Home Insurance in Altoona, Iowa
Homes in Altoona carry a median value of $274,600 - close to the Polk County median.
The typical home in Altoona was built around 1998. About 7% of homes were built before 1960, about 21 points below Polk County's 28%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Altoona is 71% single-family homes, 21% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 4% mobile or manufactured homes.
72% of owner-occupied homes in Altoona carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 69% of occupied homes in Altoona are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 3%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
In Altoona, 66% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
What's the biggest home insurance risk near Altoona? FEMA's National Risk Index points to strong wind (Very High) in Polk County and Polk County had 1,116 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Polk 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 | $274,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1998 |
| Owner-occupied share | 69% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 72% |
| Top county hazard | Strong Wind (Very High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Polk County | 1,116 |
| 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)