City Risk Report
Houston, TX
Harris County · Pop. 2,304,580
County-level composite · does not reflect parcel-specific conditions
Houston buyers should weigh wind, flood, and residual-market costs as heavily as list price.
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 – $5,150
Directional range
Last Major Event
2017
Hurricane Harvey
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–$7,210
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 $5,150. Not an insurance quote. The First Street 12th National Risk Assessment characterizes any ZIP above 5% as financially unsustainable.
Harris 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 5% most at-risk nationally
Hurricane
ExtremeTop 10% most at-risk nationally
Earthquake
ExtremeTop 5% most at-risk nationally
Extreme Heat
ExtremeTop 5% most at-risk nationally
Flood
ExtremeTop 15% most at-risk nationally
Wildfire
ExtremeData pending
Severe Storm / Tornado
Low riskLocal Flood Risk Cost Estimator
Flood insurance costs in Houston, TX
In Houston, TX, the directional annual NFIP flood insurance premium is approximately $2,205 (range $1,500–$3,500), and the estimated average historical flood claim in Harris County is $80,600. Typical mapped exposure aligns with Zone A / AE (SFHA) (county flood percentile: 100).
- NFIP premium (mid)
- $2,205/yr
- Monthly escrow slice
- $125–$292/mo
- Avg. paid claim
- $80,600
- Lender may require
- Likely yes (SFHA)
Hurricane Windstorm Deductible Estimator
Named windstorm deductible exposure in Houston, TX
In Houston, TX, a 3% hurricane / windstorm deductible on a $450,000 insured dwelling implies roughly $13,500 out-of-pocket before the carrier pays (hurricane percentile: 100).
- Deductible %
- 3%
- Out-of-pocket
- $13,500
- Emergency fund target
- $20,250
Heat & HVAC Holding-Cost Estimator
Extreme heat carrying costs in Houston, TX
In Houston, TX, directional summer utility strain adds roughly $483/yr above a moderate-climate baseline (heat percentile: 100). Over 10 years, modeled hidden heat + HVAC costs land near $14,430 — about $1,443/yr to budget for cooling and accelerated equipment wear.
- Est. monthly electric
- $183/mo
- Annual heat tax
- $483/yr
- 10-yr hidden cost
- $14,430
Earthquake Insurance ROI Estimator
CEA-style earthquake coverage math in Houston, TX
In Houston, TX, directional earthquake coverage runs about $2,832/yr with a $112,500 deductible exposure (earthquake percentile: 92). Over 30 years, modeled premium spend is $84,960 vs. $23,970 illustrative expected loss.
Coverage may pencil — expected regional loss exceeds premium spend over 30 years.
- Est. annual premium
- $2,832/yr
- Deductible
- $112,500
- 30-yr premium vs loss
- $84,960 / $23,970
Wildfire & FAIR Plan Stress Test
Wildfire insurance non-renewal risk in Houston, TX
In Houston, TX, admitted-carrier withdrawal could push coverage through Texas FAIR Plan Association at roughly $9,230/yr — about +$5,680/yr vs. a $3,550 baseline (wildfire percentile: 85).
Non-renewal risk: severe
- Baseline premium
- $3,550/yr
- Residual market est.
- $9,230/yr
- Annual uplift
- +$5,680/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
Houston ranks in the 100th national percentile for hurricane exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.
FEMA · National Risk Index
Earthquake Risk
Houston ranks in the 92th national percentile for earthquake exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.
FEMA · National Risk Index
Extreme Heat
Houston ranks in the 100th national percentile for heat exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.
FEMA · National Risk Index
Flood Risk
Houston ranks in the 100th national percentile for flood exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.
FEMA · National Risk Index
Wildfire Risk
Houston ranks in the 85th national percentile for wildfire exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index.
FEMA · National Risk Index
Severe Storm / Tornado
Houston 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
Houston, Harris County has an overall National Risk Index score of 100 and an expected annual loss score of 100, placing it in the extreme national risk band. The dominant local perils are hurricane, extreme heat, flood. The city-level scores below are county-level composites; actual parcel risk can differ meaningfully by neighborhood, elevation, and lot characteristics. Houston's hurricane risk scores 100 at the 100th 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. Houston's extreme heat risk scores 100 at the 100th 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. Houston's flood risk scores 100 at the 100th 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. 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 Houston, 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 $5,150, 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
Hurricane Harvey
The region's defining flood event, with catastrophic rainfall and prolonged recovery.
Extended Gulf Coast heat
Extreme humidity and heat intensified energy demand and outdoor exposure.
ZIP Code Risk Profile
Representative ZIP Codes
77002
Houston area
77003
Houston area
77004
Houston area
77005
Houston area
77006
Houston area
77007
Houston area
77008
Houston area
77009
Houston area
77011
Houston area
77012
Houston area
77013
Houston area
77014
Houston area
77015
Houston area
77016
Houston area
77017
Houston area
77018
Houston area
77019
Houston area
77020
Houston area
77021
Houston area
77022
Houston area
77023
Houston area
77024
Houston area
77025
Houston area
77026
Houston area
77027
Houston area
77028
Houston area
77029
Houston area
77030
Houston area
77031
Houston area
77032
Houston area
77033
Houston area
77034
Houston area
77035
Houston area
77036
Houston area
77037
Houston area
77038
Houston area
77039
Houston area
77040
Houston area
77041
Houston area
77042
Houston area
77043
Houston area
77044
Houston area
77045
Houston area
77046
Houston area
77047
Houston area
77048
Houston area
77049
Houston area
77050
Houston area
77051
Houston area
77053
Houston area
Showing 50 of 96 active ZIP codes in the Houston 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
Houston Climate Risk FAQ
Ready to check your specific address?
Considering buying in Houston?
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.