Home Insurance in Rhea County, Tennessee
Homes in Rhea County carry a median value of $206,000 - 28% lower than the Tennessee median.
The typical home in Rhea County was built around 1988. About 13% of homes were built before 1960, about 5 points below Tennessee's 18%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
The housing stock in Rhea County is 68% single-family homes, 3% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 19% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
47% of owner-occupied homes in Rhea County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
Rhea County has an owner-occupancy rate of 71% and a vacancy rate of 13%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
Most homes in Rhea County - 55% - are primarily heated with electricity.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Rhea County's top hazards are earthquake (Relatively Low), strong wind (Relatively Moderate) and inland flooding (Relatively Low). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
Rhea County had 143 active National Flood Insurance Program policies as of September 2026. 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 | $206,000 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1988 |
| Owner-occupied share | 71% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 47% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Earthquake (Relatively Low), Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate), Inland Flooding (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 143 |
| 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)