Home Insurance in Polk County, Tennessee
The median home value in Polk County is $169,900, 41% lower than the Tennessee median.
The typical home in Polk County was built around 1988. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. About 15% of homes were built before 1960, about 2 points below Tennessee's 18%.
In Polk County, the housing stock is 72% single-family homes, 3% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 22% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
In Polk County, about 40% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
The vacancy rate is 18%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 84% of occupied homes in Polk County are owner-occupied.
Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. 71% of homes in Polk County are primarily heated with electricity.
The top hazards for Polk County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are wildfire (Relatively Low), earthquake (Relatively Low) and strong wind (Relatively Moderate). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
As of September 2026, Polk County has 59 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Tennessee is $1,649 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $169,900 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1988 |
| Owner-occupied share | 84% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 40% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Wildfire (Relatively Low), Earthquake (Relatively Low), Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 59 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,649 - 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)