Home Insurance in Cedar County, Iowa
The median home value in Cedar County is $211,300, close to the Iowa median.
The typical home in Cedar County was built around 1965. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. About 47% of homes were built before 1960, about 9 points above Iowa's 38%.
In Cedar County, the housing stock is 87% single-family homes, 4% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 4% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
58% of owner-occupied homes in Cedar County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 81% of occupied homes in Cedar County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 8%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
In Cedar County, 53% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Cedar County's top hazards are strong wind (Relatively Moderate), hail (Relatively Low) and tornado (Relatively Low).
Cedar County had 42 active National Flood Insurance Program policies as of September 2026. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
According to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data), a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Iowa carries a statewide average premium of $1,342 per year.
Key figures
| Median home value | $211,300 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1965 |
| Owner-occupied share | 81% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 58% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate), Hail (Relatively Low), Tornado (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 42 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,342 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
Smaller communities
-
Stanwood
- Median home value: $145,000
- Median year built: 1954
- Owner-occupied share: 80%
-
Tipton
- Median home value: $165,500
- Median year built: 1954
- Owner-occupied share: 72%
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)