Cities Where Homeowners Are Denied Insurance Coverage

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Due to climate change, natural disasters are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity. Posing a direct threat to the health and safety of all Americans, this trend is also impacting household finances. From wildfires in the West to hurricanes and storm surges in the East, American homeowners are paying more than ever to insure their property. According to the Consumer Federation of America, the average insurance premium for a typical homeowner in the U.S. climbed by 24% – or $648 – between 2021 and 2024.

In certain parts of the country, higher premiums are likely a preferable alternative to what many homeowners are facing – outright denial of continued coverage. Major natural disasters, particularly hurricanes and wildfires, can wipe out entire communities, and rebuilding costs are largely shouldered by insurance companies. In cases like these, the amount insurers pay out far exceeds their local revenue from customer premiums. While insurance company losses in these areas are offset by revenue from other markets, insurers may decide covering communities where losses are especially severe is no longer in their best interest.

According to testimony brought before the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, nearly 2 million Americans living in places with a high-risk of natural disasters were dropped by their insurance providers between 2018 and 2023.

Using data from the Treasury Department, Climate Crisis 247 identified the communities where insurance companies are not renewing policies. We reviewed data for over 25,500 U.S. ZIP codes and ranked them on their non-renewal rate – or the percentage of policies insurers did not renew due to property and area risk profiles, which are often associated with climate-related threats. Treasury Department data is current as of 2022, and only includes ZIP codes with at least 10 insurers and where at least 50 homeowner insurance policies have been issued. Only ZIP codes in which non-renewal rates were at least 15% are included on this list. Supplemental data on the average insurance claim payout and the average premium paid per policy holder are also from the U.S. Treasury.

18. Conway, SC (ZIP code: 29526)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 15.0%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $14,516
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $1,714

 

17. North Charleston, SC (ZIP code: 29405)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 15.5%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $9,858
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $2,026

 

16. Three Rivers, CA (ZIP code: 93271)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 15.8%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $67,731
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $2,111

 

15. Okatie, SC (ZIP code: 29909)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 15.9%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $11,565
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $2,257

 

14. Summerville, SC (ZIP code: 29483)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 16.2%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $13,180
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $1,896

 

13. Moncks Corner, SC (ZIP code: 29461)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 16.6%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $14,691
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $1,837

 

12. Summerville, SC (ZIP code: 29485)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 17.9%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $11,861
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $1,912

 

11. Caliente, CA (ZIP code: 93518)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 18.1%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $9,102
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $2,393

 

10. Beaufort, SC (ZIP code: 29906)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 19.2%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $11,280
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $2,354

 

9. Dulzura, CA (ZIP code: 91917)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 21.1%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $125,701
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $2,785

 

8. Charleston, SC (ZIP code: 29492)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 21.3%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $13,864
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $3,205

 

7. Myrtle Beach, SC (ZIP code: 29579)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 21.6%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $16,164
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $2,118

 

6. Longs, SC (ZIP code: 29568)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 21.6%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $14,625
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $1,650

 

5. Summerville, SC (ZIP code: 29486)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 25.5%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $9,504
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $1,484

 

4. Mount Pleasant, SC (ZIP code: 2946

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 27.8%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $16,245
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $3,344

 

3. Bluffton, SC (ZIP code: 29910)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 27.9%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $16,072
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $2,670

 

2. Little River, SC (ZIP code: 29566)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 28.1%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $11,309
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $1,827

 

1. Hilton Head Island, SC (ZIP code: 29926)

• Share of policies not renewed by insurance providers in 2022: 43.8%
• Avg. insurance claim pay out in 2022: $23,017
• Avg. premium payment per policy holder in 2022: $4,299

 

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