Property Taxes in Wisconsin

Effective Rate

Wisconsin's average effective property tax rate is about 1.3%–1.5% (Tax Foundation puts it at 1.32% on owner-occupied housing value; other trackers citing 2024 data report 1.42%), which ranks the state roughly #9–#10 highest in the nation. This is well above the ~0.9%–0.99% national average — Wisconsin homeowners pay roughly 40–55% more than the typical U.S. homeowner as a share of home value. There is meaningful regional variation: Milwaukee County's 2024 effective rate was about 1.68% (down from 1.81% in 2023), while Dane County (Madison) was about 1.47% (down from 1.56% in 2023) — rates have been trending slightly downward in many large counties as home values rose faster than tax levies, even though total dollar levies still grew (Badger Institute reported ~3.5% average levy growth across the state's 25 largest counties in 2024).

Example: In Milwaukee County, the 2024 median property tax bill was $4,282; in Dane County it was $6,494. Statewide, one widely cited median-home estimate puts the typical Wisconsin homeowner's annual bill at about $3,792 on a home valued near $266,500. Per the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau's estimates under 2025 Act 15, the net property tax bill on the statewide median-valued home is projected at about 1.24%–1.25% of that home's value for 2025(26) and 2026(27), with statewide net levies rising roughly 1.4% and 2.4% in those years, respectively.

Exemptions

Homestead Credit (Schedule H / H-EZ)

Amount: Up to $1,168 (refundable state income tax credit, not a direct property-tax bill reduction)

For 2025 (continuing into 2026 absent new law), household income must be under $24,680 to qualify for any credit; the credit phases out as income rises toward that cap. A 2025 bill (AB52/SB60) that would have raised the income cap to $35,000 and softened the phase-out failed to pass in the legislature (Senate Joint Resolution 1 action, March 2026), so the $24,680 threshold and $1,168 maximum remain unchanged. This is administered by the WI Department of Revenue and claimed on the state income tax return, distinct from a property assessment exemption.

Lottery and Gaming Credit

Amount: Typically roughly $150–$350 per qualifying parcel (varies by year and school district tax rate)

Applies directly to the property tax bill (shown as a line-item reduction) for a primary residence, funded by Wisconsin Lottery, pari-mutuel, and bingo revenues. The Department of Revenue sets a new 'maximum credit value' each November based on that year's available funds and the number of qualifying properties, then multiplies by the local school tax rate — so the exact dollar credit varies by county/school district and by year and is not a single fixed statewide number.

First Dollar Credit

Amount: A smaller, separate school-levy credit (roughly $50–$100 range depending on district), applied similarly to the Lottery and Gaming Credit

Available to any property with a qualifying improvement (not limited to owner-occupied primary residences, unlike the Lottery and Gaming Credit), and appears as a separate line-item reduction directly on the property tax bill.

Reported Wisconsin effective-rate figures vary by 1.3–1.5 percentage points across sources because of differing methodologies (statewide DOR levy/value ratios vs. county-level median-bill-to-median-home-price calculations vs. aggregator sites like WalletHub/Tax Foundation using different vintages of Census ACS data). For a specific homeowner, the actual bill depends heavily on local municipal, county, and especially school district levies, since Wisconsin relies on property tax for about 30% of state and local revenue — always verify with the actual county treasurer or the WI Department of Revenue (revenue.wi.gov) for a specific parcel and tax year, and note the Lottery/Gaming and First Dollar credits change amount annually and are set each November.

Facts on this page reflect research current as of 2026-07-05. Programs, rates, and laws change — confirm current figures with the relevant state agency before relying on them.

Related Resources

Down Payment Assistance in Wisconsin Transfer Tax & Closing Costs in Wisconsin Buyer-Agent Agreements in Wisconsin Seller Disclosure Laws in Wisconsin Find Agents in Wisconsin Home Affordability Calculator