We looked at average costs, customer service ratings, and policy options from multiple top insurers to find the best and cheapest home insurance companies in St. Louis.
By
Andrew HurstAndrew HurstSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertAndrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
Edited by
Pat HowardPat HowardManaging Editor & Licensed Home Insurance ExpertPat Howard is a licensed insurance expert and managing editor at Policygenius. Pat has written extensively about the home insurance industry and his insights as a subject matter expert have appeared in several top tier publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Reuters. Pat has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.
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Reviewed by
Kristi Sullivan, CFP®Kristi Sullivan, CFP®Certified Financial PlannerKristi Sullivan, CFP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, she was a regional consultant at Fidelity Investments for nine years.
Updated|4 min read
Expert reviewedExpert reviewedThis article has been reviewed by a member of ourFinancial Review Council to ensure all sources, statistics, and claims meet the highest standard for accurate and unbiased advice.Learn more about oureditorial review process.
St. Louis has a big city vibe but without the hassle or outrageous cost of living, which makes it a great place to settle down and buy a house.
But it’s also located on the tornado belt, which can also make it a risky place to own a home. The average cost of homeowners insurance in St. Louis is $2,645 per year or $220 a month. This is more expensive than Missouri's average of $2,579 per year — and much more expensive than the national average of $1,754 per year.
Compare home insurance rates in St. Louis
Compare the best cheap homeowners insurance companies in St. Louis
To find the best cheap homeowners insurance in St. Louis, Policygenius rated over a dozen of the largest insurance companies in Missouri across several categories, such as average policy cost, financial strength ratings with AM Best, customer and claims satisfaction scores with J.D. Power, available policy options, and more.
Policygenius has analyzed home insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services in March 2022 for ZIP codes in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., for a 40-year-old female homeowner with no claim history, good credit, a $1,000 deductible, and the following coverage limits:
Dwelling: $300,000
Other structures: $30,000
Personal property: $150,000
Loss of use: $60,000
Liability: $300,000
Medical: $1,000
All rates based on the above coverage limits except where otherwise noted.
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
Compare home insurance rates in St. Louis
Best overall home insurance in St. Louis: State Farm
2024 Policygenius award winner
State Farm
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.8
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A++
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
Bundle home & auto
Offers extended replacement cost
Offers flood insurance
Offers earthquake insurance
Wind/hail deductible
Offers wildfire insurance
Why we chose it
State Farm is the best home insurance company in St. Louis thanks to its large selection of policy options, high customer service marks, and industry-best financial stability ratings.
Pros and cons
Pros
Top-tier coverage add-ons, including extended replacement cost coverage
High customer satisfaction and financial strength ratings
Offers large discounts when you bundle your home and auto insurance
Cons
No discounts for first-time homebuyers
More details
Why we chose State Farm
State Farm is our pick for the best home insurance company in St. Louis. We like that State Farm lets homeowners get extended replacement cost coverage for their homes, replacement cost coverage for their personal property, water backup protection, and more.
State Farm's customer service is highly rated, too. The company has received high ratings from policyholders, according to J.D. Power’s 2022 customer satisfaction, claims, and digital experience surveys. It has also received the highest rating possible from A.M. Best for financial strength and stability.
In St. Louis, State Farm is cheaper than average. The company doesn't offer as many discounts as other insurers, but you could get a large discount if you're planning to bundle home and auto insurance with State Farm.
How do State Farm home insurance rates compare to the St. Louis average?
The average cost of home insurance from State Farm in St. Louis is $2,466 per year, which is 7% cheaper than the citywide average.
How to get a quote
Online through State Farm or by contacting your local State Farm agent.
Best home insurance for coverage options: American Family
2024 Policygenius award winner
American Family
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.6
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
Offers extended replacement cost
Offers flood insurance
Bundle home & auto
Why we chose it
American Family is the best home insurance company in St. Louis for people who want to add coverage to a basic policy. AmFam also has industry-best coverage options, high customer service ratings, and several discounts.
Pros and cons
Pros
Several one-of-its-kind coverage endorsements and policy perks
High customer satisfaction and digital shopping satisfaction scores with J.D. Power
Offers nearly one dozen discounts
Cons
Requires you to work with an agent to purchase a policy
Rates are about average in St. Louis
More details
Why we chose American Family
American Family is a top home insurance company in St. Louis for its range of coverage offerings. You can customize your American Family policy with up to 15 additional coverage options — including inland flood, equipment breakdown, and service line coverage.
The annual cost of American Family homeowners insurance in St. Louis is just $41 more expensive than average. Although it's higher than average, AmFam's many discounts (including paying your premiums all at once, opting for paperless billing, and signing up for automatic payments) can make your premiums even cheaper.
How do American Family home insurance rates compare to the St. Louis average?
The average annual cost of American Family home insurance in St. Louis is $2,686 per year, which is about just 2% more expensive than the citywide average.
How to get a quote
Online with American Family or by contacting a local agent
Best home insurance for claims service: Nationwide
2024 Policygenius award winner
Nationwide
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.5
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
Bundle home & auto
Mobile app
New homebuyer discount
Offers extended replacement cost
Why we chose it
Nationwide is the best homeowners insurance company in St. Louis for people who want highly rated customer service. Besides a top customer experience, Nationwide also offers a range of coverage add-ons that you can use to personalize your coverage.
Pros and cons
Pros
Highly rated for claims satisfaction by J.D. Power
Receives fewer complaints than average
Multiple high-quality coverage options
Cons
Below-average digital experience ratings
Rates are higher than average in St. Louis
More details
Why we chose Nationwide
Nationwide is the best homeowners insurance company in St. Louis for people who want excellent customer service. Nationwide ranks fifth on J.D. Power's Property Claims Satisfaction Study from 2022. The company also receives far fewer complaints than other insurers, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
We also like Nationwide's large selection of coverage options. These include guaranteed and extended replacement cost coverages, better roof replacement, new belongings coverage, water backup protection, and equipment breakdown coverage.
Although we found that Nationwide's rates are slightly more expensive than average in St. Louis, you might be able to lower your premiums with the company's discounts. These include discounts for bundling, renovating your home, buying a new home, and others.
How do Nationwide home insurance rates compare to the St. Louis average?
The average cost of Nationwide home insurance in St. Louis is $2,846 per year, which is 8% more expensive than the annual citywide average.
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.5
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
Bundle home & auto
Smart home discounts
Why we chose it
Allstate is the best homeowners insurance company in St. Louis for people who want cheap rates. Besides affordability, Allstate also offers a few premium coverage add-ons, including a short-term rental endorsement for hosts.
Pros and cons
Pros
Rates are much cheaper than average in St. Louis
Extensive list of discounts and policy features to lower your bill and out-of-pocket costs
Offers HostAdvantage — an excellent short-term rental coverage add-on that can be seamlessly added to any policy.
Cons
Beginning to pull back coverage in high-risk areas
Customer experience scores with J.D. Power are below the segment average
More details
Why we chose Allstate
We found that Allstate is the best homeowners insurance company in St. Louis if you're looking for affordable rates. The cost of coverage from Allstate is $582 cheaper than the citywide average.
Besides Allstate's lower-than-average premiums, its high customer satisfaction ratings and excellent coverage options make it a top choice for homeowners in St. Louis. We also like that Allstate has discounts for setting up automatic payments, bundling policies, and signing up for coverage before your current policy expires — all easy for many people to qualify for.
How do Allstate home insurance rates compare to the St. Louis average?
The average annual cost of an Allstate home insurance policy in St. Louis is $2,063 per year, which is 22% cheaper than the citywide average.
How to get a quote
Online through Policygenius or Allstate, or by contacting a local Allstate agent.
The average cost of homeowners insurance in St. Louis is $2,645 per year, or $220 a month, for an insurance policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage. This means insurance in St. Louis is only 3% more expensive than Missouri's statewide average, but 51% more expensive than the national average.
St. Louis home insurance costs by coverage amount
Your policy's dwelling coverage covers the cost to repair or rebuild your home after a covered loss. Your dwelling coverage limit should be equal to your home’s replacement cost, the amount it would take to rebuild your house from the ground up — not its market value or purchase price.
Your rates will be higher with more dwelling coverage. In St. Louis, a policy with $100,000 in coverage costs an average of $1,277 per year, while a policy with $500,000 in coverage has an average yearly cost of $4,078 — a $2,801 per-year difference.
Dwelling coverage limit
Average annual cost
$100,000
$1,277
$200,000
$1,932
$300,000
$2,645
$400,000
$3,353
$500,000
$4,078
St. Louis home insurance costs by deductible amount
Your homeowners insurance deductible is what you pay on your claim before your insurance covers the rest. It might seem like a good idea to choose a low deductible to save money on claims, but your monthly or annual premium will be far higher.
We found that homeowners in St. Louis who choose a $2,000 deductible over a $500 deductible could save an average of $524 on their home insurance rates.
Deductible
Average annual cost
$500
$2,732
$1,000
$2,686
$2,000
$2,208
Cheapest homeowners insurance companies in St. Louis
We found that the absolute cheapest homeowners insurance companies in St. Louis are Armed Forces Insurance, AAA, USAA, Allstate, and State Farm. That said, your rates depend heavily on where you live and other factors like coverage amount, deductible, your credit, home's age, and claims history.
Cheapest home insurance in St. Louis if you have poor credit
Your credit score can impact your home insurance rates. Homeowners with poor credit scores are viewed by insurance providers as higher risk, so they’ll often be charged expensive rates as a result.
With an average rate of $1,711 per year, Armed Forces Insurance has the cheapest home insurance rates in St. Louis for homeowners with poor credit, while Farmers has the highest average rates.
Company
Average annual cost
Armed Forces Insurance
$1,711
AAA
$2,348
USAA
$2,377
Allstate
$2,989
Nationwide
$3,554
American Family
$3,797
State Farm
$4,231
Shelter Insurance
$5,357
Farmers
$9,480
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Cheapest home insurance in St. Louis if you have an older home
It can be more expensive to insure older homes since they can be more prone to structural damage than newer homes. They're also often constructed with materials and features that would be more expensive to replace after a claim.
With an average annual premium of $1,349, Armed Forces Insurance offers the cheapest home insurance rates for an older home in St. Louis.
Company
Average annual cost
Armed Forces Insurance
$1,349
AAA
$1,586
USAA
$1,718
Allstate
$2,025
Nationwide
$2,521
State Farm
$2,530
American Family
$2,728
Shelter Insurance
$3,158
Farmers
$5,404
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Cheapest homeowners insurance in St. Louis if you have a history of claims
Having a history of claims is one of the most likely reasons why your rates could be expensive. If you have multiple claims on your record, insurers will think you're more likely to file future claims than a homeowner without any past claims.
We found that Armed Forces Insurance offers the cheapest home insurance rates in St. Louis for someone with three claims in a five-year period.
Company
Average annual cost
Armed Forces Insurance
$1,723
USAA
$2,169
AAA
$2,625
State Farm
$2,885
Allstate
$3,389
American Family
$4,331
Nationwide
$4,385
Shelter Insurance
$4,737
Farmers
$9,632
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Coverage options in St. Louis
In addition to looking at how much each insurance company charges for different coverage levels and risks, you should also be aware of what your policy does and doesn’t cover.
If you're buying homeowners insurance in St. Louis, there are some additional insurance options you may need to consider to protect against tornadoes and floods.
Windstorm insurance
Homes in the St. Louis area could be affected by high winds and tornadoes. Although homeowners insurance usually covers wind, including tornado damage, it gets more complicated in states like Missouri, which experienced an average of 56 tornadoes a year from 1997 to 2022.
Some home insurance companies in St. Louis may charge a separate deductible after a windstorm damages your home — or may exclude coverage entirely. In this case, you would need to get a separate windstorm policy or find a company that covers wind damage.
Flood insurance
Homeowners insurance policies don’t cover flood damage. If you live in a part of St. Louis that's prone to flooding, you should consider flood insurance along with your regular home insurance.
In addition to comparing home insurance quotes, homeowners in St. Louis can also compare private flood insurance rates with Policygenius, or choose a policy through a government entity like the National Flood Insurance Program.
How to get homeowners insurance quotes in St. Louis
Finding the right amount of coverage at the right price may feel overwhelming initially, but it’s quite manageable if you know what to look for in a company and policy. Since home insurance in St. Louis is so much higher than the national average, shopping around when choosing a policy is important to getting the best price.
Here are a few steps to follow as you shop for homeowners insurance in St. Louis:
Steps to buying homeowners insurance in St. Louis, MO
Reach out to a licensed Policygenius agent. Our team of licensed insurance experts can help you figure out how much coverage you need and what company offers it at the best price. Our agents do this for free with no impact to your credit score.
Ask about Missouri’s FAIR Plan coverage. The Missouri FAIR Plan is designed to be a last resort coverage option for homeowners who are not able to secure insurance on the private market. Missouri’s FAIR plan strives to provide basic coverage, and is intended to be used as a temporary solution until you qualify for coverage on the private market.
Consider purchasing additional coverage. St. Louis homeowners should consider purchasing additional coverage to protect against tornadoes and severe storms.
Figure out how low of a deductible you can afford. You’ll want to set this to an amount you can afford to pay in the event you need to file a claim due for loss or damage.
Compare quotes from a Policygenius agent. Once you’ve nailed down your coverage needs, limits, and deductibles, a Policygenius agent can walk you through your quotes to help you find the best policy for your coverage and budget needs.
Sign the policy and pay your first premium. After you’ve chosen the policy you want, your Policygenius agent will complete all of the paperwork for you, including canceling your old policy, if you had one. The only thing left to do is sign and pay your first premium.
Compare home insurance rates in St. Louis
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of homeowners insurance in St. Louis?
The average cost of homeowners insurance in St. Louis is $220 per month, or $2,645 per year.
Why is home insurance so high in St. Louis?
St. Louis, while a beautiful and affordable place to live, is more prone to natural disasters than other areas of the country, and therefore is a higher risk area to insure.
Why does my breed of dog matter?
Some insurance companies consider the breed of your dog because certain breeds are responsible for a higher percentage of dog bite claims, and therefore are considered to be a higher risk to insure.
Andrew Hurst is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. His work has also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, ValuePenguin, and Property Casualty 360.
Pat Howard is a licensed insurance expert and managing editor at Policygenius. Pat has written extensively about the home insurance industry and his insights as a subject matter expert have appeared in several top tier publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Reuters. Pat has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.