Home Insurance in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
The median home value in Cerro Gordo County is $166,400, 20% lower than the Iowa median.
The typical home in Cerro Gordo County was built around 1959. About 52% of homes were built before 1960, about 14 points above Iowa's 38%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
The housing stock in Cerro Gordo County is 79% single-family homes, 13% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 3% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
In Cerro Gordo County, about 56% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
Cerro Gordo County has an owner-occupancy rate of 70% and a vacancy rate of 14%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. In Cerro Gordo County, 71% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
The top hazards for Cerro Gordo County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are tornado (Relatively Moderate), winter weather (Relatively High) and hail (Relatively Moderate).
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. As of September 2026, Cerro Gordo County has 93 active NFIP flood policies on file.
In Iowa, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,342 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $166,400 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1959 |
| Owner-occupied share | 70% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 56% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Tornado (Relatively Moderate), Winter Weather (Relatively High), Hail (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 93 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,342 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- 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)