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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in O'Brien County, Iowa

O'Brien County has an effective property tax rate of 0.98%. On the median home value of $173,100, that's roughly $1,701 per year. Median household income is $68,356.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
0.98%
median tax $1,701 ÷ median home $173,100
Median Home Value1
$173,100
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$68,356
per-capita $35,198
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$1,701
at 0.98% 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.

MetricO'Brien CountyIowa (state context)
Effective property tax rate10.98%1.32%
Median home value1$173,100—
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 O'Brien County, IA

Buying a home in O'Brien County means a median price around $173,100, with property taxes near $1,701 a year based on an effective rate of 0.983%. That rate sits below Iowa's statewide median of 1.319% and ranks 97th out of 99 counties, so taxes here are among the lowest in the state. Against the national median of 0.794%, though, this county runs a bit higher. Households earning a median of $68,356, or $35,198 per person, would find the annual tax bill absorbable alongside a mortgage. Towns like Primghar, Archer, and Calumet anchor the county, and Primghar serves as the county seat. For buyers weighing affordability, the combination of moderate home values and a below-average state tax rate makes this part of northwest Iowa worth a look.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in O'Brien County, IA?
The effective rate is 0.98% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 0.98% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($173,100), the estimated annual bill is about $1,701.
Is O'Brien 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 O'Brien 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 O'Brien 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.