Home Insurance in Charleston, West Virginia
The median home value in Charleston is $203,300, 38% higher than the Kanawha County median.
Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing. The typical home in Charleston was built around 1957. About 56% of homes were built before 1960, about 13 points above Kanawha County's 43%.
In Charleston, the housing stock is 70% single-family homes, 17% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 1% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
In Charleston, about 55% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
Charleston has an owner-occupancy rate of 63% and a vacancy rate of 17%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
In Charleston, 60% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
Kanawha County had 1,229 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. Its top FEMA-rated hazard is inland flooding (Relatively High). See the full Kanawha County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details. Flood damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy.
According to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data), a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in West Virginia carries a statewide average premium of $1,179 per year.
Key figures
| Median home value | $203,300 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1957 |
| Owner-occupied share | 63% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 55% |
| Top county hazard | Inland Flooding (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Kanawha County | 1,229 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,179 - 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)