Home Insurance in Rochester, New York
The median home value in Rochester is $139,600, 35% lower than the Monroe County median.
The median home in Rochester was built in 1939 or earlier. About 72% of homes were built before 1960, about 29 points above Monroe County's 43%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
The housing stock in Rochester is 50% single-family homes and 24% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
61% of owner-occupied homes in Rochester carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 38% of occupied homes in Rochester are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 11%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Most homes in Rochester - 72% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
What's the biggest home insurance risk near Rochester? FEMA's National Risk Index points to inland flooding (Relatively High) in Monroe County and Monroe County had 1,313 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Monroe 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 | $139,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1939 or earlier |
| Owner-occupied share | 38% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 61% |
| Top county hazard | Inland Flooding (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Monroe County | 1,313 |
| 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)