Home Insurance in Washington County, Rhode Island
The median home value in Washington County is $510,800, 26% higher than the Rhode Island median.
The typical home in Washington County was built around 1977. About 30% of homes were built before 1960, about 19 points below Rhode Island's 48%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
The housing stock in Washington County is 80% single-family homes, 9% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 1% mobile or manufactured homes.
65% of owner-occupied homes in Washington County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 78% of occupied homes in Washington County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 21%; 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. In Washington County, 40% of homes are primarily heated with fuel oil.
The top hazards for Washington County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are hurricane (Relatively Moderate), coastal flooding (Relatively Moderate) and inland flooding (Relatively Moderate).
As of September 2026, Washington County has 3,952 active NFIP flood insurance policies. 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 Rhode Island is $2,396 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $510,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1977 |
| Owner-occupied share | 78% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 65% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hurricane (Relatively Moderate), Coastal Flooding (Relatively Moderate), Inland Flooding (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 3,952 |
| 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)