Home Insurance in Tompkins County, New York
With a median home value of $290,900, Tompkins County is 31% lower than the New York median.
The typical home in Tompkins County was built around 1974. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. About 36% of homes were built before 1960, about 16 points below New York's 52%.
The housing stock in Tompkins County is 54% single-family homes, 23% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 8% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
In Tompkins County, about 52% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
About 54% of occupied homes in Tompkins County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 9%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Homes heated with propane and fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. 46% of homes in Tompkins County are primarily heated with natural gas.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists inland flooding (Relatively Moderate), hurricane (Relatively Low) and tornado (Relatively Low) as the leading hazards for Tompkins County.
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. As of September 2026, Tompkins County has 411 active NFIP flood policies on file.
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 | $290,900 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1974 |
| Owner-occupied share | 54% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 52% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Inland Flooding (Relatively Moderate), Hurricane (Relatively Low), Tornado (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 411 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,801 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
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)