Home Insurance in Shafter, California
Homes in Shafter carry a median value of $335,800 - close to the Kern County median.
The typical home in Shafter was built around 1993. About 22% of homes were built before 1960, about 4 points above Kern County's 18%. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild.
In Shafter, the housing stock is 83% single-family homes, 3% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 8% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
About 70% of owner-occupied homes in Shafter have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 4%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 65% of occupied homes in Shafter are owner-occupied.
67% of homes in Shafter are primarily heated with natural gas.
Kern County's top FEMA-rated hazard is wildfire (Relatively High), per FEMA's National Risk Index. Kern County had 3,205 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Kern County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
In California, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,655 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $335,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1993 |
| Owner-occupied share | 65% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 70% |
| Top county hazard | Wildfire (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Kern County | 3,205 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,655 - 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)