Home Insurance in Polk County, Missouri
With a median home value of $205,800, Polk County is 11% 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 Polk County was built around 1987. About 17% of homes were built before 1960, about 11 points below Missouri's 27%.
The housing stock in Polk County is 77% single-family homes, 5% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 9% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
In Polk County, about 59% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
The vacancy rate is 11%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 72% of occupied homes in Polk 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 Polk County, 68% of homes are primarily heated with electricity.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Polk County's top hazards are strong wind (Relatively Moderate), tornado (Relatively Moderate) and wildfire (Relatively Low).
As of September 2026, Polk County has 7 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
In Missouri, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,589 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $205,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1987 |
| Owner-occupied share | 72% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 59% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate), Tornado (Relatively Moderate), Wildfire (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 7 |
| 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)