Home Insurance in Fayette County, Iowa
The median home value in Fayette County is $136,800, 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 Fayette County was built around 1954. About 56% of homes were built before 1960, about 18 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 Fayette County is 86% single-family homes, 3% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 6% mobile or manufactured homes.
51% of owner-occupied homes in Fayette County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
Fayette County has an owner-occupancy rate of 77% and a vacancy rate of 10%; 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. In Fayette County, 50% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
The top hazards for Fayette County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are hail (Relatively Moderate), strong wind (Relatively Moderate) and tornado (Relatively Moderate).
Fayette County had 46 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 | $136,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1954 |
| Owner-occupied share | 77% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 51% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hail (Relatively Moderate), Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate), Tornado (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 46 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,342 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Arlington
- Clermont
- Elgin
- Fayette
- Hawkeye
- Maynard
- Oelwein
- Randalia
- St. Lucas
- Wadena
- Waucoma
- West Union
- Westgate
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)