Risk Before Buy

City Risk Report

Greenville, SC

Greenville County · Pop. 64,579

County-level composite · does not reflect parcel-specific conditions

Greenville buyers should treat flood history, elevation, and drainage as core due-diligence items.

FloodEarthquakeHurricane

Editorial review: 2026-06-19 · Data retrieved: Jun 19, 2026 at 00:00 UTC (snapshot of historical values) · For the latest live data, run a lookup on the Snapshot tool.

Top 10% most at-risk nationallyExtreme

Overall Risk Score

Top 10% most at-risk nationally

County-level composite · does not reflect parcel-specific conditions

Overall Risk

Top 10% most at-risk nationally

County-level composite · does not reflect parcel-specific conditions

Expected Annual Loss

Top 15% most at-risk nationally

Extreme · county composite

Est. Annual Insurance

$1,950 – $4,940

Directional range

Last Major Event

2018

Wildfire season

Insurance Market Context

These scores are county-level composites derived from FEMA National Risk Index. Individual parcels may differ significantly. This is not a property appraisal.

Market Pressure

HIGH

South Carolina's admitted-carrier market is contracting. A broker with state-specific experience is strongly recommended.

Admitted Market Share

69%

Carriers exiting at 5.5% YoY in South Carolina.

Residual Market

$2,730–$6,916

annual · last-resort
FAIR Plan / Citizens exposure up 64% since 2020.

Premium Strain Index

Insurance is roughly 4.6% of median household income — well above the 2% middle-income affordability benchmark (First Street flags anything above 5% as financially unsustainable).

Premium-to-income ratio. Based on state Department of Insurance filings, average annual premiums in this area range from $1,950 to $4,940. Not an insurance quote. The First Street 12th National Risk Assessment characterizes any ZIP above 5% as financially unsustainable.

Not an insurance quote. These figures are derived from public state Department of Insurance filings and are intended to surface market pressure signals. Actual premiums depend on parcel-specific underwriting factors and carrier availability. Consult a licensed insurance broker for a binding quote.

Greenville County Hazard Breakdown

Scores below are from the federal National Risk Index at the county level, refined with parcel-level signals where available (FEMA NFHL for flood, USDA WHP for wildfire, USGS PGA for earthquake, NWS for heat).

Top 17% most at-risk nationally

Hurricane

Extreme

Top 10% most at-risk nationally

Earthquake

Extreme

Top 17% most at-risk nationally

Extreme Heat

Extreme

Top 5% most at-risk nationally

Flood

Extreme

Around the national median

Wildfire

Moderate

Data pending

Severe Storm / Tornado

Low risk
Hazard
Risk Level
Score · Source
Hurricane
Top 17% most at-risk nationally· FEMA
Earthquake
Top 10% most at-risk nationally· FEMA
Extreme Heat
Top 17% most at-risk nationally· FEMA
Flood
Top 5% most at-risk nationally· FEMA
Wildfire
Around the national median· FEMA
Severe Storm / Tornado
· FEMA

Local Flood Risk Cost Estimator

Flood insurance costs in Greenville, SC

In Greenville, SC, the directional annual NFIP flood insurance premium is approximately $2,176 (range $1,500–$3,500), and the estimated average historical flood claim in Greenville County is $78,312. Typical mapped exposure aligns with Zone A / AE (SFHA) (county flood percentile: 96).

NFIP premium (mid)
$2,176/yr
Monthly escrow slice
$125–$292/mo
Avg. paid claim
$78,312
Lender may require
Likely yes (SFHA)

Hurricane Windstorm Deductible Estimator

Named windstorm deductible exposure in Greenville, SC

In Greenville, SC, a 3.49% hurricane / windstorm deductible on a $450,000 insured dwelling implies roughly $15,705 out-of-pocket before the carrier pays (hurricane percentile: 83).

Deductible %
3.49%
Out-of-pocket
$15,705
Emergency fund target
$23,558

Heat & HVAC Holding-Cost Estimator

Extreme heat carrying costs in Greenville, SC

In Greenville, SC, directional summer utility strain adds roughly $319/yr above a moderate-climate baseline (heat percentile: 83). Over 10 years, modeled hidden heat + HVAC costs land near $12,790 — about $1,279/yr to budget for cooling and accelerated equipment wear.

Est. monthly electric
$183/mo
Annual heat tax
$319/yr
10-yr hidden cost
$12,790

Earthquake Insurance ROI Estimator

CEA-style earthquake coverage math in Greenville, SC

In Greenville, SC, directional earthquake coverage runs about $2,853/yr with a $112,500 deductible exposure (earthquake percentile: 93). Over 30 years, modeled premium spend is $85,590 vs. $24,161 illustrative expected loss.

Coverage may pencil — expected regional loss exceeds premium spend over 30 years.

Est. annual premium
$2,853/yr
Deductible
$112,500
30-yr premium vs loss
$85,590 / $24,161

Wildfire & FAIR Plan Stress Test

Wildfire insurance non-renewal risk in Greenville, SC

In Greenville, SC, admitted-carrier withdrawal could push coverage through South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association at roughly $5,857/yr — about +$2,412/yr vs. a $3,445 baseline (wildfire percentile: 55).

Non-renewal risk: high

Baseline premium
$3,445/yr
Residual market est.
$5,857/yr
Annual uplift
+$2,412/yr

What each hazard means for you

Expand any card to see the federal source citation and the buyer-specific action items our research team recommends for this hazard profile.

Hurricane Risk

Top 17% most at-risk nationallyExtreme

Greenville ranks in the 83th national percentile for hurricane exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.

FEMA · National Risk Index

Earthquake Risk

Top 10% most at-risk nationallyExtreme

Greenville ranks in the 93th national percentile for earthquake exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.

FEMA · National Risk Index

Extreme Heat

Top 17% most at-risk nationallyExtreme

Greenville ranks in the 83th national percentile for heat exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.

FEMA · National Risk Index

Flood Risk

Top 5% most at-risk nationallyExtreme

Greenville ranks in the 96th national percentile for flood exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.

FEMA · National Risk Index

Wildfire Risk

Around the national medianModerate

Greenville ranks in the 55th national percentile for wildfire exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.

FEMA · National Risk Index

Severe Storm / Tornado

Bottom 20% nationally (safer than most)Minimal

Greenville tornado data is unavailable. Run an address lookup for parcel-specific assessment.

FEMA · National Risk Index

FEMA Flood Zone

Is this specific parcel in a Special Flood Hazard Area?

The free address snapshot queries FEMA NFHL point-in-polygon and returns your exact FEMA Flood Zone (A, AE, X, etc.) in seconds.

Run a free address lookup

Carrier Outlook

South Carolina's admitted-carrier market is contracting. A broker with state-specific experience is strongly recommended.

Data Sources

FEMA NRINOAAUSGSUSDAEPA
Data Sources & Methodology

FEMANational Risk Index

Retrieved June 19, 2026

View source
View full methodology

Editorial Analysis

Editor's Intelligence
Reviewed June 19, 2026

Greenville, Greenville County has an overall National Risk Index score of 94 and an expected annual loss score of 89, placing it in the extreme national risk band. The dominant local perils are flood, earthquake, hurricane. The city-level scores below are county-level composites; actual parcel risk can differ meaningfully by neighborhood, elevation, and lot characteristics. Greenville's flood risk scores 96 at the 96th national percentile, placing it in the extreme band. This is among the highest exposure nationally; standard-market underwriting is increasingly selective and residual-market backup plans are worth modeling. Buyers should check FEMA flood zone status, elevation certificate, and drainage history. Greenville's earthquake risk scores 93 at the 93rd national percentile, placing it in the extreme band. This is among the highest exposure nationally; standard-market underwriting is increasingly selective and residual-market backup plans are worth modeling. Buyers should verify seismic retrofit status and whether earthquake coverage is included. Greenville's hurricane risk scores 83 at the 83rd national percentile, placing it in the extreme band. This is among the highest exposure nationally; standard-market underwriting is increasingly selective and residual-market backup plans are worth modeling. Buyers should review wind mitigation reports, roof age, and storm-surge evacuation zone. The South Carolina insurance market is currently under high pressure: admitted carriers write roughly 69% of new business and the residual market has grown roughly 64% since 2020. For higher-risk parcels in Greenville, the residual market can run from $2,200 to $4,700 annually. Directional standard-market premiums for the city typically range from $1,950 to $4,940, but parcel-specific factors can move quotes well outside that band. Buyers should use the address-level snapshot tool to pin these citywide averages to the specific property under consideration. A full L2 or L3 report will also surface flood zone status, insurance-market pressure, and action items tied to the exact parcel.

Open Data Collective Editorial

Historical Events

2018Wildfire

Wildfire season

Regional wildfire activity affected air quality and raised insurance scrutiny near Greenville.

2023Flood

Regional flooding

Heavy rainfall and drainage stress produced localized flooding across the Greenville area.

ZIP Code Risk Profile

Representative ZIP Codes

29605

Greenville area

View report

29607

Greenville area

View report

29609

Greenville area

View report

29611

Greenville area

View report

29615

Greenville area

View report

29617

Greenville area

View report

Risk varies significantly by ZIP code and parcel. Use the address-level report for precise, parcel-specific scores rather than city-wide averages.

NRI Score Components

County-level composite · does not reflect parcel-specific conditions

Overall Risk94/100 · Extreme
Expected Annual Loss89/100 · Extreme
Social Vulnerability22/100 · Low
Community Resilience57/100 · Moderate
Resident count at elevated risk
Parcel-level data · run address lookup

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Greenville Climate Risk FAQ

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Two tiers, one funnel: run a free address lookup, then unlock the depth that fits your buying stage. Both options deliver a 12+ page climate brief before you go under contract.

Full Report

Tier L2

$19per address

Address-level hazard and insurance feasibility snapshot — five hazards, 30-year projections, carrier pressure signals, and a buy / negotiate / walk-away read for pre-offer buyers. PDF delivered within 5 minutes.

  • Five-hazard score breakdown: flood, wildfire, hurricane, earthquake, heat
  • 30-year federal climate projections for heat, wildfire, and sea level rise
  • Insurance premium estimate range based on state DOI filings
  • Clear buy / negotiate / walk-away recommendation with plain-language reasoning
  • Comparable lower-risk communities within 25 miles (up to 3 when available)
  • Plain-English explanations of SFHA, BFE, residual market, and other insurance terms
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Federal data: FEMA, USGS, NOAA, USDA, EPA

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Pre-Purchase Audit

Tier L3

$99per property

Under-contract diligence package: parcel flood zone verification, state insurance market analysis, NOAA claim history, and an evidence-backed negotiation brief to assess earnest-money risk. PDF delivered within 24 hours.

  • Everything in the $19 Full Report
  • Parcel-level FEMA flood zone verification (Zone A/AE/VE/X — point-in-polygon)
  • State insurance market analysis: admitted carrier share, exit rate, residual market growth
  • Premium Strain Index — insurance cost as % of local median income, with 2% / 5% affordability benchmarks
  • 10-year NOAA Storm Events claim history for the ZIP code
  • Negotiation leverage brief with specific, evidence-backed seller-concession asks (typically 3–5; fewer when data is limited)
  • Total carrying cost estimate: HO-3 baseline + standalone perils + residual market fallback
  • Identifies whether the property may become hard to insure before you close
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