Minnesota’s county assessors set an estimated market value each year, and the tax depends on how the property is classified. Your main home is classified as residential homestead, which carries a lower class rate than rentals, cabins or commercial property. The homestead market value exclusion then removes part of the value of lower and middle-priced homes from taxation, tapering away as values rise.
Homestead status is not automatic. Apply with the county assessor by the deadline after you close, usually within a short window set by the county, and keep it current if you marry or change how the home is used. A home not classified as homestead pays noticeably more.
Every autumn the county mails a truth-in-taxation notice showing your proposed tax for next year and the date of each local body’s budget hearing. It is the moment to see the effect of a new value or a school levy before the bill is final.
Minnesota also returns some property tax through refunds filed with the Department of Revenue. The homestead credit refund, based on household income, covers part of the tax for many owners, and a special refund applies when the tax on a home rises sharply in one year, regardless of income. Both use the bill you actually paid, so keep it with your records.
At closing, the seller usually pays the state deed tax and the buyer pays the mortgage registry tax. Bills are paid in halves, the first in the spring and the second in the autumn. Lake homes can be classified as seasonal recreational property, with their own rates.
Property tax in Minnesota
The median Minnesota homeowner pays $3,357 a year in property tax on a home valued at $329,300, an effective rate of 1.0194% in the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-year 2020-2024). That ranks the 20th highest of the 50 states and DC, above the middle state's 0.8003%. At that rate each $100,000 of home value carries about $1,019 a year of tax, or $84.95 a month in the payment, and that rate is what the calculator above starts from.
Inside Minnesota the rate more than doubles from the cheapest county to the dearest. Among counties whose survey figures pass both quality checks, the effective rate runs from 0.55% in Aitkin County to 1.2573% in Pennington County. On a $329,300 home that gap is worth about $2,329 a year. Pick a county in the calculator to use its rate, or type the rate from a listing or a current tax bill.
The survey rate is what owners actually pay divided by what they say their homes are worth, with exemptions, caps and local levies folded in; it will not match any rate printed in Minnesota law. Ask for the seller's latest bill and the assessed value too, since a new owner's assessment can differ from the long-held homes behind the median.
Minnesota property tax rates by county
All 87 counties, sorted from the highest effective rate to the lowest. The rate is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, from the ACS 5-year 2020-2024 survey (figures to December 31, 2024). None of them carries a quality flag, so the calculator uses the figure of whichever county you pick.
| County | Effective rate | Median home value | Median tax a year | Survey | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennington County | 1.2573% | $195,500 | $2,458 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Ramsey County | 1.2143% | $326,600 | $3,966 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Steele County | 1.2078% | $245,400 | $2,964 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Waseca County | 1.1789% | $220,800 | $2,603 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Carlton County | 1.1677% | $245,100 | $2,862 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| McLeod County | 1.154% | $246,100 | $2,840 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Houston County | 1.1531% | $239,000 | $2,756 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Hennepin County | 1.1402% | $392,900 | $4,480 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Clay County | 1.1348% | $265,500 | $3,013 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Kanabec County | 1.132% | $228,100 | $2,582 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Nicollet County | 1.1269% | $270,300 | $3,046 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Freeborn County | 1.1146% | $171,100 | $1,907 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Dodge County | 1.1091% | $287,700 | $3,191 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Sibley County | 1.097% | $231,900 | $2,544 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Chippewa County | 1.0961% | $156,100 | $1,711 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Chisago County | 1.0742% | $351,900 | $3,780 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Le Sueur County | 1.0635% | $316,500 | $3,366 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Olmsted County | 1.0627% | $331,700 | $3,525 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lyon County | 1.0593% | $200,700 | $2,126 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wabasha County | 1.0533% | $264,400 | $2,785 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cottonwood County | 1.052% | $169,300 | $1,781 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Goodhue County | 1.0516% | $285,100 | $2,998 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Watonwan County | 1.0468% | $162,400 | $1,700 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Mille Lacs County | 1.0445% | $258,300 | $2,698 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wadena County | 1.0439% | $173,000 | $1,806 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Yellow Medicine County | 1.0381% | $154,700 | $1,606 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Renville County | 1.0362% | $163,200 | $1,691 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Brown County | 1.0335% | $191,200 | $1,976 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Mower County | 1.0297% | $185,200 | $1,907 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| St. Louis County | 1.0257% | $221,400 | $2,271 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Kandiyohi County | 1.0247% | $243,200 | $2,492 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Martin County | 1.022% | $163,500 | $1,671 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Scott County | 1.0086% | $419,400 | $4,230 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Polk County | 1.0076% | $222,800 | $2,245 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Isanti County | 1.0062% | $306,200 | $3,081 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Stearns County | 1.0029% | $273,400 | $2,742 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Red Lake County | 1.0012% | $162,000 | $1,622 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Redwood County | 0.9994% | $158,200 | $1,581 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Carver County | 0.9923% | $453,600 | $4,501 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Nobles County | 0.9919% | $197,200 | $1,956 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Traverse County | 0.9869% | $114,100 | $1,126 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Washington County | 0.9867% | $422,000 | $4,164 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Faribault County | 0.986% | $135,300 | $1,334 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Sherburne County | 0.9851% | $361,400 | $3,560 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Dakota County | 0.984% | $381,000 | $3,749 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wright County | 0.9816% | $358,900 | $3,523 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Benton County | 0.9782% | $271,000 | $2,651 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Blue Earth County | 0.9753% | $266,700 | $2,601 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Rice County | 0.9728% | $320,200 | $3,115 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Beltrami County | 0.9722% | $237,500 | $2,309 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Roseau County | 0.9684% | $183,700 | $1,779 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lincoln County | 0.9574% | $164,400 | $1,574 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Todd County | 0.9543% | $207,700 | $1,982 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Anoka County | 0.944% | $346,500 | $3,271 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Fillmore County | 0.9389% | $221,100 | $2,076 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Norman County | 0.9368% | $147,100 | $1,378 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Grant County | 0.9335% | $191,000 | $1,783 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Mahnomen County | 0.9321% | $161,900 | $1,509 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jackson County | 0.9293% | $157,100 | $1,460 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Winona County | 0.9261% | $235,400 | $2,180 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Kittson County | 0.9191% | $134,800 | $1,239 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lac qui Parle County | 0.9023% | $157,600 | $1,422 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Meeker County | 0.9008% | $249,000 | $2,243 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Morrison County | 0.8813% | $248,500 | $2,190 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Big Stone County | 0.8711% | $169,100 | $1,473 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pine County | 0.8642% | $239,300 | $2,068 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Itasca County | 0.8637% | $225,200 | $1,945 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pipestone County | 0.8623% | $140,200 | $1,209 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Swift County | 0.8587% | $161,400 | $1,386 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Douglas County | 0.832% | $321,400 | $2,674 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Stevens County | 0.8057% | $202,800 | $1,634 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Marshall County | 0.7994% | $164,500 | $1,315 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Murray County | 0.7934% | $185,400 | $1,471 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wilkin County | 0.7876% | $182,200 | $1,435 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Hubbard County | 0.7845% | $282,600 | $2,217 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pope County | 0.7711% | $255,100 | $1,967 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Otter Tail County | 0.7667% | $273,000 | $2,093 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Crow Wing County | 0.7441% | $306,800 | $2,283 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Koochiching County | 0.7382% | $156,600 | $1,156 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lake County | 0.7315% | $241,300 | $1,765 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Rock County | 0.7089% | $224,300 | $1,590 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Becker County | 0.6921% | $291,000 | $2,014 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cook County | 0.6853% | $336,200 | $2,304 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Clearwater County | 0.6741% | $192,100 | $1,295 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lake of the Woods County | 0.6566% | $216,100 | $1,419 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cass County | 0.5602% | $288,300 | $1,615 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Aitkin County | 0.55% | $255,800 | $1,407 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
Worked example: the median Minnesota home
The median owner-occupied home in Minnesota is valued at $329,300 (ACS 5-year 2020-2024). Put $65,860 down, enough to keep the loan at 80% of the price so no PMI is charged, and borrow the rest over 30 years at 7.4%, the Freddie Mac average for the week of October 15, 2026. Insurance is the calculator's default of $1,500 a year, the same figure on every state page and 5.6% of this payment; real premiums vary widely from state to state and with a home's exposure to wind, flood and wildfire, so replace it with a premium for the Minnesota home you are pricing.
| Line | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Principal and interest | $1,824.01 | $21,888.12 |
| Property tax | $279.74 | $3,356.88 |
| Homeowners insurance | $125.00 | $1,500.00 |
| Private mortgage insurance | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total payment | $2,228.75 | $26,745.00 |
Principal and interest dominate the bill; tax and insurance, usually collected through escrow, add $404.74 a month, 18.2% of the total. Over the full term the $263,440 loan costs $393,197 in interest.
With $32,930 down instead, the loan grows to $296,370 and PMI of $123.49 a month is added, for a first payment of $2,580.24. On the regular schedule the PMI stops after 10 years, with the payment in October 2036. A 15-year loan at the 6.71% average, with the larger down payment, raises the monthly figure to $2,730.11 but cuts the interest to $155,126.
What the median Minnesota wage can buy
The median annual wage in Minnesota is $56,920 (BLS wage survey, May 2025). Paid every two weeks as a single filer, that leaves about $3,716 a month after federal and Minnesota paycheck deductions. With $60,000 saved for a down payment and $400 a month of other debts, the home affordability calculator's default 28/36 rule gives this range at 7.4% and the Minnesota property tax rate:
| Level | Home price | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | $105,429 | $529 |
| Target | $205,579 | $1,308 |
| Stretch | $248,293 | $1,640 |
Here the limit is total debt: the housing payment plus the other $400 a month reaches 36% of gross pay first. The target falls $123,721 short of the $329,300 median home value: the median home costs 5.8 times the median wage, so a typical Minnesota purchase usually needs a second income, a larger down payment or a cheaper area.
Everyday costs help: Minnesota's prices for goods and rent run 1.4% below the national average, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price parities for 2024 (figures to December 31, 2024). That stretches the median wage to about $57,716 in national dollars.
Minnesota mortgage questions
What is the mortgage payment on the median home in Minnesota?
The median Minnesota home is valued at $329,300 in the Census Bureau's ACS 5-year 2020-2024 figures. With $65,860 down and a 30-year loan at the 7.4% weekly average, the payment is $2,228.75 a month: $1,824.01 of principal and interest, $279.74 of property tax and $125.00 of insurance.
What is the property tax rate in Minnesota?
Homeowners in Minnesota pay a median of $3,357 a year on a median home value of $329,300, an effective rate of 1.0194%. That is the 20th highest of the 50 states and DC. It is a measure of what owners actually pay, not a rate set in law, and a new purchase can be taxed differently.
Which Minnesota county has the highest property tax rate?
Among counties with reliable survey figures, Pennington County has the highest effective rate at 1.2573% and Aitkin County the lowest at 0.55%. On the $329,300 median home, that gap is about $2,329 a year.
How much house can I afford on the median Minnesota wage?
On the median wage of $56,920, take-home pay is about $3,716 a month. With $60,000 down and $400 a month of other debts, the 28/36 rule points to a home of about $205,579, against a median home value of $329,300.
Does a smaller down payment change the Minnesota payment much?
With $32,930 down on the same home the loan is larger and private mortgage insurance is added, so the payment starts at $2,580.24 a month, $123.49 of it PMI. The PMI stops once the scheduled balance reaches 78% of the original value.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS 5-year 2020-2024), tables B25103 and B25077
- Freddie Mac, 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States [MORTGAGE30US], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, removing PMI
Mortgage rates: Freddie Mac weekly averages as of . Property tax rates: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2020-2024 as of . Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 as of . How we calculate.