Home Insurance in Pickens County, South Carolina
Homes in Pickens County carry a median value of $231,900 - 10% lower than the South Carolina median.
Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. The typical home in Pickens County was built around 1989. About 13% of homes were built before 1960, in line with South Carolina (12%).
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Pickens County is 65% single-family homes, 12% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 16% mobile or manufactured homes.
53% of owner-occupied homes in Pickens County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 71% of occupied homes in Pickens County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 11%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Most homes in Pickens County - 60% - are primarily heated with electricity.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Pickens County's top hazards are inland flooding (Relatively Moderate), earthquake (Relatively Low) and strong wind (Relatively Moderate). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. As of September 2026, Pickens County has 126 active NFIP flood policies on file.
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 | $231,900 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1989 |
| Owner-occupied share | 71% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 53% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Inland Flooding (Relatively Moderate), Earthquake (Relatively Low), Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 126 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,753 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
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)