So I'm looking to build a new house somewhere in Urbandale, Waukee, Clive, Johnston, Grimes, etc. Is there a site anywhere that lists the current property tax rates for these cities? I'd like to build wherever has the cheapest rates, but can't seem to find a good site with this info.
Des Moines Area Property Taxes
- Thread starter JWIL4CY
- Start date
I ran through this a few years ago, but don't have the specific rates. When I did the analysis, the cheapest combination was West Des Moines Schools combined with Urbandale or Clive city taxes. Johnston Schools/Johnston City was the highest with Waukee Schools and Clive or Urbandale City right in the middle. Can't speak to Grimes.
I dated someone who worked at Dallas County assessors and she always told me their tax rates were cheaper than Polk. I just bought a place in Urbandale (Dallas County) and the taxes are ridiculously cheaper than the other area of town I was looking at (Beaverdale). Between 1/3-1/2 the tax rates for comparable property values if that helps.
I live in Johnston and my taxable is roughly 1/2 my assessed value.
The difference between Johnston, Clive, Urbandale, Grimes, etc will probably be less than $200/year on a house worth less than $300k. I'd pick the place you want to live.
The difference between Johnston, Clive, Urbandale, Grimes, etc will probably be less than $200/year on a house worth less than $300k. I'd pick the place you want to live.
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That's interesting. I have a house in Urbandale, Polk county now. I wonder if I built in Urbandale, Dallas County if the taxes would be cheaper?
Clive seems to be pretty cheap taxes, but not much room to build. Urbandale and Grimes will probably be the cheaper options, but for me I'd go for Urbandale or Waukee, due to better location.
Depends where you live in Urbandale. This was from 2012
Urbandale/School district
Urbandale Waukee Comm Dallas 33.45707 $
Dallas Center/Grimes Dallas 33.15604 $
Dallas Center/Grimes Polk 38.01767 $
Des Moines Polk 39.16330 $
Johnston Comm Polk 37.77646 $
Urbandale Comm Polk 38.15168 $
West Des Moines Comm Polk 34.66436
I assume property taxes are just a part of your equation or do you reallly not care about location? The number and variety of amenities closeby in W DM, Urbandale, Clive, & Johnston are more numerous than say Grimes. e.g....restaurants, medical clinics, etc.
As someone else pointed out, I'd pick location first (based on: commute to work, church, relation to places you tend to visit a lot, biking trails, etc.) and then be sure you're OK with taxes. I can't believe they'd be different enough that you'd later nix your first location choice. Maybe I'm wrong?
There's about 3-4 neighborhoods we're looking at that we like equally. We might use property taxes as sort of a tie-breaker.
I work in a government field directly related exactly to what you're discussing. The tax rate on something you will build really won't matter in the long run. What matter more is to be where you want to be and raise your family. I know so many people that "move to the country" to escape the higher city tax rates only to not understand those taxes pay for all the services we take for granted. A percent here or there spread out over 12 escrow payments is negligible for all of the western suburbs.
I live in Colorado and when I took a look at my dads (Des Moines) taxes I couldnt believe how much they where. Its just about 4 times what mine are here in Colorado. You Iowans don't realize it but you live in a socialist state
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