Home Insurance in Carter County, Missouri
The median home value in Carter County is $159,400, 31% lower than the Missouri median.
The typical home in Carter County was built around 1983. About 12% of homes were built before 1960, about 15 points below Missouri's 27%. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Carter County is 70% single-family homes, 1% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 21% mobile or manufactured homes.
About 46% of owner-occupied homes in Carter County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 24%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 61% of occupied homes in Carter County are owner-occupied.
Most homes in Carter County - 52% - are primarily heated with electricity. Homes heated with propane and wood can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists earthquake (Relatively Low), strong wind (Relatively Moderate) and inland flooding (Relatively Low) as the leading hazards for Carter County. Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
As of September 2026, Carter County has 45 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Missouri is $1,589 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $159,400 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1983 |
| Owner-occupied share | 61% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 46% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Earthquake (Relatively Low), Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate), Inland Flooding (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 45 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,589 - 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)