Most expensive states for flood insurance
The most expensive state for flood insurance is West Virginia, with an average NFIP premium of $1,840 per year — about +88.5% versus the US average of $976. Next come Vermont ($1,697) and Pennsylvania ($1,513). The full ranking of all 51 states and DC is below.
Source: FEMA NFIP — Policy Information by State (compiled by NerdWallet, May 2026). Data as of June 2026.
All 51 states ranked, most to least expensive
| # | State | Avg premium/yr | vs US | NFIP claims |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $1,840 | +88.5% | 27,832 |
| 2 | Vermont | $1,697 | +73.9% | 3,726 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $1,513 | +55.0% | 76,907 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $1,502 | +53.9% | 29,425 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $1,472 | +50.8% | 27,849 |
| 6 | Missouri | $1,445 | +48.1% | 51,261 |
| 7 | Maine | $1,365 | +39.9% | 5,671 |
| 8 | Iowa | $1,340 | +37.3% | 14,748 |
| 9 | Tennessee | $1,220 | +25.0% | 17,649 |
| 10 | New York | $1,218 | +24.8% | 175,253 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $1,217 | +24.7% | 35,366 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $1,201 | +23.1% | 4,422 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $1,197 | +22.6% | 4,017 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $1,179 | +20.8% | 64,278 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $1,157 | +18.5% | 1,927 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $1,138 | +16.6% | 12,470 |
| 17 | Ohio | $1,109 | +13.6% | 28,179 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $1,109 | +13.6% | 7,023 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $1,096 | +12.3% | 202,156 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $1,079 | +10.6% | 12,973 |
| 21 | Kansas | $1,060 | +8.6% | 7,857 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $1,058 | +8.4% | 10,250 |
| 23 | Illinois | $1,050 | +7.6% | 52,736 |
| 24 | Washington | $1,030 | +5.5% | 16,061 |
| 25 | Indiana | $1,017 | +4.2% | 19,283 |
| 26 | California | $1,015 | +4.0% | 53,545 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $1,015 | +4.0% | 484,979 |
| 28 | Idaho | $991 | +1.5% | 1,113 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $987 | +1.1% | 561 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $986 | +1.0% | 9,498 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $980 | +0.4% | 6,067 |
| 32 | Colorado | $971 | -0.5% | 5,778 |
| 33 | Oregon | $969 | -0.7% | 6,095 |
| 34 | Texas | $966 | -1.0% | 393,669 |
| 35 | Montana | $942 | -3.5% | 2,217 |
| 36 | Florida | $938 | -3.9% | 448,425 |
| 37 | Alabama | $928 | -4.9% | 44,875 |
| 38 | Nevada | $924 | -5.3% | 1,960 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $902 | -7.6% | 109,539 |
| 40 | Georgia | $889 | -8.9% | 24,418 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $871 | -10.8% | 13,307 |
| 42 | Arizona | $867 | -11.2% | 5,323 |
| 43 | Michigan | $854 | -12.5% | 14,921 |
| 44 | Delaware | $827 | -15.3% | 6,334 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $823 | -15.7% | 6,250 |
| 46 | Virginia | $765 | -21.6% | 50,566 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $764 | -21.7% | 49,606 |
| 48 | Utah | $689 | -29.4% | 1,204 |
| 49 | Maryland | $505 | -48.3% | 25,355 |
| 50 | District of Columbia | $463 | -52.6% | 494 |
| 51 | Alaska | $428 | -56.1% | 805 |
Source: FEMA NFIP — Policy Information by State (compiled by NerdWallet, May 2026) (2026); OpenFEMA — FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims v2 (since 1978). Data as of June 2026.
High premium does not always mean high coastal risk
Some of the priciest states are inland, not coastal — Vermont, West Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri rank high because of severe river and flash flooding plus smaller, older policy bases. Coastal giants like Florida and Texas have huge policy counts and claim totals but mid-range average premiums. For the opposite end, see the cheapest states, and for raw flood activity see most claims paid.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most expensive state for flood insurance?
West Virginia has the highest average NFIP flood-insurance premium of any US state, at $1,840 per year — about +88.5% versus the US average of $976. Vermont ($1,697) and Pennsylvania ($1,513) follow.
Why is flood insurance so expensive in some states?
Since Risk Rating 2.0, premiums reflect true flood risk. States with severe repeat flooding — coastal storm surge, or inland river and flash flooding like Vermont, West Virginia and Kentucky — carry higher average premiums because expected losses are higher. Older policies are also phasing up toward full-risk rates.
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Last updated: 2026-06-20