Home Insurance in Washoe County, Nevada
The median home value in Washoe County is $539,900, 24% higher than the Nevada median.
Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. The typical home in Washoe County was built around 1991. About 9% of homes were built before 1960, about 5 points above Nevada's 5%.
The housing stock in Washoe County is 63% single-family homes, 24% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 5% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
About 65% of owner-occupied homes in Washoe County 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 60% of occupied homes in Washoe County are owner-occupied.
61% of homes in Washoe County are primarily heated with natural gas.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Washoe County's top hazards are earthquake (Relatively High), winter weather (Very High) and wildfire (Relatively High). 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, Washoe County has 1,929 active NFIP flood policies on file.
In Nevada, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,013 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $539,900 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1991 |
| Owner-occupied share | 60% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 65% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Earthquake (Relatively High), Winter Weather (Very High), Wildfire (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 1,929 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,013 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
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)