Home Insurance in Chilhowie, Virginia
The median home value in Chilhowie is $153,600, 10% higher than the Smyth County median.
The typical home in Chilhowie was built around 1973. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. About 30% of homes were built before 1960, in line with Smyth County (30%).
The housing stock in Chilhowie is 71% single-family homes, 6% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 10% 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.
About 50% of owner-occupied homes in Chilhowie have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 5%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 67% of occupied homes in Chilhowie are owner-occupied.
83% of homes in Chilhowie are primarily heated with electricity. Homes heated with fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
FEMA rates Smyth County's overall risk as Relatively Low, led by inland flooding (Relatively Low). Smyth County had 133 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Smyth County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Flood damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
In Virginia, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,537 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $153,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1973 |
| Owner-occupied share | 67% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 50% |
| Top county hazard | Inland Flooding (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP policies in Smyth County | 133 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,537 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- 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)