🧭 Your insurance up north vs. on the coast
Coastal homeowners insurance costs more. In 2022 most SC and GA coastal ZIPs averaged about $1,600–$5,000 a year (a few island and historic ZIPs far more), vs. about $1,000–$1,600 in a typical NJ, NY, PA or OH ZIP. On the coast you usually add flood and may need a separate wind policy.
1. Up north: typical ZIP, 2022
| State | ZIPs | Typical (median) ZIP avg premium |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 563 | $1,598 |
| Ohio | 1,032 | $1,239 |
| New York | 1,535 | $1,217 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,524 | $1,015 |
| 🇺🇸 U.S. | 25,593 | $1,551 |
2. On the coast: average premium per policy by ZIP, 2022
| Area | ZIP | Avg HO premium |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Strand (Horry), SC NFIP flood median: $459 (Horry Co., 54,289 policies) | ||
| Myrtle Beach (north) | 29572 | $2,935 |
| Myrtle Beach | 29577 | $2,378 |
| Myrtle Beach (Carolina Forest) | 29579 | $2,118 |
| North Myrtle Beach | 29582 | $2,334 |
| Surfside Beach | 29575 | $2,226 |
| Murrells Inlet | 29576 | $2,230 |
| Georgetown coast, SC NFIP flood median: $831 (Georgetown Co., 8,744 policies) | ||
| Pawleys Island | 29585 | $3,621 |
| Georgetown | 29440 | $2,781 |
| Charleston coast, SC NFIP flood median: $743 (Charleston Co., 61,917 policies) | ||
| Downtown Charleston | 29401 | $14,548 |
| James Island | 29412 | $3,227 |
| Folly Beach | 29439 | $5,023 |
| Mount Pleasant | 29464 | $4,198 |
| Isle of Palms | 29451 | $7,957 |
| Sullivan's Island | 29482 | $13,528 |
| Johns Island / Kiawah / Seabrook | 29455 | $4,347 |
| Beaufort & Hilton Head, SC NFIP flood median: $706 (Beaufort Co., 47,785 policies) | ||
| Hilton Head (south) | 29928 | $7,594 |
| Hilton Head (north) | 29926 | $4,299 |
| Bluffton | 29910 | $2,670 |
| Beaufort | 29902 | $2,825 |
| Lady's Island | 29907 | $3,017 |
| St. Helena / Fripp | 29920 | $3,941 |
| Jasper coast, SC NFIP flood median: $618 (Jasper Co., 2,079 policies) | ||
| Hardeeville | 29927 | $1,649 |
| Savannah & Tybee (Chatham), GA NFIP flood median: $753 (Chatham Co., 24,197 policies) | ||
| Tybee Island | 31328 | $4,350 |
| Wilmington Island / Whitemarsh | 31410 | $2,983 |
| Skidaway Island | 31411 | $4,590 |
| Liberty coast, GA NFIP flood median: $684 (Liberty Co., 1,604 policies) | ||
| Midway | 31320 | $1,987 |
| McIntosh coast, GA NFIP flood median: $801 (McIntosh Co., 669 policies) | ||
| Darien | 31305 | $1,937 |
| Townsend | 31331 | $1,955 |
| Golden Isles (Glynn), GA NFIP flood median: $768 (Glynn Co., 13,984 policies) | ||
| St. Simons Island | 31522 | $3,866 |
| Jekyll Island | 31527 | $3,478 |
| Brunswick | 31520 | $1,713 |
| Camden coast, GA NFIP flood median: $672 (Camden Co., 3,117 policies) | ||
| St. Marys | 31558 | $1,958 |
Homeowners: U.S. Treasury Federal Insurance Office (FIO), ZIP-level data released Jan 2025, 2022 data year: average premium per HO-3/HO-5 policy from private insurers (~80% of the market). It excludes the SC Wind Pool, GA FAIR Plan and surplus-lines policies, so where wind is insured separately the true total is higher. Averages, not quotes; high-value homes pull some ZIPs up. "Typical ZIP" up north = median of that state's ZIP averages (ZIPs with 10+ insurers and 50+ policies).
Flood: OpenFEMA NFIP policies effective in 2025, county median premium before fees and surcharges. Half of policies pay more.
3. Wind 🌀
- Many coastal policies carry a separate hurricane/named-storm deductible, often a % (2% of $250K = $5,000).
- 🏖️ SC Wind Pool (wind and hail only, coastal territory, last resort): 15,337 policies, $57.1M premium at year-end 2025 (about $3,700 per policy, all types). Dwelling base rates rose 8.0% on Feb 1, 2026.
- 🌴 GA FAIR Plan can write a wind-and-hail-only policy in Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn and Camden counties and the barrier islands. Last resort.
SC DOI, Status Report on the SC Coastal Property Insurance Market (2025, data to 12/31/2025); SC Wind Bulletin 25-02 (Oct 27, 2025); Georgia Underwriting Association Plan of Operation.
Bottom line
✅ Get a homeowners quote and a flood quote and confirm the wind deductible before you make an offer. Ask your agent.
🌊 Moving to the coast🗺️ Flood zone lookup
Details & sources
Run by a licensed South Carolina insurance professional. No quotes, no carrier endorsements. Rules, prices and coverage vary by policy and change over time; your policy and your agent have the final word. All sources.
lowcountryfloodwatch.com/guides/north-vs-coast/ · Last verified Oct 2026 · General info, not insurance advice.