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The Median Home Value increased slightly this year; from $581,700 for tax year 2025 to $585,700 for tax <br />year 2026. When applying the estimated tax rate to a median value home, you would see an increase of <br />$310 in city tax for the year, or $26.00 per month. <br /> 2025 2026 <br />Median Value Home 581,700 585,800 <br />Tax Rate <br />26.84% (final 2025)1,616 1,630 <br />31.72% (est. 2026)1,910 1,926 <br />4.88 point change in Tax Rate $310 increase on MVH <br />Lake Elmo remained low compared to tax rates of other Washington County cities in 2025. Now ranked <br />at 20 out of 27 Washington County cities – up from 21 in 2024, having swapped places with Afton. If all <br />other cities hold their rates steady in 2026, we will remain in the bottom half. <br />Rank Taxing Authority 2025 (%)Rank Taxing Authority 2025 (%) <br />1 Hastings 59.08 15 Lakeland 31.80 <br />2 Oak Park Heights 54.59 16 Bayport 31.54 <br />3 Newport 53.42 17 Woodbury 31.16 <br />4 Landfall 53.13 18 White Bear Lake 30.40 <br />5 Stillwater 52.67 19 Scandia 27.94 <br />6 Willernie 50.24 20 Lake Elmo 26.84 <br />7 Marine on St. Croix 48.73 21 Afton 26.67 <br />8 Saint Paul Park 41.86 22 Birchwood 26.05 <br />9 Oakdale 41.40 23 Lakeland Shores 20.38 <br />10 Forest Lake 41.13 24 Saint Mary's Point 18.59 <br />11 Hugo 39.32 25 Dellwood 16.56 <br />12 Cottage Grove 37.20 26 Grant 11.04 <br />13 Lake St. Croix Beach 35.91 27 Pine Springs 7.73 <br />14 Mahtomedi 33.54 <br />When removing some of the smallest cities and largest cities, Lake Elmo has the 9th lowest tax rate out of <br />the 10 cities that are closest in population. We would expect to move to the 8th lowest in 2026 if other city <br />rates hold steady. <br />City tax rates and levies vary drastically due to a variety of reasons. It may be the level of service they <br />provide; for instance, they may have full-time Fire, Police or Ambulance. They may have debt related to <br />buildings or infrastructure - or not - and they may be levying for future needs - or not. So, while tax rate is <br />a helpful comparison, it is only a single perspective and should be looked at in terms of what services are <br />provided, as well as the tax capacity of the city.