During the fourth quarter of 2025, homeowners in Wales paid property taxes amounting to 1% of their home’s value, exceeding the national average by more than 1.1 times, according to BlockShopper.com.
Data from the 41 homes sold in the same period indicate the median sales price in Wales was $450,000. In 2025, the typical tax bill in the city reached $4,519, matching 1% of the median home value for taxed properties.
For reference, the average effective property tax rate across the U.S. was 0.888% in 2024.
Within Waukesha County, Oconomowoc Lake, Lac La Belle, and Chenequa posted the highest property tax rates, ranking first, second, and third, respectively.
The effective property tax rate for 2025 in this article has been calculated using estimated inflation adjustments and county-provided 2024 tax records. In certain cases, actual rates may show slight variation.
U.S. home prices continued to climb in 2025, as the national median reached roughly $447,000 in June, an increase of 1.13% compared with a year before, according to Redfin. Data also illustrates a wide supply-demand gap, with 36% more sellers than buyers—a difference totaling 508,715 homes. By Redfin’s standards, a balanced market is one where sellers and buyers are within 10% of each other.
The following table details how Oconomowoc Lake’s effective property tax rate compares with other Waukesha County cities, calculated from sales and tax data for the fourth quarter of 2025.
| City | Q4 2025 Sales | Q4 2025 Median Price | Median tax 2025 | Effective tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oconomowoc Lake | 9 | $449,000 | $15,170 | 3.4% |
| Lac La Belle | 10 | $476,300 | $16,349 | 3.4% |
| Chenequa | 8 | $587,500 | $19,435 | 3.3% |
| Elm Grove | 50 | $580,800 | $7,840 | 1.3% |
| Lannon | 17 | $345,000 | $4,478 | 1.3% |
| Waukesha | 206 | $371,950 | $4,503 | 1.2% |
| Sussex | 74 | $427,200 | $5,220 | 1.2% |
| Summit | 44 | $557,500 | $6,469 | 1.2% |
| New Berlin | 376 | $399,950 | $4,361 | 1.1% |
| Merton | 25 | $515,000 | $5,606 | 1.1% |
| Delafield | 65 | $566,100 | $6,230 | 1.1% |
| Mukwonago | 49 | $375,000 | $4,123 | 1.1% |
| Oconomowoc | 184 | $441,500 | $4,724 | 1.1% |
| Dousman | 17 | $480,500 | $5,146 | 1.1% |
| Menomonee Falls | 293 | $398,250 | $4,072 | 1% |
| Brookfield | 82 | $449,000 | $4,695 | 1% |
| Butler | 12 | $299,900 | $3,017 | 1% |
| Hartland | 56 | $409,625 | $4,158 | 1% |
| Okauchee Lake | 50 | $491,000 | $5,083 | 1% |
| Wales | 41 | $450,000 | $4,519 | 1% |
| Muskego | 181 | $433,000 | $4,149 | 1% |
| Pewaukee | 212 | $397,500 | $3,844 | 1% |
| Eagle | 19 | $358,400 | $3,340 | 0.9% |
| North Prairie | 14 | $484,950 | $3,807 | 0.8% |
| Vernon | 58 | $450,500 | $3,510 | 0.8% |
| Nashotah | 15 | $748,500 | $4,659 | 0.6% |
| Big Bend | 3 | $663,400 | $3,304 | 0.5% |
