West Virginia Homeowners Pay Some of the Lowest Insurance Costs In The Country

West Virginia homeowners benefit from some of the lowest homeowners insurance premiums in the country, even as costs climb in more climate-exposed states.

While affordability challenges dominate markets in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the 2025 Climate Risk Report show that West Virginia households continue to enjoy low average costs.

West Virginia’s Insurance Costs Stay Affordable

According to the American Community Survey (ACS) data from the U.S. Census Bureau, West Virginia homeowners with a mortgage typically pay $1,000–$1,499 annually for homeowners insurance, while those without a mortgage average even less, at $800–$999. Overall statewide costs also fall into the $800–$999 range.

West Virginia has 559,415 insured homeowner households in total—251,070 with a mortgage and 308,345 without. Among mortgaged owners, 34,103 pay less than $100 annually and 4,024 pay $4,000 or more. Among those without a mortgage, 99,670 pay less than $100 and 5,159 pay $4,000 or more.

Compared with nearby states, West Virginia is among the most affordable. Pennsylvania homeowners with a mortgage typically pay $1,000–$1,499, while non-mortgaged households average $800–$999, matching West Virginia. Ohio and Kentucky also average $1,000–$1,499 for mortgaged owners, keeping them in line with West Virginia. By contrast, Virginia homeowners pay slightly more, at $1,000–$1,499, but with higher shares of households reporting costs above $4,000. This positions West Virginia among the most affordable insurance states in the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian regions.

Climate Risks Across the Region

The Climate Risk Report shows how climate exposure has raised premiums in more vulnerable states. Miami leads the U.S., with homeowners paying an average of $22,718 annually, or 3.7% of home value. Other Florida metros such as Cape Coral, Sarasota, and Tampa also rank among the most expensive.

West Virginia does not appear in the report’s list of metros with the steepest insurance burdens, nor does it rank highly for hurricane, flood, or wildfire exposure. However, the state faces localized risks, including flooding along rivers, severe storms, and landslides in mountainous areas. These hazards have not yet pushed statewide homeowners insurance costs into higher tiers, keeping premiums low compared with national averages.

A National Affordability Challenge

Even though West Virginia homeowners currently enjoy low premiums, affordability is an increasing issue across the U.S. The Realtor.com 2025 Insurance Affordability Report found that 75% of Americans believe homeowners insurance could soon become unaffordable, while nearly half said they had already faced difficulties renewing or obtaining coverage.

These affordability challenges are reshaping how people buy homes. Nearly 30% of homebuyers said they had completely changed the areas where they were searching because of insurance costs, while another quarter said they had overhauled their strategies altogether. A recent migration analysis shows that many buyers are actively seeking states with the lowest home insurance premiums, shifting demand across regions.

Even more troubling, 58% of homeowners nationwide said they would consider dropping coverage if costs rose too high, with younger buyers especially likely to take that risk.

West Virginia’s Outlook

For now, West Virginia households enjoy some of the lowest costs in the country, providing stability in an era of rising premiums. Still, with climate risks mounting nationally, residents may want to use a home insurance comparison tool to evaluate coverage options. Even traditionally low-cost states like West Virginia could face more upward pressure in the years ahead.

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