(The Center Square) – Wisconsin gross property tax levies grew by 4.2% statewide in 2024, only surpassed by a 4.6% rise the year before, according to a new report.
The two increases are the largest increases in levies since 2009.
The property tax levies grew 11.3% in Milwaukee, 5.1% in Madison and 5.7% in Dane County and 7.5% in Washington County, according to Wisconsin Policy Forum in its new Property Values & Taxes DataTool.
The property tax rate in Wisconsin, however, dropped for the 11th straight year due to an increase in equalized property values, meaning that homeowners paid more but the value placed on their home by local governments rose at a higher rate than the property tax increase.
The taxable value of Wisconsin property again rose 8% in 2025.
There is now $982.8 billion worth of property in the state with $724.4 billion of that residential.
That has jumped from $654.8 billion in 2021, $126.6 billion in 1988, then $514.4 billion in 2008 before going to $467.5 billion in 2013.
Southeast Wisconsin saw the largest property tax increases for 2024. But the seven-county area that makes up the region also saw the largest property value increase at 7.2% compared to 6.2% the year before.
Five of those seven counties saw larger property value increases in 2025 than 2024 with Ozaukee and Racine counties seeing double digit value growth over the year.
Milwaukee’s growth was 3.4% compared to 6.3% the year before while Dane County property values increased 9.2%.
