Home Insurance in Polk County, Iowa
With a median home value of $262,100, Polk County is 26% higher than the Iowa median.
The typical home in Polk County was built around 1982. About 28% of homes were built before 1960, about 10 points below Iowa's 38%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
In Polk County, the housing stock is 70% single-family homes, 24% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes.
70% of owner-occupied homes in Polk County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 67% of occupied homes in Polk County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 6%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
66% of homes in Polk County are primarily heated with natural gas.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists strong wind (Very High), tornado (Relatively High) and hail (Relatively High) as the leading hazards for Polk County.
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. As of September 2026, Polk County has 1,116 active NFIP flood policies on file.
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 | $262,100 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1982 |
| Owner-occupied share | 67% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 70% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Strong Wind (Very High), Tornado (Relatively High), Hail (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 1,116 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,342 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Alleman
- Altoona
- Ankeny
- Bondurant
- Carlisle
- Clive
- Des Moines
- Elkhart
- Grimes
- Johnston
- Mitchellville
- Pleasant Hill
- Polk City
- Runnells
- Urbandale
- West Des Moines
- Windsor Heights
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)