Home Insurance in Forest City, Iowa
Homes in Forest City carry a median value of $143,500 - 6% higher than the Winnebago County median.
The typical home in Forest City was built around 1971. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. About 35% of homes were built before 1960, about 12 points below Winnebago County's 48%.
In Forest City, the housing stock is 70% single-family homes, 15% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 6% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
54% of owner-occupied homes in Forest City carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
The vacancy rate is 7%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 67% of occupied homes in Forest City are owner-occupied.
84% of homes in Forest City are primarily heated with natural gas.
Winnebago County had 1 active NFIP flood policy as of September 2026. Its top FEMA-rated hazard is winter weather (Relatively Moderate). See the full Winnebago 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 | $143,500 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1971 |
| Owner-occupied share | 67% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 54% |
| 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)