Home Insurance in Suffolk County, Massachusetts
The median home value in Suffolk County is $705,800, 26% higher than the Massachusetts median.
Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. The typical home in Suffolk County was built around 1949. About 58% of homes were built before 1960, about 11 points above Massachusetts's 46%.
Housing in Suffolk County breaks down to 19% single-family homes and 45% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
70% of owner-occupied homes in Suffolk County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 36% of occupied homes in Suffolk County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 8%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Homes heated with fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. 57% of homes in Suffolk County are primarily heated with natural gas.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists earthquake (Relatively Moderate), inland flooding (Relatively High) and hurricane (Relatively High) as the leading hazards for Suffolk County. Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. As of September 2026, Suffolk County has 9,522 active NFIP flood policies on file.
According to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data), a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Massachusetts carries a statewide average premium of $2,134 per year.
Key figures
| Median home value | $705,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1949 |
| Owner-occupied share | 36% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 70% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Earthquake (Relatively Moderate), Inland Flooding (Relatively High), Hurricane (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 9,522 |
| 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)