Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States — and as FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 reshapes premiums and a changing climate intensifies storms, the cost and the coverage gap vary dramatically by state. Statewide Flood Insurance analyzed flood insurance cost and risk across 17 of the nation’s most flood-exposed states. Here’s what we found.
Key Findings
- Florida dominates U.S. flood insurance — roughly 1.7 million policies, about 35% of every flood policy in the country.
- The coverage gap is the real crisis. From New York to Oregon to North Carolina, most homes facing real flood risk carry no flood insurance at all.
- Flooding outside FEMA “high-risk” zones is everywhere — 43% of flooded North Carolina homes and roughly a third of Boston-area claims came from low- and moderate-risk areas.
- The Northeast is the most expensive region — New Jersey (~$2,100), Connecticut ($1,400–$1,800), and New York ($1,300–$1,460) lead average NFIP premiums, pushed up by FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0.
- “Landlocked” does not mean safe. Inland states post huge losses — Ohio has logged 5,400+ flood events, and 365,000+ Michigan homes face a 26%+ flood risk.
- The threat is intensifying. 2024–2025 alone brought Hurricane Helene’s Atlanta flash-flood emergency, 16 inches of Connecticut rain in hours, and a Washington atmospheric river that evacuated over 100,000 people.
Flood insurance cost & risk by state (2026)
Typical average annual NFIP premiums and a notable risk stat for each state we analyzed. Click any state for full local detail and sources.
| State | Avg. NFIP premium (typical) | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | ~$700 – $1,363 | ~1.7M policies — about 35% of all U.S. flood policies |
| Louisiana | ~$800 – $1,200 | Highest flood-coverage rate in the U.S. (~20.9% of homes) |
| New Jersey | ~$2,100 | 4th in the nation — ~220,000 policies |
| New York | ~$1,300 – $1,460 | ~160,000 policies; most at-risk homes uninsured |
| Connecticut | $1,400 – $1,800 | Aug 2024: up to 16 inches of rain in 6–8 hours |
| Ohio | ~$1,350 | 5,400+ recorded flood events; ~$1.8B in damage |
| Illinois | ~$1,250 | Overwhelmingly inland river & urban flooding |
| Massachusetts | $1,078 – $1,142 | ~1/3 of Boston-area claims came from outside high-risk zones |
| Texas | ~$780 – $1,118 | Most flood-prone land of any state — 20M+ acres |
| Alabama | $900 – $1,400 | 58,500+ policies protecting $12.3B in property |
| Georgia | ~$950 – $1,090 | Helene 2024: Atlanta’s first-ever flash-flood emergency |
| North Carolina | ~$900 – $1,100 | UNC study: 43% of flooded homes were outside high-risk zones |
| Washington | ~$900 – $1,250 | Dec 2025 atmospheric river evacuated 100,000+ |
| Oregon | ~$925 | ~26,800 policies; most at-risk homes uninsured |
| Tennessee | ~$900 – $1,000 | 2021 Waverly flash flood — 17+ inches of rain |
| South Carolina | $700 – $800 | ~200,000+ policies; hurricane & coastal exposure |
| Michigan | ~$785 – $1,050 | 365,000+ homes face a 26%+ chance of flooding |
Private flood insurance is frequently 30–50% below these NFIP figures for eligible homes, with higher limits. See private vs. NFIP →
The hidden coverage gap
The most consistent finding across every state is how few at-risk homeowners are actually insured. Standard homeowners insurance excludes flood, yet millions assume they’re covered — and because FEMA flood maps lag behind real-world risk, a large share of flood losses hit homes in so-called low-risk zones. In North Carolina, a UNC study found 43% of flooded homes sat outside high-risk areas; in the Boston metro, roughly a third of claims came from low- and moderate-risk zones. The takeaway: “I’m not in a flood zone” is not protection.
Why flood insurance costs are rising
FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 repriced the NFIP property by property, and for most policyholders that has meant steady annual increases — sharp ones in coastal and high-risk areas. That affordability squeeze is the single biggest reason homeowners are turning to private flood insurance, which for most homes is cheaper than the NFIP while offering higher limits and broader coverage. Why homeowners are leaving the NFIP →
Inland flooding: the overlooked threat
Coastal surge gets the headlines, but inland states carry enormous, underinsured risk. Ohio has recorded more than 5,400 flood events; Michigan has 365,000+ homes facing meaningful flood odds; Tennessee, Illinois, and Ohio all face river and flash-flood exposure that routinely strikes neighborhoods no one considered “flood-prone.” Inland homeowners are among the least likely to carry coverage — and the most surprised when water arrives.
Methodology & sources
Figures are approximate statewide averages compiled from FEMA / National Flood Insurance Program data and state insurance and industry sources, 2025–2026. Actual premiums vary widely by property, flood zone, elevation, and construction. State-by-state detail and the specific sources behind each figure are available on the individual state pages linked in the table above. This report may be cited with attribution to Statewide Flood Insurance.
Get your flood insurance quote
Wherever you are, we compare private and NFIP flood insurance nationwide — through multiple Lloyd’s of London markets — to find your lowest rate. Compare private vs. NFIP →