Flood insurance in Massachusetts: cost by ZIP code and county
Massachusetts has 29,878 single-family flood policies; at $1,410 on July 31, 2026, the median bill is above the national figure.
Median single-family flood bill, Massachusetts
$1,410
29,878 policies in force on July 31, 2026, premium and fees included.
| Median full-risk price, same policies | $1,733 |
| Policies still below their full-risk price | 46 % |
| Median paid in August 2023 | $1,106 |
| Increase left from the median | 2 renewals at 18 % |
| Next five bills, added up | $8,583 |
| Median claim paid, 2016 to 2025 (1,861 claims) | $11,617 |
Compiled by Radif Partners · Where the numbers come from · 387 ZIP codes and 14 counties of Massachusetts in FEMA's tables · not a quote
Massachusetts homeowners with a federal flood policy paid a median $1,410 a year on July 31, 2026 for a single-family home, all charges included, across 29,878 policies. That is more than the national median of $1,081, and the gap to full price is smaller than in the Gulf states: the full-risk median is $1,733 and 46 % of policies are still capped. Barnstable County (Cape Cod) and Plymouth County hold 13,386 policies between them, with medians of $1,588 and $1,560. V zone policies, 3,769 of them, have a median of $1,870. Inland, Middlesex County pays $955. Houses are expensive too: the median replacement cost in FEMA's 2023 data was $567,749, more than the $250,000 federal building maximum, so a federal policy alone cannot pay to rebuild a median house.
What sets Massachusetts above the national median
Two features of the data stand out. First, a larger share of its policies are on the open coast: 3,769 of 29,878 are in V zones, a much higher proportion than in most states. Second, FEMA's 2023 tables put 26 % of its single-family policies in areas exposed to coastal erosion, against 8 % nationally, and 68 % exposed to surge. Expensive homes add to it, since the premium depends partly on the cost to rebuild.
The shape of the price bands shows the result. 22 % of the state's 2023 policies had a full-risk price of $3,000 or more, against 17 % nationally.
Where a quoted full-risk price falls among Massachusetts homes
Single-family homes in Massachusetts with a lower full-risk price
57 %
| Full-risk price under $1,000 | 22 % |
| State median full-risk price, 2023 rates | $1,762 |
| Price entered | $2,000 |
Boston and the South Shore
Suffolk County, which includes Boston, has only 1,343 single-family policies; condominium and apartment buildings are not counted in these medians. Its single-family median, $1,684, is the highest of the large counties, and the full-risk median is $2,452. Plymouth County, which takes in Hull and Hingham, recorded 605 paid single-family claims from 2016 to 2025, more than any other of the large counties.
North of the city, Essex County takes in Gloucester and Newburyport. Its 3,943 policies pay a median $1,394, and 52 % are still capped. Norfolk County, south of Boston, is a little cheaper at $1,281. Bristol County sits close to the state median.
Many small losses, few big storms
The claims record is modest for a coastal state: 1,861 paid single-family claims over ten years, a median of $11,617. No storm in that window produced a large claims file. The costliest event was the December Nor'easter of 2023, with 43 claims. V zone claims are the largest, a median of $20,480. Inland, the 820 Worcester County policies cost a median $822.
The coverage limits page explains what the $250,000 building cap means for a house that costs more to rebuild.
The Massachusetts counties with the most policies
| County | Policies | Median bill | Full-risk median | Still below full risk | Renewals left at 18 % | Median bill, August 2023 | Median claim 2016-2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable County | 6,568 | $1,588 | $1,942 | 49 % | 2 | $1,135 | $9,507 |
| Plymouth County | 6,818 | $1,560 | $1,998 | 46 % | 2 | $1,189 | $16,255 |
| Essex County | 3,943 | $1,394 | $1,716 | 52 % | 2 | $1,102 | $13,233 |
| Norfolk County | 2,540 | $1,281 | $1,566 | 43 % | 2 | $1,093 | $10,554 |
| Middlesex County | 3,084 | $955 | $1,022 | 38 % | 1 | $863 | $6,260 |
| Bristol County | 2,258 | $1,364 | $1,570 | 39 % | 1 | $1,105 | $9,809 |
| Suffolk County | 1,343 | $1,684 | $2,452 | 52 % | 3 | $1,232 | $7,552 |
| Worcester County | 820 | $822 | $869 | 35 % | 1 | $854 | $5,157 |
Full-risk prices of Massachusetts homes, band by band
| Full risk-based price a year | Policies | Share | Median rebuild value |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 to $1,000 | 7,117 | 21.9 % | $590,768 |
| $1,000 to $2,000 | 11,523 | 35.4 % | $530,611 |
| $2,000 to $3,000 | 6,802 | 20.9 % | $548,399 |
| $3,000 to $4,000 | 3,349 | 10.3 % | $580,720 |
| $4,000 to $5,000 | 1,690 | 5.2 % | $623,094 |
| $5,000 or more | 2,069 | 6.4 % |
The floods that paid the most Massachusetts claims since 2016
| Event (FEMA name) | Year | Paid claims | Paid in total |
|---|---|---|---|
| December Nor'easter | 2023 | 43 | $1,027,971 |
| Hurricane Ida | 2021 | 40 | $354,584 |
| Hurricane Elsa | 2021 | 8 | $38,787 |