51002 Property Tax Rate
Alta, Iowa · Part of Buena Vista County
Effective Tax Rate
0.92%
35.4% below state avgMedian Annual Tax
$1,334
$111/mo escrow
Estimate Your Tax
Annual Tax
$1,334
Monthly
$111
Eff. Rate
0.92%
Buyer decision brief
What ZIP 51002 means for your housing budget
Use this ZIP page to compare recurring tax burden before you compare listing prices. The numbers below are Census ZCTA estimates, so they are strongest for neighborhood comparison and weakest for parcel-specific tax planning.
Monthly escrow signal
$111/mo
Based on median annual tax paid
State context
0.36 percentage points below the Iowa average
Iowa average: 1.28%
Data confidence
High confidenceThe Census margin of error is $137, about 10% of the median tax estimate.
Verify before you offer
- Confirm parcel assessed value with Buena Vista County assessor.
- Check homestead, senior, veteran, and disability exemptions.
- Ask whether purchase triggers reassessment or value-cap reset.
- Review school district and special assessment boundaries.
Lower-rate similar ZIPs
Similar in-state ZIPs in this comparison set do not show a lower effective rate. Use the state table to widen the search.
This is informational content, not tax, legal, or mortgage advice. Local assessor records remain the source of truth for a specific property.
Data confidence ledger
Can you trust ZIP 51002 for comparison?
ACS vintage
2019-2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
Five-year Census ZCTA estimates.
ZCTA caveat
Census area, not parcel boundary
USPS ZIP routes and taxing districts can differ inside the same area.
Field completeness
3/3 required fields
Median tax, home value, and derived rate are present.
MOE status
Strong ACS confidence
$137 tax MOE, 10% of the median tax estimate.
Last site refresh
March 10, 2026
Dataset and page-quality audit run locally before publication.
County fallback
County context only
Buena Vista County is used for assessor verification and broader context.
Tax bill anatomy
What can change your actual bill in ZIP 51002
Use the ZIP estimate to compare neighborhoods, then verify these parcel-level inputs before relying on a payment estimate.
Assessed value
The ZCTA median home value is $145,300, but your bill starts with the local assessed value for a specific parcel.
Effective rate
The displayed rate is 0.92%, derived from median tax paid divided by median home value.
Exemptions
Homestead, senior, veteran, disability, and local exemptions can reduce taxable value. Confirm eligibility before estimating escrow.
Reassessment
A purchase can change assessed value depending on Iowa and county rules. Ask how sale price affects the next assessment cycle.
Escrow impact
The median tax paid in this ZCTA equals about $111 per month before insurance, HOA dues, or special assessments.
Assessor verification
Buena Vista County assessor or tax collector records are the source of truth for parcel taxes, appeal windows, and exemptions.
How ZIP 51002 Compares
Median Annual Property Tax
ZIP 51002
0.92%
Effective rate
Iowa Avg
1.28%
Effective rate
National Avg
1.10%
Effective rate
State Ranking
Property Tax Rank in Iowa
Lower than 90% of ZIP codes in Iowa(10th percentile, 908 ZIPs compared)
Property Tax Analysis
Property Tax Insights for ZIP 51002
Property owners in ZIP code 51002 (Alta, Iowa) pay a median of $1,334/year in property taxes on homes valued at $145,300. This translates to an effective tax rate of 0.92%, which is 28% below the Iowa state average of 1.28%.
The monthly property tax burden for a median-valued home in 51002 is approximately $111, which factors into escrow payments on mortgages. This ZIP code is located within Buena Vista County. This is $731 less than the Iowa average of $2,065/year.
Compared to similar ZIP codes in Iowa, 51002 has higher property taxes. ZIP codes with similar effective rates include 52334 (0.92%) and 50066 (0.92%).
In Alta, property taxes represent approximately 1.9% of the median household income of $69,375, providing context for the relative tax burden on homeowners in this area.
If you're considering purchasing a home in 51002, keep in mind that property taxes are based on the assessed value assigned by the local assessor, which may differ from the purchase price. In some states, properties are reassessed at or near the sale price upon transfer of ownership. For the most current tax information for a specific property, consult Buena Vista County's tax assessor directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in ZIP code 51002?
How much are property taxes in Alta, IA (51002)?
How does ZIP 51002 compare to the Iowa average?
What is the median home value in ZIP 51002?
What county is ZIP code 51002 in?
Margin of Error
The median property tax estimate for this ZIP code has a margin of error of ±$137. ZCTA-level data has wider margins than county-level estimates due to smaller sample sizes.
County-Level Data
ZIP code 51002 is part of Buena Vista County, Iowa. View the full county profile for broader context and more data.
View Buena Vista County on TaxByCounty →Why compare these ZIPs?
Better comparison set for ZIP 51002
Each ZIP highlights a homebuyer tradeoff: lower rate, stronger value context, shared county rules, city boundary changes, or nearby missing data.
50061
Cumming, IA
$371,300 higher median home value than ZIP 51002.
Rate
1.39%
Tax
$7,155
Quality
80
50323
Urbandale, IA
$311,300 higher median home value than ZIP 51002.
Rate
1.58%
Tax
$7,195
Quality
89
51355
Okoboji, IA
$296,100 higher median home value than ZIP 51002.
Rate
0.93%
Tax
$4,115
Quality
77
50074
Ellston, IA
$290,000 higher median home value than ZIP 51002.
Rate
1.15%
Tax
$5,000
Quality
79
52411
Cedar Rapids, IA
$279,200 higher median home value than ZIP 51002.
Rate
1.46%
Tax
$6,217
Quality
94
51331
Arnolds Park, IA
$270,500 higher median home value than ZIP 51002.
Rate
0.96%
Tax
$4,000
Quality
77
50226
Polk City, IA
$245,300 higher median home value than ZIP 51002.
Rate
1.62%
Tax
$6,327
Quality
82
52338
Swisher, IA
$239,300 higher median home value than ZIP 51002.
Rate
1.28%
Tax
$4,911
Quality
82
Data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates (ZCTA level). ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census approximations of USPS ZIP codes.
Estimates are informational only and should not be used as financial or legal advice.