene County | 1.147% | $1,783 | $1,842 | $1,697 | $155,400 | $63,409 | 2.8% | #82 | #817 | +48.3% |
| Grundy County | 1.143% | $2,273 | $2,419 | $2,037 | $198,800 | $87,205 | 2.6% | #83 | #826 | +40.7% |
| Pocahontas County | 1.133% | $1,111 | $1,280 | $978 | $98,100 | $61,875 | 1.8% | #84 | #843 | +27.1% |
| Osceola County | 1.131% | $1,387 | $1,467 | $1,306 | $122,600 | $69,239 | 2.0% | #85 | #845 | +47.7% |
| Sioux County | 1.120% | $2,801 | $2,864 | $2,719 | $250,100 | $86,098 | 3.3% | #86 | #865 | +39.1% |
| Winneshiek County | 1.117% | $2,894 | $2,901 | $2,883 | $259,200 | $79,066 | 3.7% | #87 | #871 | +26.4% |
| Sac County | 1.100% | $1,556 | $1,634 | $1,484 | $141,400 | $73,838 | 2.1% | #88 | #900 | +44.7% |
| Worth County | 1.097% | $1,600 | $1,592 | $1,609 | $145,800 | $78,008 | 2.0% | #89 | #910 | +17.7% |
| Mitchell County | 1.096% | $1,919 | $1,918 | $1,921 | $175,100 | $71,365 | 2.7% | #90 | #914 | +24.9% |
| Carroll County | 1.089% | $1,916 | $1,850 | $2,002 | $176,000 | $72,930 | 2.6% | #91 | #926 | +32.2% |
| Plymouth County | 1.073% | $2,455 | $2,432 | $2,489 | $228,900 | $83,251 | 3.0% | #92 | #957 | +23.2% |
| Monona County | 1.027% | $1,467 | $1,703 | $1,288 | $142,900 | $68,377 | 2.1% | #93 | #1052 | +33.1% |
| Chickasaw County | 1.020% | $1,863 | $1,919 | $1,804 | $182,600 | $75,675 | 2.5% | #94 | #1066 | +30.6% |
| Kossuth County | 1.005% | $1,490 | $1,670 | $1,357 | $148,300 | $67,697 | 2.2% | #95 | #1108 | +32.3% |
| Cherokee County | 0.989% | $1,569 | $1,464 | $1,650 | $158,700 | $71,269 | 2.2% | #96 | #1154 | +25.8% |
| O'Brien County | 0.983% | $1,701 | $1,891 | $1,545 | $173,100 | $68,356 | 2.5% | #97 | #1168 | +25.1% |
| Dickinson County | 0.925% | $2,503 | $2,369 | $2,691 | $270,700 | $75,432 | 3.3% | #98 | #1298 | +30.9% |
| Lyon County | 0.867% | $1,995 | $2,105 | $1,876 | $230,000 | $76,746 | 2.6% | #99 | #1427 | +31.3% |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-year estimates — tables B25103 (real-estate taxes), B25077 (home value), B19013 (household income) — and the 2024 Census county gazetteer. Public domain (Title 17 U.S.C. §105).
County detail — 2 Iowa counties in depth
Full figures for the Iowa counties most searched for, each with the Census margin of error on every median, both rankings, the five-year change, and the six nearest county-equivalents by centroid distance — nearby, not necessarily bordering, and cross-state neighbours included. For any individual property's assessed value, exemptions and bill, use that county's own assessor or appraisal district; per-county assessor URLs are never guessed here (why).
Linn County 1.655% · median tax $3,547 · #221 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $3,547 ± $64
- With a mortgage
- $3,570 ± $81
- Without a mortgage
- $3,501 ± $108
- Median home value
- $214,300 ± $4,605
- Median household income
- $77,649 ± $2,246
- Taxes as share of income
- 4.6%
- Effective rate
- 1.655%
- Rank in Iowa
- #3 of 99
- National rank
- #221 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $215,000 home
- $3,558
Median real-estate taxes rose 25.7% over five years ($2,822 → $3,547) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.142 percentage points (1.797% → 1.655%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $157,000 → $214,300 (+36.5%), and the rate changed −0.142 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Linn County:
- Benton County, IA — 1.310%, median tax $2,727, 38 km away
- Jones County, IA — 1.326%, median tax $2,450, 40 km away
- Johnson County, IA — 1.517%, median tax $4,681, 45 km away
- Delaware County, IA — 1.339%, median tax $2,382, 48 km away
- Buchanan County, IA — 1.358%, median tax $2,390, 48 km away
- Cedar County, IA — 1.215%, median tax $2,568, 51 km away
Sac County 1.100% · median tax $1,556 · #900 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $1,556 ± $133
- With a mortgage
- $1,634 ± $148
- Without a mortgage
- $1,484 ± $166
- Median home value
- $141,400 ± $11,933
- Median household income
- $73,838 ± $5,248
- Taxes as share of income
- 2.1%
- Effective rate
- 1.100%
- Rank in Iowa
- #88 of 99
- National rank
- #900 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $140,000 home
- $1,540
Median real-estate taxes rose 44.7% over five years ($1,075 → $1,556) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The change in the effective tax rate (1.122% → 1.100%) is not statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $95,800 → $141,400 (+47.6%), and the rate changed −0.022 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Sac County:
- Ida County, IA — 1.157%, median tax $1,260, 33 km away
- Calhoun County, IA — 1.319%, median tax $1,567, 38 km away
- Buena Vista County, IA — 1.211%, median tax $1,931, 40 km away
- Carroll County, IA — 1.089%, median tax $1,916, 43 km away
- Crawford County, IA — 1.284%, median tax $1,973, 45 km away
- Pocahontas County, IA — 1.133%, median tax $1,111, 52 km away
Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 — consecutive 5-year estimates share survey sample and are never compared here.
How property tax works in Iowa
Most of what follows is Iowa law and applies to every county in the table above. Where a rule is set locally rather than statewide, the jurisdiction whose published rule this is appears beside it — treat those as a worked example, not a statewide figure. Each fact is taken from an official government source and linked to it.
- How property is assessed
- Local assessors set values as of January 1. Every county has a county assessor, and Ames, Sioux City, Mason City, Davenport, Dubuque, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids have city assessors. All real property is assessed every odd-numbered year at actual (market) value; agricultural property instead uses a statewide productivity value built on a five-year landlord crop-share income model capitalized at 7%. source →
- Exemptions & credits
- Division 20 of 2026 Iowa Acts, SF 2472, signed May 18, 2026, replaced the homestead tax credit with a homestead tax exemption equal to 10% of the homestead's taxable value, with a minimum of $5,500 and a maximum of $20,000, retroactive to assessment year 2026. Claimants aged 65 or older on or before January 1 receive an additional $6,500 of taxable-value exemption. The disabled veteran homestead tax credit is unaffected. source →
- Appealing an assessment
- Assessors complete assessments and notify taxpayers by April 1. Owners may request an informal review by the assessor April 2 through April 25, and may protest to the local board of review April 2 through April 30. A taxpayer dissatisfied with the board's decision may appeal to the Property Assessment Appeal Board or go directly to district court; a PAAB decision may itself be appealed to district court. source →
- Payment schedule & penalties as published by Iowa County
- County treasurers bill and collect. Taxes are paid in two installments: the first half is due September 1 and becomes delinquent October 1; the second half is due March 1 and becomes delinquent April 1. Delinquent interest accrues at 1.5% per month, rounded to the nearest dollar with a $1 minimum penalty. Taxes still delinquent as of May 1 are advertised and sold at the annual June tax sale. source →
- Why rates vary within the state
- Iowa has over 2,000 levying authorities. Each sets its own budget; the county auditor converts those budgets into levy rates against the taxable value inside each authority's boundary, and the sum of rates in a tax district is the consolidated levy rate, expressed per $1,000. Bills differ by property classification, by which levying authorities cover the parcel, and by shifts in other properties' taxable value. source →
- What makes this state's system distinctive
- The county auditor applies an annual assessment limitation, or rollback, to convert assessed value into taxable value. Residential and agricultural limitations are recalculated each year to hold statewide aggregate taxable value growth for that class to 3%; it caps the class total, not any single property. Commercial, industrial and railroad property get the residential limitation on the first $150,000 and 90% above it. source →
Hand-sourced from official government sources — not a substitute for your own assessor's notice, and not legal or tax advice. Where a fact isn't confirmed on an official source, it is left off rather than guessed, which is why some states show fewer rows than others.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average property tax rate in Iowa?
- Statewide, Iowa's effective property-tax rate is 1.393% — the state median real-estate taxes ($2,897) divided by the state median home value ($208,000), from the Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. The national figure is about 0.937%, which puts Iowa at #10 of 51 (1 = highest). Individual counties vary widely; the table above shows every one.
- Which Iowa county has the highest property taxes?
- By effective rate, Union County is highest in Iowa at 1.801% (median bill $2,197), and Lyon County is lowest at 0.867% (median bill $1,995). Ranked by dollars paid rather than rate the order changes, because home values differ so much across the state — the table above shows both columns and sorts on either.
- What property tax exemptions are available in Iowa?
- Division 20 of 2026 Iowa Acts, SF 2472, signed May 18, 2026, replaced the homestead tax credit with a homestead tax exemption equal to 10% of the homestead's taxable value, with a minimum of $5,500 and a maximum of $20,000, retroactive to assessment year 2026. Claimants aged 65 or older on or before January 1 receive an additional $6,500 of taxable-value exemption. The disabled veteran homestead tax credit is unaffected. Eligibility and filing are handled by your county assessor, and the exemption you qualify for changes your bill far more than the county you are in — the rates above are county medians and do not account for any exemption.
- How do I appeal a property tax assessment in Iowa?
- Assessors complete assessments and notify taxpayers by April 1. Owners may request an informal review by the assessor April 2 through April 25, and may protest to the local board of review April 2 through April 30. A taxpayer dissatisfied with the board's decision may appeal to the Property Assessment Appeal Board or go directly to district court; a PAAB decision may itself be appealed to district court. Missing the deadline usually means waiting a full year, so check the date on your own assessment notice rather than relying on a general figure.
- When are property taxes due in Iowa?
- County treasurers bill and collect. Taxes are paid in two installments: the first half is due September 1 and becomes delinquent October 1; the second half is due March 1 and becomes delinquent April 1. Delinquent interest accrues at 1.5% per month, rounded to the nearest dollar with a $1 minimum penalty. Taxes still delinquent as of May 1 are advertised and sold at the annual June tax sale. If your taxes are paid through a mortgage escrow account, your servicer pays on this schedule on your behalf.
- How is property assessed in Iowa?
- Local assessors set values as of January 1. Every county has a county assessor, and Ames, Sioux City, Mason City, Davenport, Dubuque, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids have city assessors. All real property is assessed every odd-numbered year at actual (market) value; agricultural property instead uses a statewide productivity value built on a five-year landlord crop-share income model capitalized at 7%. This is why an effective rate computed from market value — as every rate on this page is — will not match the millage rate printed on your bill: the two are applied to different bases.
Compare & explore
See the national highest and lowest property-tax rates, or read the methodology behind every figure. The national median effective rate is 0.937%; Iowa's statewide figure is 1.393%.