If you’re a homeowner, your house is probably your biggest asset, and you want to protect your investment against the unexpected. That’s where homeowners insurance kicks in.
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With a sea of insurers in the market, finding the right one for you can feel overwhelming. So, we’ve researched the best homeowners insurance companies based on affordability, quality policyholder service and coverage options to help you make your decision.
Methodology
To choose our winners for the best homeowners insurance companies, we analyzed more than 170 companies and narrowed down our list to the top 14. From there, we judged each company across eight categories essential to good policies. We analyzed more than 200 data points and used more than a dozen primary data sources during our research. Winners are chosen based on their overall scores and our editorial judgment. Read our full methodology here.
Show summary
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Chubb
: Best all-around policies
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American Family
: Best for replacement cost coverage options
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State Farm
: Best for online features
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Allstate
: Highest bundling discount percent advertised
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Nationwide
: Best for claims
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Auto-Owners
: Best for seniors looking to bundle with car insurance
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Progressive
: Best rates
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USAA
: Best for military associates
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Erie
: Best regional insurer
Chubb
Best all-around policies
Average annual rate
$2,117
State availability
50
Complaints
Far fewer than expected
Why we picked it
With an overall score of 5, Chubb’s homeowners insurance policy performed well in several areas, including in deductible options, number of complaints filed with state insurance departments and state availability. Its rate difference between using a $500 deductible and a $2,000 deductible is 24%, according to our data. So, if your premium is $2,000 with a $500 deductible, raising your deductible to $2,000 would drop your premium to $1,520, on average.
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Chubb also received significantly fewer complaints from policyholders over the past three years and offers coverage in all 50 states. However, homeowners may find it more expensive at an average of $2,117 per year compared to other insurers.
Pros
- Available in all 50 states
- Significantly fewer complaints than expected
- 24% rate difference between $500 deductible and $2,000 deductible
- Works with independent insurance agents
Cons
- Above-average rates in our study
- Online quotes and applications unavailable
- Lower J.D. Power score for policyholder satisfaction compared to industry average
Who should use it
Chubb may be suitable for higher-income homeowners who can afford to pay more out of pocket when a claim occurs and are looking for an insurer with limited complaint history.
American Family
Best for replacement cost coverage options
Average annual rate
$1,590
State availability
19
Complaints
More than expected
Why we picked it
Not all homeowners insurance companies offer extended and guaranteed replacement cost coverage, which are important options to help battle against inflated construction costs and limited supply. Of the insurers in our study that offer both coverages, American Family had the highest overall score.
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While American Family offers increased dwelling coverage options, it’s only available in 19 states. If you live outside those states, consider Nationwide for extended or guaranteed replacement cost coverage. Nationwide is available in 43 states, offers below-average rates and has an overall score of 4.4 out of 5.
Pros
- Competitive rates in our study
- Very strong J.D. Power score for policyholder satisfaction compared to industry average
- 22% rate difference between $500 deductible and $2,000 deductible
- Works with independent insurance agents
Cons
- Only available in 19 states
- Must speak to an agent to purchase a policy
- More complaints than expected
Who should use it
If you’re worried about inflation and increased construction costs, American Family’s extended or guaranteed replacement cost coverage can help you cover the additional expenses to properly rebuild and repair your home.
State Farm
Best for online features
Average annual rate
$1,816
State availability
49
Complaints
More than expected
Why we picked it
State Farm offers online quotes and policy purchasing. Its Apple and Android apps have a combined average star rating of 4.75, which was the highest of all companies we analyzed.
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While State Farm’s rates are still below the industry average, other insurers offer more affordable coverage. The insurer’s NAIC complaint rate is higher than expected for a company of its size, and it doesn’t offer new homeowners policies in California.
Pros
- Available in 49 states
- Highly rated mobile app
- No banned dog list
Cons
- More complaints than expected
- Can get lower rates with other insurers
- New policies not offered in California
Who should use it
Homeowners who prefer to obtain a quote, apply for coverage and manage their policy online may favor State Farm for its online features and highly rated app.
Allstate
Highest bundling discount percent advertised
Average annual rate
$1,526
State availability
48
Complaints
Fewer than expected
Why we picked it
Most insurers offer a bundling discount, or multi-policy discount, to policyholders who insure their cars and homes, condos or apartments together, with many companies providing discounts ranging from 5% to 25% (or even higher). Allstate advertised the highest discount percent of the insurers we reviewed: Homeowners who also purchase car insurance from Allstate can save up to 25%. Erie also advertised a maximum discount of 25%, but its 12-state availability makes this benefit less accessible to the general public so we didn’t choose it as the winner accordingly.
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It’s important to note that bundling discounts from any insurer can vary based on your location, specifc policy and other factors.
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Despite its opportunity for savings, Allstate doesn’t offer extended or guaranteed replacement cost coverage, so you may receive less coverage in exchange for a lower price.
Pros
- Maximum discount of 25% advertised for bundling home and car insurance
- Competitive rates in our study
- Available in 48 states
Cons
- Extended and guaranteed replacement cost coverage may be unavailable
- Lower J.D. Power score for policyholder satisfaction compared to industry average
- New policies not offered in California or Florida
Who should use it
Homeowners concerned with premiums over coverage may want to consider Allstate.
Nationwide
Best for claims
Average annual rate
$1,664
State availability
43
Complaints
Far more than expected
Why we picked it
J.D. Power publishes a U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study each year that measures various insurers for overall customer satisfaction based on survey results collected from policyholders that have filed a claim. In its 2023 study, Nationwide earned a score of 884 out of 1,000, which was the third-highest of the insurers we reviewed. Erie had the best score of 912, followed by USAA at 906, but we felt these companies’ availability restrictions limit the extent of their services and, therefore, could not consider them as the overall winners.
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Although policyholders may be generally satisfied with their Nationwide claims experience, the insurer did have significantly more complaints filed with state insurance departments over the past three years than expected for its size.
Pros
- One of the best J.D. Power scores for claims satisfaction
- Competitive rates in our study
- Available in 43 states
- Works with independent insurance agents
Cons
- Significantly more complaints than expected
- May have to work with an agent directly to get a quote
- Lower J.D. Power score for policyholder satisfaction compared to industry average
Who should use it
If you highly value an insurer’s claims ratings based on other policyholder’s reviews, Nationwide may be a good option.
Auto-Owners
Best for seniors looking to bundle with car insurance
Average annual rate
$2,034
State availability
26
Complaints
Far fewer than expected
Why we picked it
With high performances in our homeowners insurance study and in our study of the best car insurance for seniors, Auto-Owners is a favorable option for homeowners between the ages of 60 and 80. Not only does it offer extended and guaranteed replacement cost coverage and have strong customer satisfaction ratings according to J.D. Power’s property insurance study and state insurance department complaint records, it also had the best average rate for most senior drivers: $1,768 per year. While senior drivers may find a slightly better average rate with USAA, you have to be associated with the military to qualify for coverage.
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Auto-Owners is only available in 26 states and had an average homeowners insurance rate that was slightly above our study’s average. However, our data doesn’t account for multi-policy or bundling discounts, so your Auto-Owners premiums for both auto insurance and homeowners insurance may be even lower.
Pros
- Best average rates for most senior drivers in our study
- Strong J.D. Power score for policyholder satisfaction compared to industry average
- Significantly fewer complaints than expected
- Works with independent insurance agents
Cons
- Only available in 26 states
- Slightly above-average rates in our homeowners insurance study
- Online quotes and applications unavailable
Who should use it
Senior homeowners who want to use the same insurer for their cars and homes should get quotes from Auto-Owners.
Progressive
Best rates
Average annual rate
$901
State availability
43
Complaints
Far more than expected
Why we picked it
Progressive’s average rate was $901 per year, or about $75 per month, according to our data. This is about 53% less than our study’s average annual rate of $1,935. The insurance company offers homeowners insurance in 43 states and has an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5.
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While affordable, Progressive has significantly more complaints in the last three years than expected for its size. It also received a below-average score of 801 in J.D. Power’s homeowners insurance satisfaction survey. It’s also important to note that Progressive uses both affiliated and unaffiliated insurers to write and issue homeowners insurance policies.
Pros
- Best average rates in our study
- Available in 43 states
- Online quotes and applications available
- Option to work with an independent insurance agent
Cons
- Significantly more complaints than expected
- Lower J.D. Power score for policyholder satisfaction compared to industry average
- Extended and guaranteed replacement cost coverage may be unavailable
Who should use it
Progressive may be a good option for homeowners concerned with price and flexibility. Applicants can purchase policies online, over the phone or with an independent insurance agent.
USAA
Best for military associates
Average annual rate
$1,478
State availability
50
Complaints
Fewer than expected
Why we picked it
USAA may provide the best rates and customer service for people associated with the military, including active-duty members, veterans and their families. Its average annual rate was $1,478 per year, according to our data, which is approximately $450 cheaper than our study’s overall average.
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It also earned 884 out of 1,000 points in J.D. Power’s U.S. Home Insurance Study for overall customer satisfaction, which is higher than the industry average of 819.
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While USAA performs well in these categories, guaranteed replacement cost coverage may only be available in select states and for high-value homes.
Pros
- Competitive rates in our study
- Very strong J.D. Power score for policyholder satisfaction compared to industry average
- Fewer complaints than expected
- Available in all 50 states
Cons
- Only available to military affiliates
- Online applications may be unavailable for some
- Guaranteed replacement cost coverage may only be available for high-value homes
Who should use it
USAA may be a good fit for military members, veterans and their families looking for a positive service experience and affordable coverage options.
Erie
Best regional insurer
Average annual rate
$1,657
State availability
12
Complaints
Far fewer than expected
Why we picked it
Offering coverage in 12 states, Erie is our highest-rated regional insurer. Its average annual rate of $1,647 is below our study’s average of $1,935, and it offers extended and guaranteed replacement cost coverage. Additionally, it scored well for customer satisfaction: It received significantly fewer complaints than expected for its size for the past three years. It also had an above-average score from J.D. Power for overall customer satisfaction.
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Other than its limited state availability, one drawback is that Erie doesn’t offer online quotes and applications.
Pros
- Competitive rates in our study
- Significantly fewer complaints than expected
- Strong J.D. Power score for policyholder satisfaction compared to industry average
- Works with independent insurance agents
Cons
- Only available in 12 states
- Online quotes and applications unavailable
Who should use it
For those who live in the coverage territory and prefer working with a local insurer, Erie may be a great choice for homeowners insurance.
Our picks at a glance
Average annual rate | State availability | Online quote feature | Complaints | |
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Chubb | $2,117 | 50 | No | Far fewer than expected |
American Family | $1,590 | 19 | Yes | More than expected |
State Farm | $1,816 | 49 | Yes | More than expected |
Allstate | $1,526 | 48 | Yes | Fewer than expected |
Nationwide | $1,664 | 43 | No | Far more than expected |
Auto-Owners | $2,034 | 26 | No | Far fewer than expected |
Progressive | $901 | 43 | Yes | Far more than expected |
USAA | $1,478 | 50 | Yes | Fewer than expected |
Erie | $1,657 | 12 | No | Far fewer than expected |
Why do you need homeowners insurance?
- Avoid financial strain: If your primary home, detached structures or personal belongings sustain damages from a covered loss, homeowners insurance can help reduce your likelihood of withdrawing funds from a retirement account or taking out a loan to rebuild or replace your property.
- Decrease your liability: Your liability coverage can pay for damages or injuries you, your family members or your pet cause to third parties on or off your property.
- Meet financing requirements: Your mortgage company will likely require you to purchase homeowners insurance as part of your loan agreement.
How does homeowners insurance work?
Homeowners insurance helps provide financial protection when you experience a loss to your home or personal property or cause a loss to a third party (such as breaking your neighbor’s window or a guest slipping on your sidewalk). When a covered incident occurs, you file a claim with your insurer.
A standard homeowners insurance policy typically offers the following coverages:
- Dwelling coverage: This coverage pays to repair, replace or rebuild the structure of your home — such as its foundation, roof and walls — when it’s damaged in a covered loss.
- Other structures coverage: This coverage protects separate structures on your property, like fences or detached garages.
- Personal property coverage: This insurance covers your personal belongings like furniture, clothing or electronics. For high-value items like jewelry and antiques, you may need to purchase additional or separate coverage.
- Loss of use coverage: If you have to repair or rebuild your home after a covered loss, your insurer will reimburse you for additional costs associated with being away from home, like eating out or staying at a hotel. This is also called additional living expense (ALE) coverage.
- Personal liability coverage: If you, a family member or your pet unintentionally cause bodily injury or property damage to a third party, this coverage can help pay for legal fees, the cost of repairs or medical care and any other expenses you’re held legally responsible for. Personal liability insurance can protect you anywhere in the world.
- Medical payments coverage: This coverage pays for your guest’s medical expenses if they get injured on your property. It may help avoid a full liability claim.
Actual cash value (ACV) vs. replacement cost coverage
The amount you’ll receive to repair, rebuild or replace your property will vary by coverage level. Actual cash value (ACV) coverage covers the costs minus depreciation. Replacement cost coverage pays for rebuilding or repairing damaged property without deducting depreciation — up to the policy’s limits. Your dwelling and personal property will each have its own settlement option.
Extended replacement cost vs. guaranteed replacement cost
Extended and guaranteed replacement cost coverages can extend your dwelling coverage beyond the limits of your policy to help complete necessary repairs or construction when the initial coverage amount is insufficient.
Extended replacement cost coverage typically provides 20% to 25% more than your coverage limit in the event of a covered loss. For example, if your policy has a dwelling coverage of $250,000 and a 20% extended replacement cost endorsem*nt, you will have an additional $50,000 (for a total of $300,000) if a covered claim exceeds your initial $250,000 of coverage.
On the other hand, guaranteed replacement cost covers the entire amount needed to rebuild your home, even if it’s over your policy limit. So following the same example as above, if you have guaranteed replacement cost and it will cost $320,000 to completely rebuild your home after a covered loss, your insurer will cover the extra expenses, even though your policy’s dwelling coverage limit is $250,000.
With guaranteed replacement cost, your policy may have specific requirements to qualify for coverage, such as reporting improvements or renovations over a specific amount within a certain time frame to ensure your initial dwelling coverage limit is as accurate as possible.
How much homeowners insurance do I need?
The dwelling coverage under your homeowners insurance policy is based on how much it would cost to rebuild your home if it were completely destroyed in a loss —not its market value, which also takes factors like location and neighboring home values into consideration. Therefore, determining appropriate coverage limits can be tricky, especially with persisting inflation, growing rates of natural disasters and fluctuating costs for construction materials and labor.
Over the past year, the average cost across the US to reconstruct a home after a fire increased by 6.4% — with average labor costs for electricians, plumbers and HVAC installers further increasing by 8.6% —according to research from property data analyst CoreLogic. Homeowners insurance fire claims involving full damage to a home’s structure are generally $100,000 or more.
CoreLogic also found that repair costs for wind and/or hail damage, which includes replacing the roof and siding, grew by 14.4%; the price for new cabinetry and drywall rose 15.8% and 8.2%, respectively; and the rates for general laborers and painters averaged 10.1% and 8.7% higher, respectively, compared to last year.
So how do you know how much homeowners insurance is appropriate for your family? It may be beneficial to work with an insurance agent since they often have access to tools and resources to help estimate your home’s replacement cost, but these questions can help guide you as you consider each type of homeowners coverage. Keep in mind that you’ll need to carry replacement cost coverage for your home and personal property if you don’t want depreciation factored into your claim settlement. And, you may want to review your coverage annually to make sure it’s still sufficient.
Dwelling and other structures coverage
- How much are current construction costs in your area?
- What’s your home’s square footage?
- How old is your home (i.e., is it up to code? Are there original features or materials you want to preserve)?
- What’s the style of your home (e.g., ranch, split-level, cape cod, Victorian, etc.)?
- What’s the exterior construction of your home (e.g., frame, veneer or masonry)?
- What type of roof is on your home?
- Is your basem*nt finished?
- Are there any structures attached to your home (e.g., garage, deck, porch, etc.)?
- How many bathrooms does your home have?
- Does your home have any custom or special features (e.g., stained glass windows, fireplaces, top-of-the-line kitchen cabinets, etc.)?
- Have you made any renovations to your home?
Most of these questions can also apply to other structures on your property, such as detached garages, fences, sheds or pole barns.
Personal property coverage
- How much would it cost to replace your items if they were completely destroyed in a loss? Creating and maintaining a home inventory can help with this.
- Do you have any expensive items that may require specific coverage (e.g., jewelry, artwork, firearms, furs, etc.)?
- Do you keep any items off premises like in a storage unit?
- If you have boats or recreational vehicles, can you insure them on your homeowners policy?
In general, your personal property coverage limit will be a set percentage of your dwelling coverage limit, such as 50% or 70%, but you can always purchase more coverage.
Loss of use coverage
- If you can’t live in your home after a fire or other covered loss, how much could you afford to pay for a hotel?
- How much could you afford to pay to eat at restaurants?
Similar to personal property coverage, loss of use coverage (or additional living expense coverage) is usually a set amount of your dwelling coverage, generally ranging from 10% to 30%. Also, it only covers expenses above what you typically pay for — it wouldn’t reimburse you for your weekly groceries, for example.
Personal liability coverage
- What’s your net worth?
- How many assets, investments and financial accounts do you have?
- Do you have a dog or children?
- Do you have a pool, hot tub, trampoline or other outdoor equipment that could cause damage or injury?
Depending on your needs, you may want to consider adding an umbrella insurance policy to provide greater liability protection over your homeowners insurance, car insurance and other insurance policies.
Is homeowners insurance required?
No state legally requires you to purchase homeowners insurance, but most mortgage lenders do. If you’re financing your home, your mortgage company may require insurance to protect its investment from unexpected losses. Your lender may also mandate flood or earthquake insurance if you live in a high-risk flood or earthquake zone.
Even if you don’t have a mortgage, homeowners insurance may still be worth the cost. Natural disasters, theft and other unanticipated risks can result in thousands of dollars in repairs, replacements and even lawsuits. Homeowners insurance helps offset those costs, greatly reducing what you’d pay out of pocket.
Types of homeowners insurance policies
There are different types of homeowners policies that cover different types of losses. For standard single-family homes, there are two common policy forms: HO-3s and HO-5s.
For your dwelling, HO-3 policies generally cover all risks not specifically excluded in your policy at replacement cost. On the other hand, your personal property will only be insured against perils that are explicitly listed in your policy —and at actual cash value, unless you carry personal property replacement cost. An HO-3 is the standard homeowners policy type.
HO-5 insurance offers more comprehensive coverage: Both your dwelling and personal property are insured against all perils except for those that are specifically excluded. Replacement cost coverage is typically included as well for both types of losses. This type of policy is often used to cover homes and personal property with high values.
What does homeowners insurance cover?
Most homeowners insurance policies are written on an HO-3 form, meaning you’ll receive dwelling coverage on an open peril basis. Unless a loss is specifically excluded in the policy, you will likely have coverage for it.
However, HO-3s offer personal property coverage on a named peril basis, meaning you’ll only receive compensation for damages resulting from perils listed in the policy. There are typically 16 perils covered by an HO-3, according to the Insurance Information Institute:
- Fire or lightning
- Windstorm or hail
- Explosion
- Riot or civil commotion
- Damage caused by aircraft
- Damage caused by vehicles
- Smoke
- Vandalism or malicious mischief
- Theft
- Volcanic eruption
- Falling object
- Weight of ice, snow or sleet
- Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam from an appliance or qualifying system, such as air conditioning, plumbing or heating
- Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning or bulging from a qualifying system, such as hot water heating or air conditioning
- Freezing of a heating, air conditioning or plumbing system or of a qualifying sprinkler system or appliance
- Sudden and accidental damage from an electrical current that is artificially generated
What isn’t covered by homeowners insurance?
Homeowners insurance typically excludes coverage for damages caused by floods or earthquakes, so you must purchase separate coverage for these types of losses. It also doesn’t cover damages caused by wear and tear or poor maintenance.
The cost of homeowners insurance by state
Your home’s age and location, your policy’s coverage limits, your claims history and other factors will determine your homeowners insurance premium.
State | Average annual cost: $200,000 dwelling coverage | Average annual cost: $500,000 dwelling coverage | Average annual cost: $750,000 dwelling coverage | Average annual cost: $1 million dwelling coverage |
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Alabama | $1,438 | $2,883 | $4,014 | $5,385 |
Alaska | $760 | $1,382 | $1,879 | $2,383 |
Arizona | $996 | $1,828 | $2,533 | $3,279 |
Arkansas | $2,152 | $3,959 | $5,512 | $7,254 |
California | $782 | $1,488 | $2,139 | $2,772 |
Colorado | $1,885 | $3,670 | $4,881 | $6,186 |
Connecticut | $907 | $1,740 | $2,438 | $3,115 |
Delaware | $666 | $1,383 | $1,945 | $2,556 |
Florida | $1,334 | $2,810 | $4,146 | $5,458 |
Georgia | $1,171 | $2,447 | $3,468 | $4,496 |
Hawaii | $254 | $539 | $805 | $1,052 |
Idaho | $735 | $1,494 | $2,109 | $2,828 |
Illinois | $1,159 | $2,079 | $2,797 | $3,625 |
Indiana | $1,097 | $2,023 | $2,754 | $3,529 |
Iowa | $1,194 | $2,435 | $3,451 | $4,425 |
Kansas | $1,838 | $3,668 | $5,091 | $6,802 |
Kentucky | $1,354 | $2,780 | $3,964 | $5,168 |
Louisiana | $2,190 | $4,931 | $7,570 | $8,971 |
Maine | $633 | $1,393 | $2,060 | $2,721 |
Maryland | $991 | $1,908 | $2,732 | $3,544 |
Massachusetts | $863 | $1,686 | $2,400 | $3,106 |
Michigan | $1,127 | $2,352 | $3,328 | $4,382 |
Minnesota | $1,346 | $2,677 | $3,641 | $4,642 |
Mississippi | $1,697 | $3,318 | $4,782 | $6,312 |
Missouri | $1,786 | $3,689 | $5,349 | $7,047 |
Montana | $1,604 | $2,792 | $3,679 | $4,613 |
Nebraska | $2,782 | $4,914 | $6,431 | $7,660 |
Nevada | $592 | $1,233 | $1,745 | $2,234 |
New Hampshire | $653 | $1,286 | $1,808 | $2,330 |
New Jersey | $642 | $1,272 | $1,782 | $2,284 |
New Mexico | $929 | $2,093 | $3,092 | $4,006 |
New York | $827 | $1,823 | $2,652 | $3,545 |
North Carolina | $1,216 | $2,574 | $3,615 | $4,738 |
North Dakota | $1,358 | $2,651 | $3,588 | $4,541 |
Ohio | $828 | $1,518 | $2,053 | $2,617 |
Oklahoma | $2,661 | $5,425 | $7,583 | $9,739 |
Oregon | $693 | $1,373 | $2,031 | $2,670 |
Pennsylvania | $748 | $1,455 | $2,053 | $2,623 |
Rhode Island | $1,074 | $1,988 | $2,789 | $3,637 |
South Carolina | $929 | $1,899 | $2,784 | $3,773 |
South Dakota | $1,466 | $2,932 | $4,050 | $4,975 |
Tennessee | $1,321 | $2,598 | $3,635 | $4,797 |
Texas | $1,446 | $2,978 | $4,193 | $5,363 |
Utah | $688 | $1,267 | $1,717 | $2,194 |
Vermont | $584 | $1,208 | $1,612 | $2,089 |
Virginia | $799 | $1,539 | $2,210 | $2,906 |
Washington | $792 | $1,566 | $2,217 | $2,880 |
West Virginia | $778 | $1,502 | $2,150 | $2,809 |
Wisconsin | $724 | $1,483 | $2,075 | $2,764 |
Wyoming | $800 | $1,829 | $2,683 | $3,279 |
Average annual rates are based on a 40-year-old female homeowner with good credit. Our sample policy also carried personal property coverage, liability coverage, medical payments coverage and additional living expense coverage. Source: Quadrant Information Services.
How to choose the best homeowners insurance
Finding the best homeowners insurance for you will help ensure you’re sufficiently covered against losses, all while protecting your monthly budget. You can start by evaluating your needs. Consider the following:
- How much will it cost to rebuild your home?
- How much will it cost to replace your personal property?
- Do you have expensive personal property you want to protect?
- What assets do you want to protect in the event of a lawsuit?
- What types of coverage do you need? Do you need any add-ons?
- Do you have other insurance needs you can bundle together?
- Can you afford a higher deductible in exchange for a lower premium?
If you have a trusted insurance agent or other financial professional, they can help you calculate appropriate coverage limits and explore the various types of homeowners insurance coverage available.
Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for, gather and compare home insurance quotes. You can get online quotes from several different companies, or you can work with an independent insurance agent or broker that can provide multiple quotes for your review at once. Check with family and friends to see if they have any suggestions on whom to work with based on their experiences. When comparing the results, make sure you’re looking at the coverage limits, deductibles and additional options included to get an accurate feel for pricing versus the coverage provided.
After narrowing down your choices, check the insurance company’s reputation by looking at its financial stability ratings from credit agencies like AM Best, complaint history with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power.
Bundling homeowners and auto insurance
One of the best ways to save money on your insurance policies is to bundle your homeowners and auto insurance together. Most insurers offer a multi-policy discount for purchasing two or more policies, which can significantly reduce your premiums in some cases. The discount can range from 7% to 25%, according to our study of the best auto and home insurance bundles.
Additionally, choosing one insurer can help you manage your insurance more easily. You’ll only have one company or agent to contact when you have a claim, billing issue or questions about your account. And if you prefer managing your policies online, you’ll only need to keep track of one online account or download one mobile app.
How can I pay less for homeowners insurance?
Besides bundling, there are other ways you can save on your homeowners insurance. This includes:
- Reviewing your coverages annually: While you may find that you need more dwelling coverage to keep up with rising construction costs, you may also find that you no longer need an add-on you’re paying extra for.
- Comparing multiple homeowners insurance quotes: The Insurance Information Institute recommends starting with quotes from a minimum of three insurers. Make sure you’re carefully reviewing the coverage limits, deductibles, add-ons and conditions to understand pricing and eligibility requirements.
- Increasing your deductible: Increasing your deductible can generally help you save on your premiums. This is because you’re responsible for a greater amount of a claim before your coverage takes over. However, if you have a mortgage, your lender may put a limit on how high your deductible can be.
- Looking for additional discounts: Contact your agent or company directly to see if you qualify for any additional discounts, especially if you’ve recently installed new security devices, installed an automatic generator or made disaster-resistant renovations. Also ask if there’s a loyalty discount if you’ve been with the same insurer for multiple years.
Methodology
To find the best homeowners insurance companies, we started by examining 174 leading insurers and then narrowed it down to the top-rated 14 companies.
For each insurer, we analyzed eight crucial categories, leveraging rate data from Quadrant Information Services, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and study data from customer-research firm J.D. Power.
To identify the winning companies, we worked with more than 200 data points across the 14 companies and eight categories. The following sections describe the category we scored and the weight we gave that category in our scoring model.
Average annual rate (30%)
For the average annual rates, we used data from Quadrant Information Services. With access to insurance rates across the country, Quadrant provided us average homeowners insurance costs for various dwelling coverage amounts: $200,000, $350,000, $500,000 and $750,000. We then calculated the total average for each insurance company.
Rate difference between deductibles (19%)
In general, choosing a higher deductible helps lower your premiums. Using the rate data provided by Quadrant Information Services, we calculated the rate difference between a homeowners policy with a $500 deductible and one with a $2,000 deductible.
State availability (15%)
Not all insurance companies operate in all states — and we are seeing this increasingly become an issue for homeowners as severe weather and natural disasters affect state availability. Some policyholders prefer working with national insurers, while others prefer working with ones that only work in their regions. Having access to adequate coverage is an important first step when analyzing insurance companies. For this category, we researched how many states each insurer operates in. Companies that offered policies in 15 states or fewer or have specific membership requirements received a scoring penalty.
AM Best (10%)
AM Best is a well-respected independent credit rating agency that evaluates insurance companies’ financial strength. By analyzing insurers’ balance sheets, risk management, operating performance and other factors, AM Best assigns a financial strength rating (FSR) based on the insurers’ abilities to pay out on claims and cover other obligations.
J.D. Power scores (10%)
We looked at the 2022 U.S. Home Insurance Study for overall customer satisfaction. J.D. Power scores homeowners insurance providers based on five factors that are a key part of the policyholder experience: interaction, policy offerings, price, billing process and policy information and claims. We included J.D. Power’s ratings in our scoring because they help you gauge what an insurer’s typical policyholder experience is like.
Extended replacement cost (5.5%)
With high rates of inflation and increases in construction costs, having an appropriate dwelling coverage amount is more important than ever. Offering extended replacement cost coverage can help policyholders protect their homes in the event of a total loss. For this category, we looked to see if this coverage is available with each insurer.
Guaranteed replacement cost (5.5%)
With high rates of inflation and increases in construction costs, having an appropriate dwelling coverage amount is more important than ever. Offering guaranteed replacement cost coverage can help policyholders protect their homes in the event of a total loss. For this category, we looked to see if this coverage is available with each insurer.
NAIC 3-year average complaint index (5%)
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) calculates an index for insurance companies based on the company’s share of premiums and complaints filed with the NAIC. An index of 1.00 indicates the insurer received the expected number of complaints for a company of its size. An index below 1.00 means the company received fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size, and vice versa. We took the average index for each company from the past three years.
What didn’t make the cut
Of the 14 homeowners insurance companies we analyzed for our final rankings, five did not win a category: Westfield, Country Financial, Farmers, Shelter and Travelers. Farmers’ overall score met our criteria for selection, but it didn’t make our final list because it didn’t stand out in any area we studied.
All five companies had superior or excellent financial strength, but each received low scores elsewhere, including in rate difference between deductibles, J.D. Power scores and state availability. For example, Country Financial, Farmers, Shelter and Travelers all had above-average rates, which made up 30% of our scoring model.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
You can only deduct homeowners insurance from your taxes if you use part of your home for business purposes, like a home office. You must use this area exclusively and regularly for business purposes. For example, if your kitchen also acts as your home office, you can’t claim homeowners insurance for that area on your tax return.
It’s important to note that most homeowners insurance policies exclude coverage for losses arising from the business use of your home. Therefore, a separate home-based business endorsem*nt or business insurance policy may be advisable.
Most homeowners insurance policies are in effect for one year. Your insurer will likely send you a renewal letter with any rate changes before your policy ends.
The type of coverage you need for a rental depends on several factors, including whether it’s a room in your primary home, your entire primary home or a secondary home and how long it will be rented for.
Insurers won’t typically offer homeowners insurance for non-owner-occupied properties. If you are renting out a secondary home to long-term tenants, then you will need landlord insurance — or dwelling fire insurance — instead of homeowners insurance. This will provide dwelling coverage, liability coverage and fair rental value coverage, which helps cover lost income when the property cannot be rented after a covered loss due to repairs. However, it won’t protect your tenants’ belongings or personal liability: They’ll need to obtain renters insurance for these risks.
If you’re renting your primary home or a room in your home —whether through a vacation rental site like Airbnb or to a friend — contact your insurance company to discuss what type of coverage you’ll need.
Homeowners insurance covers your home’s structure and your personal belongings and offers liability protection. Mortgage insurance compensates your lender if you default on your loan payments. Your lender may require mortgage insurance if you make a down payment of less than 20%. Even though you pay for mortgage insurance as part of your monthly loan payments, or as an upfront fee at closing, you won’t have any coverage under the policy.
After you file a homeowners insurance claim, an adjuster will inspect your property’s damages to determine how much the insurer owes you. Based on the terms of your policy and the type of claim, your insurer may compensate you all at once, in increments or reimburse you after you replace or repair your property. Also, you must pay your deductible before your insurer pays your claim, although it may simply be deducted from the payment you receive.
If you have a mortgage, your mortgage company will likely be listed on the payments, meaning it will have to endorse the checks before you can cash them. However, some mortgagees may choose to add the checks to your escrow account and issue payments as repairs are completed.
No, a homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover earthquake damages. If you live in a high-risk zone and require this insurance, you must purchase separate earthquake insurance coverage. You can typically add it as an endorsem*nt to your homeowners policy.