Home Insurance in Erie County, Pennsylvania
The median home value in Erie County is $177,000, 30% lower than the Pennsylvania median.
The typical home in Erie County was built around 1964. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 46% of homes were built before 1960, about 1 point above Pennsylvania's 45%.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Erie County is 72% single-family homes, 11% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 5% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 53% of owner-occupied homes in Erie County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 8%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 68% of occupied homes in Erie County are owner-occupied.
78% of homes in Erie County are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
The top hazards for Erie County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are winter weather (Relatively High), strong wind (Relatively High) and inland flooding (Relatively Moderate).
Erie County had 365 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 | $177,000 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1964 |
| Owner-occupied share | 68% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 53% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Winter Weather (Relatively High), Strong Wind (Relatively High), Inland Flooding (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 365 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,217 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Albion
- Corry
- Cranesville
- Edinboro
- Elgin
- Erie
- Girard
- Lake City
- McKean
- Mill Village
- North East
- Platea
- Union City
- Waterford
- Wattsburg
- Wesleyville
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)