Overview of Minnesota Taxes
Property tax rates in Minnesota are close to the national average. The state’s average effective property tax rate is 1.02%, compared to the national average of 0.99%.
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To calculate the exact amount of property tax you will owe requires your property's assessed value and the property tax rates based on your property's address. Please note that we can only estimate your property tax based on median property taxes in your area. There are typically multiple rates in a given area, because your state, county, local schools and emergency responders each receive funding partly through these taxes. In our calculator, we take your home value and multiply that by your county's effective property tax rate. This is equal to the median property tax paid as a percentage of the median home value in your county.
Minnesota Property Taxes
In Minnesota, taxes on real estate are an important source of revenue for schools, cities and counties. They also serve to fund special local projects like libraries and parks. Property tax rates in Minnesota are close to, but a bit higher than, the national average. More specifically, the state has an average effective tax rate of 1.02%, while the U.S. average is 0.99%.
Of course, rates vary depending on where you live. In urban areas like Hennepin County, the average effective rate is 1.32%, while more rural areas like Becker County have average effective rates of 0.80% or lower.
If you’re thinking about buying a home anywhere in Minnesota or are looking to refinance your current home, check out our mortgage guide for more information on using mortgages for purchasing and refinancing homes in Minnesota. Below, we will dive into the most important Minnesota property tax rules and take a look at rates across the state.
A financial advisor can help you understand how homeownership fits into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
How Minnesota Property Taxes Work
Wondering how your property taxes in Minnesota are calculated? We’re here to help. There are two types of property taxes in Minnesota: levies based on net tax capacity and market value levies.
Let’s look at levies based on net tax capacity first. To calculate net tax capacity, you first subtract any market value exclusions from your home’s market value. The most common exclusion is the homestead exclusion. The homestead exclusion is available for owner-occupied primary residences. Homes with a market value of $413,800 or greater receive no homestead exclusion.
Once exclusions have been subtracted, you multiple the remaining taxable market value by the home’s class rate to get net tax capacity. This is the value taxes are applied to. The class rate varies depending on the type of property. For residential homesteads the rate is 1% on the first $500,000 in market value and 1.25% on everything above $500,000. So if your home is worth $400,000, the net tax capacity is $4,000.
Local taxes collected to support ongoing government functions (and not temporary projects) apply to that net tax capacity. Continuing with the above example, if your total local rate is 90%, your taxes from this type of tax would be $3,600.
The second type of tax is a market value levy. These taxes are typically voter-approved and they apply directly to your estimated market value. With the above $400,000 home and a market value tax rate of 0.10%, your additional tax would be $400. Combined with the above $3,600 in taxes, that would bring your net tax to $4,000.
Minnesota Tax Rates
As the above example demonstrates, homes in Minnesota face different types of tax rates from multiple different tax authorities. A good way to compare the overall tax burden between counties is to look at average effective tax rates. The average effective tax rate is calculated by taking the median annual property tax as a percentage of the median home value. The table below shows average effective tax rates for every county in Minnesota.
Want to learn more about your mortgage payments? Check out our mortgage calculator.
Hennepin County
Hennepin County is home to the city of Minneapolis and contains over 20% of the population of Minnesota. Tax rates in Hennepin County are among the highest in the state and somewhat higher than the national average. The average effective tax rate in Hennepin County is 1.32%, highest in Minnesota.
If you have questions about how property taxes can affect your overall financial plans, a financial advisor in Minneapolis can help you out.
Ramsey County
Property taxes in Ramsey County are comparable to those in neighboring Hennepin County, which sits just across the Mississippi River. The average effective tax rate in Ramsey County is 1.47%. Total tax rates in Ramsey vary by city.
Dakota County
Located south of Minneapolis, Dakota County has property taxes that are somewhat lower than those in the other counties of the Minneapolis region. The county’s average effective tax rate of 1.17% tends to make it a much cheaper alternative to both Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.
Anoka County
The median annual property taxes paid by a homeowner in Anoka County are $2,871. That's a little below the average for the state, and the national average which is $2,795.
Washington County
This eastern Minnesota County has property taxes about at the state average. The average effective property tax rate is 1.07% in Washington County, compared to a state average of 1.02%. At a rate of 1.24%, a homeowner whose home is worth $250,000 would pay $3,100 annually in property taxes.
St. Louis County
Located in northeastern Minnesota, St. Louis County stretches from the city of Duluth north to the Canadian border. It has some of the lowest property taxes of any county in Minnesota. The county has an average effective property tax rate of 1.18%. The median annual property tax payment is $1,905 in St. Louis County.
Stearns County
Stearns County is located in central Minnesota and contains the city of St. Cloud. The county’s average effective property tax rate is 1.25%. Annual property taxes due on a home worth $193,500 (the state median) would be $$2,419 annually at that tax rate.
Olmstead County
Thinking about buying a house in Olmstead County? Homeowners in Olmstead County, where Rochester is located, face an average effective property tax rate of 1.34%. That rate comes in above both national and state averages.
Scott County
The median annual property tax paid by homeowners in Scott County is $3,769, which ranks as one of the highest annual taxes in the state. That is in part due to the county’s high home values, however. The median home value in Scott County is $317,500.
Wright County
Wright County is located between Minneapolis and St. Cloud. Property taxes in Wright County are comparable to those in both cities. The average effective tax rate in Wright County is 1.18%. A homeowner paying that rate would owe $2,959 on a home worth $250,800.
