Clive is one of those Des Moines suburbs that checks all the boxes: great schools, the beautiful 11.3-mile Greenbelt Trail winding through town, established neighborhoods with mature trees, and a median household income over $131,000. It's the kind of place where families put down roots. But here's what you need to know before you sign on that dotted line for your mortgage: Clive sits in Polk County, which made the list of Iowa's 10 counties with the highest tornado risk in 2025. And Iowa just broke its tornado record in 2024 with 122 documented twisters.
That's not meant to scare you—it's meant to make you smart about home insurance. Because the right coverage isn't just about satisfying your lender. It's about protecting what's probably your biggest investment from risks that are very real in central Iowa.
Why Clive Home Insurance Costs Are Rising
Let's talk money. Iowa homeowners saw their insurance premiums climb from $3,201 in 2024 to $3,825 by the end of 2025—a $624 annual increase. That's not random bad luck. That's insurance companies responding to real losses from severe weather.
The western part of Iowa sits in what's historically been called Tornado Alley, and Clive is in the thick of it. Both Polk and Dallas counties (Clive straddles both) have seen confirmed tornadoes in recent years. In May 2024, an EF-0 tornado touched down in Polk County, damaging trees and powerlines in Johnston. That same month, an EF-2 tornado caused significant damage elsewhere in the county. Over in Dallas County, an April 2024 tornado destroyed a barn in rural Dallas Center.
This isn't theoretical. When insurance companies pay out millions in tornado claims across Iowa, they adjust everyone's rates to stay solvent. And with Clive's average home value sitting around $563,673, there's a lot on the line if a severe storm rolls through your neighborhood near the Greenbelt Trail.
What Your Clive Home Insurance Should Actually Cover
Here's what surprises people: Iowa doesn't legally require you to have home insurance. But if you have a mortgage—which most Clive homeowners do—your lender absolutely requires it. They're not protecting you. They're protecting their investment.
A standard homeowners policy in Iowa covers your dwelling, your personal property, liability if someone gets hurt on your property, and additional living expenses if you need to live somewhere else while your home is being repaired. The good news? Standard policies typically cover tornado and windstorm damage. The asterisk? Many policies have a separate wind and hail deductible that's higher than your regular deductible—sometimes much higher.
Ask your insurance agent two specific questions: First, do I have a separate wind/hail deductible, and if so, how much is it? Second, is my dwelling coverage enough to actually rebuild my home at today's construction costs? With Clive's housing market and the quality of construction in established neighborhoods like those near Campbell Recreation Area, replacement cost can be significantly higher than your home's purchase price.
And here's the critical piece most people miss: standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Not from heavy rain, not from a backed-up storm drain, not from anything. If you want flood protection—and given Iowa's severe weather patterns, you should consider it—you need a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer.
How to Save Money Without Cutting Corners
With rates climbing the way they are, you're probably wondering how to keep costs manageable. Here's what actually works in Clive.
Bundle your home and auto insurance with the same company. Most insurers offer 15-25% discounts when you do this, and it simplifies your life. Install a monitored security system—not just for peace of mind, but because insurers give you a discount for it. Upgrade your home's essential systems. A newer roof, updated electrical, and modern plumbing aren't just good maintenance—they can lower your premiums because they reduce risk.
Raise your deductible if you have emergency savings. Going from a $500 deductible to $1,000 or even $2,500 can meaningfully reduce your premium. Just make sure you actually have that amount set aside for a real emergency. And shop around every few years. Loyalty doesn't always pay in insurance—new carriers are often willing to offer better rates to win your business.
One thing you should not do: drop coverage to save money. Underinsuring your home to shave $30 a month off your premium is a false economy. If a tornado tears through your neighborhood—and it's happened in Polk County before—you'll be facing tens or hundreds of thousands in out-of-pocket costs.
Living in Clive: What Makes It Special (and What to Protect)
What draws people to Clive is obvious once you spend time here. The Greenbelt Trail is genuinely special—11.3 miles of paved path that connects parks, libraries, the aquatic center, and neighborhoods. You can bike from Windsor Heights clear through to Waukee, passing Campbell Recreation Area with its baseball diamonds and the famous Greenbelt Goats along the way. It's the kind of amenity that makes a suburb feel like a real community.
The neighborhoods are established, with mature trees and homes that range from $300,000 to well over $500,000. The Country Club neighborhood is particularly sought-after. Shadow Creek is being integrated into the Greenbelt system. These aren't cookie-cutter developments—they're homes people plan to stay in for decades.
With a population around 18,000 and a median household income over $131,000, Clive attracts families who value quality of life. Lower property taxes compared to other Des Moines suburbs help too. But all of that—the trails, the parks, the established neighborhoods—makes proper insurance even more important. You're not just protecting structure and possessions. You're protecting your family's stability and your financial future.
How to Get Started with the Right Coverage
Getting the right home insurance in Clive starts with understanding what you actually need. Calculate your home's replacement cost—not its market value, but what it would cost to rebuild from scratch with current labor and materials. This is especially important for older homes in established neighborhoods where construction quality matters.
Get quotes from at least three insurers. Ask each one explicitly about wind/hail deductibles and whether tornado damage is fully covered under your standard policy. Confirm what's excluded—flooding almost certainly will be. Consider whether you need additional coverage for specific risks. If you have a home office or expensive equipment, a standard policy might not cover it adequately.
Review your policy annually. With construction costs changing and your home's value appreciating, last year's coverage limits might not be enough today. And if you make significant improvements—finishing your basement, adding a deck, renovating your kitchen—notify your insurer immediately. Those upgrades need to be reflected in your coverage.
Living in Clive means enjoying one of the best suburbs in the Des Moines metro. But it also means taking tornado risk seriously and making sure your home insurance actually protects you when severe weather hits. Get the coverage right from the start, and you can enjoy those Greenbelt Trail walks without worrying about what happens if the next storm turns your way.
