Overview of Iowa Taxes
Iowa has a statewide effective property tax rate of 1.29%, which is well above the 0.89% national mark. However, that doesn't mean Iowans pay more in property taxes than the typical American. Because of a relatively low median home value, the typical property tax bill in the Hawkeye State is nearly $300 less than the median payment nationally.
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To calculate the exact amount of property tax you will owe requires your property's assessed value and the property tax rates based on your property's address. Please note that we can only estimate your property tax based on median property taxes in your area. There are typically multiple rates in a given area, because your state, county, local schools and emergency responders each receive funding partly through these taxes. In our calculator, we take your home value and multiply that by your county's effective property tax rate. This is equal to the median property tax paid as a percentage of the median home value in your county.
Iowa Property Taxes
Property taxes in the state of Iowa are a major source of revenue for local governments and services, including public schools. Taxes are collected annually, based on assessed property values that are recalculated every two years.
The state’s effective property tax rate is 1.29%, which means the median annual property tax payment is equal to 1.29% of the median home value. However, since rates are determined locally, property taxes vary greatly between cities and counties within Iowa.
If you’re considering buying a home in any county in Iowa, check out our mortgage guide to learn about rates and the details of getting a mortgage in the Hawkeye State.
A financial advisor can help you understand how homeownership fits into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
How Iowa Property Taxes Work
Iowa property taxes are paid annually in two installments, due on Sept. 1 and March 1 every year (though they are not considered late until the following month). Taxes are based on two factors: the assessed value of the property and the total local tax rate. Property values in Iowa are assessed every two years by county and city assessors.
Every county has its own assessor, as do a handful of individual cities. The assessor looks at market and property factors to determine the market value of the property. Assessed value, to which tax rates apply, is based on market value. The total statewide assessed value of residential property cannot increase by more than 3% annually. Thus, each year the state "rolls back" home values by applying a ratio calculated annually by the state's director of revenue. For 2026, that ratio is 47.43%.
There are a number of property tax credits and exemptions that can reduce the property taxes you owe. The most common is the Homestead Credit. Other Iowa credits and exemptions include the Disabled Veteran’s Homestead Tax Credit, the Military Exemption and the Property Tax Credit for Senior and Disabled Citizens.
Iowa Property Tax Rates
Property tax rates in Iowa are determined annually depending on the budget requirements of local tax authorities and the total taxable value of property in a tax district. If taxable value increases one year and the budget requirements stay the same, tax rates will fall. If they decrease and requirements stay the same, tax rates will rise.
Tax rates are denominated in dollars per thousand. So if your total tax rate is 20, that would mean you owe $20 in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed value. On a home with an assessed value of $200,000, the total tax bill would be $4,000.
The table below shows the effective tax rates for a cross section of counties in Iowa. Effective tax rates are calculated by determining median annual tax payments as a percentage of median home value.
Looking to calculate your potential monthly mortgage payment? Check out our mortgage calculator.
Polk County
If you are looking for low property tax rates in Iowa, Polk County may not be your best bet. The county’s effective property tax rate is 1.51%, which is among the highest in the state. Unsurprisingly, the county's $4,251 median annual tax payment is also among the highest in Iowa.
If you have questions about how property taxes can affect your overall financial plans, a financial advisor in Des Moines can help you out.
Linn County
Linn County is in eastern Iowa and contains the city of Cedar Rapids. The typical homeowner in Linn County pays $3,573 annually in property taxes. The county’s effective property tax rate of 1.56% is also higher than the state median of 1.29%.
Scott County
With a population of 175,000, Scott County is one of the most populous counties in Iowa. The effective property tax rate in Scott County is 1.33%, which is still higher than the statewide median. The median tax payment in this part of the state is $3,198 per year.
Johnson County
The median property tax payment among homeowners in Johnson County is $4,948 per year. That's the highest annual payment in the state. The county also has the second-highest median home value in the state ($329,500). Johnson County’s effective property tax rate is 1.50%.
Black Hawk County
The effective property tax rate in Black Hawk County is 1.36%. Homeowners in the county can pay a lower effective rate than that by claiming exemptions, though, such as the Homestead Exemption described above.
Woodbury County
Located in western Iowa, Woodbury County has one of the highest effective property tax rates in the state at 1.38%. That means a homeowner with a home worth the county median ($198,600) can expect to pay about $2,744 annually in property taxes.
Dubuque County
Property taxes in Dubuque County are lower than those in the rest of Iowa’s largest counties. The county’s effective property tax rate is 1.15% and the median property tax bill is $2,899.
Pottawattamie County
Pottawattamie County sits across the Missouri River from the city of Omaha, Nebraska. The county’s effective property tax rate is 1.38%. So based on the county's median home value of $217,800, residents can expect to pay about $2,995 annually in property taxes.
Story County
A typical homeowner in Story County pays $3,622 in property taxes annually. In part, that is a result of relatively high home values, as the median home value currently sits at $291,400. That is among the highest marks in the state. The county's 1.24% effective property tax rate is less than the statewide median of 1.29%.
Dallas County
Dallas County is located west of Polk County and Des Moines. While home values in Dallas County ($391,300) are higher than those in Polk County, the property tax rate is significantly lower. The effective property tax rate in Dallas County is 1.32%. However, the median property tax bill is $5,154 per year.
