Property tax in Jefferson County, Wisconsin

By Brent Chudoba, editor Updated September 23, 2026

The median property tax bill in Jefferson County, Wisconsin is $4,005 a year, which is about 1.46% of the county's median home value of $274,100. That effective rate is higher 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 Jefferson County

Enter a home's market value for a ballpark at Jefferson County's average effective rate of 1.46% (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: $4,002 / year

Property tax in Jefferson County at a glance

Jefferson County, Wisconsin property tax (Census ACS, reviewed September 23, 2026)
Measure	Value
Median annual property tax	$4,005
Median home value	$274,100
Effective tax rate	1.46%
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 Jefferson County compare in Wisconsin?

Among Wisconsin's 72 counties, Jefferson County has the 19th highest effective property-tax rate: 18 rank higher and 53 rank lower. That is on the higher side for Wisconsin. Nationally, it ranks 398th of 3135 US counties by effective rate. See every Wisconsin county ranked.

How much do homeowners in Jefferson County actually pay?

The median is only the middle bill. Across Jefferson County's 25,502 owner-occupied homes, 74.1% pay $3,000 or more a year in property tax, 89.2% pay at least $2,000, and 3.3% pay under $800. Another 2.6% report paying no property tax at all, which usually means an exemption covers the whole bill.

Annual property tax paid by Jefferson County homeowners (Census ACS 2020-2024)
Annual bill	Homes	Share
Under $800	848	3.3%
$800 to $1,499	641	2.5%
$1,500 to $1,999	612	2.4%
$2,000 to $2,999	3,847	15.1%
$3,000 or more	18,903	74.1%
No property tax paid	651	2.6%

Owners with a mortgage pay a median of $4,081 and owners without one pay $3,894. That is within 10% either way, so in Jefferson County paying off the house does not go with a noticeably different bill. Census table B25103.

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

The median property tax bill of $4,005 is about 4.2% of the median income of Jefferson County homeowner households, $95,581 a year. That compares two middles, so a retiree in a long-held home can pay a far larger share. 73.1% of Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

Yes. The median bill went from $3,515 in 2015-2019 to $4,005 in 2020-2024, a 13.9% rise. Over the same span the median home value moved 44%, from $190,400 to $274,100. 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 Jefferson County

Jefferson County borders 5 counties.

Jefferson County and its neighbors, highest effective rate first (Census ACS 2020-2024)
County	Effective rate	Median bill	Median home value
Dane County, WI	1.63%	$6,420	$394,800
Rock County, WI	1.6%	$3,703	$231,600
Dodge County, WI	1.48%	$3,422	$231,900
Jefferson County, WI (this county)	1.46%	$4,005	$274,100
Walworth County, WI	1.33%	$4,036	$302,700
Waukesha County, WI	1.14%	$4,554	$398,200

How is a home assessed in Jefferson County?

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

Is there a homestead exemption in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County. Wisconsin's exemptions and relief programs in full.

When are property taxes due in Jefferson 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. Jefferson County issues and collects the bill, so the dates printed on your statement are the ones that bind you.

How to appeal your Jefferson 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; Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.