Home Insurance in San Diego County, California
The median home value in San Diego County is $854,700, 16% higher than the California median.
The typical home in San Diego County was built around 1980. About 17% of homes were built before 1960, about 10 points below California's 27%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
In San Diego County, the housing stock is 60% single-family homes, 30% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 3% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
70% of owner-occupied homes in San Diego County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
San Diego County has an owner-occupancy rate of 55% and a vacancy rate of 6%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
54% of homes in San Diego County are primarily heated with natural gas.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists wildfire (Very High), inland flooding (Very High) and earthquake (Relatively High) as the leading hazards for San Diego County. Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
San Diego County had 8,393 active National Flood Insurance Program policies as of September 2026. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
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 | $854,700 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1980 |
| Owner-occupied share | 55% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 70% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Wildfire (Very High), Inland Flooding (Very High), Earthquake (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 8,393 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,655 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Carlsbad
- Chula Vista
- Coronado
- Del Mar
- El Cajon
- Encinitas
- Escondido
- Imperial Beach
- La Mesa
- Lemon Grove
- National City
- Oceanside
- Poway
- San Diego
- San Marcos
- Solana Beach
Smaller communities
-
Santee
- Median home value: $727,200
- Median year built: 1979
- Owner-occupied share: 72%
-
Vista
- Median home value: $762,400
- Median year built: 1985
- Owner-occupied share: 52%
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)