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10 Cities with the Worst Flood Insurance Environment

New Orleans tops the list, but other coastal and inland cities also face soaring flood risks, rising costs, and shrinking insurance options.

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By Susan Meyer Info icon
Updated June 2, 2025
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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…

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  • 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
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  1. Cities 1 - 4
  2. Cities Tied for #5
  3. Cities Ties for #9
  4. Flood risk: What to do
  5. Methodology

Where flood insurance falls short

Flooding is a natural disaster that impacts Americans across the country. In fact, 22% of homeowners report that their property is at risk of flooding.[1] While nearly 134 million buildings in the U.S. have some type of flood insurance, the amount of coverage is on the decline.[2] But gambling with flood insurance isn't a smart move, especially as sea levels rise and weather patterns change. 

So, where are the worst environments for flood insurance? We analyzed the 50 most populous cities in the U.S. using the following four data points relevant to policies and premium costs. 

  • Flood Policies in Force: We calculated how many flood policies are in force per 1,000 residents in each city to determine where there is a higher concentration of at-risk properties. 
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance: More flooding equals higher insurance costs, so we looked at the median cost of a flood insurance policy each year. 
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year: 43% of homeowners with flood insurance purchase their policies from the National Flood Insurance Program. We averaged the number of NFIP claims paid out over a 43-year period by state, then calculated the average for each year per 1,000 state residents. This is another indicator of areas that are more prone to requiring flood insurance claims.

 

Here's our list of U.S. cities with the worst flood insurance to see if your area is more prone to a more expensive insurance environment.

 

#1: New Orleans, Louisiana

Nearly 100% of properties located in New Orleans are at risk of flooding, so it's no surprise that the Big Easy takes our top spot as the worst city for flood insurance.[3] It has the highest concentration of flood policies in force out of all the cities we analyzed, and Louisiana has the highest rate of NFIP claims paid out each year. The good news for New Orleans residents? The average cost of flood insurance each year is just $797, which is significantly lower than the most expensive rate on our list (which goes to Boston with an average annual premium of $1,232).

  • Flood Policies in Force: 64.5 per 1,000 residents
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance: $797 per year
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year (state): 2.44 per 1,000 residents

#2: Tampa, Florida

Tampa is another coastal city that's especially prone to flooding, both due to its location and the fact that its highest point is just 48 feet above sea level.[4] Florida comes in just after Louisiana in terms of the average number of claims paid out per year. Flood insurance costs an average of $799, and there is also a high concentration of policies in force, at over 13 per 1,000 residents.

  • Flood Policies in Force: 13.82 per 1,000 residents
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance: $799 per year
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year (state): 0.34 per 1,000 residents

#3: Houston, Texas

Next up is Houston, a flat area that's close to the Gulf Coast and experiences heavy rainfall. At $781 per year, the average flood insurance policy isn't among the most expensive in the nation. But a lot of people need it in Houston. There are 31.89 policies in force per 1,000 residents, making it the second highest concentration on our list, just after New Orleans. There's also a high level of claims paid out in Texas each year, which means residents are using those policies.

  • Flood Policies in Force: 31.89 per 1,000 residents
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance: $781 per year
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year (state): 0.31 per 1,000 residents

#4: Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville homeowners don't have one of the highest rates of NFIP claims paid out in the state per year, but they do have one of the highest premium rates in the country, costing around $886 per year. On top of that, the city has a relatively high rate of policies in force at 2.15 per 1,000 residents, thanks to flooding from the Ohio River paired with heavy rainfall.

  • Flood Policies in Force: 2.15 per 1,000 residents
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance: $886 per year
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year (state): 0.13 per 1,000 residents

#5: Austin, Texas (tied)

Austin's risk of flash floods contributes to its fifth-place position on our list (although it's tied with three other cities). Annual premium costs aren't too expensive at $775 per year, but there are 2.46 policies in force per 1,000 residents in the area. Texas also averages 0.31 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents each year.

  • Flood Policies in Force: 2.46 per 1,000 residents
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance: $775 per year
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year (state): 0.31 per 1,000 residents

#5: Birmingham, Alabama (tied)

Low level areas of Birmingham are at risk of flooding, particularly due to rain runoff and flash flooding. Those areas are somewhat limited based on having just 1.12 flood policies in force per 1,000 residents. But the cost to maintain those policies is high at $880 per year. In Alabama, about 0.21 flood claims per 1,000 residents are paid out to policyholders.

  • Flood Policies in Force: 1.12 per 1,000 residents
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance: $880 per year
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year (state): 0.21 per 1,000 residents

#5: Hartford, Connecticut (tied)

Hartford's location on the Connecticut River and year-round precipitation (including snow) cause a high degree of flood risk in the area. The state of Connecticut has an above-average number of NFIP claims at 0.19 per 1,000 residents each year. The number of flood policies skews a little bit lower, as we tend to see in river cities compared to coastal ones. But Hartford really makes our list for having one of the highest flood premiums in the country at $885 per year.

  • Flood Policies in Force: 1.14 per 1,000 residents
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance: $885 per year
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year (state): 0.19 per 1,000 residents

#5: Jacksonville, Florida (tied)

Jacksonville is our final fifth-place city, largely due to its low elevation paired with coastal and river flooding. It has one of the highest concentrations of flood policies in force, although the annual premium is slightly more modest at $753.

  • Flood Policies in Force: 12.87 per 1,000 residents
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance: $753 per year
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year (state): 0.34 1,000 residents

#9: Buffalo, New York (tied)

Two cities round out our top 10 list, the first of which is Buffalo, New York — a city prone to heavy rain and snowfall. Policies in force in the city come in at 1.2 per 1,000 residents and premiums are on the higher end at $805 per year. Overall, the state of New York sees just 0.2 NFIP claims paid out per 1,000 residents each year.

  • Flood Policies in Force: 1.2 per 1,000 residents
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance: $805 per year
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year (state): 0.2 per 1,000 residents

#9: St. Louis, Missouri (tied)

Located on the Mississippi River, St. Louis has a high risk of flash flooding. While the number of flood policies in force is just 0.78 per 1,000 residents, the median cost is one of the highest in the nation at $988 per year. Missouri as a state has a relatively high number of flood claims paid out per year when compared to the rest of the nation.

  • Flood Policies in Force: 0.78 per 1,000 residents
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance: $988 per year
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year (state): 0.19 per 1,000 residents

What to Do If You Live in an Area with Flood Risk

Floods can cause catastrophic property damage and are the most commonly occurring natural disaster in the United States. If you live in a city with a high rate of flooding, it's important to learn about your situation.

  • Research your home's location. You will want to determine your property's flood risk. If you have a moderate to low risk of flood damage, it may not be worth investing in flood insurance. 
  • Consider your options. The majority of flood policies are written by FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), though a small number of private insurance companies offer flood coverage as well. Learn more to decide which may be best for you. 
  • Help make your home flood resistant: Consider measures like sealing foundation cracks, elevating utilities, installing a sump pump and ensuring proper drainage to help minimize danger from potential floods. 

Methodology

The Zebra pulled four data points to analyze the top 50 MSAs (by population) in the U.S. related to flood insurance. 

  • Flood Policies in Force[5]
  • Median Cost of Flood Insurance[6]
  • NFIP Claims Paid Per Year by State[7]

MSA data was used where applicable, and we sometimes substituted city or state data as necessary.

Sources

  1. Facts & Statistics: Flood Insurance.[III]

  2. The Growing U.S. Flood Insurance Gap: A Wake-Up Call for the Industry. [Claims Journal]

  3. New Orleans Flood risk.[First Street]

  4. Geography of Tampa. [Ranger Guard]

  5. Flood insurance data and analytics. [FEMA]

  6. Cost of Flood Insurance for Single-Family Homes under NFIP’s Pricing Approach. [FEMA]

  7. States That See the Most Flooding Damage. [US News]