Property tax in Forest County, Wisconsin

By Brent Chudoba, editor Updated September 23, 2026

The median property tax bill in Forest County, Wisconsin is $1,988 a year, which is about 1.07% of the county's median home value of $185,000. That effective rate is lower than the typical Wisconsin county (1.36%) and higher than the national median (0.81%). These are American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024); your own bill depends on your home's assessed value and any exemptions.

Estimate the property tax on a home in Forest County

Enter a home's market value for a ballpark at Forest County's average effective rate of 1.07% (Census). The real bill depends on the home's assessed value, the millage where it sits and any exemptions.

Home market value

Estimated property tax: $1,980 / year

Property tax in Forest County at a glance

Forest County, Wisconsin property tax (Census ACS, reviewed September 23, 2026)
Measure	Value
Median annual property tax	$1,988
Median home value	$185,000
Effective tax rate	1.07%
Typical Wisconsin county rate	1.36%
National median county rate	0.81%

Effective rate = median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

How does Forest County compare in Wisconsin?

Among Wisconsin's 72 counties, Forest County has the 64th highest effective property-tax rate: 63 rank higher and 8 rank lower. That places it among the least taxed counties in the state. Nationally, it ranks 969th of 3135 US counties by effective rate. See every Wisconsin county ranked.

How much do homeowners in Forest County actually pay?

The median is only the middle bill. Across Forest County's 3,284 owner-occupied homes, 24.4% pay $3,000 or more a year in property tax, 45.5% pay at least $2,000, and 9% pay under $800. Another 8.4% report paying no property tax at all, which usually means an exemption covers the whole bill.

Annual property tax paid by Forest County homeowners (Census ACS 2020-2024)
Annual bill	Homes	Share
Under $800	295	9%
$800 to $1,499	732	22.3%
$1,500 to $1,999	489	14.9%
$2,000 to $2,999	692	21.1%
$3,000 or more	800	24.4%
No property tax paid	276	8.4%

Owners with a mortgage pay a median of $1,939 and owners without one pay $2,058. That is within 10% either way, so in Forest County paying off the house does not go with a noticeably different bill. Census table B25103.

How does the Forest County property tax bill compare with local incomes?

The median property tax bill of $1,988 is about 2.8% of the median income of Forest County homeowner households, $71,170 a year. That compares two middles, so a retiree in a long-held home can pay a far larger share. 82% of Forest County's occupied homes are lived in by their owners; renters pay property tax too, just folded into rent.

Have property taxes gone up in Forest County?

Yes. The median bill went from $1,840 in 2015-2019 to $1,988 in 2020-2024, a 8% rise. Over the same span the median home value moved 39.8%, from $132,300 to $185,000. Bills rose more slowly than values, which is what assessment caps and falling millage rates do: the county is taxing a smaller share of each home's worth.

Two Census ACS 5-year periods with no survey years in common, in each period's own dollars. A change counts only if it exceeds the combined 90% margin of error.

Property tax in counties next to Forest County

Forest County borders 7 counties, 1 of them across the state line.

Forest County and its neighbors, highest effective rate first (Census ACS 2020-2024)
County	Effective rate	Median bill	Median home value
Iron County, MI	1.34%	$1,467	$109,100
Langlade County, WI	1.25%	$1,972	$158,200
Florence County, WI	1.21%	$2,096	$173,200
Marinette County, WI	1.2%	$1,907	$158,600
Oconto County, WI	1.18%	$2,727	$231,400
Forest County, WI (this county)	1.07%	$1,988	$185,000
Oneida County, WI	0.89%	$2,123	$238,400
Vilas County, WI	0.73%	$2,197	$300,000

How is a home assessed in Forest County?

Wisconsin assesses homes at 100% of market value in every county, Forest County included. How Wisconsin assesses and reappraises homes.

Is there a homestead exemption in Forest County?

No. Wisconsin has no homestead exemption; owner-occupants instead see the Lottery and Gaming Credit and the School Levy Tax Credit printed on the bill. That is the Wisconsin rule, and it applies in Forest County. Wisconsin's exemptions and relief programs in full.

When are property taxes due in Forest County?

Pay in full by January 31, or in two equal installments due January 31 and July 31. Bills must go out by the third Monday in December. Municipalities may adopt a different schedule, so check with your local treasurer. Miss an installment by more than five working days and the entire remaining balance becomes delinquent, with interest of 1% per month back to February 1.

Wisconsin splits the bill into 2 installments. That is the Wisconsin rule. Forest County issues and collects the bill, so the dates printed on your statement are the ones that bind you.

How to appeal your Forest County property assessment

You contest the assessed value with the Local Board of Review, then either circuit court or the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. The filing deadline is typically before the Board of Review's first meeting, with notice of intent at least 48 hours ahead. That is the Wisconsin rule; Forest County sets the exact dates and forms. The Wisconsin appeal process step by step.

Wisconsin rules from primary state sources, reviewed September 7, 2026; sources on the Wisconsin page.

Work out your own numbers

Sources

Median real estate taxes paid and median home value for Forest County, Wisconsin: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020-2024), tables B25103, B25077, B25102, B25119 and B25003; the five-year comparison uses the 2015-2019 estimates. Neighboring counties: Census county adjacency file.