Washington County, Wisconsin property tax
The median homeowner in Washington County, Wisconsin pays $3,795 a year in property tax on a home worth $316,200, an effective rate of 1.20%. The national effective rate is 0.98%.
What the rate means here
At 1.20%, Washington County taxes property more heavily than the country as a whole, which sits at 0.98%. Unusually, the housing is not cheap either. A rate above the national average on a home worth $316,200 produces a bill of $3,795, and both halves of that are working against the owner.
It ranks #60 of 70 Wisconsin counties by effective rate, against a statewide 1.51%, and #707 nationally. The state runs from 2.04% in Milwaukee County down to 0.80% in Vilas County.
The median home costs 3.3 times the median household income of $95,851, close to the national 3.86. Incomes here run above the national median, which is what keeps that ratio ordinary despite the house prices. The county has 137,320 residents, which is small enough that the medians describe a reasonably coherent market.
The rate is derived rather than quoted. How and why.
What that costs at different home values
Arithmetic at the county effective rate, before any exemption or assessment cap.
Housing and income
| Washington County | Wisconsin | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effective property tax | 1.20% | 1.51% | 0.98% |
| Median tax bill | $3,795 | $3,746 | $2,969 |
| Median home value | $316,200 | $247,400 | $303,400 |
| Median gross rent | $1,126 | $1,045 | $1,348 |
| Median household income | $95,851 | $75,670 | $78,538 |
| Home price to income | 3.3× | 3.27× | 3.86× |
| Rent as share of income | 14.1% | 16.57% | 20.6% |
| Owner-occupied | 78.1% | 67.89% | 65.02% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 five-year estimates. Population 137,320.
Nearby counties of similar size
| County | Rate | Median bill | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon County | 1.51% | $3,108 | $205,500 |
| La Crosse County | 1.63% | $3,963 | $243,200 |
| Sheboygan County | 1.48% | $3,234 | $218,400 |
| Rock County | 1.69% | $3,652 | $215,900 |
| Eau Claire County | 1.43% | $3,461 | $242,400 |
Washington County property tax: common questions
What is the property tax rate in Washington County, Wisconsin?
The effective rate is 1.20% of home value, from a median tax bill of $3,795 against a median home value of $316,200. That is 0.22 points above the national 0.98%.
How much is property tax on a $400,000 home in Washington County?
Roughly $4,800 a year at the county effective rate of 1.20%.
Is Washington County expensive compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
It ranks #60 of 70 Wisconsin counties by effective property tax rate, and #707 of 2,826 nationally. That is 0.31 points below the Wisconsin average of 1.51%.
What does housing cost in Washington County?
The median home is worth $316,200 and median gross rent is $1,126 a month. Median household income is $95,851, which puts the home at 3.3 times annual income and rent at 14.1% of it.