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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Cerro Gordo County has an effective property tax rate of 1.45%. On the median home value of $166,400, that's roughly $2,410 per year. Median household income is $68,189.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
1.45%
median tax $2,410 ÷ median home $166,400
Median Home Value1
$166,400
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$68,189
per-capita $41,560
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$2,410
at 1.45% effective rate

What you'll pay, at a glance

Property taxes are the largest local tax most homeowners pay. The effective rate measures the real tax bill as a share of home value — a more useful number than the nominal “mill rate,” because assessment practices vary county to county.

MetricCerro Gordo CountyIowa (state context)
Effective property tax rate11.45%1.32%
Median home value1$166,400—
State income tax3top rate 3.80%top rate 3.80%
State sales tax36.94% combined6.94% combined

How this is calculated

The effective property tax rate is the median real-estate tax bill divided by the median home value — both for owner-occupied homes, from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-year estimates)1. Median income is also from the ACS1. Federal and state income-tax figures use IRS2 and Tax Foundation3 data.

About Cerro Gordo County, IA

In Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, the median home value sits at $166,400, and the annual property tax bill that goes with it averages $2,410 — an effective rate of 1.448%. That rate runs higher than Iowa's statewide median of 1.319%, and the county ranks 21st of 99 in the state on this measure. Nationally, the gap is wider still, since the U.S. median effective rate is just 0.794%. Buyers weighing a move to Mason City, Clear Lake, or Meservey should factor in that higher rate alongside the area's income levels: median household income is $68,189, with per-capita income at $41,560. The combination of moderate home prices and above-average taxation means the yearly tax hit takes a somewhat larger share of earnings here than in many other parts of the country.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Cerro Gordo County, IA?
The effective rate is 1.45% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 1.45% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($166,400), the estimated annual bill is about $2,410.
Is Cerro Gordo County's rate high or low?
Compare it to the state median of 1.32% and the national average near 1.1%.
How does the effective rate differ from my mill rate?
A mill rate is the nominal levy per $1,000 of assessed value. The effective rate reflects what you actually pay after exemptions and assessments — it's the median tax bill as a share of median home value, so it better predicts your real cost.
Will a reassessment raise my tax bill?
Not necessarily. If your home's assessed value rises, your bill can go up, but only if the mill rate and exemptions stay flat. Contact the Cerro Gordo County assessor's office to review your current assessment.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment?
Yes. Most counties allow an appeal when you believe the assessed value exceeds the market value. File with the Cerro Gordo County assessor within the local deadline, typically with comparable sales as evidence.
Sources
[1] U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year (2023) — Median home value (B25077), median real-estate taxes (B25103), median household income (B19013), per-capita income (B19301).
[2] IRS — Statistics of Income — County income, AGI, and real-estate taxes paid.
[3] Tax Foundation — State income, sales, corporate, and estate/inheritance tax rates.