Home Insurance in Charleston, South Carolina
The median home value in Charleston is $509,700, close to the Charleston County median.
The typical home in Charleston was built around 1995. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 19% of homes were built before 1960, about 4 points above Charleston County's 15%.
In Charleston, the housing stock is 55% single-family homes, 35% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 1% mobile or manufactured homes.
In Charleston, about 69% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
About 56% of occupied homes in Charleston are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 12%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Most homes in Charleston - 73% - are primarily heated with electricity.
What's the biggest home insurance risk near Charleston? FEMA's National Risk Index points to coastal flooding (Very High) in Charleston County and Charleston County had 59,025 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Charleston County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Flood damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
According to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data), a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in South Carolina carries a statewide average premium of $1,753 per year.
Key figures
| Median home value | $509,700 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1995 |
| Owner-occupied share | 56% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 69% |
| Top county hazard | Coastal Flooding (Very High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Charleston County | 59,025 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,753 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
- Mount Pleasant
- James Island
- Hanahan
- North Charleston
- Sullivan's Island
- Folly Beach
- Goose Creek
- Isle of Palms
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- 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)