Home Insurance in Erie County, New York
With a median home value of $233,800, Erie County is 45% lower than the New York median.
Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. The typical home in Erie County was built around 1957. About 55% of homes were built before 1960, about 3 points above New York's 52%.
The housing stock in Erie County is 62% single-family homes, 13% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
57% of owner-occupied homes in Erie County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
Erie County has an owner-occupancy rate of 66% and a vacancy rate of 7%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
Most homes in Erie County - 87% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Erie County's top hazards are winter weather (Very High), inland flooding (Relatively High) and tornado (Relatively High).
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. As of September 2026, Erie County has 1,469 active NFIP flood policies on file.
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 | $233,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1957 |
| Owner-occupied share | 66% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 57% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Winter Weather (Very High), Inland Flooding (Relatively High), Tornado (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 1,469 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,801 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Akron
- Alden
- Angola
- Blasdell
- Buffalo
- Depew
- East Aurora
- Farnham
- Hamburg
- Kenmore
- Lackawanna
- Lancaster
- North Collins
- Orchard Park
- Sloan
- Springville
- Tonawanda
- Williamsville
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)