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The 10 U.S. Cities with the Fewest Natural Disasters

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By Susan Meyer
Updated November 19, 2025
Edited By Beth Swanson
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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
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Beth Swanson

Insurance Analyst

Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • Associate in Insurance
  • Professional Risk Consultant
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  1. The 10 U.S. Cities with the Least Natural Disasters
  2. The 10 U.S. Cities with the Most Natural Disasters
  3. Methodology

Is Climate Change Coming for Us All?

Natural disasters have always been a risk, especially in certain parts of the country like coastal cities and Tornado Alley. But climate change has caused more drastic shifts in weather patterns throughout the U.S. From wildfires to hurricanes, where you live can impact your home and your safety. That's why we looked at the 50 most populous metro areas in the nation to find which areas face the least risk from natural disasters.

We looked at the seven following factors:

  • Overall Climate Vulnerability Percentile: A general risk score that takes into account climate impacts on extreme weather events, environment, health, infrastructure, social and economic conditions. 
  • Precipitation Score: Measures how rainfall and snowfall could change through 2050. 
  • Storm Score: Accounts for the frequency of hurricanes, tornadoes and winter storms annually. 
  • Flooding Score: Predicts how changes in sea level could impact areas by 2050. 
  • Wildfire Score: Measures the frequency of wildfires and their impact on air quality between 2021 and 2022 (the last year for which data is available) 
  • Drought Score: Measures the length and frequency of droughts from 2021 to 2022 (the last year for which data is available)
  • Average Homeowners Insurance Premiums: Reflects the market’s perceived risk using the average cost of annual premiums for homeowners. 

It's worth noting that the climate vulnerability data is available by census tract. That means different addresses in the same city may have vastly different scores, especially when it comes to flooding and wildfire risks. We used each area's downtown census tract for consistency.

Check out the cities with the least risk of natural disasters, plus a quick round-up of the 10 worst cities in the U.S.

The 10 U.S. Cities with the Least Natural Disasters

Source: The Zebra

The 10 U.S. Cities with the Least Natural Disasters

#1: San Francisco, California

San Francisco is our top-rated U.S. city when it comes to a low risk of natural disasters. The downtown area has virtually no risk of storms or flooding threats, and the city also ranked first in terms of overall vulnerability. This is reflected in San Francisco having one of the lowest average homeowner insurance premiums in the country, despite being a high-cost-of-living area. Unsurprisingly for a California city, however, there is a moderate risk for wildfires and a high risk of drought.

San Francisco by the numbers

  • Overall Vulnerability Percentile: 6
  • Precipitation Score: 25
  • Storm Score: 0
  • Flooding Score: 0
  • Wildfire Score: 38
  • Drought Score: 89
  • Average Homeowners Insurance Premium: $2,146

#2: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee also has one of the lowest overall climate vulnerability scores in the U.S., along with the second-cheapest homeowners insurance costs at just $1,811. While there is a moderate chance of excessive precipitation and flooding, other category risks like storms, wildfire and drought were quite low.

Milwaukee by the numbers

  • Overall Vulnerability Percentile: 6
  • Precipitation Score: 85
  • Storm Score: 30
  • Flooding Score: 46
  • Wildfire Score: 21
  • Drought Score: 2
  • Average Homeowners Insurance Premium: $1,811

#3: Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati is an ideal location to get away from the risk of flooding, drought and wildfires, not to mention the overall impact of natural disasters. However, homeowner insurance costs are a bit higher than some of the other cities in our top 10, reaching over $2,400 per year. Cincinnati residents do, however, need to watch for higher levels of precipitation and storms.

Cincinnati by the numbers

  • Overall Vulnerability Percentile: 22
  • Precipitation Score: 78
  • Storm Score: 51
  • Flooding Score: 0
  • Wildfire Score: 1
  • Drought Score: 28
  • Average Homeowners Insurance Premium: $2,439

#4: San Jose, California

San Jose has one of the cheapest average homeowners insurance premiums in the country, totalling just $1,743. That may largely be due to the city's overall vulnerability percentile of just 12. Plus, when looking at individual natural disasters, San Jose has a low risk of precipitation and storms. And even its drought and wildfire scores are surprisingly moderate.

San Jose by the numbers

  • Overall Vulnerability Percentile: 12
  • Precipitation Score: 22
  • Storm Score: 5
  • Flooding Score: 81
  • Wildfire Score: 61
  • Drought Score: 37
  • Average Homeowners Insurance Premium: $1,743

#5: Washington, DC

Downtown Washington, D.C., has an extremely low risk of flooding and wildfire; plus, the area's average homeowners insurance premium is just under $1,400 per year. Storms, precipitation and drought carry a slightly higher risk in the nation's capital, but the city still has a lower overall climate vulnerability score.

Washington, DC by the numbers

  • Overall Vulnerability Percentile: 27
  • Precipitation Score: 60
  • Storm Score: 62
  • Flooding Score: 0
  • Wildfire Score: 2
  • Drought Score: 60
  • Average Homeowners Insurance Premium: $1,399

#6: Seattle, Washington

Despite its reputation for rainy days, Seattle doesn't have a particularly high-risk precipitation or storm score. On top of that, downtown has little to no risk of flooding. That may be why Seattle's homeowners insurance premiums are among the lowest nationwide. Wildfire and drought risks, however, are slightly above average compared to other cities we analyzed.

Seattle by the numbers

  • Overall Vulnerability Percentile: 52
  • Precipitation Score: 56
  • Storm Score: 8
  • Flooding Score: 0
  • Wildfire Score: 36
  • Drought Score: 59
  • Average Homeowners Insurance Premium: $1,755

#7: New York, New York

New York has one of the lowest overall climate vulnerability scores in the U.S. Additionally, flooding, wildfire and drought risks are low. However, there is a higher risk of precipitation and storms and insurance premiums for homeowners are on the higher end at nearly $2,800.

NYC by the numbers

  • Overall Vulnerability Percentile: 10
  • Precipitation Score: 63
  • Storm Score: 57
  • Flooding Score: 0
  • Wildfire Score: 6
  • Drought Score: 33
  • Average Homeowners Insurance Premium: $2,785

#8: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis stands out thanks to a relatively low climate vulnerability score paired with the lowest risk of drought in the country. It sits in the middle of the competition when it comes to homeowners insurance prices, which average $2,847. However, precipitation and wildfire risks are above average compared to other areas on our list.

Minneapolis by the numbers

  • Overall Vulnerability Percentile: 27
  • Precipitation Score: 59
  • Storm Score: 26
  • Flooding Score: 44
  • Wildfire Score: 43
  • Drought Score: 1
  • Average Homeowners Insurance Premium: $2,847

#9: Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas has the highest overall climate vulnerability in the top 10, but ranks well for lower risks of storms, precipitation, and even drought. Plus, the city has the second lowest average homeowners insurance premium, which costs just over $1,500 annually. On the downside, there is a higher chance of flooding and wildfire in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas by the numbers

  • Overall Vulnerability Percentile: 82
  • Precipitation Score: 21
  • Storm Score: 7
  • Flooding Score: 75
  • Wildfire Score: 41
  • Drought Score: 26
  • Average Homeowners Insurance Premium: $1,508

#10: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is another city where homeowners insurance is affordable, costing just over $1,700 each year on average. The city ranks average on overall vulnerability, but has little risk of wildfire or storms. But precipitation and flooding can be heavy in the area.

Pittsburgh by the numbers

  • Overall Vulnerability Percentile: 51
  • Precipitation Score: 86
  • Storm Score: 26
  • Flooding Score: 76
  • Wildfire Score: 0
  • Drought Score: 39
  • Average Homeowners Insurance Premium: $1,727
The 10 U.S. Cities with the Most Natural Disasters

Source: The Zebra

The 10 U.S. Cities with the Most Natural Disasters

Which cities ranked worst on our list? Here are the top 10 places with the highest risk of natural disasters and high homeowners insurance premiums.

  1. Houston, Texas
  2. Hartford, Connecticut
  3. Providence, Rhode Island
  4. Memphis, Tennessee
  5. Baltimore, Maryland
  6. New Orleans, Louisiana
  7. Birmingham, Alabama
  8. Richmond, Virginia
  9. San Antonio, Texas
  10. Boston, Massachusetts

All of these cities made the list in part because of their high risk of flooding. In some cases, such as Houston, New Orleans, Hartford and San Antonio, there is also a high chance of drought. 

Methodology

The Zebra used seven data points to analyze the top 50 MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) by population related to natural disasters and homeowners insurance. Both MSA and census tract data were used.

  • Overall climate vulnerability, precipitation, storms, flooding, wildfire, and drought percentiles[1]
  • Homeowners Insurance Premiums (The Zebra)
Sources

  1. The U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index