Home Insurance in Essex County, New Jersey
The median home value in Essex County is $524,100, 15% higher than the New Jersey median.
The typical home in Essex County was built around 1958. About 53% of homes were built before 1960, about 15 points above New Jersey's 38%. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild.
The housing stock in Essex County is 41% single-family homes and 31% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 68% of owner-occupied homes in Essex County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
About 45% of occupied homes in Essex County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 5%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Most homes in Essex County - 72% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
The top hazards for Essex County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are inland flooding (Relatively High), strong wind (Very High) and winter weather (Very High).
Essex County had 4,122 active National Flood Insurance Program policies as of September 2026. 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 New Jersey is $1,551 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $524,100 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1958 |
| Owner-occupied share | 45% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 68% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Inland Flooding (Relatively High), Strong Wind (Very High), Winter Weather (Very High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 4,122 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,551 - 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)