Home Insurance in Sanborn County, South Dakota
The median home value in Sanborn County is $135,600, 47% lower than the South Dakota median.
Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. The typical home in Sanborn County was built around 1958. About 52% of homes were built before 1960, about 24 points above South Dakota's 28%.
The housing stock in Sanborn County is 81% single-family homes, 5% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 12% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
In Sanborn County, about 36% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
About 79% of occupied homes in Sanborn County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 19%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Most homes in Sanborn County - 58% - are primarily heated with propane. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists wildfire (Relatively Low), hail (Relatively Low) and winter weather (Relatively Low) as the leading hazards for Sanborn County.
As of September 2026, Sanborn County has 3 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
In South Dakota, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,614 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $135,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1958 |
| Owner-occupied share | 79% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 36% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Wildfire (Relatively Low), Hail (Relatively Low), Winter Weather (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 3 |
| 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)