Home Insurance in Fayette County, West Virginia
The median home value in Fayette County is $105,800, 35% lower than the West Virginia median.
Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. The typical home in Fayette County was built around 1972. About 40% of homes were built before 1960, about 8 points above West Virginia's 32%.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Fayette County is 77% single-family homes, 5% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 15% mobile or manufactured homes.
About 40% of owner-occupied homes in Fayette County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
Fayette County has an owner-occupancy rate of 78% and a vacancy rate of 16%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
In Fayette County, 50% of homes are primarily heated with electricity. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
The top hazards for Fayette County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are inland flooding (Relatively Low), winter weather (Relatively Moderate) and earthquake (Very Low). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
Fayette County had 103 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 West Virginia is $1,179 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $105,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1972 |
| Owner-occupied share | 78% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 40% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Inland Flooding (Relatively Low), Winter Weather (Relatively Moderate), Earthquake (Very Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 103 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,179 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Ansted
- Fayetteville
- Gauley Bridge
- Meadow Bridge
- Montgomery
- Mount Hope
- Oak Hill
- Pax
- Smithers
- Thurmond
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)