City Risk Report
Austin, TX
Travis County · Pop. 961,855
County-level composite · does not reflect parcel-specific conditions
Austin buyers should model long-term cooling costs and grid reliability alongside storm risk.
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.
Overall Risk Score
Top 5% most at-risk nationally
County-level composite · does not reflect parcel-specific conditions
Overall Risk
Top 5% most at-risk nationally
County-level composite · does not reflect parcel-specific conditions
Expected Annual Loss
Top 5% most at-risk nationally
Extreme · county composite
Est. Annual Insurance
$1,950 – $5,080
Directional range
Last Major Event
2015
Memorial Day and Halloween floods
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
Texas's admitted-carrier market is contracting. A broker with state-specific experience is strongly recommended.
Admitted Market Share
67%
Carriers exiting at 6.2% YoY in Texas.
Residual Market
$2,730–$7,112
annual · last-resort
FAIR Plan / Citizens exposure up 81% since 2020.
Premium Strain Index
Insurance is roughly 4.7% 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 $5,080. Not an insurance quote. The First Street 12th National Risk Assessment characterizes any ZIP above 5% as financially unsustainable.
Travis 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).
Above the national median (top 23% most at-risk)
Hurricane
HighAround the national median
Earthquake
ModerateTop 5% most at-risk nationally
Extreme Heat
ExtremeTop 5% most at-risk nationally
Flood
ExtremeTop 10% most at-risk nationally
Wildfire
ExtremeData pending
Severe Storm / Tornado
Low riskLocal Flood Risk Cost Estimator
Flood insurance costs in Austin, TX
In Austin, TX, the directional annual NFIP flood insurance premium is approximately $2,191 (range $1,500–$3,500), and the estimated average historical flood claim in Travis County is $79,456. Typical mapped exposure aligns with Zone A / AE (SFHA) (county flood percentile: 98).
- NFIP premium (mid)
- $2,191/yr
- Monthly escrow slice
- $125–$292/mo
- Avg. paid claim
- $79,456
- Lender may require
- Likely yes (SFHA)
Hurricane Windstorm Deductible Estimator
Named windstorm deductible exposure in Austin, TX
In Austin, TX, a 2.54% hurricane / windstorm deductible on a $450,000 insured dwelling implies roughly $11,430 out-of-pocket before the carrier pays (hurricane percentile: 77).
- Deductible %
- 2.54%
- Out-of-pocket
- $11,430
- Emergency fund target
- $17,145
Heat & HVAC Holding-Cost Estimator
Extreme heat carrying costs in Austin, TX
In Austin, TX, directional summer utility strain adds roughly $473/yr above a moderate-climate baseline (heat percentile: 99). Over 10 years, modeled hidden heat + HVAC costs land near $14,330 — about $1,433/yr to budget for cooling and accelerated equipment wear.
- Est. monthly electric
- $183/mo
- Annual heat tax
- $473/yr
- 10-yr hidden cost
- $14,330
Wildfire & FAIR Plan Stress Test
Wildfire insurance non-renewal risk in Austin, TX
In Austin, TX, admitted-carrier withdrawal could push coverage through Texas FAIR Plan Association at roughly $9,139/yr — about +$5,624/yr vs. a $3,515 baseline (wildfire percentile: 91).
Non-renewal risk: severe
- Baseline premium
- $3,515/yr
- Residual market est.
- $9,139/yr
- Annual uplift
- +$5,624/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
Austin ranks in the 77th national percentile for hurricane exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.
FEMA · National Risk Index
Earthquake Risk
Austin ranks in the 53th national percentile for earthquake exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.
FEMA · National Risk Index
Extreme Heat
Austin ranks in the 99th national percentile for heat exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.
FEMA · National Risk Index
Flood Risk
Austin ranks in the 98th national percentile for flood exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.
FEMA · National Risk Index
Wildfire Risk
Austin ranks in the 91th national percentile for wildfire exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.
FEMA · National Risk Index
Severe Storm / Tornado
Austin 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 lookupCarrier Outlook
Texas's admitted-carrier market is contracting. A broker with state-specific experience is strongly recommended.
Data Sources
Data Sources & Methodology
FEMA— National Risk Index
Retrieved June 19, 2026
Editorial Analysis
Austin, Travis County has an overall National Risk Index score of 98 and an expected annual loss score of 98, placing it in the extreme national risk band. The dominant local perils are extreme heat, flood, wildfire. The city-level scores below are county-level composites; actual parcel risk can differ meaningfully by neighborhood, elevation, and lot characteristics. Austin's extreme heat risk scores 99 at the 99th 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 model long-term cooling costs, insulation, and grid reliability. Austin's flood risk scores 98 at the 98th 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. Austin's wildfire risk scores 91 at the 91st 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 assess defensible space, roof and vent class, and proximity to brush. The Texas insurance market is currently under high pressure: admitted carriers write roughly 67% of new business and the residual market has grown roughly 81% since 2020. For higher-risk parcels in Austin, the residual market can run from $2,400 to $5,400 annually. Directional standard-market premiums for the city typically range from $1,950 to $5,080, 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
Historical Events
Memorial Day and Halloween floods
Flash flooding reinforced the limits of assuming central Texas creeks are minor risks.
Record heat summer
Long heat duration increased cooling and grid-reliability concerns.
ZIP Code Risk Profile
Representative ZIP Codes
78701
Austin area
78702
Austin area
78703
Austin area
78704
Austin area
78705
Austin area
78717
Austin area
78719
Austin area
78721
Austin area
78722
Austin area
78723
Austin area
78724
Austin area
78725
Austin area
78726
Austin area
78727
Austin area
78728
Austin area
78729
Austin area
78730
Austin area
78731
Austin area
78732
Austin area
78733
Austin area
78734
Austin area
78735
Austin area
78736
Austin area
78737
Austin area
78738
Austin area
78739
Austin area
78741
Austin area
78742
Austin area
78744
Austin area
78745
Austin area
78746
Austin area
78747
Austin area
78748
Austin area
78749
Austin area
78750
Austin area
78751
Austin area
78752
Austin area
78753
Austin area
78754
Austin area
78756
Austin area
78757
Austin area
78758
Austin area
78759
Austin area
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
Austin Climate Risk FAQ
Ready to check your specific address?
Considering buying in Austin?
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
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
- Single PDF you can share with your partner, agent, or inspector
Best for: pre-offer sanity check
Delivered: PDF by email within 5 minutes
Federal data: FEMA, USGS, NOAA, USDA, EPA
Delivered by email within 5 minutes of payment.
Pre-Purchase Audit
Tier L3
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
- Gives you specific talking points for price, credits, and contingency negotiation
Best for: under-contract buyers
Delivered: PDF by email within 24 hours
Includes: 7-day no-questions-asked refund
Delivered by email within 24 hours of payment.