Home · Flood · High-Value · Umbrella · Massachusetts
By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO
Published October 2026 · Updated October 8, 2026
- Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is licensed in Massachusetts and insures Duxbury homes, condos, cars and boats from our Portsmouth, NH office.
- Duxbury is mostly year-round, owner-occupied single-family homes: Census data puts owner occupancy at about 90 percent, compared with about 63 percent statewide.
- Duxbury’s floodplain bylaw uses FEMA’s Plymouth County flood map dated July 6, 2021, with Zones A, AE, AO and coastal high-hazard Zone VE. A town study found Snug Harbor, Washington Street and several low roads exposed to storm surge today.
- Coastal policies often carry a separate wind or named storm deductible, which the Division of Insurance says generally runs from 1% to 5% of insured value.
- Duxbury has 14 small local historic districts and a demolition delay bylaw for older buildings. Both can affect how a damaged house is rebuilt.
Looking for home insurance in Duxbury, Massachusetts? Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is licensed in Massachusetts and writes a lot of Massachusetts business from our office in Portsmouth, NH. In Duxbury we insure shipbuilding-era captains’ houses along Washington Street, homes on Powder Point and around Snug Harbor, newer colonials inland, and waterfront homes on Duxbury and Kingston bays. As an independent agency, we compare 40+ carriers instead of selling one company’s policy. On the South Shore that matters, because carriers look closely at distance to the water, the home’s rebuild cost and its age, and coastal appetite varies from company to company. We check which of our carriers will write your address before we quote. Just up the coast, we also insure homes in Cohasset and Hingham. We also insure homes in neighboring Marshfield and Plymouth, and nearby Scituate and Hull.
Can a Portsmouth agency insure a home in Duxbury, Massachusetts?
Yes. We hold a Massachusetts license and work with clients by phone, email and video. Duxbury families often have more than one thing to insure: the house, a few cars, a boat, sometimes a second home on the Cape or in northern New England. One agent for all of it keeps the coverage lined up and the liability limits consistent. We also insure coastal homes on the Cape in Chatham and Falmouth. For statewide notes, see our Massachusetts homeowners insurance page.
What does Duxbury’s housing look like?
Duxbury had 6,341 housing units in the Census Bureau’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey. About 94.3 percent were occupied as someone’s usual home, and owners occupied about 90.0 percent of those, compared with about 62.6 percent statewide. About 83.1 percent of all units are single-family detached houses (about 51.4 percent statewide). About 4.1 percent of units were held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use, close to the statewide 3.8 percent, and that estimate carries a wide margin of error.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates, table B25034 (year structure built), from the ACS summary file. Our calculation. Estimates carry margins of error. Very small bars are drawn at a minimum width so the label stays readable.
About 34.4 percent of Duxbury’s units date from 1970 through 1989 (about 22.1 percent statewide), when much of the town filled in. About 17.0 percent were built in 1939 or earlier, and those older houses, many from the town’s shipbuilding era, are where historic rules and rebuild costs come up most. If you own one, check whether it is in a local historic district, covered below.
| Housing measure | Duxbury | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Occupied homes that are owner-occupied | 90.0% | 62.6% |
| Single-family detached houses | 83.1% | 51.4% |
| Units held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use | 4.1% | 3.8% |
| Built 1970 through 1989 | 34.4% | 22.1% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.0% | 30.7% |
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding in Duxbury?
No. The Massachusetts Division of Insurance (DOI) reminds homeowners that flood damage isn’t included in a standard home insurance policy. You can buy flood coverage from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or from a private insurer.
Duxbury’s zoning bylaw defines its Flood Hazard Areas Overlay District by FEMA’s Plymouth County Flood Insurance Rate Map dated July 6, 2021, as revised by a Letter of Map Revision effective January 10, 2020, covering Zones A, AE, AO and VE. When we checked FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer in October 2026, about 72 percent of the town’s land area fell on map panels effective July 6, 2021 and the rest on panels effective November 4, 2016 (our calculation). FEMA’s data also include a Limit of Moderate Wave Action line along parts of the shore. Look up your address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center.
The town’s 2021 Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, prepared by the Woods Hole Group, explains where the exposure is. Duxbury Beach, a barrier beach, encloses Duxbury Bay and shelters homes on the bay’s western shore. The study notes that high ground keeps many Duxbury homes out of coastal flooding, but that nor’easters have flooded Snug Harbor and the Washington Street corridor, including on January 4, 2018. It found residents along Powder Point Avenue, King Caesar Road and Bay Pond Road vulnerable to storm surge today, and neighborhoods along Bay Road, Landing Road, Grandview Avenue, Wirt Way and Marshall Street at risk of being cut off when roads flood. Homes on the barrier beach itself rely on Gurnet Road and the Powder Point Bridge, which the town describes as a half-mile wooden bridge, for access.
- Lender requirements. FloodSmart says flood insurance is required if you own a home in a Special Flood Hazard Area and have a government-backed mortgage.
- Waiting period. FloodSmart says NFIP coverage generally takes effect 30 days after purchase, with some exceptions.
- Second homes. FEMA’s NFIP coverage summary says building claims are settled at replacement cost only for a principal residence insured to at least 80% of its replacement cost. A second home is generally settled at actual cash value.
- Program status. As of early October 2026, the Congressional Research Service reports that the NFIP is authorized through December 11, 2026. Our post on the December 11 flood insurance deadline explains what to do now.
- NFIP policies. We place NFIP flood policies through Selective, an NFIP Write Your Own carrier. NFIP building coverage has a federal cap and doesn’t pay for temporary housing during repairs.
- Private flood. For larger or waterfront homes we also compare private flood carriers: Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge. Which ones can write a particular Duxbury home depends on the property.
Our flood insurance page explains the options in more detail.
| Risk in Duxbury | Usually covered by homeowners | Usually not covered | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind damage to a roof or windows in a hurricane or nor’easter | Yes | The part under your wind or named storm deductible | Is the wind deductible a percentage, and per event or per season? |
| Storm surge from Duxbury or Kingston Bay into the house | No | Yes | Flood zone (A, AE, AO or VE) and an NFIP or private flood policy |
| Water backing up through a basement drain or sump | Only with a water backup endorsement | Groundwater seepage and flood | Water backup endorsement and its limit |
| Rebuilding a house in a local historic district | Yes, up to your limits | Code upgrades beyond ordinance or law limits | Rebuild estimate, ordinance or law limit, additional living expense |
| A guest hurt on your dock, in your pool or on your boat | Up to your liability limit | Amounts above that limit | An umbrella policy over home, auto and boat |
| Your car flooded in a coastal storm | No (homeowners or flood) | Yes, without comprehensive | Comprehensive coverage on the auto policy |
We’ll compare carriers for coastal, historic and high-value homes and line up flood, auto, boat and umbrella coverage.
Talk to our Portsmouth team: (603) 431-4020 · Start a Duxbury home insurance quote
How do wind and named storm deductibles work in Duxbury?
The DOI says some Massachusetts policies have a separate deductible that applies only when a named storm or wind causes damage. It is usually a percentage of the home’s insured value, generally from 1% to 5%, and may apply per event, per season or per calendar year. In its report on the 2024 Massachusetts home insurance market, the DOI said the largest wind deductibles were in the coastal parts of Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties, and Duxbury is in coastal Plymouth County.
The FAIR Plan’s published rules show how distance from the water changes things. Outside the Cape and Islands, its minimum named storm deductible for a home within half a mile of the coast is 1% at lower dwelling limits and 2% at higher limits; farther inland it uses flat-dollar minimums instead. Private carriers file their own rules, so ask us to translate any percentage into a dollar figure for your home before you choose.
What if no insurer will write a Duxbury home?
With 40+ carriers, one decline doesn’t end the search. If no regular-market company will write the home, the DOI says the market of last resort is the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (MPIUA), known as the FAIR Plan, which offers basic property coverage and doesn’t cover flood. The DOI also says that as of 2025, a new FAIR Plan policy for a property in a Special Flood Hazard Area in a community overseen by the Office of Coastal Zone Management requires a separate flood policy, and CZM lists Duxbury among the communities its South Shore office serves.
Does a Duxbury historic district affect your home insurance?
It can. Duxbury’s Local Historic District Commission says the town has 14 local historic districts with 43 protected properties, built between 1640 and 1958. Most are single properties or small groups, such as the Bradford, Winsor and Powder Point Avenue districts. Changes to exterior features visible from a public way need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Commission before the town issues a building permit; interior work and changes not visible from the street aren’t reviewed. The Commission’s fact sheet says vinyl and composite siding can be allowed after review.
Many more old houses fall under the town’s demolition delay bylaw (Section 609), which the Duxbury Historical Commission runs. A proposal to demolish all or part of a structure 75 or more years old goes to the Commission, and if it finds the building historically significant, the bylaw delays the demolition permit for up to 12 months while alternatives are explored. Duxbury also has two National Register districts, the Olde Shipbuilders Historic District and the Old Town Hall district, but the Commission notes that National Register listing alone doesn’t bring local review.
For insurance, that points to three things: insure the house for what it would cost to rebuild with the materials the Commission is likely to approve, ask how much the policy pays under ordinance or law coverage for code upgrades, and check how long additional living expense coverage lasts, because reviews add time. Our guide to historic home insurance goes deeper.
How much dwelling coverage does a Duxbury home need?
Enough to rebuild it. The DOI notes that labor and construction costs have risen, so you may need to raise your dwelling coverage (Coverage A) to rebuild at today’s prices, and additions or remodeling can raise the rebuild cost too. In Duxbury, that often means a larger home with custom millwork, an antique house with details that are hard to replace, or a waterfront home that would have to be rebuilt to current flood-zone rules. We compare extended or guaranteed replacement cost options and set the limit with you rather than starting from a sale price.
“In Duxbury, I like to look at the wind deductible and the umbrella together. A percentage deductible on a larger home near the bay can turn into a bigger dollar amount than people expect, so we show it to you in dollars before you choose. And if there’s a dock, a pool or guests on the boat, a higher liability limit over the house, the cars and the boat is one of the most practical things you can add.”— Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO, Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance
For higher-value homes, we compare our six high-value home carriers: Chubb, Cincinnati, Hanover, Openly, National General and Andover. Which ones fit depends on the home’s value and on whether a carrier will write that address, which varies near the coast.
| Home value | High-value carriers we compare |
|---|---|
| Up to about $2 million | Chubb, Cincinnati, Hanover, Openly, National General and Andover |
| Up to about $3 million | Chubb, Cincinnati, Hanover, Openly and National General |
| Up to about $5 million | Chubb, Cincinnati, Openly and National General |
| $10 million and up | Chubb and Cincinnati |
We also look at scheduling jewelry, art and collections at agreed values. Our coastal Massachusetts high-value home insurance page and our high net worth insurance page go deeper.
How much umbrella coverage makes sense in Duxbury?
An umbrella policy adds liability limits on top of your homeowners, auto and boat policies, and it pays after those limits run out. It is often the most practical coverage a Duxbury household can add, because the things that make life here good are also liability exposures: a dock or float, a pool, a boat with guests aboard, teenage drivers, and a house where people gather all summer.
- Match the underlying limits. Umbrella carriers require minimum liability limits on the home, auto and boat policies underneath. We set those first so there are no gaps.
- List everything. Every home, car and boat in the household should be scheduled. A second home or a boat left off the list can leave a hole in the coverage.
- Think about what you could lose. We size the umbrella to what you own and earn, not to a rule of thumb.
- Tell us about rentals and household help. Renting out a house or employing people at home can change what an umbrella carrier will accept.
Can you rent a Duxbury home short term?
Check with the town first. When we reviewed Duxbury’s posted general bylaws (revised through the 2024 Annual Town Meeting) and zoning bylaw (amended through the June 2025 Special Town Meeting) in October 2026, we didn’t find a town short-term rental registration or license. The Duxbury Clipper reported in September 2024 that the Planning Board was still weighing how to regulate short-term rentals, and that at a March 2023 Special Town Meeting voters rejected, 840 to 50, a proposal to allow them by right in residential districts. The zoning bylaw is clear on one point: on a lot with a protected accessory dwelling unit, neither the ADU nor the main house may be rented for less than 31 days. Ask the Planning Department about your property before you list it.
State law applies everywhere. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 175, Section 4F, a short-term rental operator must carry at least $1 million in liability coverage for each short-term rental, unless the rental is offered through a hosting platform that maintains equal or greater coverage. The operator must notify the homeowners insurer, which may exclude short-term rental claims, and must register with the Department of Revenue. If the home is on the FAIR Plan, its rules allow occasional rental of up to 12 weeks a year for a year-round home and up to 4 weeks for a seasonal property.
What about second homes, condos, boats and auto?
If the Duxbury house is a second home, or you own a second home elsewhere, carriers ask how many months it is occupied, who checks on it and how it is heated in winter, and some policies limit coverage after a stretch of vacancy. A water backup endorsement and leak monitoring are worth a look. Our Massachusetts second-home and vacation home insurance guide covers vacancy, rentals and flood in more detail.
For a condo, a unit-owner (HO-6) policy works alongside the association’s master policy, so we read the master deductible, including any wind deductible, and add loss assessment coverage. Every carrier we write with insures condos except Progressive and Openly; see our guide to condo insurance vs. homeowners insurance. Homeowners policies offer limited protection for watercraft, so most boats on Duxbury Bay need their own policy; see our boat and watercraft insurance page. If you own a Massachusetts condo, our guide to condex insurance in Massachusetts explains how the HO-6 and the master policy fit together.
The DOI notes that homeowners and flood insurance don’t cover cars, but auto comprehensive coverage will likely cover flood damage. For collector and high-value cars we compare Cincinnati, Hagerty, Hanover and Progressive.
- Your flood zone from FEMA’s map (A, AE, AO, VE or other) and any elevation certificate
- Your current declarations page, including any wind or named storm deductible, as a percentage and in dollars
- The home’s age, recent renovations, and whether it is in a local historic district
- Docks, floats, pools and other features guests use
- Every car, boat and other home in the household, with current liability limits
- Any rental plans, and what the town says about your property
- For condos: the master policy, the master deductible and the bylaws
Duxbury home insurance FAQs
Can an insurance agency in New Hampshire insure my home in Duxbury, MA?
Yes, if the agency is licensed in Massachusetts. Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is, and we insure Duxbury homes, condos, cars and boats from our Portsmouth, NH office, by phone, email or video. We check which of our carriers will write your address.
Do I need flood insurance in Duxbury?
If the home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, such as Zone A, AE, AO or VE on Duxbury’s July 6, 2021 FEMA map, and has a government-backed mortgage, flood insurance is required. Outside those zones it is optional, but homeowners policies don’t cover flood, and NFIP coverage generally starts 30 days after purchase.
What is a named storm deductible on a Duxbury home?
It is a separate deductible that applies when a named storm or wind causes damage. The Division of Insurance says these generally run from 1% to 5% of the home’s insured value, and they can apply per event, per season or per calendar year. On the FAIR Plan, the minimum within half a mile of the coast is 1% at lower dwelling limits and 2% at higher limits.
Does a local historic district affect insurance on a Duxbury home?
It can affect the rebuild. In Duxbury’s local historic districts, exterior changes visible from a public way need a Certificate of Appropriateness before a building permit is issued, and older buildings elsewhere can face a demolition delay of up to 12 months. Ask about rebuild cost, ordinance or law coverage and additional living expense.
Do I need an umbrella policy in Duxbury?
It is worth a close look if you have a dock, pool or boat, teenage drivers or more than one home. An umbrella adds liability limits over your home, auto and boat policies, and the carrier will require certain limits on those policies underneath.
Can I rent my Duxbury home short term?
Check with the town first. We didn’t find a Duxbury short-term rental registration in the town’s posted bylaws, voters rejected a by-right short-term rental proposal in 2023, and short-term rentals are barred on lots with a protected accessory dwelling unit. State law requires at least $1 million in liability coverage for each short-term rental and notice to your insurer.
Sources
- Massachusetts Division of Insurance, “Division of Insurance Reminds Massachusetts Residents to Prepare Now for a Hurricane” (Aug. 8, 2024)
- Massachusetts Division of Insurance, “The 2024 Massachusetts Market for Home Insurance”
- Massachusetts Division of Insurance, “Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association”
- Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association, producer reference (named storm deductible and occasional rental rules)
- Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, “CZM South Shore Region”
- FEMA, National Flood Hazard Layer map service (Duxbury panel effective dates and flood zones, checked October 2026)
- FEMA, “Flood Map Service Center”
- FEMA FloodSmart, “Buy a Flood Insurance Policy”
- FEMA, “National Flood Insurance Program Summary of Coverage” (replacement cost and actual cash value)
- Congressional Research Service, “What Happens If the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Lapses?” (updated Sept. 11, 2026)
- Town of Duxbury Zoning Bylaws, amended through June 2025 (Flood Hazard Areas Overlay District; accessory dwelling units)
- Woods Hole Group for the Town of Duxbury, “Duxbury Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan” (June 2021)
- Town of Duxbury, “About Duxbury”
- Town of Duxbury, “Local Historic District Commission”
- Duxbury Local Historic District Commission, FAQs (revised Sept. 23, 2026)
- Duxbury Planning Department, Local Historic Districts brochure and property list (March 2026)
- Town of Duxbury, “Historical Commission”
- Town of Duxbury General Bylaws, Section 609, Demolition of Historically Significant Buildings
- Town of Duxbury General By-laws, revised through the 2024 Annual Town Meeting
- Duxbury Clipper, “A long look at short rentals” (Sept. 4, 2024)
- Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 175, Section 4F
- Massachusetts Division of Insurance, “Short-Term Rental Insurance”
- Massachusetts Department of Revenue, “Room Occupancy Excise Tax” (updated April 8, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates, tables B25004 “Vacancy Status”, B25034 “Year Structure Built”, B25024 “Units in Structure” and B25003 “Tenure”
This page is general information, not a policy or legal advice. Coverage, forms and availability vary by state, carrier and property, and every policy is subject to underwriting. Local rules change, so check current town rules before you build or rent. Your policy documents control.
Antique house, waterfront home or newer colonial, we’ll compare carriers from our Portsmouth office.
Talk to our Portsmouth team: (603) 431-4020 · Request a Duxbury home insurance quote
By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO
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