Home Insurance in James Island, South Carolina
The median home value in James Island is $508,600, close to the Charleston County median.
Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. The typical home in James Island was built around 1970. About 14% of homes were built before 1960, about 1 point below Charleston County's 15%.
The housing stock in James Island is 94% single-family homes, 1% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes.
67% of owner-occupied homes in James Island carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 88% of occupied homes in James Island are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 6%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
61% of homes in James Island are primarily heated with electricity.
FEMA rates Charleston County's overall risk as Relatively High, led by coastal flooding (Very High). 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 | $508,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1970 |
| Owner-occupied share | 88% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 67% |
| 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
- Folly Beach
- Mount Pleasant
- Sullivan's Island
- Charleston
- Kiawah Island
- Isle of Palms
- Hanahan
- North Charleston
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)