Home Insurance in Howard County, Iowa
With a median home value of $147,800, Howard County is 29% lower than the Iowa median.
The typical home in Howard County was built around 1960. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. About 49% of homes were built before 1960, about 12 points above Iowa's 38%.
The housing stock in Howard County is 92% single-family homes, 3% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes.
About 45% of owner-occupied homes in Howard County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 13%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 77% of occupied homes in Howard County are owner-occupied.
Homes heated with propane and wood can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. 42% of homes in Howard County are primarily heated with propane.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists hail (Relatively Low), strong wind (Relatively Low) and tornado (Relatively Low) as the leading hazards for Howard County.
As of September 2026, Howard County has 21 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 | $147,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1960 |
| Owner-occupied share | 77% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 45% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hail (Relatively Low), Strong Wind (Relatively Low), Tornado (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 21 |
| 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)