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Iowa property tax: Census indicators

The 2020-2024 American Community Survey reports median yearly real estate taxes of $2,897 and median home value of $208,000 for owner-occupied homes in Iowa. Their ratio is 1.39 %, 48 % above the national ratio.

Census ratio1.39 %U.S. 0.94 %
Median yearly tax$2,897U.S. $3,119
Median home value$208,000U.S. $332,700
Rank (1 = highest)10 of 51by ratio of medians

Historical Census medians in Iowa

Owner-occupied housing measure2020-2024 ACS
Median yearly real estate taxes paid$2,897
Median home value$208,000
Ratio of the two medians1.39 %

This table describes survey respondents, not tax on a purchase price. Use an assessor-confirmed yearly bill or estimate in the rental property calculator or cap rate calculator.

Iowa Census property tax indicators by county

99 counties, highest ratio first. Highest: Union County (1.80 %). Lowest: Lyon County (0.87 %).

CountyCensus ratioMedian taxMedian home value
Union County1.80 %$2,197$122,000
Polk County1.68 %$4,396$262,100
Linn County1.66 %$3,547$214,300
Montgomery County1.65 %$2,007$121,400
Decatur County1.61 %$1,831$113,900
Clarke County1.60 %$2,578$161,100
Wapello County1.58 %$1,974$125,100
Pottawattamie County1.57 %$3,067$195,700
Henry County1.56 %$2,559$164,300
Clinton County1.53 %$2,461$160,600
Johnson County1.52 %$4,681$308,600
Des Moines County1.51 %$2,058$136,500
Wright County1.51 %$1,806$119,600
Black Hawk County1.50 %$2,842$188,900
Muscatine County1.50 %$2,732$182,100
Madison County1.48 %$3,624$245,100
Emmet County1.47 %$1,680$114,100
Mills County1.47 %$3,494$237,800
Scott County1.47 %$3,273$222,000
Cerro Gordo County1.45 %$2,410$166,400
Woodbury County1.45 %$2,656$183,200
Warren County1.43 %$3,865$269,600
Marshall County1.42 %$2,067$145,500
Dallas County1.41 %$5,001$355,600
Jasper County1.41 %$2,633$186,300
Jefferson County1.41 %$2,311$163,400
Page County1.41 %$1,764$125,300
Davis County1.40 %$2,269$161,900
Story County1.40 %$3,632$258,700
Webster County1.39 %$2,138$153,800
Lee County1.38 %$1,955$141,400
Boone County1.37 %$2,910$212,400
Hardin County1.37 %$1,683$122,500
Lucas County1.37 %$1,645$120,200
Monroe County1.37 %$2,149$156,300
Tama County1.37 %$2,043$148,600
Washington County1.37 %$2,788$203,900
Buchanan County1.36 %$2,390$176,000
Iowa County1.36 %$2,629$193,900
Wayne County1.36 %$1,509$111,300
Butler County1.35 %$2,226$165,400
Appanoose County1.34 %$1,667$124,200
Audubon County1.34 %$1,634$121,900
Cass County1.34 %$2,019$150,300
Delaware County1.34 %$2,382$177,900
Floyd County1.34 %$1,929$143,500
Ringgold County1.34 %$2,098$156,200
Jones County1.33 %$2,450$184,800
Calhoun County1.32 %$1,567$118,800
Franklin County1.32 %$1,633$124,100
Harrison County1.32 %$2,325$176,000
Mahaska County1.32 %$2,077$157,800
Winnebago County1.32 %$1,781$135,000
Benton County1.31 %$2,727$208,200
Fayette County1.30 %$1,782$136,800
Bremer County1.29 %$2,824$219,600
Clayton County1.29 %$2,181$168,500
Humboldt County1.29 %$2,011$155,800
Adair County1.28 %$2,050$160,400
Crawford County1.28 %$1,973$153,700
Shelby County1.28 %$2,094$164,000
Allamakee County1.27 %$2,190$172,300
Adams County1.26 %$1,661$131,600
Hamilton County1.26 %$1,977$156,400
Keokuk County1.26 %$1,494$118,700
Taylor County1.26 %$1,482$117,200
Howard County1.25 %$1,853$147,800
Dubuque County1.23 %$2,919$237,300
Jackson County1.23 %$2,159$175,000
Cedar County1.22 %$2,568$211,300
Guthrie County1.22 %$2,199$180,100
Marion County1.22 %$2,848$233,000
Poweshiek County1.22 %$2,563$209,300
Buena Vista County1.21 %$1,931$159,500
Fremont County1.21 %$1,868$154,400
Palo Alto County1.20 %$1,474$123,200
Hancock County1.18 %$1,673$141,400
Van Buren County1.18 %$1,355$114,600
Louisa County1.17 %$1,751$150,100
Ida County1.16 %$1,260$108,900
Clay County1.15 %$2,050$178,600
Greene County1.15 %$1,783$155,400
Grundy County1.14 %$2,273$198,800
Osceola County1.13 %$1,387$122,600
Pocahontas County1.13 %$1,111$98,100
Sioux County1.12 %$2,801$250,100
Winneshiek County1.12 %$2,894$259,200
Mitchell County1.10 %$1,919$175,100
Sac County1.10 %$1,556$141,400
Worth County1.10 %$1,600$145,800
Carroll County1.09 %$1,916$176,000
Plymouth County1.07 %$2,455$228,900
Monona County1.03 %$1,467$142,900
Chickasaw County1.02 %$1,863$182,600
Kossuth County1.00 %$1,490$148,300
Cherokee County0.99 %$1,569$158,700
O'Brien County0.98 %$1,701$173,100
Dickinson County0.92 %$2,503$270,700
Lyon County0.87 %$1,995$230,000

Questions

What does the Iowa Census property tax indicator mean?

It is 1.39 %: median yearly real estate taxes ($2,897) divided by median home value ($208,000) for owner-occupied homes in the 2020-2024 ACS. It is 48 % above the national ratio and ranks 10th among the 50 states and DC. It is not a current tax rate.

Which county in Iowa has the highest Census ratio?

Union County, at 1.80 % (median bill $2,197). The lowest is Lyon County, at 0.87 %. These are ratios of survey medians, not applicable county tax rates.

Can this predict tax on a $300,000 rental in Iowa?

No. A ratio of two survey medians is not a parcel tax rate or the median of individual rates. Ask the property assessor or tax collector for an assessment using the property address, purchase circumstances, exemptions and local levies.

About the data

Census indicator = median real estate taxes paid / median home value for owner-occupied homes. The ratio of two medians is not the median of individual property tax rates. The 2020-2024 survey is historical, excludes rental housing from these measures and carries sampling uncertainty, especially in small counties. It does not provide current levies, reassessment values or a bill for a specific parcel.

Other states: Indiana · Kansas · all states

Last updated November 7, 2026.