Home Insurance in Des Moines, Iowa
Homes in Des Moines carry a median value of $194,700 - 26% lower than the Polk County median.
The typical home in Des Moines was built around 1961. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 49% of homes were built before 1960, about 21 points above Polk County's 28%.
In Des Moines, the housing stock is 66% single-family homes, 26% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 3% mobile or manufactured homes.
In Des Moines, about 68% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
The vacancy rate is 8%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 60% of occupied homes in Des Moines are owner-occupied.
Most homes in Des Moines - 64% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
Polk County had 1,116 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. Its top FEMA-rated hazard is strong wind (Very High). See the full Polk County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
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 | $194,700 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1961 |
| Owner-occupied share | 60% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 68% |
| 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)