Home Insurance in DeKalb County, Alabama
The median home value in DeKalb County is $152,700, 27% lower than the Alabama median.
The typical home in DeKalb County was built around 1984. About 16% of homes were built before 1960, in line with Alabama (16%). Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
The housing stock in DeKalb County is 72% single-family homes, 2% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 22% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
In DeKalb County, about 40% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
The vacancy rate is 15%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 78% of occupied homes in DeKalb County are owner-occupied.
Most homes in DeKalb County - 68% - are primarily heated with electricity. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, DeKalb County's top hazards are strong wind (Relatively High), tornado (Relatively Moderate) and earthquake (Relatively Low). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
As of September 2026, DeKalb County has 67 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 Alabama, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,906 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $152,700 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1984 |
| Owner-occupied share | 78% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 40% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Strong Wind (Relatively High), Tornado (Relatively Moderate), Earthquake (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 67 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,906 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Collinsville
- Crossville
- Fort Payne
- Fyffe
- Geraldine
- Hammondville
- Henagar
- Ider
- Lakeview
- Mentone
- Pine Ridge
- Powell
- Rainsville
- Shiloh
- Sylvania
- Valley Head
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)