Selecting a homeowners insurance policy is one of the more important purchasing decisions you’ll make after finding a new home. Homeowners insurance protects your assets — the home itself, personal property within the home, and legal and medical bills if someone is injured on your property. It's also required by most mortgage companies before they’ll lend to you.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the average annual homeowners insurance premium is $1,192. Homeowners insurance costs differ from state to state for a number of reasons. If a state has a lot of major cities and more densely populated areas, it’s more likely to have higher premiums, as home values are generally higher. States in areas with a higher incidence of natural disasters also generally have higher premiums than states that don’t match that criteria. Homeowners insurance premiums are also dependent on the age and rebuild value of your home and the insured limits in your policy.
Read on:
Average homeowners insurance cost by state
Alabama | $1,386 | Montana | $1,130 |
Alaska | $974 | Nebraska | $1,402 |
Arizona | $803 | Nevada | $742 |
Arkansas | $1,348 | New Hampshire | $965 |
California | $1,000 | New Jersey | $1,174 |
Colorado | $1,446 | New Mexico | $996 |
Connecticut | $1,455 | New York | $1,309 |
Delaware | $816 | North Carolina | $1,098 |
District of Columbia | $1,225 | North Dakota | $1,239 |
Florida | $1,918 | Ohio | $850 |
Georgia | $1,200 | Oklahoma | $1,875 |
Hawaii | $1,026 | Oregon | $659 |
Idaho | $703 | Pennsylvania | $927 |
Illinois | $1,042 | Rhode Island | $1,496 |
Indiana | $1,003 | South Carolina | $1,285 |
Iowa | $945 | South Dakota | $1,125 |
Kansas | $1,548 | Tennessee | $1,185 |
Kentucky | $1,085 | Texas | $1,937 |
Louisiana | $1,967 | Utah | $664 |
Maine | $866 | Vermont | $898 |
Maryland | $1,022 | Virginia | $966 |
Massachusetts | $1,451 | Washington | $822 |
Michigan | $952 | West Virginia | $917 |
Minnesota | $1,340 | Wisconsin | $762 |
Mississippi | $1,525 | Wyoming | $1,120 |
Missouri | $1,280 | | |
The most expensive states for homeowners insurance
Highest Average Premium by State
Extreme weather is a common theme in states with high homeowners insurance premiums. Louisiana, Texas, and Florida are coastal states and are more susceptible to strong storms, and Oklahoma and Kansas are right in the middle of Tornado Alley.
- Louisiana: $1,967
- Texas: $1,937
- Florida: $1,918
- Oklahoma: $1,875
- Kansas: $1,548
The cheapest states for homeowners insurance
Lowest Average Premium by State
On the flip side, you can get a bargain deal on homeowners insurance if you live in a state that experiences milder weather.
While we don’t advise moving somewhere strictly based on how high homeowners insurance premiums run, it’s helpful to understand why policies are cheaper in certain states and more expensive in others. As you can see, the following states aren’t likely to experience tropical storms and aren’t as prone to catastrophic tornadoes or other disasters.
- Oregon: $659
- Utah: $664
- Idaho: $703
- Nevada: $742
- Wisconsin: $762
Average homeowners insurance rates by company
Some insurance companies simply charge less for homeowners insurance than other companies. If you insure your home with a company intended for high-value homes owned by high-net-worth homeowners — like AIG or Chubb — you’ll pay more for coverage simply because the insurance products and customer service are more comprehensive and personalized than with a standard carrier like Travelers or Stillwater.
Certain insurance companies also have a different risk tolerance than others, and that can mean lower rates. For example, if they don’t insure homes with prior claims or homes at high risk of being damaged by a natural disaster, rates might be lower across the board.
Of the homeowners insurance companies offered by Policygenius, Stillwater quoted customers the lowest rates, while Chubb quoted customers the highest rates.
AIG | $3,564 |
Chubb | $5,948 |
Encompass | $1,966 |
Hippo | $1,548 |
MetLife | $2,340 |
Nationwide | $2,044 |
Plymouth Rock | $1,134 |
Progressive | $1,366 |
Safeco | $1,680 |
Stillwater | $1,122 |
Swyfft | $1,286 |
Tower Hill | $1,465 |
Travelers | $1,415 |
Average annual premium courtesy of Policygenius quoting data