Home Insurance in St. Louis County, Minnesota
The median home value in St. Louis County is $221,400, 33% lower than the Minnesota median.
Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. The typical home in St. Louis County was built around 1962. About 48% of homes were built before 1960, about 20 points above Minnesota's 29%.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in St. Louis County is 75% single-family homes, 14% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 4% mobile or manufactured homes.
About 56% of owner-occupied homes in St. Louis County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 16%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 71% of occupied homes in St. Louis County are owner-occupied.
Homes heated with propane and fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. In St. Louis County, 51% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists winter weather (Very High), inland flooding (Relatively Moderate) and hail (Relatively Moderate) as the leading hazards for St. Louis County.
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. As of September 2026, St. Louis County has 343 active NFIP flood policies on file.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Minnesota is $1,988 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $221,400 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1962 |
| Owner-occupied share | 71% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 56% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Winter Weather (Very High), Inland Flooding (Relatively Moderate), Hail (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 343 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,988 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Aurora
- Babbitt
- Biwabik
- Brookston
- Buhl
- Chisholm
- Cook
- Duluth
- Ely
- Eveleth
- Floodwood
- Gilbert
- Hermantown
- Hibbing
- Hoyt Lakes
- Iron Junction
- Kinney
- Leonidas
- McKinley
- Meadowlands
- Mountain Iron
- Orr
- Proctor
- Rice Lake
- Tower
- Virginia
- Winton
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)