Risk Before Buy
ZIP Code Risk Report · TX

77523 Hurricane Risk & Insurance Guide (2026)

77523 in Baytown, TX: hurricane and severe storm risk, est. insurance $2,112–$3,748/yr, and buyer guidance before you close.

Mont Belvieu, Texas 77523, United States

Data retrieved: Jul 30, 2026 at 15:58 UTC

Overall Risk

Above the national median (top 20% most at-risk)

County-level composite

Est. Annual Insurance

$2,112 – $3,748

Directional range

Premium Strain

3.96% of median income

elevated

Flood Insurance

Not required

Parcel falls outside SFHA

Quick buyer brief

What makes 77523 different

A short, indexable summary for buyers comparing 77523 with nearby options in Baytown.

77523 ranks above the national median (top 20% most at-risk) for overall climate risk, with the biggest current drivers being hurricane or tornado.

Buyers in this ZIP should budget roughly $2,112 - $3,748/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 city overview and the nearby-ZIP links below before you write an offer.

Baytown city overviewFlood insurance guideContract templatesRun free address lookup

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

$2,400–$5,400

annual · last-resort
FAIR Plan / Citizens exposure up 81% since 2020.

Premium Strain Index

Insurance is roughly 4.0% of median household income — above the 2% middle-income affordability benchmark.

Premium-to-income ratio. Based on state Department of Insurance filings, average annual premiums in this area range from $2,112 to $3,748. 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.

Chambers 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 15% most at-risk nationally

Hurricane

Extreme

Bottom 20% nationally (safer than most)

Earthquake

Minimal

Around the national median

Extreme Heat

Moderate

Around the national median

Flood

Moderate

Around the national median

Wildfire

Moderate

Above the national median (top 24% most at-risk)

Severe Storm / Tornado

High
Hazard
Risk Level
Score · Source
Hurricane
Top 15% most at-risk nationally· FEMA
Earthquake
Bottom 20% nationally (safer than most)· USGS
Extreme Heat
Around the national median· NOAA
Flood
Around the national median· FEMA
Wildfire
Around the national median· USDA
Severe Storm / Tornado
Above the national median (top 24% most at-risk)· FEMA

Local Flood Risk Cost Estimator

Flood insurance costs in Baytown, TX

In Baytown, TX, the directional annual NFIP flood insurance premium is approximately $1,085 (range $600–$1,465), and the estimated average historical flood claim in Chambers is $54,860. Typical mapped exposure aligns with Zone X (moderate / 500-year) (county flood percentile: 55).

NFIP premium (mid)
$1,085/yr
Monthly escrow slice
$50–$122/mo
Avg. paid claim
$54,860
Lender may require
Often optional
Check my flood zoneFlood + escrow calculatorFull Baytown flood cost guide

Hurricane Windstorm Deductible Estimator

Named windstorm deductible exposure in Baytown, TX

In Baytown, TX, a 2.72% hurricane / windstorm deductible on a $450,000 insured dwelling implies roughly $12,240 out-of-pocket before the carrier pays (hurricane percentile: 86).

Deductible %
2.72%
Out-of-pocket
$12,240
Emergency fund target
$18,360
Windstorm deductible calculatorHurricane buyer guide

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 15% most at-risk nationallyExtreme

NRI hurricane risk: Top 15% 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

Bottom 20% nationally (safer than most)Minimal

Bottom 20% nationally (safer than most) for earthquake exposure. USGS PGA: 0.034g (site class D). Geologically stable region; earthquake is not a meaningful property risk here.

USGS · Design Maps (ASCE 7-16) + NRI

Extreme Heat

Around the national medianModerate

Long-term heat risk: Around the national median (NRI county baseline). This reflects multi-decadal extreme-heat exposure, not the current week's weather.

NOAA · National Risk Index (HWAV)

Flood Risk

Around the national medianModerate

County NRI flood risk: Around the national median for flood exposure. NFHL parcel query unavailable.

FEMA · National Risk Index

Wildfire Risk

Around the national medianModerate

Blended wildfire risk: Around the national median. USDA Wildfire Hazard Potential at parcel: Very Low (Class 1/5). County NRI wildfire risk: Above the national median (top 21% most at-risk). The parcel-level USDA score moderates the county NRI signal.

USDA · WHP + National Risk Index

Severe Storm / Tornado

Above the national median (top 24% most at-risk)High

NRI severe-storm risk: Above the national median (top 24% most at-risk) 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 lookup

Carrier Outlook

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

Data Sources

FEMA NRINOAAUSGSUSDAEPA
Data Sources & Methodology

FEMA— National Risk Index

Retrieved July 29, 2026

View source

FEMA— National Risk Index (HRCN)

Retrieved July 29, 2026

View source

USDA— WHP + National Risk Index

Retrieved July 29, 2026

View source

USGS— Design Maps (ASCE 7-16) + NRI

Retrieved July 29, 2026

View source

NOAA— National Risk Index (HWAV)

Retrieved July 29, 2026

View source

FEMA— National Risk Index (TRND)

Retrieved July 29, 2026

View source
View full methodology

What buyers should know

Buying in 77523: a risk primer

Before you write an offer on a home in Baytown, understand how climate and insurance costs affect long-term ownership in 77523.

77523 in Baytown, Texas, 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 (86), tornado (76), and flood risk (55) 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 77523

The hurricane wind exposure score for 77523 is 86 (extreme), which is well above the national median. 77523 is in a high hurricane wind zone. Standard homeowners policies in Texas 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 77523, 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.

Tornado risk in 77523

The tornado score for 77523 is 76 (high), which is above the national median.

For a specific address inside 77523, 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.

Flood risk in 77523

The flood risk score for 77523 is 55 (moderate), which is around or slightly above the national median. Parts of 77523 carry moderate flood exposure driven by rainfall-driven ponding or nearby creek flooding. Even outside the SFHA, lenders do not require flood insurance unless the parcel is mapped in Zone A/AE, but we still recommend a flood quote before closing.

For a specific address inside 77523, 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 77523, our directional estimate for a standard homeowners policy plus required hazard coverage is $2,112 – $3,748 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 3.96% of the Chambers County median household income — a elevated 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, tornado, and flood risk. Do this before the inspection contingency expires.
  • Add a climate contingency to the purchase agreement. Our free Texas-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 77523, 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 77523

Ready to underwrite 77523?

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

$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
  • 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.

Most comprehensive

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
  • 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 Chambers

Compare climate and insurance risk across neighboring ZIP codes before you commit to a specific address in Baytown.

Explore 77523 in context

Indexable hub links for buyers comparing 77523 with the wider Baytown market and Texas insurance trends.

How we score 77523

Free contract templates for Texas buyers

Download free climate-risk contingency addendums written for Texas purchase agreements. Add hurricane, tornado, or flood contingencies to your offer.

Browse free templates