O'brien County, Iowa Property Taxes

Name: Property Tax Bills Across O'brien County, Iowa
Creator: Ownwell
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Median O'Brien County effective property tax rate: 1.20%, significantly higher than the national median of 1.02%.
Median O'Brien County home value: $120,840
Median annual O'Brien County tax bill: $1,404, $996 lower than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.

How are property taxes in O'Brien County calculated?

Property taxes in O'Brien County are calculated based on the tax assessed value, which is often lower than the actual market value due to property tax exemptions such as the homestead or senior exemption.

Understanding your county's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Whether you live in Sheldon or another part of O'Brien County, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.

Last Updated March 1, 2025

O'brien County, Iowa Property Tax Bill Calculator

Property Assessed Value

$100,000

$1,500,000

$3,000,000

Median Effective Tax Rate

1.2%

Estimate Property Tax Bill

$1,450

$1,346

Ownwell’s O'Brien County Property Tax Bill Calculator empowers homeowners, real estate investors, and potential buyers to estimate their annual property taxes in O'Brien County with just two data points. By entering your property's estimated assessed value, our calculator applies O'Brien County’s median effective tax rate to accurately estimate your property tax bill. Note that your property's assessed value — determined by your county — reflects any exemptions you may have, ensuring a more precise calculation for your property tax obligations. This insightful tool helps you understand potential tax liabilities and highlights how Ownwell can assist in reducing property taxes in O'Brien County. For those interested in more localized information, please scroll down to explore city-level trends!

Property Tax Rates Across O'brien County, Iowa

Local government entities are responsible for setting tax rates, which can vary significantly within a state. Each year, counties estimate their required budgets to provide essential services and then divide that by the total value of all taxable property within their jurisdiction. This calculation determines the property tax rate. Although votes and laws play a role in setting these rates and budgets, this is essentially the annual process.

Below, you can compare O'Brien County's effective property tax rate to other counties in Iowa or the U.S. median property tax rate.

Property Tax Rates Across O'brien County, Iowa

Source: Ownwell

0.85%

1.11%

1.36%

Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.

Median Effective O'brien County Tax Rate

1.20%

Median Effective Iowa Tax Rate

1.54%

Median Effective United States Tax Rate

1.02%

Property Tax Rates Across O'brien County, Iowa

City	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Tax Rate	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
Archer	0.75%	0.83%	0.90%	1.03%	1.15%
Ashton	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Calumet	0.87%	0.97%	1.05%	1.17%	1.30%
Cleghorn	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Granville	0.72%	0.77%	0.85%	1.02%	1.21%
Hartley	0.82%	1.00%	1.25%	1.38%	1.52%
Hospers	0.77%	0.81%	0.90%	0.99%	1.11%
Larrabee	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Marcus	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Melvin	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Moneta	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Paullina	0.79%	0.92%	1.06%	1.17%	1.32%
Peterson	0.82%	0.88%	1.01%	1.21%	1.30%
Primghar	0.76%	0.88%	1.13%	1.28%	1.38%
Sanborn	0.83%	1.00%	1.25%	1.36%	1.44%
Sheldon	0.92%	1.19%	1.36%	1.45%	1.53%
Sutherland	0.60%	0.78%	0.93%	1.11%	1.29%

Source: Ownwell

Property Tax Assessment Values Across O'brien County, Iowa

Understanding property taxes in O'Brien County involves distinguishing between "market value" and "assessed value." The market value is the price a willing buyer would pay in an open market, influenced by factors like location and property condition. The O'Brien County Assessor's Office estimates this value for tax purposes. The assessed value, on the other hand, is the market value minus any applicable exemptions or limits set by local laws. This assessed value is used to calculate your property taxes by multiplying it by your tax rate to determine your tax bill.

In O'Brien County, assessment notices are sent in the spring, typically reaching mailboxes by mid-April. Each property owner receives a notice detailing both the market and assessed values, along with an estimate of the property tax bill. This information aids property owners in understanding their tax responsibilities and the valuation processes affecting their property taxes. For instance, the median tax bill in O'Brien County is $2,156, with Hospers having the highest median home price at $221,140. With a national median property tax bill of $2,400, O'Brien County's figures offer a comparative insight into local property tax trends.

Property Tax Assessment Values Across O'brien County, Iowa

Source: Ownwell

$63,140

$142,140

$221,140

Median O'brien County Market Value

$120,840

Median Iowa Market Value

$167,100

Median United States Market Value

$235,294

Property Tax Assessment Values Across O'brien County, Iowa

City	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Home Price	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
Archer	$30,776	$49,200	$96,960	$178,550	$280,648
Ashton	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Calumet	$6,594	$33,540	$63,140	$99,280	$130,574
Cleghorn	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Granville	$85,962	$109,815	$173,940	$260,655	$332,776
Hartley	$28,131	$58,522	$102,550	$170,660	$267,286
Hospers	$83,845	$160,752	$221,140	$313,215	$416,452
Larrabee	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Marcus	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Melvin	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Moneta	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Paullina	$37,834	$66,478	$112,525	$171,248	$252,783
Peterson	$63,644	$78,878	$102,520	$144,410	$211,963
Primghar	$27,936	$56,522	$105,895	$185,690	$286,368
Sanborn	$55,410	$84,970	$128,950	$210,990	$293,600
Sheldon	$55,135	$93,815	$147,455	$228,635	$340,379
Sutherland	$24,870	$45,800	$87,080	$139,860	$231,990

Source: Ownwell

Property Tax Bills Across O'brien County, Iowa

In O'Brien County, Iowa, property tax bills are calculated based on the assessed value of a home, which is determined by local assessors. This assessed value is then multiplied by the local tax rate to determine the annual property tax bill. The median home price in O'Brien County is around $120,840, which is lower than the national median. Homeowners in this area can expect a property tax bill that varies significantly, with the 25th percentile at $800 and the 75th percentile at $2,274. At the higher end, the 90th percentile reaches $3,507. In the city of Hospers, the highest median tax bill is $2,156, while Calumet has the lowest at $656. These figures highlight the variation in tax burdens across different cities within the county. Compared to the national median property tax bill of $2,400, O'Brien County's taxes can be either more affordable or more burdensome, depending on the specific location and home value. This variability impacts homeowners by influencing their overall housing costs and financial planning.

Property Tax Bills Across O'brien County, Iowa

Source: Ownwell

$656

$1,406

$2,156

Median O'brien County Tax Bill

$1,404

Median Iowa Tax Bill

$2,508

Median United States Tax Bill

$2,400

Property Tax Bills Across O'brien County, Iowa

City	10th Percentile	25th Percentile	Median Tax Bill	75th Percentile	90th Percentile
Archer	$231	$464	$889	$1,680	$2,400
Ashton	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Calumet	$74	$330	$656	$994	$1,396
Cleghorn	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Granville	$743	$1,068	$1,494	$2,240	$2,905
Hartley	$356	$752	$1,262	$1,906	$2,841
Hospers	$741	$1,454	$2,156	$2,836	$3,747
Larrabee	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Marcus	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Melvin	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Moneta	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Paullina	$401	$729	$1,170	$1,754	$2,516
Peterson	$513	$826	$1,211	$1,352	$2,030
Primghar	$237	$597	$1,178	$1,974	$2,784
Sanborn	$597	$1,018	$1,546	$2,342	$3,254
Sheldon	$637	$1,204	$1,883	$3,052	$4,499
Sutherland	$186	$438	$804	$1,385	$2,086

Source: Ownwell