Home Insurance in Des Moines County, Iowa
With a median home value of $136,500, Des Moines County is 34% lower than the Iowa median.
Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. The typical home in Des Moines County was built around 1959. About 51% of homes were built before 1960, about 13 points above Iowa's 38%.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Des Moines County is 81% single-family homes, 8% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 5% mobile or manufactured homes.
51% of owner-occupied homes in Des Moines County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
Des Moines County has an owner-occupancy rate of 75% 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. Most homes in Des Moines County - 68% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists hail (Relatively Moderate), strong wind (Relatively High) and tornado (Relatively Moderate) as the leading hazards for Des Moines County.
As of September 2026, Des Moines County has 181 active NFIP flood insurance policies. 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 | $136,500 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1959 |
| Owner-occupied share | 75% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 51% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hail (Relatively Moderate), Strong Wind (Relatively High), Tornado (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 181 |
| 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)