Home Insurance in Palmer, Iowa
Homes in Palmer carry a median value of $39,600 - 60% lower than the Pocahontas County median.
The typical home in Palmer was built around 1941. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. About 80% of homes were built before 1960, about 17 points above Pocahontas County's 62%.
In Palmer, the housing stock is 93% single-family homes and 7% apartments in buildings with 5+ units.
About 37% of owner-occupied homes in Palmer have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 23%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 89% of occupied homes in Palmer are owner-occupied.
70% of homes in Palmer are primarily heated with propane. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
What's the biggest home insurance risk near Palmer? FEMA's National Risk Index points to hail (Relatively Low) in Pocahontas County and Pocahontas County had 21 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Pocahontas County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
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 | $39,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1941 |
| Owner-occupied share | 89% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 37% |
| Top county hazard | Hail (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP policies in Pocahontas County | 21 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,342 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- 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)