Home Insurance in Boston, Massachusetts
Homes in Boston carry a median value of $731,700 - close to the Suffolk County median.
The typical home in Boston was built around 1947. About 58% of homes were built before 1960, in line with Suffolk County (58%). Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
Housing in Boston breaks down to 18% single-family homes and 46% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 70% of owner-occupied homes in Boston have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 9%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 36% of occupied homes in Boston are owner-occupied.
56% of homes in Boston are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
FEMA rates Suffolk County's overall risk as Relatively Moderate, led by earthquake (Relatively Moderate). Suffolk County had 9,522 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Suffolk County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Earthquake damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Massachusetts is $2,134 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $731,700 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1947 |
| Owner-occupied share | 36% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 70% |
| Top county hazard | Earthquake (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP policies in Suffolk County | 9,522 |
| Home insurance premium | $2,134 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- 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)