Washington D.C. Homeowners Pay Mid-Range Insurance Costs Compared to the Rest of the Country

Homeowners in Washington, D.C. face mid-level insurance premiums compared to both nearby Mid-Atlantic states and the broader U.S.

While costs are not as high as in coastal, climate-vulnerable regions, they are also not among the lowest.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Realtor.com® 2025 Climate Risk Report provide a snapshot of how D.C. fits into the national picture.

District of Columbia’s Insurance Costs in Context

The latest American Community Survey (ACS) data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that in 2024, homeowners in the District of Columbia with a mortgage typically pay $1,000–$1,499 annually for homeowners insurance. Those without a mortgage report the same range, with overall statewide costs also falling in the $1,000–$1,499 bracket.

DC has 134,836 insured homeowner households in total—100,134 with a mortgage and 34,702 without. Among mortgaged owners, 7,660 pay less than $100 annually and 7,678 pay $4,000 or more. Among those without a mortgage, 6,872 pay less than $100 and 2,308 pay $4,000 or more.

When compared to nearby states, D.C.’s costs sit squarely in the middle. Maryland homeowners typically pay $1,000–$1,499, while Virginia averages the same. Delaware is slightly lower, with non-mortgaged homeowners averaging $800–$999, while Pennsylvania mirrors D.C. with most owners paying $1,000–$1,499. In this context, D.C. tracks closely with its neighbors but lacks the affordability advantage seen in Delaware.

Climate Risks and Regional Pressures

The Realtor.com 2025 Climate Risk Report emphasizes that the highest insurance burdens are concentrated in Southern coastal metros like Miami, where homeowners pay an average of $22,718 annually, or 3.7% of median home value. Cape Coral, Sarasota, and Tampa also rank among the most expensive.

The District of Columbia does not appear among the metros with the steepest insurance burdens or most severe flood and wind exposures.

Still, being located along the Potomac River and within reach of Atlantic storm systems means D.C. is not free from risk. Flooding and storm surges remain potential threats, though not to the same extent as Gulf Coast states. This helps explain why the District’s premiums remain moderate rather than extreme.

A Growing National Concern

Even with mid-range costs, Washington, D.C. homeowners are part of a broader national story. The Realtor.com 2025 Insurance Affordability Report found that 75% of Americans believe homeowners insurance could soon become unaffordable, while nearly half of respondents said they had already encountered difficulties renewing or obtaining coverage.

These pressures are already reshaping buyer behavior. Nearly 30% of homebuyers reported completely changing their target areas because of insurance concerns, while another quarter said they had overhauled their entire strategy. For many, rising costs may lead to risky decisions: 58% of homeowners said they would consider dropping coverage altogether if it became too expensive, with younger generations the most likely to do so.

For the District, costs remain manageable compared to national hot spots. But as affordability pressures mount across the U.S., even mid-range markets may see premiums rise, leaving D.C. homeowners more exposed to the national trend.

This article was produced with editorial input from Dina Sartore-Bodo, Gabriella Iannetta, and Allaire Conte.