Minnesota property taxes for retirees
The typical Minnesota homeowner pays $3,184 a year, 7% above the U.S. median. Here’s how homes are taxed, what changes when you buy, and what relief is available at 65.
Rules checked against the sources below on September 15, 2026. County figures: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates, Tables B25103 and B25077.
Minnesota's property tax bills look high on paper, but the state returns a lot of it through income-based refunds that many retirees never claim. For homeowners with moderate incomes, the refund and the senior deferral program can change the real cost of staying put more than any exemption does.1,2
How homes are valued
County assessors estimate each home's market value every year as of January 2. Homes classified as a homestead get a lower class rate and the homestead market value exclusion, which reduce the value taxes are calculated on.3
Caps, and what happens when a home sells
There's no general cap on how fast a home's value can rise for tax purposes, and a sale doesn't trigger a special reassessment. Values follow the market every year. When an increase is large, the special property tax refund described below can offset part of it.3,2
Homestead exemption
Owner-occupants apply for homestead classification with the county assessor. It qualifies the home for the homestead market value exclusion, which removes part of the value from taxation: 40% of the first $95,000, phasing down as value rises and ending at $517,200. A married couple can have only one homestead in the state.3,4
Relief for homeowners 65 and older
The Homestead Credit Refund returns part of your property tax if it is high relative to household income, up to an income limit that is adjusted annually. File Form M1PR by August 15 of the following year. The 2025 refund includes a one-time 15% increase.1,2
A separate special refund is available regardless of income if your net homestead tax rose more than 12% from one year to the next, by at least $100, for reasons other than improvements.2
The Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral Program lets homeowners 65 or older (a spouse must be at least 62) with household income of $96,000 or less, who have owned and homesteaded the home for five years, cap the property tax they pay at 3% of household income. The state pays the rest as a loan at no more than 5% interest, repaid when the home is sold or the owner leaves the program. Apply by November 1 for the following year.5,2
Second homes and snowbirds
A cabin or other second home is classified as non-homestead or seasonal property and gets no market value exclusion. Property tax refunds and the senior deferral apply only to your homestead.3,5
Median property tax by county
Carver County has the highest median bill at $4,380; Traverse County has the lowest at $1,070. Effective rate is the median bill divided by the median home value, a benchmark for comparing places rather than a legal tax rate. Select a county to see it against the state and U.S., or estimate a bill for a specific home value.
| County | Median bill | Effective rate | Median home value | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carver County | $4,380 | 1.03% | $426,900 | Details |
| Hennepin County | $4,337 | 1.15% | $376,500 | Details |
| Scott County | $4,195 | 1.07% | $393,500 | Details |
| Washington County | $4,012 | 1.00% | $400,900 | Details |
| Ramsey County | $3,767 | 1.24% | $304,900 | Details |
| Chisago County | $3,668 | 1.12% | $326,600 | Details |
| Dakota County | $3,610 | 1.00% | $362,100 | Details |
| Wright County | $3,319 | 1.00% | $332,800 | Details |
| Olmsted County | $3,314 | 1.09% | $304,500 | Details |
| Sherburne County | $3,311 | 1.00% | $332,700 | Details |
| Le Sueur County | $3,119 | 1.08% | $287,700 | Details |
| Anoka County | $3,099 | 0.95% | $325,800 | Details |
| Isanti County | $2,951 | 1.04% | $283,200 | Details |
| Dodge County | $2,902 | 1.08% | $267,500 | Details |
| Rice County | $2,899 | 0.97% | $298,500 | Details |
| Nicollet County | $2,888 | 1.12% | $258,500 | Details |
| Goodhue County | $2,866 | 1.06% | $269,400 | Details |
| Clay County | $2,854 | 1.11% | $256,000 | Details |
| Steele County | $2,824 | 1.21% | $234,200 | Details |
| Carlton County | $2,712 | 1.17% | $232,000 | Details |
| McLeod County | $2,708 | 1.16% | $233,400 | Details |
| Wabasha County | $2,675 | 1.09% | $245,800 | Details |
| Houston County | $2,633 | 1.16% | $226,300 | Details |
| Stearns County | $2,617 | 1.02% | $256,500 | Details |
| Waseca County | $2,537 | 1.19% | $213,200 | Details |
| Benton County | $2,532 | 1.02% | $247,100 | Details |
| Douglas County | $2,516 | 0.86% | $291,700 | Details |
| Blue Earth County | $2,487 | 0.98% | $252,800 | Details |
| Mille Lacs County | $2,475 | 1.04% | $237,500 | Details |
| Kanabec County | $2,463 | 1.11% | $221,100 | Details |
| Sibley County | $2,364 | 1.10% | $215,000 | Details |
| Cook County | $2,322 | 0.79% | $294,000 | Details |
| Pennington County | $2,300 | 1.22% | $188,900 | Details |
| Kandiyohi County | $2,291 | 0.99% | $230,500 | Details |
| Beltrami County | $2,214 | 1.00% | $222,300 | Details |
| Crow Wing County | $2,161 | 0.79% | $274,400 | Details |
| Meeker County | $2,159 | 0.94% | $228,900 | Details |
| Morrison County | $2,154 | 0.91% | $237,000 | Details |
| St. Louis County | $2,142 | 1.03% | $208,500 | Details |
| Polk County | $2,109 | 1.00% | $211,100 | Details |
| Winona County | $2,099 | 0.94% | $222,900 | Details |
| Hubbard County | $2,087 | 0.82% | $255,900 | Details |
| Lyon County | $2,021 | 1.05% | $193,100 | Details |
| Pine County | $1,973 | 0.87% | $225,600 | Details |
| Otter Tail County | $1,966 | 0.78% | $252,500 | Details |
| Becker County | $1,951 | 0.73% | $266,900 | Details |
| Fillmore County | $1,932 | 0.95% | $204,000 | Details |
| Pope County | $1,915 | 0.79% | $242,800 | Details |
| Brown County | $1,890 | 1.04% | $181,700 | Details |
| Todd County | $1,874 | 0.99% | $188,400 | Details |
| Itasca County | $1,851 | 0.87% | $212,000 | Details |
| Mower County | $1,819 | 1.06% | $172,000 | Details |
| Wadena County | $1,773 | 1.04% | $170,500 | Details |
| Freeborn County | $1,750 | 1.06% | $164,900 | Details |
| Cottonwood County | $1,737 | 1.13% | $154,000 | Details |
| Grant County | $1,677 | 0.94% | $178,600 | Details |
| Lake County | $1,674 | 0.75% | $222,900 | Details |
| Nobles County | $1,674 | 0.93% | $179,200 | Details |
| Roseau County | $1,644 | 0.93% | $177,100 | Details |
| Watonwan County | $1,557 | 1.03% | $151,600 | Details |
| Chippewa County | $1,551 | 1.04% | $149,000 | Details |
| Martin County | $1,547 | 0.97% | $158,800 | Details |
| Yellow Medicine County | $1,545 | 1.04% | $148,200 | Details |
| Renville County | $1,543 | 1.02% | $151,900 | Details |
| Lake of the Woods County | $1,520 | 0.71% | $215,000 | Details |
| Cass County | $1,512 | 0.58% | $262,300 | Details |
| Red Lake County | $1,508 | 0.96% | $157,200 | Details |
| Lincoln County | $1,478 | 0.97% | $152,200 | Details |
| Stevens County | $1,459 | 0.81% | $180,800 | Details |
| Rock County | $1,451 | 0.72% | $201,600 | Details |
| Redwood County | $1,444 | 0.96% | $150,400 | Details |
| Mahnomen County | $1,427 | 0.97% | $146,500 | Details |
| Murray County | $1,373 | 0.77% | $179,400 | Details |
| Lac qui Parle County | $1,360 | 0.95% | $143,400 | Details |
| Aitkin County | $1,346 | 0.57% | $235,100 | Details |
| Norman County | $1,341 | 0.99% | $135,700 | Details |
| Jackson County | $1,329 | 0.91% | $145,400 | Details |
| Wilkin County | $1,310 | 0.76% | $172,300 | Details |
| Clearwater County | $1,297 | 0.73% | $177,100 | Details |
| Marshall County | $1,271 | 0.83% | $153,300 | Details |
| Faribault County | $1,263 | 1.05% | $120,200 | Details |
| Swift County | $1,258 | 0.86% | $147,100 | Details |
| Kittson County | $1,231 | 0.92% | $134,400 | Details |
| Big Stone County | $1,169 | 0.86% | $135,700 | Details |
| Pipestone County | $1,154 | 0.91% | $126,700 | Details |
| Koochiching County | $1,148 | 0.80% | $143,700 | Details |
| Traverse County | $1,070 | 0.97% | $110,100 | Details |
| Minnesota | $3,184 | 1.04% | $305,500 |
Sources
- Minnesota Department of Revenue, Homestead Credit Refund deadline approaches for Minnesota homeowners (August 12, 2026)
- Carlton County, Homestead credit refunds and Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral (tax statement insert)
- Minnesota Department of Revenue, Homestead Classification
- M/I Homes (citing Minnesota Department of Revenue), Does Minnesota have property taxes? Homestead Market Value Exclusion thresholds (summary source)
- Minnesota Department of Revenue (via MN Aging and Disability Resources), Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates, Tables B25103 and B25077
This page explains how Minnesota’s property tax rules generally work. It isn’t tax or legal advice, and local exemptions, deadlines, and income limits change. Confirm what applies to a specific home with the county assessor, appraiser, auditor, or trustee.