Home Insurance in Monterey County, California
The median home value in Monterey County is $781,000, 6% higher than the California median.
The typical home in Monterey County was built around 1976. About 26% of homes were built before 1960, about 1 point below California's 27%. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Monterey County is 70% single-family homes, 18% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 4% mobile or manufactured homes.
About 63% of owner-occupied homes in Monterey County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
About 52% of occupied homes in Monterey County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 9%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
48% of homes in Monterey County are primarily heated with natural gas.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Monterey County's top hazards are earthquake (Relatively High), wildfire (Relatively High) and inland flooding (Relatively High). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
As of September 2026, Monterey County has 1,572 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in California is $1,655 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $781,000 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1976 |
| Owner-occupied share | 52% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 63% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Earthquake (Relatively High), Wildfire (Relatively High), Inland Flooding (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 1,572 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,655 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Del Rey Oaks
- Gonzales
- Greenfield
- King City
- Marina
- Monterey
- Pacific Grove
- Salinas
- Sand City
- Seaside
- Soledad
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)