Home Insurance in Kelso, Washington
With a median home value of $337,600, Kelso is 15% lower than the Cowlitz County median.
The typical home in Kelso was built around 1963. About 46% of homes were built before 1960, about 16 points above Cowlitz County's 30%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
The housing stock in Kelso is 67% single-family homes, 14% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 5% 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 68% of owner-occupied homes in Kelso have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
Kelso has an owner-occupancy rate of 56% and a vacancy rate of 4%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
In Kelso, 90% of homes are primarily heated with electricity.
FEMA rates Cowlitz County's overall risk as Relatively Moderate, led by earthquake (Relatively Moderate). Cowlitz County had 926 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Cowlitz County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Earthquake damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Washington is $1,232 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $337,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1963 |
| Owner-occupied share | 56% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 68% |
| Top county hazard | Earthquake (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP policies in Cowlitz County | 926 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,232 - 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)