Home Insurance in Cato, New York
The median home value in Cato is $163,300, close to the Cayuga County median.
Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. The median home in Cato was built in 1939 or earlier. About 66% of homes were built before 1960, about 14 points above Cayuga County's 52%.
The housing stock in Cato is 77% single-family homes and 6% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 70% of owner-occupied homes in Cato have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
About 79% of occupied homes in Cato are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 5%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
39% of homes in Cato are primarily heated with fuel oil. 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.
Cayuga County's top FEMA-rated hazard is inland flooding (Relatively Moderate), per FEMA's National Risk Index. Cayuga County had 308 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Cayuga County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Flood damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
In New York, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,801 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $163,300 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1939 or earlier |
| Owner-occupied share | 79% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 70% |
| Top county hazard | Inland Flooding (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP policies in Cayuga County | 308 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,801 - 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)