Home Insurance in Preston County, West Virginia
With a median home value of $162,800, Preston County is close to the West Virginia median.
The typical home in Preston County was built around 1982. About 24% of homes were built before 1960, about 7 points below West Virginia's 32%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
The housing stock in Preston County is 77% single-family homes, 4% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 17% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
In Preston County, about 45% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
Preston County has an owner-occupancy rate of 81% and a vacancy rate of 16%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
Homes heated with propane, fuel oil and wood can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. 30% of homes in Preston County are primarily heated with electricity.
FEMA's National Risk Index lists inland flooding (Relatively Low), winter weather (Relatively Low) and hurricane (Very Low) as the leading hazards for Preston County.
Preston County had 74 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.
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 | $162,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1982 |
| Owner-occupied share | 81% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 45% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Inland Flooding (Relatively Low), Winter Weather (Relatively Low), Hurricane (Very Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 74 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,179 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Albright
- Brandonville
- Bruceton Mills
- Kingwood
- Masontown
- Newburg
- Reedsville
- Rowlesburg
- Terra Alta
- Tunnelton
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)