Home Insurance in Bristol County, Rhode Island
With a median home value of $513,800, Bristol County is 27% higher than the Rhode Island median.
Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. The typical home in Bristol County was built around 1957. About 54% of homes were built before 1960, about 6 points above Rhode Island's 48%.
Housing in Bristol County breaks down to 70% single-family homes and 12% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 66% of owner-occupied homes in Bristol County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
About 72% of occupied homes in Bristol County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 7%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Most homes in Bristol County - 57% - 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.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Bristol County's top hazards are hurricane (Relatively Low), coastal flooding (Relatively Moderate) and earthquake (Very Low). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
As of September 2026, Bristol County has 1,768 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
In Rhode Island, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $2,396 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $513,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1957 |
| Owner-occupied share | 72% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 66% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hurricane (Relatively Low), Coastal Flooding (Relatively Moderate), Earthquake (Very Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 1,768 |
| Home insurance premium | $2,396 - 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)