Home Insurance in Chatham, New York
Homes in Chatham carry a median value of $323,100 - 7% lower than the Columbia County median.
The median home in Chatham was built in 1939 or earlier. About 77% of homes were built before 1960, about 33 points above Columbia County's 44%. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild.
The housing stock in Chatham is 54% single-family homes and 12% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
52% of owner-occupied homes in Chatham carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 54% of occupied homes in Chatham are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 11%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
50% of homes in Chatham are primarily heated with fuel oil. Homes heated with propane and fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
Columbia County had 196 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. Its top FEMA-rated hazard is hurricane (Relatively Low). See the full Columbia County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
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 | $323,100 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1939 or earlier |
| Owner-occupied share | 54% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 52% |
| Top county hazard | Hurricane (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP policies in Columbia County | 196 |
| 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)