Des Moines County Property Taxes
Des Moines County, Iowa
Effective Tax Rate
0.00%
2.9% below state avgMedian Annual Tax
$0
$175/mo escrow
Estimate Your Tax
Annual Tax
$0
Monthly
$0
Eff. Rate
1.53%
At a Glance
Median Home Value
$137,000
State avg ▼ $160,608
Tax w/ Mortgage/yr
$2,224
$185/mo escrow
Tax w/o Mortgage/yr
$1,950
$163/mo
State Tax Rate Rank
#86
of 99 counties (1 = lowest)
Data Story
About Property Taxes in Des Moines County, Iowa
Des Moines County taxes well above average
Des Moines County's effective tax rate of 1.531% is roughly 39% higher than the national median of 1.1%, placing it in the nation's upper tier for property tax burden. The median annual tax of $2,097 sits below the national median of $2,690, a direct result of lower home values offsetting the high rate.
Among Iowa's most aggressive taxers
At 1.531%, Des Moines County's effective rate ranks among the highest in Iowa, outpacing the state average of 1.344% by 14 percentage points. The county's median tax of $2,097 exceeds the state median of $2,160 by a smaller margin, showing that its reputation comes from rate rather than home value.
Des Moines leads southeast Iowa taxing
Des Moines County's 1.531% rate ranks second-highest in the region after Decatur County (1.695%), notably outpacing Davis County (1.518%), Delaware County (1.343%), and Dubuque County (1.260%). This positions the county among the heaviest-taxing areas in eastern Iowa.
Your annual Des Moines County tax bill
On a median home valued at $137,000, Des Moines County homeowners pay approximately $2,097 per year in property taxes. For those with a mortgage, the annual escrow amount typically reaches $2,224; those without a mortgage pay around $1,950.
Your tax bill may be too high
Given Des Moines County's elevated tax rate, overassessment can hit particularly hard on household budgets. An assessment appeal is often worthwhile, especially if property values have declined or assessments haven't been recently reviewed.
How Des Moines County Compares
Median Annual Property Tax
Des Moines County
1.53%
Effective rate
Iowa Avg
1.34%
Effective rate
National Avg
0.91%
Effective rate
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in Des Moines County, Iowa?
How much are property taxes in Des Moines County?
How does Des Moines County compare to the Iowa average?
What is the median home value in Des Moines County, Iowa?
Why is Des Moines County property tax rate higher than the Iowa average?
How does Des Moines County rank for property taxes in Iowa?
Counties with Similar Tax Rates
Nearby Counties
Other Counties in Iowa
Data updated: March 2026
Data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Effective tax rate is calculated as median property tax divided by median home value.