{"id":65452,"date":"2019-04-10T23:00:47","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T06:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redfindevelop.wpengine.com\/blog\/?p=65452"},"modified":"2020-10-06T19:28:52","modified_gmt":"2020-10-07T02:28:52","slug":"natural-disaster-hazard-score-by-metro-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/natural-disaster-hazard-score-by-metro-area\/","title":{"rendered":"Detroit, Indianapolis and Buffalo Among the Least Disaster-Prone and Most Affordable Places to Live"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nine of the 10 least hazardous metro areas have median home prices below the $287,400 national median.<\/h2>\n

When you\u2019re buying a house or moving to a new town, it\u2019s important to consider the potential risks you, your family and your home are likely to face in your new location. In many cases, the hazards you\u2019ll encounter in one part of the country\u2014such as tornadoes in the Midwest\u2014are quite different than the ones locals in another region will barely blink an eye at\u2014think California\u2019s earthquakes. To help quantify some of those risks, we analyzed the frequency of five major types of natural disasters\u2014earthquakes, fires, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes\u2014in the 50 most populous U.S. metro areas, which we ranked according to a metric we\u2019re calling the \u201cNatural Disaster Hazard Score.\u201d
\nEach of the five components is measured on a scale of one to 100, where 100 is the most hazardous metro area for the category and one is the least hazardous. The overall Natural Disaster Hazard Score is an average of the five components\u2019 frequencies.
\nProvidence, Rhode Island, with a Natural Disaster Hazard Score of 9 out of 100, is the safest-rated metro area. Providence’s only component score that wasn\u2019t zero was Hurricanes.
\nWashington, D.C. and Los Angeles are the most natural disaster-prone major metro areas, each with a Natural Disaster Hazard Score of 52. Los Angeles has the highest rates of both earthquakes and fire, while Washington, D.C., ranked highly for hurricanes and floods.
\nLas Vegas, one of the safest cities from natural disasters, is also one of the most popular migration destinations, with the sixth-highest net inflow of users searching for homes according to Redfin\u2019s Q1 Migration Report<\/a>.
\nBelow we rank the 50 largest metro areas from least-to-most hazard-prone, according to their Natural Disaster Hazard Score:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Rank<\/th>\nMetro Area<\/th>\nNatural Disaster Hazard Score<\/th>\nMedian Home Sale Price (Feb. 2019)<\/th>\nEarthquakes<\/th>\nFires<\/th>\nFloods<\/th>\nTornadoes<\/th>\nHurricanes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1<\/td>\nProvidence, RI<\/a><\/td>\n9<\/td>\n$255,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nDetroit, MI<\/a><\/td>\n10<\/td>\n$125,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n41<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nHartford, CT<\/a><\/td>\n11<\/td>\n$196,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nLas Vegas, NV<\/a><\/td>\n12<\/td>\n$275,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n41<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nMilwaukee, WI<\/a><\/td>\n14<\/td>\n$190,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nIndianapolis, IN<\/a><\/td>\n14<\/td>\n$170,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n18<\/td>\n46<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nBuffalo, NY<\/a><\/td>\n15<\/td>\n$145,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n28<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nSalt Lake City, UT<\/a><\/td>\n16<\/td>\n$320,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n32<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nRaleigh, NC<\/a><\/td>\n16<\/td>\n$286,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n56<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nNashville, TN<\/a><\/td>\n16<\/td>\n$279,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n46<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\nBaltimore, MD<\/a><\/td>\n18<\/td>\n$250,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n47<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nDenver, CO<\/a><\/td>\n20<\/td>\n$400,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n48<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nColumbus, OH<\/a><\/td>\n23<\/td>\n$195,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n78<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/td>\nCleveland, OH<\/a><\/td>\n23<\/td>\n$139,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n28<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/td>\nPhoenix, AZ<\/a><\/td>\n24<\/td>\n$267,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n48<\/td>\n63<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16<\/td>\nCincinnati, OH<\/a><\/td>\n24<\/td>\n$177,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n68<\/td>\n46<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17<\/td>\nBoston, MA<\/a><\/td>\n24<\/td>\n$452,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n41<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n56<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18<\/td>\nSan Jose, CA<\/a><\/td>\n25<\/td>\n$1,040,000<\/td>\n58<\/td>\n37<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19<\/td>\nSan Diego, CA<\/a><\/td>\n25<\/td>\n$561,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n70<\/td>\n51<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20<\/td>\nLouisville, KY<\/a><\/td>\n26<\/td>\n$182,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n75<\/td>\n46<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21<\/td>\nCharlotte, NC<\/a><\/td>\n27<\/td>\n$235,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n46<\/td>\n65<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22<\/td>\nOrlando, FL<\/a><\/td>\n27<\/td>\n$249,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n45<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23<\/td>\nPittsburgh, PA<\/a><\/td>\n28<\/td>\n$155,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n58<\/td>\n46<\/td>\n35<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24<\/td>\nRichmond, VA<\/a><\/td>\n28<\/td>\n$232,000<\/td>\n58<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n18<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n65<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25<\/td>\nSan Francisco, CA<\/a><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n$1,280,000<\/td>\n58<\/td>\n32<\/td>\n51<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26<\/td>\nAtlanta, GA<\/a><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n$235,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27<\/td>\nJacksonville, FL<\/a><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n$222,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n45<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n74<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28<\/td>\nTampa, FL<\/a><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n$225,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n43<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n78<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
29<\/td>\nChicago, IL<\/a><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n$230,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n75<\/td>\n70<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30<\/td>\nVirginia Beach, VA<\/a><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n$220,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n46<\/td>\n94<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
31<\/td>\nMiami, FL<\/a><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n$295,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n32<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n90<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
32<\/td>\nSacramento, CA<\/a><\/td>\n31<\/td>\n$385,000<\/td>\n58<\/td>\n51<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
33<\/td>\nSeattle, WA<\/a><\/td>\n33<\/td>\n$547,000<\/td>\n81<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n83<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
34<\/td>\nMemphis, TN<\/a><\/td>\n33<\/td>\n$166,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n58<\/td>\n78<\/td>\n28<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
35<\/td>\nPhiladelphia, PA<\/a><\/td>\n33<\/td>\n$190,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n68<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n69<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
36<\/td>\nSt. Louis, MO<\/a><\/td>\n33<\/td>\n$165,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
37<\/td>\nBirmingham, AL<\/a><\/td>\n34<\/td>\n$189,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n32<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
38<\/td>\nSan Antonio, TX<\/a><\/td>\n34<\/td>\n$218,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n56<\/td>\n41<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n74<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
39<\/td>\nKansas City, MO<\/a><\/td>\n35<\/td>\n$200,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n75<\/td>\n70<\/td>\n28<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40<\/td>\nOklahoma City, OK<\/a><\/td>\n37<\/td>\n$174,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n67<\/td>\n51<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
41<\/td>\nDallas, TX<\/a><\/td>\n37<\/td>\n$285,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n63<\/td>\n47<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
42<\/td>\nPortland, OR<\/a><\/td>\n37<\/td>\n$390,000<\/td>\n81<\/td>\n37<\/td>\n68<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
43<\/td>\nNew Orleans, LA<\/a><\/td>\n39<\/td>\n$210,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n68<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
44<\/td>\nMinneapolis, MN<\/a><\/td>\n40<\/td>\n$265,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n91<\/td>\n78<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
45<\/td>\nHouston, TX<\/a><\/td>\n41<\/td>\n$232,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n51<\/td>\n68<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
46<\/td>\nAustin, TX<\/a><\/td>\n41<\/td>\n$296,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n73<\/td>\n58<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
47<\/td>\nNew York, NY<\/a><\/td>\n41<\/td>\n$380,000<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n37<\/td>\n75<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n69<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
48<\/td>\nRiverside, CA<\/a><\/td>\n47<\/td>\n$366,000<\/td>\n58<\/td>\n96<\/td>\n75<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
49<\/td>\nLos Angeles, CA<\/a><\/td>\n52<\/td>\n$600,000<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n51<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
50<\/td>\nWashington, D.C.<\/a><\/td>\n52<\/td>\n$380,000<\/td>\n58<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n63<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n82<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Nine of the 10 metros with the lowest Natural Disaster Hazard Score ratings have lower home prices than the national median price of $287,400 in February. On the flip side, many of the most disaster-prone metros, including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York are expensive coastal cities that home searchers are increasingly looking to leave<\/a>.
\n\u201cWhen you buy a home you are paying for more than just the house,\u201d said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather<\/a>. \u201cThere could be hidden costs associated with natural disasters. If a natural disaster strikes, you may have to pay for damage to your home or for the cost of evacuating your family. And even during times of calm, you may still need to pay for insurance against floods, fire, or earthquakes. Some homes in more hazardous areas might seem more affordable if you are just looking at the sticker price, but they may end up costing more when risks related to natural disasters are factored in.\u201d
\nNone of the expensive coastal markets have a particularly low Natural Disaster Hazard Score. The high-cost coastal metro area with the lowest score is Boston, with a score of 24\u2014the 17th-lowest score of the 50 biggest metros. San Jose and San Diego\u2014the 18th and 19th-safest metro areas\u2014both have scores of 25.
\nIn addition to high home prices and decreasing affordability in cities like Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York, the likelihood of natural disasters may be another factor driving homebuyers away from the coasts. When hurricanes, fires, earthquakes and floods are factored into the equation, the affordable inland metros are even more attractive destinations.<\/p>\n

Interactive Map<\/h3>\n

As you can see in the map below, the metro areas with the highest Natural Disaster Hazard Scores are spread across the country, not centrally located in any one region.<\/p>\n