Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois Property Taxes
Property Taxes in Lena, Illinois
Median Lena, Illinois effective property tax rate: 2.82%, significantly higher than the national median of 1.02%, and higher than the Illinois state median of 2.33%.
Median Lena, Illinois home value: $167,925
Median annual Lena, Illinois tax bill: $4,401, $2,001 higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Stephenson calculated?
Property taxes in Lena, Illinois are calculated based on the tax assessed value, which is often lower than the actual market value due to property tax exemptions such as the homestead or senior exemption.
Understanding Lena's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Lena, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois Property Tax Bill Calculator
$100,000
$1,500,000
$3,000,000
Median Effective Tax Rate
2.82%
Estimate Property Tax Bill
$4,735
$4,394
How Does the Lena Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Lena property tax calculator to estimate your annual property tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Lena's median effective tax rate of 2.82% — based on actual property records in Stephenson County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure the local appraisal district uses to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. Our calculator applies Lena's median effective rate across all local levies, providing a more accurate estimate than applying a single county millage rate.
Lena's median effective tax rate is higher than Illinois's 2.33% median rate, and the median tax bill is $4,401, which is $2,001 higher than the state median bill. Your bill may vary by ZIP code within Lena, but the available ZIP code data shows 61048 at $4,401.
For a more precise estimate, scroll down to explore ZIP code-level tax rate trends across Lena.
About Lena Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Lena, Stephenson, Illinois
Lena’s median effective property tax rate of 2.82% is higher than the Illinois state median of 2.33% and higher than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the Stephenson County base levy combined with local school district levies and special service areas that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Lena. Homeowners in the 61048 ZIP code carry a median effective rate of 2.82%, while those in the same ZIP code also pay 2.82%. This reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across Stephenson County. Understanding where you live in Lena can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Lena homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the Tax Assessor before January 1, 2026.
If your estimated bill above seems higher than expected, Ownwell can review your assessment and protest on your behalf. You only pay if we save you money.
Property Tax Rates Across Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois
As noted earlier, local government entities set tax rates, which can vary widely within a state.
Why? Because annually, each county estimates its required budget to provide services and divides that by the total value of all taxable property within its jurisdiction. This calculation results in the property tax rate.
While there are votes and laws involved in setting tax rates and budgets, in a nutshell, this is the annual process.
Below, you can compare Lena's effective property tax rate to other cities in Illinois and the median property tax rates in Illinois and the U.S.
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Lena Tax Rate
2.82%
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Stephenson County Tax Rate
3.02%
Median Effective Illinois Tax Rate
2.33%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.02%
Property Tax Rates Across Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61048 | 1.87% | 2.63% | 2.82% | 3.16% | 3.16% |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois
When examining property taxes in Lena, Illinois, understanding the distinction between "market value" and "assessed value" is crucial.
The market value is what a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller in an open and competitive market, often influenced by location, property condition, and economic market trends. The Stephenson County assessor estimates the market value for tax purposes.
The assessed value is the market value minus any applicable exemptions or limits determined by local laws and offerings. The tax assessed value is the figure used to calculate your property taxes or the amount multiplied by your tax rate to get your tax bill.
Assessment notices:
In Stephenson County, assessment notices are sent in the spring each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of the month.
Each property owner receives an assessment notice that contains both the market value and assessed value, along with an estimate of your property tax bill. For example, the median home price in Lena is $167,925, with a median tax bill of $4,401.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois
Source: Ownwell
$49,413
$108,669
$167,925
Median Lena Market Value
$167,925
Median Stephenson County Market Value
$75,993
Median Illinois Market Value
$227,888
Median United States Market Value
$235,294
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61048 | $58,252 | $128,071 | $167,925 | $189,160 | $221,417 |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Bills Across Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois
Property tax bills in Lena are based on the assessed value of a home and the local tax rate set by taxing authorities in Stephenson County. When a home’s market value changes, the assessed value can change too, which can raise or lower the bill. Local budgets for schools, roads, and other services also affect the final amount homeowners pay.
For Lena homeowners, the median home price is $167,925, and the median property tax bill is $4,401, which is well above the national median property tax bill of $2,400 and the national median property tax rate of 1.02%. Bills can vary widely, with the 25th percentile at $2,829 and the 75th percentile at $5,299. At the 90th percentile, the bill reaches $6,093. That means two homes with similar market values can still have very different tax bills depending on assessment and local rates.
Median Lena Tax Bill
$4,401
Median Stephenson County Tax Bill
$2,141
Median Illinois Tax Bill
$5,277
Median United States Tax Bill
$2,400
Property Tax Bills Across Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61048 | $1,619 | $2,829 | $4,401 | $5,299 | $6,093 |
Source: Ownwell
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Appeal Deadline | January 1 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| Stephenson Tax Assessor | |
| Website | stephensonil.devnetwedge.com |