Home Insurance in Wapello County, Iowa
The median home value in Wapello County is $125,100, 40% lower than the Iowa median.
The typical home in Wapello County was built around 1958. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. About 52% of homes were built before 1960, about 14 points above Iowa's 38%.
In Wapello County, the housing stock is 79% single-family homes, 12% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 4% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
About 52% of owner-occupied homes in Wapello County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
About 68% of occupied homes in Wapello County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 11%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
In Wapello County, 63% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
The top hazards for Wapello County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are tornado (Relatively Moderate), strong wind (Relatively Moderate) and inland flooding (Relatively Low).
Wapello County had 34 active National Flood Insurance Program policies as of September 2026. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
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 | $125,100 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1958 |
| Owner-occupied share | 68% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 52% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Tornado (Relatively Moderate), Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate), Inland Flooding (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 34 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,342 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
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)