Home Insurance in Clay County, Iowa
The median home value in Clay County is $178,600, 14% lower than the Iowa median.
Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. The typical home in Clay County was built around 1967. About 43% of homes were built before 1960, about 5 points above Iowa's 38%.
Housing in Clay County breaks down to 77% single-family homes, 15% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes.
In Clay County, about 53% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
The vacancy rate is 11%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 73% of occupied homes in Clay County are owner-occupied.
Most homes in Clay County - 50% - 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.
The top hazards for Clay County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are hail (Relatively Moderate), winter weather (Relatively Moderate) and tornado (Relatively Low).
Clay County had 77 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.
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 | $178,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1967 |
| Owner-occupied share | 73% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 53% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hail (Relatively Moderate), Winter Weather (Relatively Moderate), Tornado (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 77 |
| 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)