Home Insurance in Howard County, Maryland
The median home value in Howard County is $597,900, 42% higher than the Maryland median.
Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. The typical home in Howard County was built around 1989. About 5% of homes were built before 1960, about 21 points below Maryland's 26%.
In Howard County, the housing stock is 72% single-family homes, 25% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 1% mobile or manufactured homes.
About 72% of owner-occupied homes in Howard County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 3%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 71% of occupied homes in Howard County are owner-occupied.
50% of homes in Howard County are primarily heated with electricity.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists winter weather (Relatively High), strong wind (Relatively High) and hurricane (Relatively Low) as the leading hazards for Howard County.
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. As of September 2026, Howard County has 980 active NFIP flood policies on file.
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 | $597,900 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1989 |
| Owner-occupied share | 71% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 72% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Winter Weather (Relatively High), Strong Wind (Relatively High), Hurricane (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 980 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,578 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
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)