For a lot of homeowners, summer means more than vacations — it also means staying vigilant during hurricane season.
A problem most associated with Southern states hugging the Gulf Coast, like Florida and Texas, hurricanes also pose a serious threat to the Northeast.
Property data and analytics firm Cotality found that while Florida and Texas have the highest amount of homes with moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage, the damage in the Northeast can be more devastating.
“While hurricanes hit the Northeast less frequently than the Gulf Coast, the region’s immense population density and property value mean the stakes are incredibly high,” Cotality vice president of insurance market insights Maiclaire Bolton-Smith said in a release.
“It’s critical that homeowners in the Northeast understand that while landfalling hurricanes may not be as frequent as other states, the risk is still real.”
As for metropolitan areas, New York City ranks ahead of any Florida city, with a reconstruction cost value of more than $1.9 billion. The metro also has the most homes with a moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage.
In total, more than 32.2 million homes across the United States are at moderate or greater risk from hurricane winds alone, accounting for over $12.26 trillion in reconstruction cost value, according to Cotality.
Below, see the states where homeowners are at the highest risk of hurricane damage.
Median home price data is from Redfin.
15. Maryland
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 479,881
Reconstruction cost value: $179.6 billion
Median home price: $446,900
14. Alabama
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 768,390
Reconstruction cost value: $232.7 billion
Median home price: $299,000
13. Pennsylvania
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 781,797
Reconstruction cost value: $360 billion
Median home price: $308,500
12. Connecticut
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 813,066
Reconstruction cost value: $426 billion
Median home price: $445,100
11. Georgia
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 836,172
Reconstruction cost value: $243.1 billion
Median home price: $373,700
10. Mississippi
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 837,860
Reconstruction cost value: $241.8 billion
Median home price: $265,200
9. Virginia
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,146,781
Reconstruction cost value: $426.4 billion
Median home price: $462,400
8. South Carolina
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,482,345
Reconstruction cost value: $476.9 billion
Median home price: $397,600
7. Louisiana
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,657,255
Reconstruction cost value: $515.7 billion
Median home price: $260,300
6. Massachusetts
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,785,383
Reconstruction cost value: $1 trillion
Median home price: $645,400
5. New Jersey
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 2,208,651
Reconstruction cost value: $1.2 trillion
Median home price: $545,300
4. New York
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 2,213,104
Reconstruction cost value: $1.2 trillion
Median home price: $595,900
3. North Carolina
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 3,165,030
Reconstruction cost value: $1.1 trillion
Median home price: $381,700
2. Texas
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 4,763,476
Reconstruction cost value: $1.5 trillion
Median home price: $341,800
1. Florida
Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 8,249,592
Reconstruction cost value: $2.3 trillion
Median home price: $416,800
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