Home Insurance in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Homes in Carmel-by-the-Sea carry a median value of $2,000,000+.
The typical home in Carmel-by-the-Sea was built around 1950. About 63% of homes were built before 1960, about 37 points above Monterey County's 26%. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them.
In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the housing stock is 90% single-family homes, 4% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 1% mobile or manufactured homes.
About 40% of owner-occupied homes in Carmel-by-the-Sea have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
About 60% of occupied homes in Carmel-by-the-Sea are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 53%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Most homes in Carmel-by-the-Sea - 79% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
What's the biggest home insurance risk near Carmel-by-the-Sea? FEMA's National Risk Index points to earthquake (Relatively High) in Monterey County and Monterey County had 1,572 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Monterey County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Earthquake damage is excluded from a standard homeowners 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 | $2,000,000+ |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1950 |
| Owner-occupied share | 60% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 40% |
| Top county hazard | Earthquake (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Monterey County | 1,572 |
| 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)