Located in close to the Gulf Coast, in North Central Florida, Gilchrist County is a landlocked county made up primarily agricultural land. With a relatively low population of 18,582 residents, as of 2019, Gilchrist County is one of the least densely populated counties in the state.
Living in Gilchrist
According to Zillow.com, in Gilchrist County, the median home value is $146,411 as of March 2020, and the median household income of $42,357, which is roughly two-thirds of the national median. With a significant portion of the county is taken up by farmland and protected parks, Gilchrist County, one of the smallest by land area in Florida, is made up of few densely populated areas.
The two cities in the county are Trenton, and Fanning Spring, which spans across the border into Levy County. Trenton is by far the large of the two, and the city’s over 2,000 residents represent about 11 percent of the county’s population. One of Gilchrist County’s biggest draws for both residents and tourists are its many natural springs, which have earned it the title of “Springs Captial of the World.”
Home Insurance Premiums in Gilchrist County
Homes in Gilchrist County have average home insurance premiums that are low to moderately priced for the state of Florida. However, premium costs can vary between different types of properties, and as you can see in the chart below, having homes with protective wind mitigation features can significantly reduce the cost of your insurance policy.
Average Homeowners Premiums in Gilchrist County
| Construction Type | Home Value | Average Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2001 (No Wind Mitigation) | $150,000 | $1722.85 |
| Pre-2001 (With Wind Mitigation) | $150,000 | $1227.81 |
| New Construction | $300,000 | $1997.48 |
| Overall Average | $1649.38 |
According to the data below, provided by Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation, the overall average premium for homeowners insurance in this county is $1649. One thing that many homeowners don’t realize is just home much shopping around for quotes on a home insurance policy in Florida can save them on their policy premiums. While you might be under impression that comparison shopping is a waste of time and all policies are created equal, the data below will convince you otherwise.
If you’re looking to own a home in Gilchrist County, doing just “average” when it comes to finding a policy could mean you would pay as much as double the lowest average policies among locally operating insurance companies.
For $150,000 homes built before 2001 without wind mitigation, the average premium is $1,723.
For below-average rates, check out the companies below:
- Tower Hill Prime – $1,048
- Citizens – $1,080
- Universal – $1,103
- First Protective – $1,146
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $150,000, Pre-2001 Construction Without Wind Mitigation Rate in Gilchrist County
| Company Name | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Tower Hill Prime | $1048 |
| Citizens | $1,080 |
| Universal | $1,103 |
| First Protective | $1,146 |
| Southern Fidelity | $1,241 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $1,256 |
| Florida Peninsula | $1,269 |
| Florida Farm | $1,348 |
| People's Trust | $1,377 |
| Tower Hill Select | $1,424 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $1,505 |
| Security First | $1,524 |
| Stillwater | $1,599 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,708 |
| First Community | $1,767 |
| St. Johns | $1,803 |
| American Integrity | $1,829 |
| American Traditions | $1,855 |
| Florida Family | $1,873 |
| Castle Key | $1,874 |
| Southern Oak | $1,876 |
| Family Security | $2,136 |
| ASI | $2,248 |
| FedNat | $2,300 |
| Auto Club Florida | $2,508 |
| Universal | $2,906 |
| State Farm Florida | $2,914 |
| Average | $1,722.85 |
For $150,000 homes built before 2001 with wind mitigation, the average premium is $1,228.
For below-average rates, check out the companies below:
- Universal – $648
- First Protective – $689
- Tower Hill Prime – $716
- Florida Farm – $786
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $150,000, Pre-2001 Construction With Wind Mitigation Rate in Gilchrist County
| Company Name | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Universal | $648 |
| First Protective | $689 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $716 |
| Florida Farm | $786 |
| Citizens | $813 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $869 |
| Southern Fidelity | $976 |
| Tower Hill Select | $978 |
| Florida Peninsula | $992 |
| St. Johns | $1,034 |
| People's Trust | $1,043 |
| Stillwater | $1,107 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,134 |
| Southern Oak | $1,183 |
| FedNat | $1,189 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $1,229 |
| Security First | $1,319 |
| American Traditions | $1,351 |
| First Community | $1,360 |
| Florida Family | $1,363 |
| American Integrity | $1,391 |
| Castle Key | $1,598 |
| Family Security | $1,599 |
| ASI | $1,722 |
| Universal | $1,738 |
| Auto Club Florida | $1,861 |
| State Farm Florida | $2,463 |
| Average | $1,227.81 |
For $300,000 homes with new construction, the average premium is $1,723.
For below-average rates, check out the companies below:
- Universal – $1,195
- First Protective – $1,244
- Florida Farm – $1,331
- Tower Hill Prime – $1,369
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $300,000, New Construction in Gilchrist County
| Company Name | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Universal | $1,195 |
| First Protective | $1,244 |
| Florida Farm | $1,331 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $1,369 |
| Stillwater | $1,428 |
| People's Trust | $1,484 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $1,541 |
| Southern Oak | $1,548 |
| Tower Hill Select | $1,564 |
| Florida Peninsula | $1,589 |
| Citizens | $1,593 |
| St. Johns | $1,652 |
| American Traditions | $1,857 |
| Security First | $1,898 |
| Southern Fidelity | $1,898 |
| American Integrity | $1,988 |
| First Community | $2,135 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $2,214 |
| Castle Key | $2,305 |
| FedNat | $2,363 |
| Florida Family | $2,389 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,390 |
| Family Security | $2,438 |
| Auto Club Florida | $2,615 |
| Universal | $2,841 |
| ASI | $2,914 |
| State Farm Florida | $4,149 |
| Average | $1,997.48 |
Flood Insurance in Gilchrist
In addition to your standard home insurance policy, if you want to live in Gilchrist County, you’ll need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy as well. Dealing with flooding is a reality of living in a southern state like Florida, even in a landlocked area like Gilchrist County. As homeowners insurance won’t cover damage from flooding, it’s important you protect your home with standalone flood insurance.
Due to proximity to the Suwannee River, several areas in Gilchrist County are high-risk. Each year, FEMA rates which regions of the country are vulnerable to flooding, and based on those ratings, resident homeowners are eligible for government price-controlled flood insurance policies through the National Flood Insurance Program, through local companies like First Protective.
