Collingswood, NJ: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Collingswood is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. That puts Collingswood in the 55th percentile nationally for seismic hazard - higher than 55% of the 4,875 US cities USGS was checked against here.

How Collingswood compares

USGS's underlying values for Collingswood: 0.098g peak ground acceleration, 0.178g at short period, 0.047g at 1 second. Within New Jersey alone, Collingswood ranks 159 of 194 cities by seismic hazard - the 18th percentile in-state. Collingswood has a population of about 14,344.

Bracing and bolting: the actual cost

A full earthquake retrofit typically runs $5,000-$10,000 nationally (around $7,000 typical), driven mainly by house size and foundation type, not by New Jersey specifically. California's Earthquake Brace + Bolt grant, which covers a large share of this cost, is a California-only program and does not apply in New Jersey.

Earthquake insurance for a Collingswood home

A Collingswood homeowner cannot buy a standalone earthquake policy in most cases - it is added to an existing homeowners policy as an endorsement, so the place to start is a regular home-insurance quote.

Where Collingswood's figures come from

Collingswood's Category B and every number above trace to USGS's own ASCE 7-16 Design Maps service - see the methodology guide. See the category explainer for what Category B does and doesn't tell you about Collingswood.