Effective rate
1.32%
Owner-occupied housing
All states
Tax Foundation 2026Effective rank #10
Tax Foundation 2026Effective rank #10Wisconsin Property Tax Rate 2026
1.32% effective rate · about $3,960 annually on a $300,000 home before local adjustments.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
1.32%
Effective rate
#10
National rank
$3,960
$300k annual
$330
$300k monthly
Wisconsin property tax snapshot
Wisconsin's 1.32% effective property tax rate ranks #10 nationally from highest to lowest. This is a statewide owner-occupied housing benchmark, not an address-specific levy.
National rank
#10
Highest rate = #1
Tax per $100k
$1,320
Estimated annual tax
Compared with US
+0.42%
Versus 0.9% 50-state avg
Compare Wisconsin with another state
Compare any two states
Effective rates, annual estimates, monthly cost, and homeowner caveats.
Estimated Wisconsin property tax by home value
Estimates apply the statewide effective rate before local assessment rules, exemptions, and tax caps.
| Home value | Annual estimate | Monthly estimate | At 50-state avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $2,640 | $220 | $1,800 |
| $300,000 | $3,960 | $330 | $2,700 |
| $500,000 | $6,600 | $550 | $4,500 |
| $750,000 | $9,900 | $825 | $6,750 |
| $1,000,000 | $13,200 | $1,100 | $9,000 |
$200,000 home
Annual$2,640
Monthly$220
$300,000 home
Annual$3,960
Monthly$330
$500,000 home
Annual$6,600
Monthly$550
$750,000 home
Annual$9,900
Monthly$825
What the effective rate measures
It compares real estate taxes actually paid with owner-occupied housing value. This accounts for different assessment ratios better than comparing local millage alone.
Why an actual bill may differ
County, city, school district, assessed value, property class, exemptions, caps, and reassessment timing can move a bill above or below the statewide benchmark.
Assessment to tax bill
How property taxes work in Wisconsin
Property tax is usually administered locally rather than through one uniform Wisconsin rate. The tax authority determines a property's assessed or taxable value, applies the levies for the jurisdictions serving the address, and subtracts eligible exemptions or credits. That process is why the same-price home can have a different bill in another county, city, school district, or special district.
1. Value is assessed
The assessor establishes value under local appraisal schedules, assessment ratios, and state law.
2. Local levies apply
County, municipal, school, and special-district charges are applied to taxable value.
3. Relief is deducted
Approved exemptions, credits, freezes, or assessment caps can reduce the final amount due.
How Wisconsin property taxes compare nationally
At 1.32%, Wisconsinis 0.42% above the 0.9% unweighted average of the 50 statewide rates in this table. Its rank is #10.
A lower effective rate does not guarantee a lower bill: the home's value is equally important. A 0.5% rate on a $700,000 home produces the same $3,500 estimate as a 1.0% rate on a $350,000 home.
Ownership planning
Long-term Wisconsin property tax estimates
Property tax is a recurring ownership cost. The table illustrates cumulative payments if the home value and1.32% effective rate stayed unchanged. Actual assessments, levies, exemptions, and home values can change each year.
| Home value | Annual | 5 years | 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $3,960 | $19,800 | $39,600 |
| $500,000 | $6,600 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| $750,000 | $9,900 | $49,500 | $99,000 |
$300,000 home
- Annual
- $3,960
- 5 years
- $19,800
- 10 years
- $39,600
$500,000 home
- Annual
- $6,600
- 5 years
- $33,000
- 10 years
- $66,000
$750,000 home
- Annual
- $9,900
- 5 years
- $49,500
- 10 years
- $99,000
What Wisconsin homebuyers should budget for
Property taxes affect both cash flow and mortgage qualification. Review the likely post-purchase bill—not only the seller's current payment—when comparing homes.
Monthly escrow
A lender may collect one-twelfth of the projected annual bill each month, then adjust escrow after tax changes.
Closing prorations
Buyer and seller may divide taxes at closing based on the local tax period and contract terms.
Post-sale reassessment
A transfer can change assessed value or remove exemptions, so the seller's bill may understate future cost.
Assessment appeals
Owners can generally challenge an assessment during a limited local filing window using supporting evidence.
Property tax relief to check in Wisconsin
Programs vary locally and eligibility is not automatic. Common categories include:
Homestead relief
Primary-residence exemptions, credits, assessment caps, or circuit breakers.
Senior or disability relief
Age-, disability-, or income-based exemptions, deferrals, and freezes.
Veteran relief
Partial or full exemptions tied to service or disability status.
Use-based classifications
Agricultural, conservation, rental, and commercial property can follow different rules.
Federal SALT deduction and Wisconsin property tax
Qualifying real estate taxes paid on Wisconsin property may be included in the federal state and local tax (SALT) itemized deduction on Schedule A, subject to the current annual limit. Itemizing only helps when total itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction. A federal deduction reduces taxable income — it does not change the Wisconsin tax bill itself. See IRS Topic 503 and current Form 1040 instructions.
On a $400,000 home at Wisconsin's 1.32% statewide rate, the modeled annual levy is about $5,280 ( $440/month) before exemptions — versus about $3,600 at the 0.9% 50-state average.
How to estimate the exact bill before buying
- 1
Find the parcel
Open the local assessor's parcel record and current tax bill.
- 2
Estimate reassessment
Confirm whether a sale resets assessed or taxable value.
- 3
Add local levies
Use current county, city, school, and special-district rates.
- 4
Verify exemptions
Count only relief the new owner can claim after closing.
Wisconsin property tax FAQs
Wisconsin's statewide effective rate is 1.32%, ranking #10 from highest to lowest in this comparison.
Applying the statewide effective rate gives about $3,960 per year, or $330 per month.
No. It is a statewide effective benchmark. The exact tax depends on the property, assessed value, local levies, and exemptions.
Wisconsin localities may offer homestead, senior, veteran, disability, agricultural, or other relief. Confirm eligibility with the local assessor or tax authority.
Market value estimates what a property could sell for. Assessed or taxable value is the amount used by the tax authority after assessment ratios, caps, and exemptions.
Yes. A sale may trigger reassessment, exemptions may change, and local governments can adjust levies. The prior owner's bill may not predict the buyer's bill.
Wisconsin's 1.32% rate is above the 0.9% unweighted average of the 50 statewide rates in this table.
Use the local assessor's parcel record, confirm the post-sale assessed value, add current district levies, and verify which exemptions will remain after closing.
They may be. When a mortgage has an escrow account, the lender generally collects part of the projected annual property tax with each monthly payment and pays the tax authority when due. Confirm the escrow estimate and payment schedule with the lender.
Wisconsin due dates and installment schedules are set by the relevant local tax authority. Review the current county or municipal bill rather than assuming one statewide deadline.
Assessment appeals are generally available, but filing windows, evidence requirements, and procedures are local. Compare the assessor's record with the property's condition and comparable properties, then follow the appeal instructions on the official assessment notice.
Qualifying real estate taxes may be included in an itemized federal deduction, subject to current federal rules and limits. A deduction reduces taxable income, not the property tax bill itself; verify eligibility using current IRS guidance.
Compare Wisconsin with similar-rate states
Estimates only. Verify the parcel, post-sale assessed value, local levies, and exemptions with the relevant assessor or tax authority before relying on a projected bill.