Home Insurance in Salem, Missouri
Homes in Salem carry a median value of $115,000 - 31% lower than the Dent County median.
The typical home in Salem was built around 1969. About 33% of homes were built before 1960, about 11 points above Dent County's 22%. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them.
Housing in Salem breaks down to 72% single-family homes, 5% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 1% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
In Salem, about 52% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
About 50% of occupied homes in Salem are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 17%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Homes heated with propane and wood can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. Most homes in Salem - 50% - are primarily heated with electricity.
FEMA rates Dent County's overall risk as Relatively Low, led by earthquake (Relatively Low). Dent County had 11 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Dent County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Earthquake damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
According to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data), a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Missouri carries a statewide average premium of $1,589 per year.
Key figures
| Median home value | $115,000 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1969 |
| Owner-occupied share | 50% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 52% |
| Top county hazard | Earthquake (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP policies in Dent County | 11 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,589 - 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)