Home Insurance in Cherokee County, Iowa
Homes in Cherokee County carry a median value of $158,700 - 24% lower than the Iowa median.
Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. The typical home in Cherokee County was built around 1958. About 52% of homes were built before 1960, about 14 points above Iowa's 38%.
The housing stock in Cherokee County is 86% single-family homes, 7% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes.
50% of owner-occupied homes in Cherokee County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
Cherokee County has an owner-occupancy rate of 76% and a vacancy rate of 9%; 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. 53% of homes in Cherokee County are primarily heated with natural gas.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Cherokee County's top hazards are hail (Relatively Moderate), winter weather (Relatively Moderate) and tornado (Relatively Low).
As of September 2026, Cherokee County has 28 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Iowa is $1,342 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $158,700 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1958 |
| Owner-occupied share | 76% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 50% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hail (Relatively Moderate), Winter Weather (Relatively Moderate), Tornado (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 28 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,342 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
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)