52134 Property Tax Rate

Property owners in ZIP code 52134 (Chester, Iowa) pay a median of $1,222/year in property taxes on homes valued at $231,300. This translates to an effective tax rate of 0.53%, which is 59% below the Iowa state average of 1.28%.

The monthly property tax burden for a median-valued home in 52134 is approximately $102, which factors into escrow payments on mortgages. This ZIP code is located within Howard County. This is $843 less than the Iowa average of $2,065/year.

Compared to similar ZIP codes in Iowa, 52134 has lower property taxes. ZIP codes with similar effective rates include 51231 (0.55%) and 52232 (0.57%).

In Chester, property taxes represent approximately 1.7% of the median household income of $73,603, providing context for the relative tax burden on homeowners in this area.

Iowa reassesses property at market value every four years during the general reassessment cycle; your purchase price triggers a new assessment that becomes the base for future valuations. Howard County offers a Homestead Exemption that reduces assessed value for primary residences — contact the Howard County Assessor's office to file immediately after closing. Request a copy of your assessment notice and note the appeal deadline, typically 30 days from the notice date, to challenge any overvaluation.