Home Insurance in Cottonwood County, Minnesota
The median home value in Cottonwood County is $169,300, 49% lower than the Minnesota median.
The typical home in Cottonwood County was built around 1963. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 46% of homes were built before 1960, about 17 points above Minnesota's 29%.
The housing stock in Cottonwood County is 86% single-family homes, 8% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 1% mobile or manufactured homes.
In Cottonwood County, about 46% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
About 74% of occupied homes in Cottonwood County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 10%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
62% of homes in Cottonwood County 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.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists winter weather (Relatively Moderate), hail (Relatively Moderate) and strong wind (Relatively Moderate) as the leading hazards for Cottonwood County.
As of September 2026, Cottonwood County has 35 active NFIP flood insurance policies. 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 Minnesota carries a statewide average premium of $1,988 per year.
Key figures
| Median home value | $169,300 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1963 |
| Owner-occupied share | 74% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 46% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Winter Weather (Relatively Moderate), Hail (Relatively Moderate), Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 35 |
| 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)