Home Insurance in Howard County, Missouri
The median home value in Howard County is $159,400, 31% lower than the Missouri median.
Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. The typical home in Howard County was built around 1974. About 36% of homes were built before 1960, about 9 points above Missouri's 27%.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Howard County is 79% single-family homes, 1% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 13% mobile or manufactured homes.
52% of owner-occupied homes in Howard County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
The vacancy rate is 18%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 79% of occupied homes in Howard County are owner-occupied.
Homes heated with propane and wood can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. In Howard County, 37% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists tornado (Relatively Low), earthquake (Very Low) and wildfire (Very Low) as the leading hazards for Howard County. Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
As of September 2026, Howard County has 17 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Missouri is $1,589 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $159,400 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1974 |
| Owner-occupied share | 79% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 52% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Tornado (Relatively Low), Earthquake (Very Low), Wildfire (Very Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 17 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,589 - 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)