Home Insurance in Clarke County, Iowa
Homes in Clarke County carry a median value of $161,100 - 23% lower than the Iowa median.
The typical home in Clarke County was built around 1975. About 30% of homes were built before 1960, about 8 points below Iowa's 38%. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them.
The housing stock in Clarke County is 74% single-family homes, 8% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 7% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
About 60% of owner-occupied homes in Clarke County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 10%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 72% of occupied homes in Clarke County are owner-occupied.
In Clarke County, 36% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with propane and wood can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Clarke County's top hazards are hail (Relatively Low), tornado (Relatively Low) and wildfire (Very Low).
Clarke County has no active NFIP flood policies on file. 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 | $161,100 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1975 |
| Owner-occupied share | 72% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 60% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hail (Relatively Low), Tornado (Relatively Low), Wildfire (Very Low) |
| 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)