A mostly rural county located in northeastern Florida, Bradford County has a relatively small population of 28,201 residents as of 2019, according to the US Census Bureau. This number is somewhat misleading, as a significant portion of the counted residents is part of the multiple state correctional facilities in the county, including Flordia State Prison, which has close to 1,500 residents.
Living in Bradford
Relative to the rest of the state and the rest of the U.S., Bradford County’s residents have low-income levels and enjoy a low cost-of-living. The median value for owner-occupied homes in the county is $97,200, and the county’s median household income is $46,197 as of 2018.
The largest city in Bradford County is Starke, the county seat, which has over 5,000 residents. Most of the state is made up of unincorporated areas, which are where the Florida Department of Correction’s facilities like Florida State Prison, and New River Correctional Institution are located.
Because of the presence of these facilities, public administration jobs are common in Bradford County, and other common industries of employment are healthcare, social assistance, and retail.
Home Insurance Premiums in Bradford County
Compared to other rural, landlocked counties in Florida with similar real estate markets, Bradford County has relatively high average premiums for home insurance policies. As such, it’s important that you do what you can to reduce your insurance costs. As you can see in the table below, having a home with wind mitigation is one way you can obtain a more affordable insurance policy.
Average Homeowners Premiums in Bradford County
| Construction Type | Home Value | Average Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2001 (No Wind Mitigation) | $150,000 | $1,552.00 |
| Pre-2001 (With Wind Mitigation) | $150,000 | $1,153.15 |
| New Construction | $300,000 | $1,858.96 |
| Overall Average | $1,521.37 |
The overall average home insurance premium in the county is $1,521, calculated from the data provided by Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation. In addition to home mitigation, other factors can help reduce the cost of your premium and save you money each year. Often, companies will offer discounts for homeowners who bundle their home insurance policies with other insurance, such as auto, or to those who install security systems.
However, a much better way to obtain affordable insurance is to make sure the initial quote you get is one that is reasonably priced and offers you great value. Every insurance company will have its own method for calculating the quote they offer potential customers, so it’s important to thoroughly research and review quotes from a variety of insurance companies.
Here’s a list of the companies with the lowest average premiums in Bradford County to get you started on comparison shopping for home insurance.
For $150,000 homes built before 2001 without wind mitigation, the average premium is $1,552.
- Universal – $876
- Tower Hill Prime – $1,001
- Citizens – $1,003
- First Protective – $1,068
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $150,000, Pre-2001 Construction Without Wind Mitigation Rate in Bradford County
| Company Name | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Universal | $876 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $1,001 |
| Citizens | $1,033 |
| First Protective | $1,068 |
| Stillwater | $1,105 |
| People's Trust | $1,250 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $1,253 |
| Florida Peninsula | $1,277 |
| Southern Fidelity | $1,325 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $1,334 |
| Florida Farm | $1,420 |
| Tower Hill Select | $1,438 |
| Security First | $1,486 |
| Florida Family | $1,561 |
| American Integrity | $1,583 |
| Southern Oak | $1,589 |
| First Community | $1,602 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,616 |
| American Traditions | $1,617 |
| ASI | $1,637 |
| Castle Key | $1,669 |
| Family Security | $1,874 |
| State Farm Florida | $1,877 |
| FedNat | $2,148 |
| St. Johns | $2,162 |
| Auto Club Florida | $2,264 |
| Universal | $2,839 |
| Average | $1,552.00 |
For $150,000 homes built before 2001 with wind mitigation, the average premium is $1,152.
- Universal – $517
- Florida Farm – $683
- Tower Hill Prime – $686
- First Protective – $688
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $150,000, Pre-2001 Construction With Wind Mitigation Rate in Bradford County
| Company Name | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Universal | $517 |
| Florida Farm | $683 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $686 |
| First Protective | $688 |
| Citizens | $799 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $860 |
| Stillwater | $863 |
| People's Trust | $915 |
| Tower Hill Select | $1,002 |
| Florida Peninsula | $1,004 |
| Southern Fidelity | $1,041 |
| Southern Oak | $1,071 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $1,092 |
| Florida Family | $1,138 |
| FedNat | $1,190 |
| St. Johns | $1,247 |
| American Traditions | $1,250 |
| First Community | $1,293 |
| Security First | $1,313 |
| American Integrity | $1,318 |
| ASI | $1,382 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,392 |
| Castle Key | $1,397 |
| State Farm Florida | $1,556 |
| Family Security | $1,591 |
| Universal | $1,889 |
| Auto Club Florida | $1,958 |
| Average | $1,153.15 |
For $300,000 homes with new construction, the average premium is $1,859.
- Universal – $949
- Stillwater – $1,098
- First Protective – $1,222
- Florida Farm – $1,298
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $300,000, New Construction in Bradford County
| Company Name | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Universal | $949 |
| Stillwater | $1,098 |
| First Protective | $1,222 |
| Florida Farm | $1,298 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $1,311 |
| People's Trust | $1,335 |
| Southern Oak | $1,430 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $1,525 |
| Citizens | $1,559 |
| Tower Hill Select | $1,598 |
| Florida Peninsula | $1,608 |
| American Traditions | $1,683 |
| American Integrity | $1,823 |
| Security First | $1,849 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $1,964 |
| St. Johns | $1,989 |
| First Community | $1,991 |
| Florida Family | $1,994 |
| Castle Key | $2,011 |
| Southern Fidelity | $2,027 |
| FedNat | $2,306 |
| Family Security | $2,330 |
| ASI | $2,372 |
| Auto Club Florida | $2,563 |
| State Farm Florida | $2,628 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,758 |
| Universal | $2,971 |
| Average | $1,858.96 |
Flood Insurance in Bradford
While Bradford County may not be as vulnerable to tropical storms as other areas in Florida, homes in the county are still at risk for flooding during hurricane season each year. A significant portion of the county is located in flood plains of various bodies of water, which means homeowners in Bradford County need to purchase flood insurance to protect their homes financially.
The industry standard for FL home insurance is to exclude coverage for damage due to flooding, and the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) makes affordable flood insurance policies to homeowners living in areas at risk for flooding. You can purchase these policies through regional companies like First Protective.
