Polk County property tax, in one number.
The typical Polk County homeowner pays $4,396 a year on a $262,100 home. That's above the Iowa rate (1.39%) and well above the U.S. rate (0.94%).
Estimate my taxPolk County at a glance
Five numbers that shape a typical property tax bill here.
Property tax calculator
Enter a home value to see a typical yearly bill at Polk County's average effective rate, or pick another area.
- Bills are up, rates are down.The median tax paid rose from $3,086 in 2015 to $4,251 in 2024 (+38%), while home values rose 76%. That pushed the effective rate down.
- 2nd highest rate in Iowa.Out of 99 Iowa counties with full data. Nationally, the rate is higher than in 94% of U.S. counties.
- Mortgage holders pay more.Homes with a mortgage paid a median $4,503, versus $4,130 for homes owned outright, often because they're newer, higher-value or more recently reassessed.
The data, charted
Median tax paid & effective rate
Owners vs renters
Effective rate by city
Largest Iowa counties
| County | Median tax | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Polk County | $4,396 | 1.68% |
| Linn County | $3,547 | 1.66% |
| Johnson County | $4,681 | 1.52% |
| Black Hawk County | $2,842 | 1.50% |
| Scott County | $3,273 | 1.47% |
| Iowa | $2,897 | 1.39% |
Compare neighboring counties
Effective property tax rates in and around Polk County.
Cities and towns in Polk County
Places with at least 2,000 owner-occupied homes and reliable survey data.
- Des Moines1.80% · $3,496
- Ankeny1.68% · $5,569
- West Des Moines1.52% · $4,711
- Urbandale1.66% · $5,563
- Johnston1.78% · $6,577
- Altoona1.60% · $4,392
- Clive1.48% · $5,944
- Grimes1.76% · $5,377
- Pleasant Hill1.63% · $4,807
- Bondurant1.60% · $5,089
Good to know
What is the property tax rate in Polk County?
The effective rate is about 1.68%. The median homeowner pays $4,396 a year on a home worth a median $262,100 (ACS 2020–2024). The legal tax rates set by each taxing unit are different numbers; the effective rate is what owners actually pay as a share of value.
How much is property tax on a $250,000 home in Polk County?
About $4,200 a year, or roughly $350 a month, at Polk County's average effective rate of 1.68%. Homestead, senior, veteran or other exemptions can lower the real bill, and a recent purchase or reassessment can raise it.
Why is my bill different from this estimate?
Your bill depends on your home's assessed value from the county assessor, the exact taxing units where you live (county, city, school district, special districts) and any exemptions you get. These figures are medians across all owner-occupied homes, not a bill for any address.
How current is this data?
It comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020–2024, the latest release. Homeowners report the taxes they paid, so the numbers lag current bills by one to two years. We update the site when the Census Bureau publishes new estimates each December.
More: all Iowa counties · U.S. county rankings · calculator for any county