Home Insurance in Richland County, South Carolina
The median home value in Richland County is $242,800, 6% lower than the South Carolina median.
The typical home in Richland County was built around 1989. About 16% of homes were built before 1960, about 3 points above South Carolina's 12%. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild.
The housing stock in Richland County is 67% single-family homes, 21% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 5% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
About 67% of owner-occupied homes in Richland County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
About 60% of occupied homes in Richland County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 10%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
In Richland County, 73% of homes are primarily heated with electricity.
The top hazards for Richland County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are strong wind (Relatively High), tornado (Relatively High) and inland flooding (Relatively High).
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. As of September 2026, Richland County has 2,124 active NFIP flood policies on file.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in South Carolina is $1,753 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $242,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1989 |
| Owner-occupied share | 60% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 67% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Strong Wind (Relatively High), Tornado (Relatively High), Inland Flooding (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 2,124 |
| 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)