Home Insurance in Decatur County, Iowa
Homes in Decatur County carry a median value of $113,900 - 45% lower than the Iowa median.
The typical home in Decatur County was built around 1970. About 40% of homes were built before 1960, about 2 points above Iowa's 38%. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them.
In Decatur County, the housing stock is 78% single-family homes, 7% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 8% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
About 47% of owner-occupied homes in Decatur County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 17%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 70% of occupied homes in Decatur County are owner-occupied.
35% of homes in Decatur County 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.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists wildfire (Very Low), tornado (Relatively Low) and hail (Relatively Low) as the leading hazards for Decatur County.
Decatur 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.
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 | $113,900 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1970 |
| Owner-occupied share | 70% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 47% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Wildfire (Very Low), Tornado (Relatively Low), Hail (Relatively 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)