Home Insurance in Chester, New Jersey
Homes in Chester carry a median value of $659,800 - 13% higher than the Morris County median.
Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. The typical home in Chester was built around 1971. About 31% of homes were built before 1960, about 2 points below Morris County's 33%.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Chester is 81% single-family homes, 11% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 4% mobile or manufactured homes.
In Chester, about 73% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
The vacancy rate is 2%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 79% of occupied homes in Chester are owner-occupied.
Most homes in Chester - 70% - are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
FEMA rates Morris County's overall risk as Relatively Moderate, led by strong wind (Relatively High). Morris County had 2,729 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Morris County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
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 | $659,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1971 |
| Owner-occupied share | 79% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 73% |
| Top county hazard | Strong Wind (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Morris County | 2,729 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,551 - 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)