Conservatively Speaking

New data released by the Census Bureau on owner-occupied housing shows that Wisconsin taxpayers pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation. The Tax Foundation in Washington D.C. put out the following data:

Top 10 States in Median Real Estate Taxes Paid, 2006
Rank-State-Median Real Estate Taxes Paid

1. New Jersey: $5,773

2. New Hampshire: $4,136

3. Connecticut: $4,049

4. New York: $3,301

5. Massachusetts: $3,195

6. Rhode Island: $3,186

7. Illinois: $3,061

8. Vermont: $3,036

9. Wisconsin: $2,845

10. California: $2,510


When taxes as a percentage of home value are considered, Wisconsin ranks number two.

Top 10 States in Median Real Estate Taxes Divided by Median Home Value

Rank- State- Median Real Estate Taxes as a Percentage of Median Home Value

1. Texas: 1.86%

2. Wisconsin: 1.74%

3. Nebraska: 1.70%

4. New Hampshire: 1.63%

5. New Jersey: 1.57%

6. Vermont: 1.57%

7. Illinois: 1.53%

8. North Dakota: 1.44%

9. Pennsylvania: 1.42%

10. Connecticut: 1.35%

When taxes as a percentage of income are considered, Wisconsin ranks number six.


How did individual Wisconsin counties rank?

When the factor of median property taxes paid on homes in 2006 is considered, here are the rankings for some Wisconsin counties:

45. DANE COUNTY: $3920

52. OZAUKEE COUNTY: $3840

56. WAUKESHA COUNTY: $3811

73. MILWAUKEE COUNTY: $3518

The rankings change when you consider taxes as a percentage of income:

31. MILWAUKEE COUNTY

58. DANE COUNTY

66. OZAUKEE COUNTY

78. WAUKESHA COUNTY

Conclusion: Wisconsin pays some of the highest property taxes in the nation, and the amount paid in property taxes chews up far more income than in other states. Wisconsin must get more serious in curtailing out of control taxing and spending.

Here is the Tax Foundation report.

Here is the Tax Foundation data by state and by county.