Home Insurance in Clay County, Minnesota
The median home value in Clay County is $265,500, 19% lower than the Minnesota median.
The typical home in Clay County was built around 1981. About 24% of homes were built before 1960, about 5 points below Minnesota's 29%. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them.
Housing in Clay County breaks down to 69% single-family homes, 26% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes.
65% of owner-occupied homes in Clay County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
Clay County has an owner-occupancy rate of 66% and a vacancy rate of 4%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. Most homes in Clay County - 51% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Clay County's top hazards are winter weather (Relatively High), inland flooding (Relatively Moderate) and hail (Relatively Moderate).
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. As of September 2026, Clay County has 195 active NFIP flood policies on file.
According to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data), a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Minnesota carries a statewide average premium of $1,988 per year.
Key figures
| Median home value | $265,500 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1981 |
| Owner-occupied share | 66% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 65% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Winter Weather (Relatively High), Inland Flooding (Relatively Moderate), Hail (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 195 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,988 - 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)