The Best Cheap Home Insurance (2023)

Knowing what goes into homeowners insurance rates is the key to finding cheap home insurance.

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Kristine Lee

Manager, Content and Data

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Kristine is a licensed insurance agent who joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer. Before joining The Zebra, she was a…

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Mark Friedlander

Director, Corporate Communications, Insurance Information Institute

Mark Friedlander has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. He is the Director, Corporate Communications, at the Insurance Informatio…

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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

Finding the cheapest (and best) homeowners coverage

The average cost of homeowners insurance in the United States is $1,406 per year ($117 per month). Understanding homeowners coverage and knowing where to find an affordable policy are important first steps toward getting coverage.

The Zebra performed an in-depth analysis of thousands of home insurance rates from across the U.S. to find the cheapest insurance companies for homeowners in a variety of scenarios.

Key takeaways:

  • The average cost of homeowners insurance in the US is $1,406 per year or $117 per month
  • USAA and Nationwide are the cheapest home insurance companies with average monthly costs of $103
  • To find the best home insurance, compare quotes and consider factors such as customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction

The cheapest home insurance companies

Nationwide home insurance
Nationwide — $103 per month

Nationwide's average homeowners insurance rate is $103 per month.

USAA homeowners insurance
USAA — $103 per month

A typical home insurance policy from USAA costs $103 per month. Eligibility is limited to active-duty military and veterans, as well as select family members.

Progressive home insurance
Progressive — $113 per month

Homeowners insurance through Progressive costs $113 per month, on average.


Other affordable homeowners insurance companies

Finding the cheapest coverage for your home begins by comparing homeowners insurance quotes. To get you started, The Zebra has compiled average rates for some of the top home insurance companies to give you the chance to compare. Take a look at the table below to get an idea of how much these companies charge for home insurance coverage.

THE CHEAPEST HOME INSURANCE COMPANIES IN 2023
Insurance Company Annual Premium Monthly Cost
USAA $1,231 $103
Nationwide $1,236 $103
Progressive $1,355 $113
State Farm $1,356 $113
Liberty Mutual $1,414 $118
Travelers $1,444 $120
Farmers $1,455 $121
Allstate $1,594 $133
American Family $2,261 $188

Homeowners insurance data methodology

The homeowners insurance rates published in this guide are based on The Zebra's analysis of the cost of home insurance in every U.S. ZIP code. These rates are based on a sample user profile: a 45-year-old married homeowner living in a 2,500-square-foot single-story home built in 2011 with these coverage levels:

  • $200,000 for the dwelling
  • $20,000 for other structures
  • $100,000 for personal property
  • $100,000 for personal liability
  • $1,000 deductible

To generate pricing for particular rating factors, we adjusted the homeowner profile based on common pricing factors used by major home insurance companies. These factors include location, coverage limits, claims record and others.

While we recommend starting your search with these insurance companies, keep in mind our homeowner profile likely doesn't match yours precisely. Because many rating factors are taken into account when insurers calculate premiums, there is no “one size fits all” option for home insurance pricing.

Curious about what your homeowners insurance rate will be? Enter your ZIP code below and we can help you compare personalized homeowners insurance rates side by side. For more information on other important rating factors and how they affect premiums, along with the cheapest companies, continue reading below.

Looking for a quote? Compare rates and find the best homeowners policy for you.

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Home insurance rate analysis

An in-depth assessment of which companies are the cheapest, depending on your situation.

Homeowners insurance rates by:

The cheapest home insurance by replacement cost

The replacement cost of a home, i.e., the amount of money required to repair it in the event it’s damaged, is one of the most important factors used by insurance companies to set premiums. This is because dwelling coverage is the pillar of any homeowners policy, as it protects the home itself.

A home's replacement cost also dictates coverage limits for other parts of the home insurance policy. These are generally assessed as percentages of the total replacement cost:

If a home is insured for $250,000, this assigns $25,000 in coverage for other structures, $125,000 for personal property and $50,000 for loss for use.

This is another reason why it’s important to calculate replacement value as accurately as possible, including the cost of labor and materials at current market values. The policy premium will match the home’s replacement cost. This relationship is illustrated below, including the cheapest companies based on differing replacement costs.

Cheapest insurance companies by replacement cost

Common replacement cost tiers

  • $100,000 Amica
  • $200,000 — Amica
  • $300,000 USAA
  • $400,000 — USAA
  • $500,000 — USAA
  • $600,000 — USAA
AVERAGE ANNUAL INSURANCE PREMIUMS BY REPLACEMENT COST
Insurance Company $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 $500,000 $600,000
Allstate $1,175 $1,691 $2,282 $2,907 $3,558 $4,208
American Family $1,652 $2,459 $3,340 $4,243 $5,128 $5,994
Amica $912 $1,291 $1,797 $2,296 $2,783 $3,260
Farmers $1,278 $1,709 $2,355 $3,001 $3,584 $4,106
Nationwide $986 $1,470 $2,155 $2,791 $3,458 $4,188
Progressive $1,018 $1,464 $2,023 $2,558 $3,115 $3,743
State Farm $999 $1,565 $2,081 $2,597 $3,217 $3,814
Travelers $1,188 $1,754 $2,326 $2,879 $3,564 $4,181
USAA $943 $1,326 $1,710 $2,060 $2,402 $2,727

Residents of high-value homes surpassing these dwelling coverage amounts should expect more expensive rates.

Learn more about insurance for high-value homes.

 


The cheapest home insurance by deductible amount

The deductible you choose for your homeowners insurance policy impacts how expensive your policy is. While it doesn’t have as much weight as replacement cost, it remains an important rating factor.

As with auto insurance deductibles, your premium and deductible carry an inverse relationship: lower deductibles raise your premium while higher deductibles lower your rate. This is because of the amount of financial responsibility you assume when you select your deductible amount. If your deductible is high, it means your claim payout will be less than had you chosen a low deductible. Insurance companies will charge cheaper premiums if you voluntarily opt to take a larger slice of financial responsibility in the event you need to file a claim.

The table below shows how deductibles directly correlate to home insurance rates. A $2,500 deductible (or higher) results in the lowest premiums, no matter what company.

Cheapest insurance companies by deductible

Common deductible levels

  • $500 — Amica
  • $1,000 — Amica
  • $2,000 — Nationwide
  • $2,500 — Amica
AVERAGE ANNUAL PREMIUMS BY DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT
Insurance Company $500 $1,000 $2,000 $2,500
Allstate $1,763 $1,594 $1,391 $1,322
American Family $2,474 $2,261 $2,084 $2,003
Amica $1,181 $1,089 $991 $944
Farmers $1,523 $1,455 $1,349 $1,325
Nationwide $1,365 $1,236 $974 $968
Progressive $1,462 $1,355 $1,259 $1,117
State Farm $1,470 $1,356 $1,234 $1,207
Travelers $1,561 $1,444 $1,257 $1,231
USAA $1,364 $1,231 $1,049 $1,049

Compare rates and find a policy.

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How your home’s condition, materials and age affect rates

First and foremost, insurance companies are risk-averse. The number of claims that are filed directly affects their bottom line via claims payouts. If a client’s rating factors indicate that they are more likely to file a claim, insurance companies make up for this likelihood by charging higher premiums.

The quality of the primary asset you are insuring — your home — definitely matters to your insurer. Depending on the level of disrepair or quality of materials, insurance companies may even deny coverage. This is because a home that hasn’t been maintained over the years is far more susceptible to damage.

Here are some examples of home conditions, materials and age used by insurance companies when they price policies:

  • Construction type: The use of wood over harder, drier materials like brick, stucco or stone makes the home more flammable
  • Roof type: The quality, condition and age of the roof and roofing materials can make them more susceptible to damage or more flammable
  • Age of the home: Older homes may be more likely to be degraded or constructed from flammable materials

See the below tables to see how construction type and roof materials can affect your rate.

AVERAGE YEARLY PREMIUMS BY CONSTRUCTION TYPE
Insurance Company Frame/Wood Masonry Fire-resistive
Allstate $1,594 $1,530 $1,461
American Family $2,261 $2,137 $2,138
Amica $1,089 $1,039 $1,002
Farmers $1,455 $1,466 $1,466
Liberty Mutual $1,311 $1,260 $1,174
Nationwide $1,236 $1,113 $925
State Farm $1,356 $1,228 $1,050
Travelers $1,444 $1,338 $1,302
USAA $1,231 $1,182 $1,173

If you live in a wood frame home (as opposed to something fire-resistive), expect to pay an extra $152 in premium per year to account for the flammability of your home's construction materials. The same idea holds true for wood roofs, which costs an extra $131 a year to insure over slate roofs:

ANNUAL AVERAGE PREMIUMS BY ROOF TYPE
Insurance Company Asphalt Metal Slate Wood
Allstate $1,591 $1,538 $1,578 $1,654
American Family $2,250 $2,168 $1,986 $2,245
Amica $1,089 $1,089 $1,089 $1,089
Farmers $1,467 $1,209 $1,541 $1,585
Liberty Mutual $1,355 $1,309 $1,275 $1,411
Nationwide $1,244 $1,223 $1,184 $1,265
State Farm $1,356 $1,372 $1,356 $1,392
Travelers $1,415 $1,345 $1,351 $1,588
USAA $1,287 $1,264 $1,263 $1,387

Regular maintenance and upkeep is a great way to earn cheaper home insurance rates.

 

Home insurance and swimming pools

Outdoor features like pools, hot tubs, playgrounds and trampolines are known as attractive nuisances. While these are nice to have on your property, these can pose serious liabilities. Having attractive nuisances makes it more likely that someone can injure themselves, thereby increasing the likelihood of having your insurance company step in to defend your liability. Having any of these features will increase your rate to account for the elevated risk.

poolside chair and umbrella

Home age and insurance

In general, newer homes are cheaper to insure. Homes built 30 or more years ago cost about 76% more to insure than do new construction homes.

Progressive home
Cheapest for new homes

Progressive is the cheapest home insurance company for new builds.

Amica home
Cheapest for homes 10 to 50 years old

Amica is the most affordable company for insuring a home between 10 and 50 years old.

AVERAGE ANNUAL INSURANCE RATES BY HOME AGE
Insurance Company New Construction 10 Years Old 20 Years Old 30 Years Old 40 Years Old 50 Years Old
Allstate $1,033 $1,594 $1,709 $1,755 $1,750 $1,759
American Family $1,422 $2,261 $2,396 $2,405 $2,409 $2,422
Amica $772 $1,089 $1,145 $1,152 $1,152 $1,144
Farmers $1,093 $1,455 $1,606 $1,553 $1,539 $1,516
Nationwide $693 $1,236 $1,447 $1,487 $1,524 $1,542
Progressive $533 $1,355 $1,913 $1,941 $1,884 $1,810
State Farm $885 $1,356 $1,520 $1,524 $1,531 $1,532
Travelers $929 $1,444 $1,671 $1,716 $1,703 $1,692
USAA $706 $1,231 $1,477 $1,484 $1,495 $1,475

How do claims affect home insurance?

You may have trouble finding a car insurance company willing to insure you if you’ve racked up too many claims in the past. The same concept applies to homeowners insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute[1], about one in 20 insured homes makes a claim each year.

The cheapest insurance company after a fire claim is State Farm. Following weather-related insurance claims, the most affordable companies were USAA and Nationwide. Compared to Allstate's 37% increase after a fire, and American Family's 17% rate hike post-weather claim, State Farm, USAA and Nationwide stand out as appealing options.

The below table shows how a fire or weather claim can affect your homeowners rate with some of the top homeowners insurance companies:

AVERAGE ANNUAL HOME INSURANCE PREMIUMS BY CLAIM HISTORY
Insurance Company No Claims Fire Claim Weather Claim
Allstate $1,594 $2,188 $1,798
American Family $2,261 $2,573 $2,652
Farmers $1,455 $1,776 $1,498
Liberty Mutual $1,506 $1,699 $1,685
Nationwide $1,236 $1,795 $1,402
State Farm $1,356 $1,464 $1,464
Travelers $1,444 $1,849 $1,631
USAA $1,231 $1,528 $1,314

A longer-than-average claims history is a red flag to insurers. Historical data indicates policyholders who have filed at least one claim are more likely to file another one. Thus, home insurance companies will charge higher premiums if you’ve had a covered loss in the past. Some auto insurers may even refuse coverage for drivers with more than one claim within a specific range of time — usually three years. Home and car insurance claims stay on the national property claim database — known as the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) — for five to seven years.

This is a crucial reason why knowing when and when not to file a homeowners claim is important if you’re looking for cheap home insurance. See more comprehensive information and detailed rates on how much you can expect your premium to increase in our guide to homeowners insurance after a claim.

Compare home insurance rates online.

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Location and homeowners insurance rates

Insurance companies keep track of the number of claims that are filed in your area. This number correlates to how much risk a certain area represents. If the location of your home has had a history of claims — such as hurricane-related losses or a high degree of burglaries — insurers will charge higher premiums in that ZIP code to anticipate more claims filed in the future.

The same applies to your location’s fire protection rating. This measures the distance between your home and the nearest water source and fire department. For instance, if you live in a rural area susceptible to wildfires, and the closest fire station is miles away in the next town, this will unsettle insurance companies and lead to higher rates. Some home insurance companies will deny coverage altogether to avoid the risk.

THE CHEAPEST HOME INSURANCE COMPANY IN EACH U.S. STATE
State Company Average Annual Premium
Alabama USAA $1,452
Alaska Western National $794
Arizona USAA $815
Arkansas Farmers $1,665
California Mercury $564
Colorado American Family $1,878
Connecticut National General $649
Delaware Nationwide $544
Florida Progressive $894
Georgia Farmers $778
Hawaii Allstate $283
Idaho Farm Bureau $457
Illinois State Farm $690
Indiana Indiana Farmers Mutual $786
Iowa West Bend Mutual $1,080
Kansas USAA $1,984
Kentucky USAA $1,099
Louisiana State Farm $1,545
Maine Vermont Mutual $352
Maryland Travelers $767
Massachusetts Heritage $749
Michigan Michigan Farm Bureau $662
Minnesota Auto-Owners $1,011
Mississippi Southern Farm Bureau $1,542
Missouri AAA $1,544
Montana USAA $1,667
Nebraska USAA $1,890
Nevada Travelers $618
New Hampshire Vermont Mutual $467
New Jersey Travelers $608
New Mexico Farmers $1,081
New York NYCM Insurance $525
North Carolina North Carolina Farm Bureau $1,092
North Dakota North Star $981
Ohio Cincinnati Insurance $665
Oklahoma Oklahoma Farm Bureau $2,557
Oregon State Farm $760
Pennsylvania Erie $565
Rhode Island Heritage $445
South Carolina United $1,046
South Dakota North Star $1,214
Tennessee Erie $1,145
Texas Progressive $1,816
Utah Allstate $639
Vermont Vermont Mutual $356
Virginia Erie $885
Washington PEMCO $444
Washington D.C. Chubb $666
West Virginia USAA $641
Wisconsin West Bend Mutual $486
Wyoming USAA $641

How does credit score impact home insurance?

While your credit score may not be a huge factor in what you pay in premium, insurance companies still use it to assess the risk you present. Insurers assign a credit-based insurance score to help determine your rate.

credit
Cheapest for excellent and bad credit

In our analysis of cheapest homeowners insurance providers by credit tier, Amica proved to be the most affordable no matter how good or bad your credit is.

AVERAGE ANNUAL PREMIUMS BY CREDIT TIER
Insurance Company Excellent (800-850) Very Good (740-799) Good (670-739) Fair (580-669) Poor (300-579)
Allstate $1,412 $1,525 $1,664 $1,980 $3,254
American Family $2,006 $2,154 $2,261 $2,492 $3,513
Amica $872 $921 $989 $1,112 $1,455
Farmers $1,016 $1,238 $1,552 $2,054 $5,436
Nationwide $1,181 $1,242 $1,306 $1,446 $2,040
Progressive $1,198 $1,299 $1,355 $1,601 $2,254
State Farm $1,183 $1,351 $1,543 $2,013 $3,435
Travelers $1,036 $1,342 $1,635 $2,245 $3,989
USAA $1,068 $1,152 $1,256 $1,517 $2,553

The cheapest insurance companies for homeowners with aggressive breed dogs

Furry friends can result in higher homeowners insurance rates. Insurance companies maintain lists of dog breeds considered “aggressive” or “restricted.” Keep in mind this is very company-specific, and some are more dog-friendly than others. Some companies care less about the breed and more about the individual dog's bite history. You may be asked by your insurer to pay an increased premium due to your pet's history of aggressive behavior. Others may ask you to sign a liability waiver.[2]

The Zebra's data suggest owning an "aggressive breed" dog does not move the insurance pricing needle too much (only about 1%).

The cheapest home insurance company with an aggressive dog in the household is Allstate, offering average monthly rates of about $116. Below is a snapshot of average premiums from popular insurance companies with a restricted breed as a rating factor.

Learn more about pets and homeowners insurance.

AVERAGE ANNUAL PREMIUMS WITH AN AGGRESSIVE BREED PET
Insurance Company Average Annual Premium
Allstate $1,394
American Family $1,730
Farmers $1,862
Liberty Mutual $1,414
Nationwide $1,428
Progressive $1,738
State Farm $1,464
Travelers $1,498
USAA $1,526

How to find the best cheap homeowners insurance

There are a number of ways to get affordable homeowner insurance. Here's a look at the most common.

  • Local agents: Some homeowners prefer having a local agent with a brick-and-mortar location. While some of these agents are appointed to sell from multiple different carriers, others are what's called "captive" agents and only sell through one company. This can limit your choices and impact potential savings.
  • Insurer websites: Most insurance companies have online quoting tools. While this can allow you more convenience than shopping with individual agents, it can be time-consuming as you will have to input your personal information for each company.
  • Comparison sites: These sites — like The Zebra — allow you to compare home insurance quotes from the top homeowners insurance companies all in one place. As opposed to individual carrier sites, you only need to input your information once to get quotes.

 

How to save money on homeowners insurance

In six steps, here's the best approach for getting the cheapest homeowners insurance.

1. Get an accurate estimate of your home’s replacement cost

The replacement cost of your home significantly impacts your rate. Every few years, have your insurer assess its replacement value to ensure you’re not paying for insurance coverage you don’t need.

2. Evaluate other coverage needs

Think about what matters to you most in terms of what you need protection for and what you expect from an insurer: maybe you're looking for specialized coverage (like flood insurance) or concerned about having enough liability coverage. How important are a company's customer service and claims servicing to you? This is the time to outline your wants and needs for your policy and your provider.

3. Shop around and compare homeowner quotes

Getting quotes from many different insurers is the best way to compare coverage options and pricing.

4. Consider raising your deductible

If you accept a larger portion of financial responsibility (i.e. paying more out of pocket after a claim), you'll pay a lower premium. Learn more about how to choose a deductible.

house and car insurance

Best home and auto bundles

Based on The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey for auto and home coverage, the following companies below offer the best rates for bundling your policies:

  1. USAA - 4.6 overall rating
  2. Erie - 4.5 overall rating
  3. State Farm - 4.4 overall rating
5. Bundle policies

If you already have an auto insurance policy with one company, consider bundling it with your homeowners insurance. Most companies offer multi-policy discounts. Such discounts can also apply to other types of insurance when bundled with your home policy, such as life insurance

6. Use discounts

Below are common home insurance cost-cutting measures:

  • Payment methods: EFT, paperless, automatic or pay in full
  • New home construction
  • Senior discount
  • Occupational
  • Home security systems
  • Fire prevention systems
  • Roof upgrades
  • Smoke-free

 

What to expect when applying for cheap homeowners insurance

Shopping for cheap homeowners insurance is not much different from shopping for any other kind of policy, but it could be more involved than auto insurance. Use these tips while shopping so you know what to expect:

  • Insurance companies will ask for details about your home, like the roof type and its age, construction materials, when the property was built, if there are any upgrades and more. Having these details on hand will make getting quotes easier and more accurate.
  • When evaluating your quotes, ensure that your homeowners insurance coverage limits (specifically dwelling coverage) are sufficient for the home's replacement cost. Consider if you need any additional coverage options, as well. For example, if you have a large collection of fine jewelry, a rider can supplement your policy to expend coverage for these items.
  • Make sure the replacement cost set in your quote meets or exceeds your mortgage lender's requirements.
  • Remember that the quote you initially receive may not be the exact premium you'll end up paying. Once you send in your application, the insurance company will confirm the details of your policy and property. If the finalized quote is higher than you expect, you can always walk away and try another insurer.

The best cheap homeowners insurance: summary

Certain rating factors affect your home insurance risk profile more than others, so it’s important to choose your replacement cost and deductible wisely. It's also prudent to practice good habits: maintain the structural integrity of your home by making upgrades, improve your credit score and understand your coverage to avoid filing claims that may end up costing you in the future.

It’s also beneficial to research specific companies before choosing a policy. Look for customer satisfaction and financial strength ratings from J.D. Power and AM Best to get a sense of how insurers treat their policyholders — especially during the claims process — and to ensure they have the financial stability to pay out for losses. Learn more by reading The Zebra’s reviews of top home insurance companies. The best way to save money and find the cheapest home insurance coverage is to compare rates from as many insurers as possible. Every company weighs rating factors differently and there are a variety of reasons your homeowners rates might be expensive.

The Zebra can help you compare home insurance quotes from insurers across the United States in just a few minutes — simply enter your ZIP code below to start comparison shopping.

Compare homeowners insurance rates, bundles and coverage options.

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FAQ

You can expect your rate to increase at the policy's renewal if you file a claim with your homeowners insurance. This is because insurers view you as a riskier client after you file a claim. So before doing so, it's important to know what's worth filing a claim for and what's not. The rule of thumb is to not file over the small stuff — save it for catastrophic or expensive losses that greatly exceed your deductible.

Your rate can increase for many reasons, like changes to your policy, personal factors as a client or due to world events outside of your control. If you've added a coverage option, filed a claim during the previous policy period or increased your coverage limits, these can be reasons why your rate went up. Economic and environmental influences such as supply chain disruptions, inflation and increased risks of severe and damaging weather events can also drive insurers to file for rate increases across the country. Escalating replacement costs are a huge driver of rate increases, as costs of materials have gone up dramatically over the past year.

It can be cheaper. A multi-policy discount is a popular discount offering that most insurers provide if you bundle policies. The discount amount varies from company to company, so it's important to confirm that the bundling savings makes it cheaper than what you'd pay if you had two policies from different insurers.

Your electronics should be covered by the personal property portion of your home insurance policy, but this coverage has a limit in how much it will cover. If you need more coverage, consider adding a rider to your policy that will extend the limit. Creating a detailed inventory of your valuables can go a long way in aiding the claims process and replacing the full worth of your property.

Yes. According to our data, homes that are older than 30 years old cost 76% more to insure. New constructions are much cheaper to insure because these homes are much less likely to have issues that are more common with older homes. Premiums jump significantly once a home reaches 10 years of age.



About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
  • The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.