Escambia County, which makes up the western end of the Florida Panhandle, is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and Alabama. With a relatively mid-sized population compared to other counties in Florida, Escambia County had a reported 318,316 residents as of 2019.
Escambia County features a largely middle-class population and had a median household income of $49,286 in 2018, according to the US Census Bureau. Despite the allure of Escambia’s County’s beaches along its stretch off the Gulf Coast, the county has a fairly low cost-of-living relative compared to other regions of Florida.
Home Insurance Premiums in Escambia County
The average homeowners insurance in Florida differs between homes based on what kind of hurricane and windstorm protection they have. Homes constructed prior to 2001 may or may not incorporate wind mitigation measures, which can help significantly reduce the financial risk to insurance companies, which means a lower insurance premium. New construction follows existing housing codes and, in areas where hurricane season hits, includes wind mitigation.
Average Homeowners Premiums in Escambia County
| Construction Type | Home Value | Average Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2001 (No Wind Mitigation) | $150,000 | $3,371.70 |
| Pre-2001 (With Wind Mitigation) | $150,000 | $1,668.56 |
| New Construction | $300,000 | $2,991.00 |
| Overall Average | $2,677.09 |
Based on the data provided by the Florida government, the overall average premium for Escambia is $2,677.09. There are a number of insurance companies that offer home insurance policies but if you’re looking for the most affordable options, start shopping for quotes with these companies, who have the cheapest average premiums for each of the three construction types listed above according to data from Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation:
For $150,000 homes built before 2001 without wind mitigation, the average premium is $3,371.70.
For cheap options see below companies and their rates:
- Stillwater – $1,807
- Florida Family – $2,396
- FedNat – $2,473
- Family Security – $2,806
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $150,000, Pre-2001 Construction Without Wind Mitigation Rate in Escambia County
| Company | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Stillwater | $1,807 |
| Florida Family | $2,396 |
| FedNat | $2,473 |
| Family Security | $2,806 |
| Florida Peninsula | $2,967 |
| Universal | $2,984 |
| Southern Fidelity | $3,005 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $3,023 |
| First Community | $3,028 |
| Security First | $3,031 |
| American Traditions | $3,094 |
| Tower Hill Select | $3,193 |
| ASI | $3,239 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $3,267 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $3,343 |
| Universal | $3,471 |
| First Protective | $3,482 |
| State Farm Florida | $3,483 |
| St. Johns | $3,507 |
| Liberty Mutual | $3,805 |
| Citizens | $3,889 |
| People's Trust | $3,918 |
| Castle Key | $4,057 |
| American Integrity | $4,286 |
| Auto Club of Florida | $4,383 |
| Florida Farm Bureau | $4,486 |
| Southern Oak | $4,613 |
| Average | $3,371.70 |
For $150,000 homes built before 2001 with wind mitigation, the average premium is $1,668.56.
For cheap options see below companies and their rates:
- FedNat – $1,032
- Stillwater – $1,054
- Tower Hill – $1,294
- Citizens – $1,300
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $150,000, Pre-2001 Construction Without Wind Mitigation Rate in Escambia County
| Company | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Stillwater | $1,807 |
| Florida Family | $2,396 |
| FedNat | $2,473 |
| Family Security | $2,806 |
| Florida Peninsula | $2,967 |
| Universal | $2,984 |
| Southern Fidelity | $3,005 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $3,023 |
| First Community | $3,028 |
| Security First | $3,031 |
| American Traditions | $3,094 |
| Tower Hill Select | $3,193 |
| ASI | $3,239 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $3,267 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $3,343 |
| Universal | $3,471 |
| First Protective | $3,482 |
| State Farm Florida | $3,483 |
| St. Johns | $3,507 |
| Liberty Mutual | $3,805 |
| Citizens | $3,889 |
| People's Trust | $3,918 |
| Castle Key | $4,057 |
| American Integrity | $4,286 |
| Auto Club of Florida | $4,383 |
| Florida Farm Bureau | $4,486 |
| Southern Oak | $4,613 |
| Average | $3,371.70 |
For $300,000 homes with new construction, the average premium is $2,991.00.
For cheap options see below companies and their rates:
- Stillwater – $1,400
- Southern Oak – $1,942
- St. Johns – $2,370
- Universal – $2,583
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $150,000, Pre-2001 Construction Without Wind Mitigation Rate in Escambia County
| Company | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Stillwater | $1,807 |
| Florida Family | $2,396 |
| FedNat | $2,473 |
| Family Security | $2,806 |
| Florida Peninsula | $2,967 |
| Universal | $2,984 |
| Southern Fidelity | $3,005 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $3,023 |
| First Community | $3,028 |
| Security First | $3,031 |
| American Traditions | $3,094 |
| Tower Hill Select | $3,193 |
| ASI | $3,239 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $3,267 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $3,343 |
| Universal | $3,471 |
| First Protective | $3,482 |
| State Farm Florida | $3,483 |
| St. Johns | $3,507 |
| Liberty Mutual | $3,805 |
| Citizens | $3,889 |
| People's Trust | $3,918 |
| Castle Key | $4,057 |
| American Integrity | $4,286 |
| Auto Club of Florida | $4,383 |
| Florida Farm Bureau | $4,486 |
| Southern Oak | $4,613 |
| Average | $3,371.70 |
Flood Insurance in Escambia County
Keep in mind that if you’re hoping to own a home in Escambia County, or elsewhere in Florida, the risk for water damage during hurricane season means that you’ll likely need a separate flood insurance policy. Water damage from floods is generally a named exclusion in most homeowners insurance policies.
The federal government offers affordable flood insurance policies in states like Florida, which are rated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as at-risk for flooding, through the National Flood Insurance Program (NRIP).
Regional companies like FedNat underwrite these policies but keep in mind that they can only offer up to a $250,000 home replacement value. So if you purchase a home over that value and purchase a FedNat policy, you will need additional flood coverage from a private insurance company to make up for the coverage gap.
Population Centers in Escambia County
The county seat, Pensacola, is also the largest city in Escambia County. Pensacola sits roughly halfway between New Orleans, LA, and Tampa, FL and is the center of the most populated metropolitan area within the Gulf Coast region.
Pensacola Bay is one of Escambia’s largest draws for tourists during the summer months, and Pensacola is home to four of Escambia County’s institutes of post-secondary education: University of West Florida, Pensacola State College, Pensacola Christian College, and George Stone Technical College.
Home Values in Escambia County
The median home value in Escambia County is $152,500 as of 2018 estimates from the US Census Bureau. Homes located closer to the water, along the Gulf Coast and near Pensacola Bay tend to be among the most expensive properties in the county, with close to 40% of homes in the metropolitan area listing between $130,000 and $265,000.
Although the nearby beaches can up the price of the home, the increased risk of damage during hurricane season means that homeowners insurance premiums tend to be slightly higher than average compared to other counties in Florida.
