Home Insurance in Mills County, Iowa
Homes in Mills County carry a median value of $237,800 - 14% higher than the Iowa median.
The typical home in Mills County was built around 1972. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 37% of homes were built before 1960, in line with Iowa (38%).
In Mills County, the housing stock is 86% single-family homes, 4% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 4% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
In Mills County, about 61% 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 84% of occupied homes in Mills County are owner-occupied.
Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. 49% of homes in Mills County are primarily heated with natural gas.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists hail (Relatively Low), tornado (Relatively Low) and wildfire (Very Low) as the leading hazards for Mills County.
As of September 2026, Mills County has 71 active NFIP flood insurance policies. 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 | $237,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1972 |
| Owner-occupied share | 84% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 61% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hail (Relatively Low), Tornado (Relatively Low), Wildfire (Very Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 71 |
| 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)