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Empire, CO: the local picture
Roughly 287 residents call Empire home in Clear Creek County.
In a smaller Colorado community such as Empire, the insurance picture centers on local construction, access to fire protection, and regional storm patterns rather than tourism headlines.
The housing stock is a mix of single-family homes typical of the Clear Creek County area, and replacement cost, roof age, and construction type still explain most premium differences block by block.
Front Range communities face hail, wind, and wildfire risk that can move premiums quickly after active storm seasons.
Average home insurance cost in Empire
The typical homeowners insurance premium in Empire, CO is about $3,542 annually for a typical local home (typical local home value about $400,000). For a $300,000 dwelling, expect around $3,124 per year; for a $600,000 home about $4,396; and for a $1,000,000 dwelling about $5,720. Freedom Insurance Group rates are often about 41% lower — near $2,090 per year for a typical home, roughly $1,843 for a $300,000 home, about $2,594 for a $600,000 home, and around $3,375 for a $1,000,000 home.
| Dwelling Coverage Limits | Average Annual Premium (incl. Windstorm & Hail Coverage) |
|---|---|
| $100,000 – $200,000 | $2,429 |
| $200,000 – $300,000 | $2,715 |
| $300,000 – $400,000 | $3,333 |
| $400,000 – $500,000 | $3,773 |
| $500,000 – $600,000 | $4,200 |
| $600,000 – $700,000 | $4,534 |
| $700,000 – $800,000 | $4,811 |
| $800,000 – $900,000 | $5,174 |
| $900,000 – $1,000,000 | $5,537 |
Band premiums are midpoints on the Empire dwelling curve (typical local home value about $400,000). Illustrated estimates, not a quote.
Figures are 2026 market-style estimates for Empire, CO, using a typical local home value of about $400,000. Freedom figures apply an approximate 41% savings vs the local typical premium for illustration. Your quote depends on dwelling limit, roof, deductible, claims, and carrier. Not a guarantee.
Homeowners policy coverages, A through F
- Coverage A, dwelling: Rebuilding funds for the home itself after a covered loss. Match it to reconstruction costs in your area.
- Other structures (Coverage B): A detached garage, a shed, a fence, or similar buildings separate from the main house fall here.
- Coverage C, personal property: Pays for belongings in the home: furniture, clothing, and everyday items. Pricier categories may have special limits.
- Coverage D, loss of use: Temporary housing and related costs until repairs are done after a covered claim forces you out.
- Personal liability (Coverage E): If you are legally responsible for bodily injury or property damage to others from a covered event, it applies.
- Medical payments (Coverage F): This helps with guest medical bills for injuries that happen on your property, often without needing a formal liability claim.
Discounts for Empire, CO homeowners
| Discount | What it means | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Home | New construction recently purchased | up to 40% |
| Age of home (5 yrs) | Newer homes | up to 26% |
| Bundle | Home and auto together | up to 25% |
| Upgrades | Electrical, plumbing, heating, roof updates | up to 20% |
| Hail-resistant roof | Class 1–4 impact roof | up to 12% |
| Claims-free | Multi-year claims-free history | up to 5% |
| Security / alarms | Monitored fire or burglar alarm | up to 4% |
| Paid in full | Pay annual premium upfront | up to 7% |
Each company chooses its own discounts and amounts. “Up to” shows the maximum, not a guaranteed amount.
What drives home insurance costs in Empire
Pricing for a Empire home rests on a set of related inputs underwriters weigh as a group. Rebuild cost, roof age and material, and local storm or wildfire exposure usually move the price the most, while deductible choice and claims history can change the final premium as much as the carrier brand itself.
Replacement cost is what it would take to rebuild the home with similar materials at today’s labor and material prices. Because the carrier’s top payout rises with the rebuild estimate, larger figures for Empire homes tend to push up premiums.
Construction type and roof details matter as well: underwriters check whether walls are frame or masonry, the roofing material, and how solidly the home is built, because these factors decide how it handles the wind, hail, and fire seen across Colorado.
Homes in Empire with close rebuild estimates might not cost the same because of location risk: storm, hail, wildfire, and crime scores that vary by ZIP code and neighborhood.
A strong fire protection profile based on the protection class and nearby hydrants and stations can make pricing more competitive.
Insurers look at claims history on every quote; fresh claims on the property or household often push the price up whether the Empire policy is new or renewing.
Some carriers factor in a credit-based insurance score where permitted; higher scores generally bring lower prices.
Empire neighborhoods
- Victorian Village
- Ball Placer
- West Fork Village
- Chalet Village
Housing and weather facts for Empire
In FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clear Creek County rates above the low end for hail (“Relatively Moderate”) and wildfire (“Relatively Moderate”).
ACS 2020–2024 estimates put about 399 housing units in Empire, and homeowners occupy roughly 47% of the occupied homes. By structure type, 56% are detached single-family houses, 25% are in buildings with two or more units, and 16% are mobile homes.
NOAA lists no hail reports plotted within about 5 miles of Empire for 2016–2025, but Clear Creek County logged 3 hail reports countywide, topping out at 1 inch.
From 2000 on, Clear Creek County has been part of 3 major disaster declarations; the latest was Covid-19 Pandemic (March 2020).
Occupied homes in Empire are heated mostly with utility gas (55%), electricity (36%), and wood (3.9%). Wood stoves and propane tanks are items underwriters ask about, because they can affect eligibility.
Empire’s median year built is 1971. Roughly 74% of homes were built before 1980, so wiring, plumbing, and roof updates can change eligibility and price.
Empire’s population went from 355 at the 2000 Census to 282 at the 2010 Census, and the Census Bureau’s July 2024 estimate is 324. Numbers have held fairly steady since 2000.
Federal tornado records from NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center list 1 tornado that began within 10 miles of Empire from 1950 through 2015, rated EF0, on August 18, 2007.
Shopping around the area? See our home insurance pages for Georgetown (3 mi), Silver Plume (5 mi), and Idaho Springs (9 mi).
ZIP codes we cover in and around Empire
80438 · 80444 · 80436 · 80452
Empire, CO bundling home and auto
Illustrated average bundle savings, not a quote. Actual savings depend on the carrier and the drivers.
| Place | 1-car bundle | 2-car bundle | 3-car bundle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire, Colorado | $258 | $436 | $636 |
Keep exploring Colorado coverage options
Price homeowners coverage for Empire, CO
In Empire, Freedom Insurance Group shops 25+ carriers. Ready when you are: request a home quote on our site or dial (800) 253-1482.
