Home Insurance in Jefferson County, Iowa
Homes in Jefferson County carry a median value of $163,400 - 21% lower than the Iowa median.
The typical home in Jefferson County was built around 1966. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 44% of homes were built before 1960, about 6 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 Jefferson County is 77% single-family homes, 5% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 6% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
In Jefferson County, about 45% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
About 68% of occupied homes in Jefferson County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 10%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. In Jefferson County, 48% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
The top hazards for Jefferson County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are hail (Relatively Moderate), strong wind (Relatively Moderate) and wildfire (Very Low).
As of September 2026, Jefferson County has 5 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 | $163,400 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1966 |
| Owner-occupied share | 68% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 45% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hail (Relatively Moderate), Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate), Wildfire (Very Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 5 |
| 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)