Home Insurance in Salem, South Carolina
Homes in Salem carry a median value of $167,500 - 29% lower than the Oconee County median.
The typical home in Salem was built around 1976. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. About 24% of homes were built before 1960, about 12 points above Oconee County's 12%.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Salem is 65% single-family homes and 35% mobile or manufactured homes.
About 28% of owner-occupied homes in Salem have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 27%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 81% of occupied homes in Salem are owner-occupied.
Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. In Salem, 81% of homes are primarily heated with electricity.
Oconee County's top FEMA-rated hazard is inland flooding (Relatively Moderate), per FEMA's National Risk Index. Oconee County had 63 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Oconee 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 | $167,500 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1976 |
| Owner-occupied share | 81% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 28% |
| Top county hazard | Inland Flooding (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP policies in Oconee County | 63 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,753 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
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)