15 US states where homeowners are more likely to be at risk from hurricane damage
Cotality analyzed where hurricane winds caused the most damage. Florida and Texas topped the list, but the Northeast was well represented.
krblokhin/Getty Images
- It's the start of hurricane season, and with it comes the risk of home damage.
- Cotality ranked states with the biggest risk of hurricane damage, and some of the results were surprising.
- Gulf states have more homes susceptible to hurricane wind damage, but the Northeast's damage can hit harder.
For a lot of homeowners, summer means more than vacations — it also means staying vigilant during hurricane season.
A problem most associated with Southern states hugging the Gulf Coast, like Florida and Texas, hurricanes also pose a serious threat to the Northeast.
Property data and analytics firm Cotality found that while Florida and Texas have the highest amount of homes with moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage, the damage in the Northeast can be more devastating.
"While hurricanes hit the Northeast less frequently than the Gulf Coast, the region's immense population density and property value mean the stakes are incredibly high," Cotality vice president of insurance market insights Maiclaire Bolton-Smith said in a release.
"It's critical that homeowners in the Northeast understand that while landfalling hurricanes may not be as frequent as other states, the risk is still real."
As for metropolitan areas, New York City ranks ahead of any Florida city, with a reconstruction cost value of more than $1.9 billion. The metro also has the most homes with a moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage.
In total, more than 32.2 million homes across the United States are at moderate or greater risk from hurricane winds alone, accounting for over $12.26 trillion in reconstruction cost value, according to Cotality.
Below, see the states where homeowners are at the highest risk of hurricane damage.
Median home price data is from Redfin.
15. MarylandKruck20/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 479,881
Reconstruction cost value: $179.6 billion
Median home price: $446,900
14. Alabamaadamkaz/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 768,390
Reconstruction cost value: $232.7 billion
Median home price: $299,000
13. PennsylvaniaJumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 781,797
Reconstruction cost value: $360 billion
Median home price: $308,500
12. ConnecticutSean Pavone/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 813,066
Reconstruction cost value: $426 billion
Median home price: $445,100
11. GeorgiaUltima_Gaina/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 836,172
Reconstruction cost value: $243.1 billion
Median home price: $373,700
10. Mississippiianmcdonnell/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 837,860
Reconstruction cost value: $241.8 billion
Median home price: $265,200
9. VirginiaDee Liu/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,146,781
Reconstruction cost value: $426.4 billion
Median home price: $462,400
8. South Carolinaelan7t50/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,482,345
Reconstruction cost value: $476.9 billion
Median home price: $397,600
7. LouisianaLarry Gibson/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,657,255
Reconstruction cost value: $515.7 billion
Median home price: $260,300
6. MassachusettsDenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,785,383
Reconstruction cost value: $1 trillion
Median home price: $645,400
5. New JerseyTerrell Washington/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 2,208,651
Reconstruction cost value: $1.2 trillion
Median home price: $545,300
4. New Yorkcmart7327/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 2,213,104
Reconstruction cost value: $1.2 trillion
Median home price: $595,900
3. North CarolinaLarry Gibson/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 3,165,030
Reconstruction cost value: $1.1 trillion
Median home price: $381,700
2. TexasRudyBalasko/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 4,763,476
Reconstruction cost value: $1.5 trillion
Median home price: $341,800
1. FloridaCyndi Monaghan/Getty Images
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 8,249,592
Reconstruction cost value: $2.3 trillion
Median home price: $416,800
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