How Much Does Homeowners Insurance Cost?
Homeowners insurance provides protection to your home and your family.
Ever seen a house on TV or the internet and totally drooled over it? The big house with a lush green garden and a patio for evening sittings? Or a small cozy house where you imagined raising your own family someday?
Having your own home is an asset, and a blessing. You can raise generations there and have a solid asset under your name- without having to worry about rent and moving places. When you have one, you can’t imagine anything happening to it. What if it catches fire, or in case of a burglary, everything you’ve collected from your savings was gone in the blink of an eye?
This is when you need homeowner’s insurance to provide protection to your house, and your family.
Homeowner’s Insurance Definition
Homeowner’s insurance generally covers the interior and exterior of a house. In the case of destruction or theft, the insurance policy covers the cost of possessions lost or damaged, personal liability, and the repair cost of the house’s exterior like roof or drainage.
Different coverage options determine the policy’s overall cost and the monthly premiums that are to be paid. Of course, regular payment of premiums is essential to keep the policy in force and to ensure coverage of the house.
What does Homeowners Insurance cover?
There are different coverage options that policyholders can choose from, depending on their requirements and the ability to afford premiums.
Generally, a homeowner’s insurance covers:
Loss of personal belongings: Whatever is damaged in the house or lost due to incidents beyond control, will be covered by the policy. Make sure to keep a list of all items and cash receipts, so it is easier for you to claim.
For instance, you’re out on vacation, and you come home to see that your house was broken into. Several of your possessions were stolen like TV, laptops, cameras, jewelry, etc. The cost of reviving all those items will be covered in the policy.
Liability to other people: If someone is injured because of your negligence or on your property, you will have to pay for their medical expenses. The insurance company will pay any unintentional damage that you cause to other people or their property.
For instance, your dog gets loose and runs around the neighborhood biting a child. The parents will make you pay for the medical treatments of the child.
There are a couple of other coverage options such as:
| Coverage Type | What it does | Typical Amount |
| Dwelling | Covers damage to the home and attached structures, such as a porch. | Enough to rebuild your home. |
| Other structures | Covers stand-alone structures on your property, such as a fence or shed. | 10% of dwelling coverage. |
| Personal property | Pays to repair or replace belongings that are stolen or damaged in a covered event. | 50% to 70% of dwelling coverage. |
| Additional living expenses | Helps pay temporary living expenses while your home is being repaired. | 20% of dwelling coverage. |
| Medical payments | Pays to treat someone injured on your property, regardless of who’s at fault. Also pays if you, a family member or a pet injures someone elsewhere. | $1,000 to $5,000. |
How much does Homeowners Insurance cost?
Geography plays an essential role while deciding the rates of homeowner’s insurance. The rates vary from every State in the country; find out what rate of insurance you will have to pay based on your location.
| State | Average Annual Premium |
| Alabama | $1,116 |
| Alaska | $1,002 |
| Arizona | $966 |
| Arkansas | $1,091 |
| California | $966 |
| Colorado | $994 |
| Connecticut | $1,058 |
| Delaware | $1,172 |
| District of Columbia | $1,047 |
| Florida | $1,117 |
| Georgia | $1,137 |
| Hawaii | $977 |
| Idaho | $966 |
| Illinois | $924 |
| Indiana | $906 |
| Iowa | $918 |
| Kansas | $908 |
| Kentucky | $1,106 |
| Louisiana | $1,108 |
| Maine | $989 |
| Maryland | $1,212 |
| Massachusetts | $1,031 |
| Michigan | $919 |
| Minnesota | $951 |
| Mississippi | $1,099 |
| Missouri | $897 |
| Montana | $948 |
| Nebraska | $907 |
| Nevada | $933 |
| New Hampshire | $1,049 |
| New Jersey | $1,052 |
| New Mexico | $949 |
| New York | $952 |
| North Carolina | $1,118 |
| North Dakota | $906 |
| Ohio | $895 |
| Oklahoma | $1,114 |
| Oregon | $950 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,003 |
| Rhode Island | $982 |
| South Carolina | $1,126 |
| South Dakota | $898 |
| Tennessee | $1,118 |
| Texas | $1,140 |
| Utah | $1,025 |
| Vermont | $1,004 |
| Virginia | $1,181 |
| Washington | $986 |
| West Virginia | $1,101 |
| Wisconsin | $903 |
| Wyoming | $966 |
Most Expensive States for Homeowners Insurance
According to the data, these are the home insurance rates with the most expensive States.
| State | Average Annual Premium |
| Maryland | $1,212 |
| Virginia | $1,181 |
| Delaware | $1,172 |
| Texas | $1,140 |
| Georgia | $1,137 |
Cheapest States for Homeowners Insurance
These are the cheapest States for homeowners insurance.
| State | Average Annual Premium |
| Ohio | $895 |
| Missouri | $897 |
| South Dakota | $898 |
| Wisconsin | $903 |
| Indiana | $906
|
How much is Homeowners Insurance per month?
In very broad terms, expect to pay about $35 per month for every $100,000 of home value, though it depends on your city and state. As mentioned above, the monthly premiums in states that are ranked cheapest is definitely less than the ones in expensive states. It also depends on the type of coverage as well as the insurance company.
Here is a list of the ranked best insurance companies in the United States, because they are affordable, offer discounts and provide maximum coverage.
| Insurance Company | Pros | Coverage | Discounts | Best for |
| Amica Mutual | -Easy and fast claims handling process
-Affordable policy rates -Industry-leading customer service and customer satisfaction
|
-Catastrophic coverage for protection (minus a deductible) that will cover flood or earthquake damage.
-Identity fraud expense coverage for protection against unauthorized use of your credit cards up to your coverage limit. -Loss assessment plan for Condo owners who are responsible for shared sections of a property. -Valuable items coverage (also called scheduled personal property coverage) for high-value items like jewelry, fine art or furs. -Home business coverage for people who operate a business out of their home or remote workers.
|
-Multi-line discount
-Loyalty -Autopay |
Overall |
| Allstate | -Easy-to-understand products and services
-Customizable coverage options -Online educational tools -Caters to first-time buyers
|
-Personal umbrella policies for protection against large liability claims when you reach the liability limit on your policy.
-Manufactured mobile home coverage for coverage on mobile homes and manufactured dwellings. -Host advantage coverage to protect your belongings when you’re home sharing. -Electronic data recovery pays for costs when recovering lost personal computer data -An Allstate agent can help you purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.
|
-Welcome and loyalty discounts give customers 10% off their premiums for switching their coverage to Allstate.
-Customers can bundle their insurance policies and receive up to 25% off their premium. -Homeowners who are over 55 and retired qualify for a discount on their home insurance. -If your home has certain safety features, like theft and fire protective devices, you qualify for a discount.
|
Best for first-time home buyers
|
| Geico | -Very affordable rates
-Flexible policy options -Wide availability
|
-Jewelry provides limited coverage ($500-$2,000) for stolen jewelry, though this amount can be increased or customized based on the value of your in-home collection.
-Medical bills covers minor injuries to others who are hurt on the property -Additional expenses covers extra costs associated with a covered loss
|
-Bundling discounts are available for people who bundle their home and auto insurance policies with Geico.
-Home security systems discount for users who have burglar alarms, fire alarms, fire extinguishers or other in-home safety mechanisms in place.
|
Best for cheap coverage
|
| Metlife | -Guaranteed replacement coverage
-24/7 customer service
|
-Home replacement cost: This gives you the replacement cost instead of current value that would include depreciation.
-Personal property replacement costs: This gives the same kind of coverage found in home replacement coverage but for damaged or stolen personal property, such as furniture or electronics.
|
Policy bundling: People who have more than one policy with MetLife can save money.
-Safety discounts: Users who install anti-theft devices, fire alarm systems or locks in their homes are eligible for a discount. -Employer group discounts: People who work for certain companies or have a membership with partner groups or associations can get discounts.
|
Best replacement coverage
|
| USAA | -Outstanding customer service
-High-quality coverage -Affordable prices
|
-Loss of use
-Home sharing -Other structures -Earthquake coverage -Replacement cost coverage -Military uniforms are covered in the event of a loss
|
-Bundling discounts provide up to 10% savings on your homeowner’s insurance premium if you already have a USAA auto insurance policy. -Protective device credit provides premium discounts if your home is equipped with security cameras, alarms or other devices. -Claims-free discount gives customers that go five years without filing a claim 10% off their premiums. |
Best for military members
|
| Chubb | -Specializes in large policies
-Waives deductible when loss is more than $50,000 -Option for cash settlement after a loss
|
-Replacement cost -Extended replacement cost -Risk consulting -Cash settlement Additional living expenses -Wildfire coverage -Earthquake coverage |
-Bundling home and auto insurance with Chubb will lower your premium.
-Chubb offers a discount to homeowners who purchase jewelry and valuables coverages. -Superior protection discounts are offered to homeowners who have one or more security measures, including security systems, security guards, perimeter gates or a backup generator.
|
Best for large policies
|
Note: Sample data has been extracted online, courtesy of BankRate.
Homeowners Insurance Cost Calculator
If you want a close estimate of what homeowner’s insurance you should be expecting as monthly premiums, the best way to do so is running the numbers through an online homeowners insurance cost calculator. Here you can also find an option of average home insurance cost zip code, all you have to do is enter the numbers in the calculator and find a close estimate.
Conclusion
Homeowners insurance is not an expensive type of insurance, but definitely necessary to have some sort of coverage and protection. Mishaps can happen anytime, and all come unannounced, thus it is better to have some sort of contingency plan in action: homeowners insurance.
If you have a big expensive house that you have invested in, you probably want it to be in its excellent condition for many years. Expensive houses have expensive wear and tear! If you believe in this concept, then you need insurance because you probably won’t be able to afford to pay for theft or liability.
