Home Insurance in Fort Smith, Arkansas
Homes in Fort Smith carry a median value of $178,100 - close to the Sebastian County median.
The typical home in Fort Smith was built around 1977. About 26% of homes were built before 1960, about 5 points above Sebastian County's 21%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
The housing stock in Fort Smith is 70% single-family homes and 16% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
In Fort Smith, about 52% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
The vacancy rate is 9%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 53% of occupied homes in Fort Smith are owner-occupied.
Most homes in Fort Smith - 51% - are primarily heated with electricity.
What's the biggest home insurance risk near Fort Smith? FEMA's National Risk Index points to tornado (Relatively High) in Sebastian County and Sebastian County had 375 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Sebastian County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Arkansas is $1,870 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $178,100 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1977 |
| Owner-occupied share | 53% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 52% |
| Top county hazard | Tornado (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Sebastian County | 375 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,870 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- 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)