Salisbury Hurricane Risk (21804)
21804 in Salisbury, MD: hurricane and extreme heat risk, est. insurance $2,850–$5,357/yr, and buyer guidance before you close.
Salisbury, Maryland 21804
Data retrieved: Oct 29, 2026 at 17:51 UTC
Overall Risk
Above the national median (top 20% most at-risk)
County-level composite
Est. Annual Insurance
$2,850 – $5,357
Directional range
Premium Strain
4.16% of median income
high
Flood Insurance
Not required
Parcel falls outside SFHA
Insurance-first due diligence
What buyers pay for coverage in 21804
- Directional homeowners estimate: $2,850–$5,357/yr before carrier underwriting.
- Composite climate risk ranks above the national median (top 20% most at-risk) for 21804.
- Shop quotes during inspection — MD market pressure can change carrier appetite by ZIP.
Quick buyer brief
What makes 21804 different
A short, indexable summary for buyers comparing 21804 with nearby options in Salisbury.
21804 ranks above the national median (top 20% most at-risk) for overall climate risk, with the biggest current drivers being hurricane or extreme-heat.
Buyers in this ZIP should budget roughly $2,850 - $5,357/yr for homeowners insurance before carrier-specific adjustments. Flood insurance looks less likely to be mandatory, but parcel checks still matter.
If you are choosing between nearby ZIP codes, compare this page with the state overview and the nearby-ZIP links below before you write an offer.
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
MODERATE
Maryland's admitted-carrier market is showing mild contraction. A broker with state-specific experience helps.
Admitted Market Share
78%
Carriers exiting at 3.2% YoY in Maryland.
Residual Market
$1,800–$3,600
annual · last-resort
FAIR Plan / Citizens exposure up 19% since 2020.
Premium Strain Index
Insurance is roughly 4.2% 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 $2,850 to $5,357. Not an insurance quote. The First Street 12th National Risk Assessment characterizes any ZIP above 5% as financially unsustainable.
Wicomico 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 10% most at-risk nationally
Hurricane
ExtremeAround the national median
Earthquake
ModerateAbove the national median (top 37% most at-risk)
Extreme Heat
HighAround the national median
Flood
ModerateAround the national median
Wildfire
ModerateBelow the national median (safer than most)
Severe Storm / Tornado
LowLocal Flood Risk Cost Estimator
Flood insurance costs in Salisbury, MD
In Salisbury, MD, the directional annual NFIP flood insurance premium is approximately $1,106 (range $600–$1,493), and the estimated average historical flood claim in Wicomico is $56,576. Typical mapped exposure aligns with Zone X (moderate / 500-year) (county flood percentile: 58).
- NFIP premium (mid)
- $1,106/yr
- Monthly escrow slice
- $50–$124/mo
- Avg. paid claim
- $56,576
- Lender may require
- Often optional
Hurricane Windstorm Deductible Estimator
Named windstorm deductible exposure in Salisbury, MD
In Salisbury, MD, a 1.92% hurricane / windstorm deductible on a $450,000 insured dwelling implies roughly $8,640 out-of-pocket before the carrier pays (hurricane percentile: 92).
- Deductible %
- 1.92%
- Out-of-pocket
- $8,640
- Emergency fund target
- $12,960
Heat & HVAC Holding-Cost Estimator
Extreme heat carrying costs in Salisbury, MD
In Salisbury, MD, directional summer utility strain adds roughly $126/yr above a moderate-climate baseline (heat percentile: 63). Over 10 years, modeled hidden heat + HVAC costs land near $9,260 — about $926/yr to budget for cooling and accelerated equipment wear.
- Est. monthly electric
- $183/mo
- Annual heat tax
- $126/yr
- 10-yr hidden cost
- $9,260
Earthquake Insurance ROI Estimator
CEA-style earthquake coverage math in Salisbury, MD
In Salisbury, MD, directional earthquake coverage runs about $2,160/yr with a $112,500 deductible exposure (earthquake percentile: 60). Over 30 years, modeled premium spend is $64,800 vs. $17,850 illustrative expected loss.
Borderline — model expected loss near 30-year premium cost.
- Est. annual premium
- $2,160/yr
- Deductible
- $112,500
- 30-yr premium vs loss
- $64,800 / $17,850
Wildfire & FAIR Plan Stress Test
Wildfire insurance non-renewal risk in Salisbury, MD
In Salisbury, MD, admitted-carrier withdrawal could push coverage through Maryland Joint Insurance Association at roughly $6,156/yr — about +$2,052/yr vs. a $4,104 baseline (wildfire percentile: 57).
Non-renewal risk: high
- Baseline premium
- $4,104/yr
- Residual market est.
- $6,156/yr
- Annual uplift
- +$2,052/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
NRI hurricane risk: Top 10% most at-risk nationally for hurricane exposure (county-level, based on historical storm tracks and wind-speed exceedance).
FEMA · National Risk Index (HRCN)
Earthquake Risk
Around the national median for earthquake exposure. NRI county percentile: Around the national median. USGS parcel data unavailable.
USGS · National Risk Index
Extreme Heat
Long-term heat risk: Above the national median (top 37% most at-risk) (NRI county baseline). This reflects multi-decadal extreme-heat exposure, not the current week's weather.
NOAA · National Risk Index (HWAV)
Flood Risk
County NRI flood risk: Around the national median for flood exposure. NFHL parcel query unavailable.
FEMA · National Risk Index
Wildfire Risk
Blended wildfire risk: Around the national median. USDA Wildfire Hazard Potential at parcel: Low (Class 2/5). County NRI wildfire risk: Top 19% most at-risk nationally. The parcel-level USDA score moderates the county NRI signal.
USDA · WHP + National Risk Index
Severe Storm / Tornado
NRI severe-storm risk: Below the national median (safer than most) for severe-thunderstorm, hail, straight-line wind, and tornado exposure (county-level).
FEMA · National Risk Index (TRND)
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
Maryland's admitted-carrier market is showing mild contraction. A broker with state-specific experience helps.
Data Sources
Data Sources & Methodology
FEMA— National Risk Index
Retrieved October 29, 2026
FEMA— National Risk Index (HRCN)
Retrieved October 29, 2026
USDA— WHP + National Risk Index
Retrieved October 29, 2026
USGS— National Risk Index
Retrieved October 29, 2026
NOAA— National Risk Index (HWAV)
Retrieved October 29, 2026
FEMA— National Risk Index (TRND)
Retrieved October 29, 2026
What buyers should know
Buying in 21804: a risk primer
Before you write an offer on a home in Salisbury, understand how climate and insurance costs affect long-term ownership in 21804.
21804 in Salisbury, Maryland, scores above the national median (top 20% most at-risk) on our composite climate-risk index. That ranking reflects the combined influence of hurricane wind exposure (92), extreme heat exposure (63), and earthquake shaking risk (60) in this ZIP code. Before writing an offer, buyers should understand which hazard drives the score and how it shows up in insurance premiums and long-term maintenance costs.
The data below is assembled from five federal sources — FEMA (flood and National Risk Index), NOAA (storm history and heat), USGS (seismic design), and USDA (wildfire hazard potential) — and is refreshed quarterly. Use it as a starting point for due diligence, not a substitute for a licensed inspector, structural engineer, or insurance agent.
Hurricane risk in 21804
The hurricane wind exposure score for 21804 is 92 (extreme), which is well above the national median. 21804 is in a high hurricane wind zone. Standard homeowners policies in Maryland often have separate hurricane/wind deductibles (frequently 2–10% of dwelling coverage). Buyers should model a named-storm deductible on top of the base premium before finalizing a budget.
For a specific address inside 21804, this score can shift meaningfully. A home on a ridge may have lower flood exposure than one in a valley; a parcel surrounded by irrigated lawn may have lower wildfire exposure than one against open space. The $19 Risk Before Buy report resolves these parcel-level differences and includes a 30-year projection for each hazard.
Heat risk in 21804
The extreme heat exposure score for 21804 is 63 (high), which is around or slightly above the national median. 21804 sees moderate extreme-heat exposure. Cooling degree days are elevated enough that annual utility costs will be meaningfully higher than in cooler parts of Maryland.
For a specific address inside 21804, this score can shift meaningfully. A home on a ridge may have lower flood exposure than one in a valley; a parcel surrounded by irrigated lawn may have lower wildfire exposure than one against open space. The $19 Risk Before Buy report resolves these parcel-level differences and includes a 30-year projection for each hazard.
Earthquake risk in 21804
The earthquake shaking risk score for 21804 is 60 (moderate), which is around or slightly above the national median. 21804 has moderate earthquake exposure. Most homeowners policies exclude earthquake damage here, so buyers should price a standalone earthquake policy or rider and verify whether the home is bolted to the foundation and has a cripple-wall retrofit.
For a specific address inside 21804, this score can shift meaningfully. A home on a ridge may have lower flood exposure than one in a valley; a parcel surrounded by irrigated lawn may have lower wildfire exposure than one against open space. The $19 Risk Before Buy report resolves these parcel-level differences and includes a 30-year projection for each hazard.
Insurance is where climate risk becomes a monthly payment. In 21804, our directional estimate for a standard homeowners policy plus required hazard coverage is $2,850 – $5,357 per year. That estimate assumes a mid-range home and does not include optional coverages such as earthquake, flood (where not required), or higher wind deductibles.
Relative to local incomes, that premium range equals approximately 4.16% of the Wicomico County median household income — a high premium-to-income burden. As a rule of thumb, premiums above 3–4% of household income begin to compress affordability and can reduce the pool of future buyers when you eventually sell.
Buyer action items
- Get carrier quotes early. Ask at least two admitted-market carriers and one surplus-line broker for a homeowners quote that explicitly includes hurricane wind exposure, extreme heat exposure, and earthquake shaking risk. Do this before the inspection contingency expires.
- Add a climate contingency to the purchase agreement. Our free Maryland-specific contract templates let you make the deal contingent on acceptable insurance premiums, flood-zone status, or seller-provided mitigation documentation.
- Order hazard-specific inspections if the top risks warrant it. In 21804, that may mean a flood-zone determination, a wildfire/defensible-space assessment, a structural/seismic review, or a wind-mitigation inspection depending on which hazards score highest.
Frequently asked questions about 21804
Ready to underwrite 21804?
Get the full address-level report
Both tiers use verified federal data. The $19 snapshot is your pre-offer feasibility check (delivered within 5 minutes). The $99 audit adds parcel flood verification, market context, claim history, and a negotiation brief (within 24 hours).
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.
Nearby ZIP risk profiles in Wicomico
Compare climate and insurance risk across neighboring ZIP codes before you commit to a specific address in Salisbury.
Explore 21804 in context
Indexable hub links for buyers comparing 21804 with the wider Salisbury market and Maryland insurance trends.
Maryland climate risk overview
State-wide hazard patterns and insurance context for buyers near Salisbury, MD.
Maryland buyer guides
State-wide insurance market pressure and regional hazard patterns.
High-risk area buyer checklist
Questions to ask before writing an offer in 21804.
Free contract templates for Maryland buyers
Download free climate-risk contingency addendums written for Maryland purchase agreements. Add hurricane, extreme-heat, or earthquake contingencies to your offer.
Browse free templates