Homeowners insurance rates vary by a lot of factors, and how much you pay may be a lot more than someone a state away.
However, homeowners insurance costs are based off of more than what state you live in. They also include factors such as the location and condition of the home, personal information like your credit score and marital status and policy factors like discounts and the deductible.
Additionally, the insurance provider you choose impacts the cost of your premium. This is because each provider weighs the above variables differently with a pricing algorithm, which is why it’s so important to shop around if you’re looking to save money.
However, we can go even deeper. Keep reading if you want to learn more about the true cost of homeowners insurance.
Average homeowners insurance cost by state
How much is homeowners insurance? It depends, but the national average for home insurance is $2,305. Some states pay a lot more, while some a lot less.
However, keep in mind that this is based off of a home valued with $300,000 in dwelling coverage and personal liability and with a $1,000 deductible. Lower or raise your deductible, and the cost you pay for homeowners insurance will change.
How much is the average in your state?
| State | Average annual premium | Percentage difference from national average |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $4,445 | 93% |
| Kansas | $3,931 | 71% |
| Arkansas | $3,439 | 49% |
| Florida | $3,439 | 49% |
| Texas | $3,429 | 49% |
| Mississippi | $3,340 | 45% |
| Louisiana | $3,270 | 42% |
| South Dakota | $3,172 | 38% |
| Nebraska | $3,133 | 36% |
| Missouri | $3,111 | 35% |
| Colorado | $3,082 | 34% |
| Minnesota | $3,010 | 31% |
| Alabama | $2,981 | 29% |
| Kentucky | $2,862 | 24% |
| Montana | $2,809 | 22% |
| Tennessee | $2,692 | 17% |
| South Carolina | $2,678 | 16% |
| North Dakota | $2,601 | 13% |
| Georgia | $2,555 | 11% |
| Iowa | $2,540 | 10% |
| West Virginia | $2,486 | 8% |
| Indiana | $2,423 | 5% |
| New Mexico | $2,299 | 0% |
| Illinois | $2,201 | -5% |
| Michigan | $2,153 | -7% |
| Rhode Island | $2,125 | -8% |
| Ohio | $2,107 | -9% |
| Wyoming | $2,083 | -10% |
| North Carolina | $2,009 | -13% |
| Arizona | $1,976 | -14% |
| Connecticut | $1,961 | -15% |
| Virginia | $1,956 | -15% |
| Massachusetts | $1,920 | -17% |
| Idaho | $1,842 | -20% |
| New York | $1,840 | -20% |
| Maine | $1,833 | -20% |
| Alaska | $1,799 | -22% |
| New Jersey | $1,744 | -24% |
| Wisconsin | $1,732 | -25% |
| Pennsylvania | $1,720 | -25% |
| Oregon | $1,608 | -30% |
| Delaware | $1,521 | -34% |
| Maryland | $1,518 | -34% |
| Washington | $1,514 | -34% |
| District of Columbia | $1,488 | -35% |
| Nevada | $1,486 | -36% |
| New Hampshire | $1,455 | -37% |
| Utah | $1,378 | -40% |
| Vermont | $1,212 | -47% |
| California | $1,166 | -49% |
| Hawaii | $499 | -78% |
Average homeowners insurance cost by coverage level
How much does homeowners insurance cost? That depends on where you live and how much coverage you want. There are two types of coverage you need to consider when purchasing homeowners insurance: dwelling and liability.
Here is a breakdown of the average home insurance cost based on coverage amounts. You should start by choosing a dwelling coverage that most closely matches your home’s value.
| Dwelling coverage | Liability coverage | Deductible | Average annual premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $100,000 | $1,000 | $1,806 |
| $200,000 | $300,000 | $1,000 | $1,824 |
| $300,000 | $100,000 | $1,000 | $2,285 |
| $300,000 | $300,000 | $1,000 | $2,305 |
| $400,000 | $100,000 | $1,000 | $2,694 |
| $400,000 | $300,000 | $1,000 | $2,709 |
Types of home insurance
The term “homeowners policy” typically refers to a set of insurance coverages that protect your home. Each policy provides specific protections, which combined help guard against substantial financial loss due to fire, storms, theft, vandalism and legal liability. The most common forms of home insurance policies include:
- Dwelling insurance: This pays for covered damages to your home’s primary structure and attached structures such as carports or garages.
- Personal property insurance: This protects the contents of your home, including clothing, furniture and electronics.
- Personal liability insurance: This pays for medical expenses or property damage if a court rules you are financially responsible for an incident involving your home or the property it occupies.
- Medical payments insurance: This covers the medical expenses of someone outside your household who sustains an injury on your property, regardless of who is at fault.
The most expensive and cheapest cities for homeowners insurance
Homeowners along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts pay higher home insurance rates due to the frequency of devastating storms. Among other factors, insurance companies base rates on the actual and anticipated claims they pay following catastrophic events, including floods, hurricanes and tropical storms.
As expected in Florida, weather-related claims cause high rates. In addition, the Sunshine State is also known for high incidents of fraud, perpetrated by unscrupulous contractors, who exploit insurance companies following natural disasters. Dodgy contractors carry out the scam by asking homeowners to sign an assignment of benefits (AOB) form, which gives the contractor the power to bill insurance companies directly for their materials and services. Dishonest contractors inflate their costs and insurance companies often pay rather than face costly legal expenses.
According to the Florida Consumer Protection Coalition, AOB scams increased by more than 900 percent from 2008 to 2018. In 2019, the Florida Senate passed legislation aimed at curbing AOB scams. The bill became law on July 1, 2019 and requires insurance companies to provide detailed data regarding claims over the coming years.
Hawaii homeowners have the lowest insurance rates due to a couple of key factors. Most standard Hawaii home insurance policies do not cover hurricane damage. For maximum protection, many Hawaii homeowners purchase separate hurricane policies. Also, Hawaiian law does not allow insurance companies to rate insurance premiums based on a homeowner’s credit score.
Oceano, California has the second lowest home insurance rates. This is for a variety of reasons, one of which is it’s a small town with a low population. The second of which is that the state of California has more laws to protect policyholders than any other state. Like Hawaii, it limits the things insurance companies can do to increase their profits. For example, though it does not necessitate that all providers include earthquake protection as a part of a standard policy, it does mandate that insurance providers must pay for fire damages that are a result of earthquakes.
Based on a home with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible, the top 10 most expensive home insurance markets include:
| City | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| Islamorada Village of Islands, Florida | $6,295 |
| Louise, Texas | $5,911 |
| Mobile, Alabama | $5,752 |
| Cashion, Oklahoma | $4,966 |
| Quinter, Kansas | $4,666 |
| Emerald Isle, North Carolina | $4,654 |
| Kenner, Louisiana | $4,612 |
| Awendaw, South Carolina | $4,612 |
| Holyoke, Colorado | $4,361 |
| Loco Hills, New Mexico | $4,071 |
Using the same criteria, the nation’s top 10 least expensive homeowners insurance markets include:
| City | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| Honolulu, Hawaii | $490 |
| Oceano, California | $881 |
| Winooski/Burlington, Vermont | $1,107 |
| Potomac, Maryland | $1,144 |
| Anahuac, Texas | $1,148 |
| Pike Creek, Delaware | $1,190 |
| Syracuse, Utah | $1,265 |
| Golden Meadow, Louisiana | $1,308 |
| Silver City, Nevada | $1,313 |
| East Rochester, New York | $1,319 |
Factors that affect homeowners insurance cost
Insuring your home is a gamble for an insurance company. Certain types of houses – and houses located in certain areas – create a higher likelihood the company will have to pay claims. Insurance industry statistics paint a clear picture of why companies charge higher premiums for some types of houses. Understanding rating factors should guide you when shopping for a home. And don’t forget to consider some ways to help keep your homeowners insurance costs down.
Proximity to the nearest fire department
Fire departments responded to fires in the United States every 24 seconds in 2018. House fires occur every 87 seconds in the United States. In that same year, more than 380,000 residential properties burned. According to the Insurance Information Institute, structure fires caused over $11 billion worth of property damage in 2018. Insurance companies rate homeowners premiums based on proximity to a fire station, because rapid emergency response often minimizes damage. The quality of your local fire service also plays a role in your homeowners rate. Homeowners living in rural areas, or those serviced by volunteer firefighters, often pay higher insurance premiums.
Proximity to the nearest coastline
Inland homes typically have much lower home insurance rates than coastal dwellings. In fact, some private insurance companies will not insure houses near coastlines, which leaves homeowners uninsured or dependent on government-sponsored insurance programs.
After hurricane Barry struck the Gulf Coast in July 2019, insurance companies paid $300 to $600 million in storm related claims. Likewise, Hurricane Dorian did approximately $3 billion in damages in 2019.
Age of the house
Old houses often cost more to insure because repair costs often run higher than for newer homes. Repairing or replacing features such as custom molding, plaster walls and wood floors requires specialists, which leads to higher insurance claims.
Condition of the home’s roof
The age and condition of a home’s roof plays a role in homeowners insurance rates. Old roofs can leak, causing damage to the home’s contents, foundation or structure. Likewise, roof materials can affect your homeowners insurance rate. For example, asphalt shingles cost less to replace or repair than terracotta Spanish tiles do. Some insurance companies offer discounts for replacing old roofs, particularly when using fire resistant materials.
Quality of the home’s construction
Many homeowners policies do not cover the expense of bringing a home up to current building code following a calamity. For example, an older home may not meet current code for insulation or grounded electrical outlets. If the home burns, its owners may have to pay out of pocket for repairs that involve bringing it up to code. Insurance companies offer an Order of Law endorsement, which can help pay for expenses related to code upgrades made during covered repairs.
Flood risks
Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. In fact, some insurance companies do not cover homes in flood zones. Other insurance companies sell private flood insurance or offer coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In either instance, homes in flood zones require additional coverage.
Earthquake risks
Standard dwelling policies typically do not cover damage caused by earthquakes. Many insurance companies offer earthquake endorsements or separate earthquake policies. The California Earthquake Authority, a state government agency, provides earthquake insurance for California homeowners and renters. Numerous factors contribute to the cost of earthquake insurance, including a home’s age, construction materials, foundation and retrofitting.
Tornado risks
In some inland areas, homeowners pay higher rates to insure their homes due to frequent tornadoes. For instance, homeowners in eastern Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and northern Texas pay high home insurance rates because they live in a region known as “Tornado Alley”, which experiences annual tornadoes. Homeowners in “Dixie Alley”, which encompasses the entire southeastern United States, also pay higher home insurance rates due to tornado risks.
Special features
Features such as hot tubs and swimming pools make a home more special, but they also increase homeowners insurance rates because they raise repair and replacement costs and add liability risks. Homes with recreational features need higher liability coverage in case a guest sustains an injury.
Loss history report
Houses have their own history that continues from one owner to the next. When insurance companies pay a homeowners insurance claim, they enter the information in the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, a centralized database administered by LexisNexis. Insurers use CLUE reports to rate insurance premiums. Homes with multiple claims typically incur a higher homeowners insurance cost. Only insurers, homeowners and lenders can request CLUE reports.
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