10 Worst Cities for Home Insurance

New Orleans is the only major American city that sits below sea level^[3], so it's not a shock that it takes the top spot on our list of worst cities for home insurance. It has the highest non-renewal rate out of all the cities on our list, with existing home insurance policies averaging more than $9,000 per year. The city's downtown area is also one of the most vulnerable to natural disasters, higher than 96% of the nation.

• Annual home insurance cost: $9,129
• Nonrenewal rate: 10.53%
• Natural disaster vulnerability score: 96%
• Change in flood insurance policies: -5.3%

Tampa is more vulnerable to natural disasters than 98% of the country, which can make home insurance difficult to obtain and afford. Naturally, hurricanes are one of the biggest threats, but the Tampa area is also affected by tornadoes, flooding from heavy rain, and hail. The average premium costs nearly $6,800 per year and the city's nonrenewal rate exceeds 2%. Florida also had one of the smallest drops in flood insurance, indicating that homeowners need that additional coverage.

• Annual home insurance cost: $6,797
• Nonrenewal rate: 2.07%
• Natural disaster vulnerability score: 98%
• Change in flood insurance policies: -2.1%

Memphis takes the top spot for natural disaster vulnerability, which is riskier than 99% of the country. Insurers are taking note, causing a 3.58% nonrenewal rate across the area. The city experiences high risk for tornadoes and winter storms, but is also at risk for flooding, earthquakes, and extreme heat. Home insurance premiums average $4,665 each year. Flood insurance policies, however, dropped 3.6% year over year across Tennessee.

• Annual home insurance cost: $4,665
• Nonrenewal rate: 3.58%
• Natural disaster vulnerability score: 99%
• Change in flood insurance policies: -3.6%

Virginia Beach has one of the highest insurance nonrenewal rates in the nation at 8.02%. Why are insurers not wanting to cover Virginia Beach homeowners? Increasing climate risks threaten many homes with hurricanes, coastal flooding, and storm surges. The average annual premium costs over $4,000 and the area has a higher risk of natural disasters than 77% of the country. There's also not a lot of relief in flood insurance policies throughout Virginia, which only dropped by 2.7%.

• Annual home insurance cost: $4,046
• Nonrenewal rate: 8.02%
• Natural disaster vulnerability score: 77%
• Change in flood insurance policies: -2.7%

Phoenix's vulnerability rating is higher than 94% of the country, which is probably why its home insurance nonrenewal rate is as high as 5.62%. Windstorms, dust storms, wildfires, and extreme heat are all disasters affecting the city. Across the city, insurance premiums average $3,636 per year, still on the expensive side compared to other areas on our list. Flood insurance, however, isn't as much of an issue in Arizona; policies in force dropped 4.6%.

• Annual home insurance cost: $3,636
• Nonrenewal rate: 5.62%
• Natural disaster vulnerability score: 94%
• Change in flood insurance policies: -4.6%

Birmingham ties for sixth place, largely because of its risk of natural disasters like flooding, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and winter storms. Parts of the metro area are more vulnerable than 95% of the country. Birmingham also has a higher average home insurance than much of the country, costing residents more than $3,500 annually. The number of flood insurance policies in force dropped 3.5% in Alabama, which is on the slower side of relief compared to other states.

• Annual home insurance cost: $3,543
• Nonrenewal rate: 2.72%
• Natural disaster vulnerability score: 95%
• Change in flood insurance policies: -3.5%

Miami ties for sixth because of its jaw-dropping home insurance premium, which averages $20,396. Understandably, Miami is subject to many of the same threats as Tampa. On top of that, flood insurance policies are dropping at a slow pace of just 2.1% in Florida and the city's vulnerability for natural disasters is higher than 85% of the country. The good news is that Miami's nonrenewal rate for home insurance is just 1.04%.

• Annual home insurance cost: $20,396
• Nonrenewal rate: 1.04%
• Natural disaster vulnerability score: 85%
• Change in flood insurance policies: -2.1%

New York's policy nonrenewal rate is one of the highest on our list at 4.1%. Its natural disaster vulnerability is also higher than the majority of the country, coming in at 76%. Additionally, flood insurance policies in New York are only shrinking at a modest rate. On the plus side, New York's average $2,771 home insurance premium ranks in the middle of all the cities we analyzed.

• Annual home insurance cost: $2,771
• Nonrenewal rate: 4.1%
• Natural disaster vulnerability score: 76%
• Change in flood insurance policies: -2.2%

Detroit makes our list thanks to an above-average annual home insurance premium, costing homeowners over $5,500 per year. It also has a high nonrenewal rate of 5.16%. The city experiences flooding and both extreme heat waves and winter storms. Flood policies in force remain fairly steady in Michigan, only changing 2% year over year. However, Detroit isn't as vulnerable to natural disasters compared to other areas on our list.

• Annual home insurance cost: $5,531
• Nonrenewal rate: 5.16%
• Natural disaster vulnerability score: 34%
• Change in flood insurance policies: -2%

Raleigh has the lowest home insurance premium in our top 10 (under $2,500 per year), but other factors make it a tough city for home insurance. Nonrenewals are as high as 5.83% and the city is more vulnerable to natural disasters, including hurricanes and tornadoes than 70% of the U.S. The need for flood insurance is also prominent throughout North Carolina, with less than a 2% drop in policies last year.

• Annual home insurance cost: $2,456
• Nonrenewal rate: 5.83%
• Natural disaster vulnerability score: 70%
• Change in flood insurance policies: -1.9%