Home Insurance in Baltimore city, Maryland
With a median home value of $229,600, Baltimore city is 45% lower than the Maryland median.
The typical home in Baltimore city was built around 1947. About 67% of homes were built before 1960, about 41 points above Maryland's 26%. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them.
The housing stock in Baltimore city is 65% single-family homes and 25% apartments in buildings with 5+ units.
In Baltimore city, about 68% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
The vacancy rate is 13%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 48% of occupied homes in Baltimore city are owner-occupied.
Most homes in Baltimore city - 62% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists winter weather (Very High), strong wind (Relatively High) and tornado (Relatively High) as the leading hazards for Baltimore city.
Baltimore city had 3,287 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 Maryland, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,578 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $229,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1947 |
| Owner-occupied share | 48% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 68% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Winter Weather (Very High), Strong Wind (Relatively High), Tornado (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 3,287 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,578 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
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)