Home Insurance in Berks County, Pennsylvania
Homes in Berks County carry a median value of $257,300 - close to the Pennsylvania median.
The typical home in Berks County was built around 1969. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 43% of homes were built before 1960, about 2 points below Pennsylvania's 45%.
The housing stock in Berks County is 79% single-family homes, 10% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 3% mobile or manufactured homes.
About 61% of owner-occupied homes in Berks County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 5%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 71% of occupied homes in Berks County are owner-occupied.
42% of homes in Berks County are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with propane and fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists winter weather (Very High), strong wind (Relatively High) and inland flooding (Relatively High) as the leading hazards for Berks County.
Berks County had 856 active National Flood Insurance Program policies as of September 2026. 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 Pennsylvania is $1,217 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $257,300 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1969 |
| Owner-occupied share | 71% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 61% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Winter Weather (Very High), Strong Wind (Relatively High), Inland Flooding (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 856 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,217 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Bally
- Bechtelsville
- Bernville
- Birdsboro
- Boyertown
- Centerport
- Fleetwood
- Hamburg
- Kenhorst
- Kutztown
- Laureldale
- Leesport
- Lenhartsville
- Lyons
- Mohnton
- Mount Penn
- New Morgan
- Reading
- Robesonia
- Shillington
- Shoemakersville
- Sinking Spring
- St. Lawrence
- Topton
- Wernersville
- West Reading
- Womelsdorf
- Wyomissing
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)