Since 2024, county property value rose by 12 percent, according to a Wisconsin Department of Revenue statement released August 15.

The department detailed the changes in equalized values across Door County in 2025. Equalized value is value based on assessed taxable property values. The resulting information helps determine local budgets and tax mill rates in each municipality as well as county-wide. Increases in equalized value do not indicate increases in property taxes. On the contrary, as value goes up, tax rates go down to ensure the county stays within the state-imposed limit on the amount of money the county can raise in property taxes. New construction can be taxable. 

The state mandates that assessments must be completed by Jan. 1. By mid-August of that same year, the state releases the numbers. In November, government institutions in the county use equalized values to finalize their budgets.

In 2022, the total county property value surpassed $10 billion, increasing 18 percent from the previous year. Over the past decade, the county has seen this value increase every year, with the most dramatic increase in 2023. That year saw a 22 percent jump from 2022.

The smallest increase since 2015 was 1 percent between 2016 and 2017. Steady double-digit increases began in 2022.

The statement from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue included totals and changes for each municipality within the county. While every municipality across the county saw an increase, there were variations. The largest increases were seen in both the Town of Forestville and the Village of Forestville. Both municipalities saw 19 percent increases from 2024. The town — 35.3 square miles, population 1,063, according to 2020 census data — increased by $24,451,100 while the village — 0.5 square miles, population 482 — increased by $7,184,800.

The smallest increase was seen in the Village of Sister Bay — 2.6 square miles, population 1,148 —which saw a 3 percent increase from $890,602,100 to $919,131,200. 

In 2025, the highest-valued municipality is the Town of Liberty Grove — 53.7 square miles, population 2,096 — valued at $2,005,832,900. The lowest-valued municipality is the Village of Forestville, which was valued at $44,788,900. Similarly, in 2022, both the Town of Liberty Grove and Village of Forestville remained as highest- and lowest-valued municipalities in the county. 

Neighboring counties’ equalized value also increased. Kewaunee County saw a 9 percent increase, now valued at $3,223,223,900. Brown County saw a 7 percent increase, now valued at $39,938,872,000. 

The entire state of Wisconsin is valued at $982,817,813,400, an 8 percent increase from 2024.