Home Insurance in Buffalo Center, Iowa
The median home value in Buffalo Center is $100,500, 26% lower than the Winnebago County median.
Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. The typical home in Buffalo Center was built around 1959. About 51% of homes were built before 1960, about 3 points above Winnebago County's 48%.
Housing in Buffalo Center breaks down to 81% single-family homes and 4% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 29% of owner-occupied homes in Buffalo Center have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
About 73% of occupied homes in Buffalo Center are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 12%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
55% of homes in Buffalo Center 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.
Winnebago County's top FEMA-rated hazard is winter weather (Relatively Moderate), per FEMA's National Risk Index. Winnebago County had 1 active NFIP flood policy as of September 2026. See the full Winnebago 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 | $100,500 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1959 |
| Owner-occupied share | 73% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 29% |
| Top county hazard | Winter Weather (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP policies in Winnebago County | 1 |
| 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)