Home Insurance in New Hanover County, North Carolina
With a median home value of $387,800, New Hanover County is 34% higher than the North Carolina median.
The typical home in New Hanover County was built around 1993. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 14% of homes were built before 1960, in line with North Carolina (14%).
In New Hanover County, the housing stock is 67% single-family homes, 22% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 3% mobile or manufactured homes.
67% of owner-occupied homes in New Hanover County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 61% of occupied homes in New Hanover County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 13%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
88% of homes in New Hanover County are primarily heated with electricity.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, New Hanover County's top hazards are hurricane (Very High), winter weather (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, New Hanover County has 17,097 active NFIP flood policies on file.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in North Carolina is $1,852 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $387,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1993 |
| Owner-occupied share | 61% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 67% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hurricane (Very High), Winter Weather (Relatively High), Tornado (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 17,097 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,852 - 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)