Home Insurance in Gilmer County, West Virginia
The median home value in Gilmer County is $83,800, 48% lower than the West Virginia median.
The typical home in Gilmer County was built around 1974. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. About 35% of homes were built before 1960, about 4 points above West Virginia's 32%.
In Gilmer County, the housing stock is 70% single-family homes, 2% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 25% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
31% of owner-occupied homes in Gilmer County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
The vacancy rate is 28%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 76% of occupied homes in Gilmer County are owner-occupied.
Most homes in Gilmer County - 70% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Gilmer County's top hazards are hurricane (Very Low), inland flooding (Relatively Low) and earthquake (Very Low). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
Gilmer County had 67 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 | $83,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1974 |
| Owner-occupied share | 76% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 31% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Hurricane (Very Low), Inland Flooding (Relatively Low), Earthquake (Very Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 67 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,179 - 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)