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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in Nelson County, North Dakota

Nelson County has an effective property tax rate of 0.75%. On the median home value of $139,700, that's roughly $1,044 per year. Median household income is $67,193.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
0.75%
median tax $1,044 ÷ median home $139,700
Median Home Value1
$139,700
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$67,193
per-capita $46,126
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$1,044
at 0.75% 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.

MetricNelson CountyNorth Dakota (state context)
Effective property tax rate10.75%0.92%
Median home value1$139,700—
State income tax3top rate 2.50%top rate 2.50%
State sales tax37.09% combined7.09% 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 Nelson County, ND

Nelson County’s effective property tax rate of 0.747% sits below both the North Dakota median of 0.916% and the national median of 0.794%. Among the state’s 53 counties, it ranks 37th, placing it in the lower third for tax burden. That gap shows up in real dollars: the median home value of $139,700 carries an annual tax bill of about $1,044. With a median household income of $67,193 and per-capita income of $46,126, homeowners here devote a smaller share of earnings to property taxes than many elsewhere in the state. Communities such as Michigan, Dahlen, and Mcville anchor this rural county, where lower property levies may appeal to buyers seeking affordable housing without high carrying costs. The rate signals a county that taxes property comparatively gently, though it still exceeds some national benchmarks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Nelson County, ND?
The effective rate is 0.75% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 0.75% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($139,700), the estimated annual bill is about $1,044.
Is Nelson County's rate high or low?
Compare it to the state median of 0.92% 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 Nelson 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 Nelson 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.