Palo Alto County property tax
Homeowners in Palo Alto County, Iowa typically pay about 1.20% of their home's value in property tax each year — a median bill of $1,474 on a median home value of $123,200.
Typical effective rate
1.20%
higher than 24% of U.S. counties
Median tax paid
$1,474
per year
Median home value
$123,200
In IA
#76
of 99 ranked counties
At a glance
- Effective rate 1.20% — 28% higher than the U.S. median of 0.94%, and 14% lower than the Iowa median of 1.39%.
- With vs. without a mortgage — median tax $1,524 for mortgaged homes, $1,436 for homes owned outright.
- State ranking — 76th highest effective rate of 99 ranked Iowa counties; nationally it sits around the 76th percentile.
Estimate a bill for Palo Alto County
Apply this county's typical effective rate (1.20%) to a home value of your choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Palo Alto County, IA?
The typical effective property-tax rate in Palo Alto County is 1.20% of a home's value per year, based on median taxes paid ($1,474) divided by the median home value ($123,200) in the Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates. This is a typical burden for comparison, not a statutory mill rate.
How much is property tax on a typical home in Palo Alto County?
The median owner-occupied home in Palo Alto County is valued at $123,200, and the median real estate tax paid is $1,474 per year. Homes with a mortgage have a median tax of $1,524, versus $1,436 for homes without one.
How does Palo Alto County compare to the rest of Iowa?
Palo Alto County's effective rate is 14% lower than the Iowa median, ranking 76th of 99 ranked counties in the state.
Compare nearby Iowa counties
Counties ranked closest to Palo Alto County by in-state effective rate. Open the comparison tool or see all Iowa counties.
| In-state | County | Effective rate | Median tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | Cedar County | 1.22% | $2,568 |
| 74 | Buena Vista County | 1.21% | $1,931 |
| 75 | Fremont County | 1.21% | $1,868 |
| 77 | Hancock County | 1.18% | $1,673 |
| 78 | Van Buren County | 1.18% | $1,355 |
| 79 | Louisa County | 1.17% | $1,751 |
Official data & resources for Palo Alto County
- Palo Alto County Census profile (data.census.gov) — housing, value and tax figures for this county.
- Table B25103 for Palo Alto County — median real estate taxes paid (the source for the tax figures above).
- Table B25077 for Palo Alto County — median home value.
- Federal forms & is property tax deductible? — IRS Pub 530, Schedule A and the SALT cap, plus your state tax agency.
Finding your exact bill
Your county or municipal assessor (sometimes called the appraisal district, property appraiser, or tax collector) sets the assessed value and the exact millage that produces your bill. Search for "[county name] [state] assessor" or "property tax" on an official .gov site.
Figures on this page are Census survey medians for the whole county (2020–2024 5-year), not an assessment of any individual property. Rates, exemptions and assessment practices vary by municipality and school district within a county.