Home Insurance in Chelsea, Iowa
Homes in Chelsea carry a median value of $43,500 - 71% lower than the Tama County median.
Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. The median home in Chelsea was built in 1939 or earlier. About 79% of homes were built before 1960, about 27 points above Tama County's 53%.
The housing stock in Chelsea is 99% single-family homes.
23% of owner-occupied homes in Chelsea carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 96% of occupied homes in Chelsea are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 17%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
In Chelsea, 68% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
Tama County had 43 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. Its top FEMA-rated hazard is strong wind (Relatively High). See the full Tama County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
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 | $43,500 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1939 or earlier |
| Owner-occupied share | 96% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 23% |
| Top county hazard | Strong Wind (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Tama County | 43 |
| 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)