Palo Alto County Property Taxes
Palo Alto County, Iowa
Effective Tax Rate
0.00%
31.9% below state avgMedian Annual Tax
$0
$123/mo escrow
Estimate Your Tax
Annual Tax
$0
Monthly
$0
Eff. Rate
1.23%
At a Glance
Median Home Value
$119,300
State avg ▼ $160,608
Tax w/ Mortgage/yr
$1,598
$133/mo escrow
Tax w/o Mortgage/yr
$1,362
$114/mo
State Tax Rate Rank
#27
of 99 counties (1 = lowest)
Data Story
About Property Taxes in Palo Alto County, Iowa
Palo Alto County: Low tax rate, lower homes
Palo Alto County's effective tax rate of 1.233% matches the national median almost exactly. However, the median home value of $119,300 is less than half the national median of $281,900, resulting in annual property taxes of $1,471—well below the national median of $2,690.
Palo Alto County ranks lowest in Iowa
At 1.233%, Palo Alto County has the lowest effective tax rate among all Iowa counties in this comparison. The median tax of $1,471 reflects both the low rate and the county's modest home values, substantially below Iowa's state median tax of $2,160.
Palo Alto is the tax bargain of the north
Palo Alto's 1.233% rate edges below Page County (1.434%) to the south and substantially beats Pocahontas (1.143% rate, but similar median tax of $1,066). Among surrounding counties, Palo Alto offers a compelling combination of low rates and modest tax bills.
Palo Alto County homeowner tax bill
A typical Palo Alto home worth $119,300 triggers an annual tax of roughly $1,471. With a mortgage, that increases to $1,598; without one, it drops to $1,362.
Even low assessments can be overvalued
A low county tax rate doesn't guarantee your individual property is fairly assessed. Review your assessment notice and compare it to recent comparable sales; if it's inflated, you have the right to appeal to the county assessor at no cost.
How Palo Alto County Compares
Median Annual Property Tax
Palo Alto County
1.23%
Effective rate
Iowa Avg
1.34%
Effective rate
National Avg
0.91%
Effective rate
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in Palo Alto County, Iowa?
How much are property taxes in Palo Alto County?
How does Palo Alto County compare to the Iowa average?
What is the median home value in Palo Alto County, Iowa?
Is Palo Alto County a low property tax area in Iowa?
How does Palo Alto 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.