Home Insurance in Cattaraugus County, New York
The median home value in Cattaraugus County is $113,100, 73% lower than the New York median.
Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. The typical home in Cattaraugus County was built around 1960. About 50% of homes were built before 1960, about 2 points below New York's 52%.
In Cattaraugus County, the housing stock is 73% single-family homes, 6% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 11% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
43% of owner-occupied homes in Cattaraugus County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
Cattaraugus County has an owner-occupancy rate of 75% and a vacancy rate of 21%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
Most homes in Cattaraugus County - 53% - are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with propane, fuel oil and wood can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
The top hazards for Cattaraugus County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are inland flooding (Relatively Moderate), strong wind (Relatively Moderate) and tornado (Relatively Moderate).
As of September 2026, Cattaraugus County has 449 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
According to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data), a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in New York carries a statewide average premium of $1,801 per year.
Key figures
| Median home value | $113,100 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1960 |
| Owner-occupied share | 75% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 43% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Inland Flooding (Relatively Moderate), Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate), Tornado (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 449 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,801 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Allegany
- Cattaraugus
- Delevan
- Ellicottville
- Franklinville
- Gowanda
- Little Valley
- Olean
- Portville
- Salamanca
- South Dayton
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)