Polk County Property Taxes
Polk County, Iowa
Effective Tax Rate
0.00%
102% above state avgMedian Annual Tax
$0
$364/mo escrow
Estimate Your Tax
Annual Tax
$0
Monthly
$0
Eff. Rate
1.76%
At a Glance
Median Home Value
$248,400
State avg ▲ $160,608
Tax w/ Mortgage/yr
$4,498
$375/mo escrow
Tax w/o Mortgage/yr
$4,033
$336/mo
State Tax Rate Rank
#97
of 99 counties (1 = lowest)
Data Story
About Property Taxes in Polk County, Iowa
Polk County: Iowa's highest tax burden
Polk County's 1.757% effective tax rate ranks in the 80th percentile nationally, significantly above the national median of 1.23%. At $4,364 annually, the median tax bill nearly doubles the national median of $2,690, placing Polk among the nation's most expensive counties for property taxes.
Polk County leads Iowa in tax burden
Polk County's 1.757% effective rate is the highest among all Iowa counties in this comparison and 31% above the state average of 1.344%. The median annual tax of $4,364 far exceeds the state median of $2,160, driven by the county's strong property values centered on Des Moines.
Polk's rates far outpace surrounding counties
Polk County's 1.757% rate is nearly double Plymouth's 1.081% and substantially higher than Poweshiek (1.282%) and Pottawattamie (1.613%). Even among higher-value counties, Polk's tax burden stands out as exceptional.
What Polk County homeowners pay
A median Polk County home worth $248,400 generates roughly $4,364 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, expect $4,498; without one, the bill drops to $4,033.
High-value homes deserve careful review
In high-assessment markets like Polk County, overvaluation is common and appeals are worth pursuing. Request a full assessment breakdown, compare your value to recent comparable sales, and consider filing an appeal if your assessed value appears inflated.
How Polk County Compares
Median Annual Property Tax
Polk County
1.76%
Effective rate
Iowa Avg
1.34%
Effective rate
National Avg
0.91%
Effective rate
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in Polk County, Iowa?
How much are property taxes in Polk County?
How does Polk County compare to the Iowa average?
What is the median home value in Polk County, Iowa?
Why is Polk County property tax rate higher than the Iowa average?
How does Polk 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.