Home Insurance in Kanawha County, West Virginia
The median home value in Kanawha County is $147,300, 9% lower than the West Virginia median.
The typical home in Kanawha County was built around 1966. About 43% of homes were built before 1960, about 11 points above West Virginia's 32%. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild.
The housing stock in Kanawha County is 72% single-family homes, 11% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 10% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
About 48% of owner-occupied homes in Kanawha County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
About 71% of occupied homes in Kanawha County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 15%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
In Kanawha County, 53% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Kanawha County's top hazards are inland flooding (Relatively High), strong wind (Relatively High) and winter weather (Relatively High).
Kanawha County had 1,229 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.
In West Virginia, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,179 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $147,300 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1966 |
| Owner-occupied share | 71% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 48% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Inland Flooding (Relatively High), Strong Wind (Relatively High), Winter Weather (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 1,229 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,179 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Belle
- Cedar Grove
- Charleston
- Chesapeake
- Clendenin
- Dunbar
- East Bank
- Glasgow
- Handley
- Marmet
- Nitro
- Pratt
- South Charleston
- St. Albans
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)