Home Insurance in Hardin County, Iowa
Homes in Hardin County carry a median value of $122,500 - 41% lower than the Iowa median.
The typical home in Hardin County was built around 1956. About 56% of homes were built before 1960, about 18 points above 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 Hardin County is 85% single-family homes, 5% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes.
In Hardin County, about 49% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
The vacancy rate is 12%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 74% of occupied homes in Hardin County are owner-occupied.
Most homes in Hardin County - 58% - 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.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists hail (Relatively High), tornado (Relatively Moderate) and winter weather (Relatively Moderate) as the leading hazards for Hardin County.
As of September 2026, Hardin County has 29 active NFIP flood insurance policies. 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 | $122,500 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1956 |
| Owner-occupied share | 74% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 49% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hail (Relatively High), Tornado (Relatively Moderate), Winter Weather (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 29 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,342 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Ackley
- Alden
- Buckeye
- Eldora
- Hubbard
- Iowa Falls
- New Providence
- Owasa
- Radcliffe
- Steamboat Rock
- Union
- Whitten
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)