Stillwater property tax: where it goes

A Stillwater house pays 1.483% of its taxable value in property tax. For a house at $415,600 of value before exemptions with the homestead exemption, that's about $4,952 a year.

Tax is levied on estimated market value, less the homestead market value exclusion, times the class rate (1.00% on the first $500,000, 1.25% above) gives tax capacity, which is taxed at the tax capacity rate; the market value referenda rate applies to market value before the exclusion.

Who taxes this house

Taxing agency	Rate	On $415,600
Washington County	0.2248%	$914
City of Stillwater	0.5528%	$2,247
Stillwater Area Schools (ISD 834), on tax capacity (schools)	0.227%	$922
Brown's Creek Watershed District	0.0373%	$152
Metropolitan Council, Mosquito Control, Washington County CDA, Regional Rail and Transit District	0.0305%	$124
Stillwater Area Schools (ISD 834), voter-approved referendum levy on market value (schools)	0.1429%	$594
All tax-capacity levies above, on value over $500,000 (1.25% class rate instead of 1.00%)	0.2681%	$0
Total	1.483%	$4,952

2026 taxes payable, Washington County (Stillwater City tax area 7603: ISD 834, Brown's Creek Watershed District, urban service district). Exemptions applied: 1.00% class rate on the first $500,000 (1.25% only above) ($500,000); Homestead market value exclusion ($9,146).

Ways to pay less

File for homestead. Homestead is a property classification for homes occupied by the owner or a qualifying relative as their primary residence; it can make you eligible for the homestead market value exclusion and the property tax refund (relative homesteads do not qualify for the refund). How: Apply online with Washington County by December 31 for taxes payable the following year.
Claim the Minnesota property tax refund. Homeowners with 2025 total household income under $142,490 may qualify for the homestead credit refund; a special refund applies when net property tax rises at least 12 percent and at least $100. How: File Form M1PR with the Minnesota Department of Revenue by August 15 (you may file up to one year late).
Seniors 65+: defer part of your property tax. Property Tax Deferral for Senior Citizens limits the tax you pay to 3% of total household income; the state pays the remainder as a loan, repaid with interest when you sell or cancel. How: You must be 65 or older (if married, the other spouse at least 62), have household income of $96,000 or less and have owned, lived in and homesteaded the home for 5 years; apply by November 1.
Veterans with a 70%+ disability rating: market value exclusion. Honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher who own and occupy a homestead on December 31 can get a $150,000 market value exclusion; a 100% permanent and total rating qualifies for $300,000. How: Apply with Washington County using its application for veterans with disabilities.
Pay property tax by eCheck, not card. Washington County charges a $0.75 fee to pay online by eCheck and 2.35% (minimum $1.49) by card. How: Choose eCheck when paying online, or mail a check postmarked by the due date.

Dates

When	What
Nov 1 (in 9 days)	Senior citizen property tax deferral applications due to defer the following year's taxes
Dec 31	Homestead applications due to Washington County for taxes payable the following year
May 15	First half of Washington County real property taxes due; monthly penalties begin if not paid by the due date
Aug 15	Minnesota property tax refund (Form M1PR) due; you may still file up to one year late
Oct 15	Second half of Washington County real property taxes due; second half penalties start after Oct. 15

Pay or manage it

Sources

Checked October 22, 2026. Every number here comes from the public sources listed, matched by our checker.

Rates change every year; this page shows when it was last checked. Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.