Iowa · Property Tax & Closing Costs

Iowa property tax by county

Property tax rates, median home values, and closing cost estimates for all 99 counties in Iowa. The average effective rate across the state is 1.31%, ranking Iowa 9 of 51 (highest property taxes nationally). Data is sourced from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates.

Average rate

1.31%

across 99 counties

National rank

of 51, highest rate first

Median home value

$160,600

county median in state

Rate range

0.87%–1.80%

Lyon County → Union County

Same home, different county

On a $160,600 home (the typical county median in Iowa), the annual property tax bill depends heavily on where you buy:

Lowest-rate county

$1,392/yr

Lyon County at 0.87%

Highest-rate county

$2,892/yr

Union County at 1.80%

Difference

$1,500/yr

$125/mo · $15,000 over 10 years

Estimate: purchase price × each county's effective rate. Actual bills depend on assessed value, local levies, and exemptions.

Lowest property tax rates in Iowa

The five Iowa counties with the lowest effective property tax rates, useful for buyers comparing total cost of ownership across the state.

County	Rate	Median home	Median taxes
Lyon County	0.87%	$230,000	$1,995
Dickinson County	0.92%	$270,700	$2,503
O'Brien County	0.98%	$173,100	$1,701
Cherokee County	0.99%	$158,700	$1,569
Kossuth County	1.00%	$148,300	$1,490

Highest property tax rates in Iowa

The five Iowacounties with the highest effective property tax rates. High rates often reflect strong school district funding or municipal services rather than weakness, but they materially change a buyer's monthly carrying cost.

County	Rate	Median home	Median taxes
Union County	1.80%	$122,000	$2,197
Polk County	1.68%	$262,100	$4,396
Linn County	1.65%	$214,300	$3,547
Montgomery County	1.65%	$121,400	$2,007
Decatur County	1.61%	$113,900	$1,831

Iowa real estate transfer tax

Iowa charges a combined transfer tax of about 0.16% of the purchase price. On a $160,600 home, that is roughly $257 in total.

Paid by	Rate	On $160,600
Buyer	0.00%	$0
Seller	0.16%	$257

$0.80/$500 (0.16%) on consideration above $500 (first $500 exempt), seller pays. Uniform statewide per Iowa Code Chapter 428A; counties receive a share but rate does not vary.

Official Iowa source → · Verified April 2026

Closing costs in Iowa

Across Iowa's 99 counties, buyer closing costs run $2,711 to $8,791 at each county's median home value with 20% down. Cash needed at closing, with closing costs and the down payment, runs $22,331 to $79,911. Pick your county for your own figures.

Iowa closing cost calculator

Iowa property tax exemptions

Ways buyers in Iowa may reduce their annual property tax. These programs apply statewide; verify county specifics with your local assessor.

Homestead

Homestead Tax Credit

Credit equal to the levy rate applied to $4,850 of taxable value for owner-occupied primary residences where the owner is an Iowa resident.

View official source →

Senior

Senior Homestead Exemption (65+)

Starting assessment year 2024, homeowners age 65+ receive an additional $6,500 of taxable value exemption on their homestead.

View official source →

Veteran

Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Credit

100% property tax credit on the homestead for veterans with 100% permanent service-connected disability (or individual unemployability paid at 100% rate) and surviving spouses.

View official source →

Other

Military Exemption

Honorably discharged veterans receive a $1,852 exemption on taxable value. Not stackable with the Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Credit.

View official source →

Last verified April 2026. Exemption amounts and eligibility change frequently. Always confirm with your county assessor before claiming.

All 99 counties in Iowa

Effective property tax rate, median home value, and median annual taxes paid for every county in Iowa. Click a county to open its full property tax calculator and closing cost breakdown.

County	Rate	Median home	Median taxes
Adair County	1.28%	$160,400	$2,050
Adams County	1.26%	$131,600	$1,661
Allamakee County	1.27%	$172,300	$2,190
Appanoose County	1.34%	$124,200	$1,667
Audubon County	1.34%	$121,900	$1,634
Benton County	1.31%	$208,200	$2,727
Black Hawk County	1.50%	$188,900	$2,842
Boone County	1.37%	$212,400	$2,910
Bremer County	1.29%	$219,600	$2,824
Buchanan County	1.36%	$176,000	$2,390
Buena Vista County	1.21%	$159,500	$1,931
Butler County	1.35%	$165,400	$2,226
Calhoun County	1.32%	$118,800	$1,567
Carroll County	1.09%	$176,000	$1,916
Cass County	1.34%	$150,300	$2,019
Cedar County	1.21%	$211,300	$2,568
Cerro Gordo County	1.45%	$166,400	$2,410
Cherokee County	0.99%	$158,700	$1,569
Chickasaw County	1.02%	$182,600	$1,863
Clarke County	1.60%	$161,100	$2,578
Clay County	1.15%	$178,600	$2,050
Clayton County	1.29%	$168,500	$2,181
Clinton County	1.53%	$160,600	$2,461
Crawford County	1.28%	$153,700	$1,973
Dallas County	1.41%	$355,600	$5,001
Davis County	1.40%	$161,900	$2,269
Decatur County	1.61%	$113,900	$1,831
Delaware County	1.34%	$177,900	$2,382
Des Moines County	1.51%	$136,500	$2,058
Dickinson County	0.92%	$270,700	$2,503
Dubuque County	1.23%	$237,300	$2,919
Emmet County	1.47%	$114,100	$1,680
Fayette County	1.30%	$136,800	$1,782
Floyd County	1.34%	$143,500	$1,929
Franklin County	1.32%	$124,100	$1,633
Fremont County	1.21%	$154,400	$1,868
Greene County	1.15%	$155,400	$1,783
Grundy County	1.14%	$198,800	$2,273
Guthrie County	1.22%	$180,100	$2,199
Hamilton County	1.26%	$156,400	$1,977
Hancock County	1.18%	$141,400	$1,673
Hardin County	1.37%	$122,500	$1,683
Harrison County	1.32%	$176,000	$2,325
Henry County	1.56%	$164,300	$2,559
Howard County	1.25%	$147,800	$1,853
Humboldt County	1.29%	$155,800	$2,011
Ida County	1.16%	$108,900	$1,260
Iowa County	1.36%	$193,900	$2,629
Jackson County	1.23%	$175,000	$2,159
Jasper County	1.41%	$186,300	$2,633
Jefferson County	1.41%	$163,400	$2,311
Johnson County	1.52%	$308,600	$4,681
Jones County	1.33%	$184,800	$2,450
Keokuk County	1.26%	$118,700	$1,494
Kossuth County	1.00%	$148,300	$1,490
Lee County	1.38%	$141,400	$1,955
Linn County	1.65%	$214,300	$3,547
Louisa County	1.17%	$150,100	$1,751
Lucas County	1.37%	$120,200	$1,645
Lyon County	0.87%	$230,000	$1,995
Madison County	1.48%	$245,100	$3,624
Mahaska County	1.32%	$157,800	$2,077
Marion County	1.22%	$233,000	$2,848
Marshall County	1.42%	$145,500	$2,067
Mills County	1.47%	$237,800	$3,494
Mitchell County	1.10%	$175,100	$1,919
Monona County	1.03%	$142,900	$1,467
Monroe County	1.38%	$156,300	$2,149
Montgomery County	1.65%	$121,400	$2,007
Muscatine County	1.50%	$182,100	$2,732
O'Brien County	0.98%	$173,100	$1,701
Osceola County	1.13%	$122,600	$1,387
Page County	1.41%	$125,300	$1,764
Palo Alto County	1.20%	$123,200	$1,474
Plymouth County	1.07%	$228,900	$2,455
Pocahontas County	1.13%	$98,100	$1,111
Polk County	1.68%	$262,100	$4,396
Pottawattamie County	1.57%	$195,700	$3,067
Poweshiek County	1.23%	$209,300	$2,563
Ringgold County	1.34%	$156,200	$2,098
Sac County	1.10%	$141,400	$1,556
Scott County	1.47%	$222,000	$3,273
Shelby County	1.28%	$164,000	$2,094
Sioux County	1.12%	$250,100	$2,801
Story County	1.40%	$258,700	$3,632
Tama County	1.38%	$148,600	$2,043
Taylor County	1.26%	$117,200	$1,482
Union County	1.80%	$122,000	$2,197
Van Buren County	1.18%	$114,600	$1,355
Wapello County	1.58%	$125,100	$1,974
Warren County	1.43%	$269,600	$3,865
Washington County	1.37%	$203,900	$2,788
Wayne County	1.36%	$111,300	$1,509
Webster County	1.39%	$153,800	$2,138
Winnebago County	1.32%	$135,000	$1,781
Winneshiek County	1.12%	$259,200	$2,894
Woodbury County	1.45%	$183,200	$2,656
Worth County	1.10%	$145,800	$1,600
Wright County	1.51%	$119,600	$1,806

Source: US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, tables B25077 (median home value) and B25103 (median real estate taxes paid). Effective rate is computed as median taxes paid divided by median home value at the county level and represents the typical owner-occupied home. Actual bills vary by purchase price, exemptions, and special assessments.