Property Tax in Dodge County, Wisconsin
The median real estate tax bill in Dodge County, Wisconsin is $3,395 per year, and the median home is worth $218,400. Both figures are the US Census Bureau's survey medians for owner-occupied households (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What the Dodge County numbers mean
A median is the middle household: half of owner-occupied households in Dodge County pay more than $3,395, and half pay less. Your own bill is set by your home's assessed value, the exemptions you qualify for, and the local taxing districts your property sits in — so individual bills vary widely around the median.
Dividing the median tax by the median home value gives a derived effective rate of 1.55% for Dodge County. It is an estimate built from two survey medians, not the county's official rate, but it is a fair way to compare the local tax burden with other counties where home values are very different.
Dodge County by the numbers
| Measure | Dodge County | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid | $3,395 | $3,746 | $2,969 |
| Median home value | $218,400 | $247,400 | $303,400 |
| Derived effective rate* | 1.55% | 1.51% | 0.98% |
| Median tax per month | $283 | $312 | $247 |
*Estimate derived from Census medians (tax ÷ value), not an official rate.
Dodge County at a glance
- Median tax rank in Wisconsin: #25 of 72 counties
- Median home value rank in Wisconsin: #29 of 72
- Population rank in Wisconsin: #19 of 72 (88,818 residents)
- Population density rank: #21 of 72 (101 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in Wisconsin: #22 of 72 (875 sq mi, 1.6% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $283; per $1,000 of home value: $1.55
How Dodge County compares
Set against its state, Dodge County's median bill of $3,395 is about 9% lower than the Wisconsin median ($3,746). Against the country as a whole it is about 14% higher than the US median ($2,969). That places the county #25 of 72 Wisconsin counties ranked by median taxes paid.
Remember what drives the ranking: bills follow home values as much as rates. Dodge County's median home, at $218,400, ranks #29 by value in Wisconsin, while its derived rate of 1.55% compares with a derived US figure of 0.98%.
Some extra context for Dodge County: the median bill works out to about $283 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $1,554 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 88,818 people — the #19 most populous county in Wisconsin, spread over 875 square miles, a density of about 101 people per square mile. Its median home value, $218,400, ranks #29 among the state's 72 counties with data.
Zooming out: of 3133 counties nationwide with published Census figures, only 336 record a higher median tax bill than Dodge County — it sits in the top 11% nationally. The county holds roughly 1.5% of Wisconsin's people. Its homes are worth less than the state norm (median $218,400 versus $247,400), and a decade at the derived rate of 1.55% adds up to about 15.54% of the median home's value in tax. The cheapest county in the state, Iron County, medians $1,777 — $1,618 less than Dodge County per year.
Counties nearest Dodge County in the Wisconsin ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire County, WI | $3,461 | $242,400 | 1.43% |
| Portage County, WI | $3,396 | $230,400 | 1.47% |
| Door County, WI | $3,350 | $305,800 | 1.09% |
| Dunn County, WI | $3,325 | $226,200 | 1.47% |
Dodge County and its population peers
Population is a useful lens on these figures, so the table below sets Dodge County beside the counties closest to it in population anywhere in the country — communities of a similar scale operating under different state and local tax systems. Ranked by median tax paid within this peer group of 9, Dodge County's $3,395 bill is #2 of 9.
| County | Population | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northumberland County, PA | 90,925 | $1,778 | $151,600 | 1.17% |
| Mendocino County, CA | 90,709 | $3,376 | $486,000 | 0.69% |
| Lincoln County, NC | 90,359 | $1,660 | $279,500 | 0.59% |
| Cullman County, AL | 89,463 | $457 | $180,500 | 0.25% |
| Lapeer County, MI | 88,703 | $2,185 | $229,100 | 0.95% |
| Elmore County, AL | 88,669 | $563 | $213,600 | 0.26% |
| Polk County, OR | 88,553 | $3,534 | $419,500 | 0.84% |
| Bannock County, ID | 88,457 | $1,918 | $267,200 | 0.72% |
The closest population match is Lapeer County, Michigan (88,703 residents), where the median real estate tax paid is $2,185 on a median home value of $229,100 — $1,210 more than Dodge County pays.
Dodge County's nearest population neighbours within Wisconsin are St. Croix County (94,819 residents, median tax $4,297 on a median value of $349,700); Ozaukee County (92,345 residents, median tax $4,629 on a median value of $368,900); Jefferson County (85,867 residents, median tax $3,988 on a median value of $253,800); Manitowoc County (81,314 residents, median tax $2,660 on a median value of $172,900). Comparing them is a reminder that even inside one state's rules, the bill follows local home values and local district rates more than anything decided at the state level.
How the tax is worked out
Think of the final bill as three ingredients: the assessed value of the property, the exemptions subtracted from it, and the combined rate of every district the property sits in. Dodge County's medians imply a derived rate of 1.55%; applied illustratively, a $400,000 home would owe about $6,216 a year, or around $518 a month spread evenly. Individual properties depart from the illustration in both directions.
Illustrative bills in Dodge County at the derived rate
The derived rate of 1.55% is only an estimate built from medians, but applying it to different home values gives a sense of scale for Dodge County — and a quick way to compare with the state derived rate of 1.51% and the US figure of 0.98%:
| Home value | Illustrative tax / year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $2,331 | $194 |
| $250,000 | $3,885 | $324 |
| $350,000 | $5,439 | $453 |
| $500,000 | $7,770 | $648 |
| $750,000 | $11,655 | $971 |
Illustration only: real bills are computed from the assessed value, exemptions, and the combined rates of the property's actual taxing districts.
Checking your assessment in Dodge County
Most successful appeals are won on facts, not arguments. Start with the property record card held by the Dodge County assessor: wrong square footage, an extra room, or a missing homestead exemption are common and fixable. Next, line your assessed value up against recent sales of genuinely similar homes nearby. Many disputes end at an informal conversation with the assessor's office; if yours does not, file the formal appeal with the review board named on your notice before its deadline, evidence attached, and keep paying the bill in the meantime so penalties do not build up.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in Dodge County, Wisconsin?
The median real estate tax paid in Dodge County, Wisconsin is $3,395 per year, on a median home value of $218,400 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Dodge County, Wisconsin?
Dividing Dodge County's median tax bill ($3,395) by its median home value ($218,400) gives a derived effective rate of 1.55%. This is an estimate computed from two Census survey medians — it is not the county's official tax rate.
How does Dodge County compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
Dodge County ranks #25 of 72 Wisconsin counties with published data by median taxes paid. Its median bill of $3,395 is about 9% lower than the Wisconsin median of $3,746.
How are property taxes calculated in Dodge County, Wisconsin?
Three steps produce the bill: an assessment of market value by the local assessor, a reduction for exemptions you qualify for (a homestead exemption is the common one), and multiplication by the combined rates of the county, municipality, school district and any special districts covering the property. The median result in Dodge County is $3,395 of tax on a $218,400 median home value.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Dodge County, Wisconsin?
Yes — appeals are handled locally. Start with the Dodge County assessor's property record card for your home, correct any factual errors, and back your case with comparable recent sales. Formal appeals go to the review board named on your assessment notice and must be filed by its deadline, typically within 30 to 90 days.