Bordering the Highland Lakes along I-35, US-290 in Hays County (280,486 residents; ZIP 78676), $366,700 typical home values intersect 63 decade NOAA hail events (max 3.00"), 1,620 active county NFIP flood contracts (2.9% SFHA share), and year-round watercraft and builder activity.
Modeled around $366,700 typical custom Hill Country rebuild values (Zillow ZHVI (Sept 2026)). Compare 1% ($3,667), 2% ($7,334), and 3% ($11,001) wind/hail thresholds side by side.
| Metric | Hays Co. | TX Benchmark | Delta / Rating Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOAA Hail (2016–2025) | 63 events (3.00" max, 2024) | 33 median | +30 vs. TX county median |
| Severe Wind & Tornadoes | 37 wind • 4 tornadoes | 30 wind med. | +7 wind events (29.7% rural area) |
| FEMA NFIP Penetration | 1,620 policies (2.9% SFHA) | 504,754 TX total | 2,033 of 70,415 homes in SFHA |
| Disaster Declarations (20-Yr) | 14 federal events | FEMA Title V | Latest: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2024) |
| Typical Dwelling Value | $366,700 | $206,100 med. | 1.78× TX county median (+16.4% pop.) |
| Owner / Renter Split | 62.8% Own / 37.2% Rent | 62.4% / 37.6% | -0.4 pts renter share ($89,074 med. inc.) |
| Commute & Corridors | 73.5% solo (49.9% 30m+) | 38.9% 30m+ | Routes: I-35, US-290, RM-12, SH-21 |
| Traffic Fatality Index | 12.0 / 100k | 13.5 / 100k | 0.89× statewide crash mortality |
| Private Businesses (CBP) | 5,656 establishments | NAICS census | Construction & Specialty Trades (745); Retail Trade & Dealerships (738); Professional, Engineering & Tech Services (682) |
| Appraisal & Jurisdiction | Hays Central Appraisal District | Capital | FIPS 48209 • 676.9 sq. mi. |
On $366,700 typical Highland Lakes homes, 63 recorded hailstorms make comparing $3,667 (1%) vs. $7,334 (2%) storm deductibles critical—especially checking whether carriers attach cosmetic hail-dent exclusions on standing-seam metal roofs.
Standard homeowners policies exclude Colorado River / lake surge and flash-flood runoff (14 federal disaster declarations). Pair high-limit private flood ($500k+) with agreed-value boat, pontoon, and PWC coverage.
Construction & Specialty Trades leads Hays County's economy (745 of 5,656 firms). Custom home builders, remodelers, and marine/HVAC trades secure Builders Risk, Blanket Additional Insured GL, and Inland Marine tool floaters.
Divided-highway tourist and quarry truck traffic along I-35, US-290 elevates severe-injury liability risk. Compare 100/300/100 auto policies paired with $1M–$5M excess personal umbrella protection.
All incorporated places and residential ZCTAs across 676.9 sq. miles (78676, 78620, 78666, 78640, 78610, 78619):
| Place | ZIP | Population | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos | 78666 | 70,864 | County Seat |
| Kyle | 78640 | 45,147 | CITY |
| Buda | 78610 | 14,348 | CITY |
| Belterra | 78737 | 7,736 | CDP |
| Dripping Springs | 78620 | 4,699 | CITY |
| Wimberley | Shared ZCTA | 2,837 | CITY |
| Woodcreek | Shared ZCTA | 2,279 | CITY |
| Uhland | 78640 | 1,594 | CITY |
| Niederwald | 78640 | 762 | CITY |
| Mountain City | 78610 | 633 | CITY |
| Bear Creek | 78737 | 476 | VILLAGE |
| Hays | 78610 | 148 | CITY |
| Driftwood | 78619 | 87 | CDP |
Yes—across Hays County (63 decade hail events; 37 wind events), certified UL 2218 Class 4 impact shingles and metal roofs typically qualify for 10%–22% wind/hail credits, provided you review whether the carrier attaches a cosmetic hail-dent exclusion.
Never—HO-3, DP-3, and commercial property forms exclude surface water and rising floodwaters. OpenFEMA tracks 1,620 active residential flood policies and 2,033 SFHA structures (2.9%) locally across 14 disaster declarations; compare NFIP and private flood side by side.
Only if your vehicle carries Comprehensive (Other Than Collision) coverage. Collision-only or liability-only policies pay nothing for animal strikes, windshield hail cracks (3.00" peak county stone), theft, or flash-flood submergence.
Personal auto policies exclude commercial tool delivery, snow/debris hauling, or higher-rated business use for 745 local Construction & Specialty Trades operators. Commercial Auto or Hired & Non-Owned Auto (HNOA) keeps business liability intact.
Our TDI-licensed producers quote 24 personal, property, flood, recreational, commercial fleet, contractor, and surety lines digitally across postal area 78676 and statewide. We do not write life insurance, pet insurance, or standalone coastal TWIA windstorm policies.
Digital intake for Hays County • Bundle Personal, Property, Flood, or Commercial.
