Home Insurance in Mellette County, South Dakota
With a median home value of $84,100, Mellette County is 67% lower than the South Dakota median.
The typical home in Mellette County was built around 1969. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. About 34% of homes were built before 1960, about 6 points above South Dakota's 28%.
In Mellette County, the housing stock is 74% single-family homes and 21% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
In Mellette County, about 17% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
Mellette County has an owner-occupancy rate of 60% and a vacancy rate of 18%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
Homes heated with propane, fuel oil and wood can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. Most homes in Mellette County - 50% - are primarily heated with propane.
The top hazards for Mellette County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are wildfire (Relatively Low), winter weather (Relatively Low) and hail (Very Low).
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. Mellette County has no active NFIP flood policies on file.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in South Dakota is $1,614 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $84,100 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1969 |
| Owner-occupied share | 60% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 17% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Wildfire (Relatively Low), Winter Weather (Relatively Low), Hail (Very Low) |
| Home insurance premium | $1,614 - 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)