Property Taxes in Madison
Dane County's own effective property tax rate ran approximately 1.71% in 2026 -- genuinely above the national median of approximately 1.02% and at or above the top of Wisconsin's own statewide range -- producing a real median annual bill of approximately $6,276 on a median-valued home.
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Learn moreA Real, Genuine Exception to the National Median
Dane County's own effective property tax rate ran approximately 1.71% as of 2026 across closely-clustered sources (with a real, disclosed cross-source range of approximately 1.63%-1.87%) -- genuinely above the national median effective rate of approximately 1.02%. This record states this plainly rather than assuming a Midwestern county automatically runs at or below the national median.
At or Above the Top of Wisconsin's Own Statewide Range
Per this build's own Wisconsin market manifest research context, Wisconsin's own statewide effective property tax rate range runs approximately 1.32%-1.85% -- Dane County's own approximately 1.71% rate sits at or above the upper end of that range, making it one of Wisconsin's genuinely higher-property-tax counties, consistent with Madison's own comparatively high home values and local government/school-district levies.
A Real, Disclosed Median Annual Bill
On a median home value of approximately $366,100, this produces a real, disclosed median annual property tax bill of approximately $6,276 -- a genuinely substantial annual cost buyers should budget for directly against a specific target property's own assessed value.
No Local Piggyback Income Tax Offsets This Somewhat
As detailed on the taxes topic page, Wisconsin's own real, genuine simplification is that there is no local/county piggyback income-tax layer on top of the state's own 4-bracket structure -- a real, partial offset to Dane County's elevated property tax rate for movers weighing Madison's overall real combined tax burden.
Key takeaways
- Dane County's own effective property tax rate (approximately 1.71%) runs genuinely above the national median (approximately 1.02%).
- Dane County sits at or above the top of Wisconsin's own statewide effective-rate range (approximately 1.32%-1.85%).
- On a median-valued home (approximately $366,100), the median annual property tax bill ran approximately $6,276.
- Wisconsin's lack of a local piggyback income tax offers a real, partial offset when weighing Madison's overall combined tax burden.
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