Home Insurance in Bristol County, Massachusetts
With a median home value of $451,200, Bristol County is 20% lower than the Massachusetts median.
The typical home in Bristol County was built around 1964. About 47% of homes were built before 1960, in line with Massachusetts (46%). Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them.
In Bristol County, the housing stock is 57% single-family homes, 17% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 1% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 66% of owner-occupied homes in Bristol County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
Bristol County has an owner-occupancy rate of 62% and a vacancy rate of 5%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
Homes heated with fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. Most homes in Bristol County - 57% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
The top hazards for Bristol County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are inland flooding (Relatively High), hurricane (Relatively Moderate) and earthquake (Relatively Low). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
As of September 2026, Bristol County has 3,238 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
In Massachusetts, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $2,134 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $451,200 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1964 |
| Owner-occupied share | 62% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 66% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Inland Flooding (Relatively High), Hurricane (Relatively Moderate), Earthquake (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 3,238 |
| Home insurance premium | $2,134 - 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)