Home Insurance in Queens County, New York
Homes in Queens County carry a median value of $723,800 - 71% higher than the New York median.
The typical home in Queens County was built around 1953. About 63% of homes were built before 1960, about 11 points above New York's 52%. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them.
The housing stock in Queens County is 28% single-family homes and 42% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
54% of owner-occupied homes in Queens County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
The vacancy rate is 8%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 45% of occupied homes in Queens County are owner-occupied.
Most homes in Queens County - 74% - are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
The top hazards for Queens County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are winter weather (Very High), strong wind (Very High) and inland flooding (Very High).
As of September 2026, Queens County has 18,306 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in New York is $1,801 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $723,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1953 |
| Owner-occupied share | 45% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 54% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Winter Weather (Very High), Strong Wind (Very High), Inland Flooding (Very High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 18,306 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,801 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
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)