Average Homeowners Insurance Cost by State, and Why Every Site Gives a Different Number 

Home insurance has become one of the fastest-rising bills for American homeowners. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, average premiums rose faster than inflation in every major region between 2018 and 2024. For people who own their home outright, especially retirees, insurance can now cost more each month than any other housing bill except property tax. 

This guide shows average premiums for every state, explains why the averages you find online range from under $2,000 to over $3,000, and lists the steps that actually lower your bill. 

The national average 

Depending on the source, the “average” homeowners insurance premium in the United States in 2026 is anywhere from about $1,800 to $3,000 a year. Using one consistent source, Insurance.com and Quadrant Information Services’ March 2026 data for a policy with $300,000 of dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible, the national average is $2,543 a year, or about $212 a month. 

Average homeowners insurance by state 

The table below uses that same policy profile for every state, so the numbers are comparable with each other. 

Rank (cheapest first)	State	Average yearly premium	Per month
1	Hawaii	$659	$55
2	Vermont	$1,063	$89
3	New Hampshire	$1,300	$108
4	Maine	$1,335	$111
5	Delaware	$1,374	$114
6	Alaska	$1,397	$116
7	New Jersey	$1,421	$118
8	Massachusetts	$1,483	$124
9	Pennsylvania	$1,529	$127
10	Oregon	$1,572	$131
11	California	$1,616	$135
12	New York	$1,683	$140
13	Washington	$1,753	$146
14	Nevada	$1,774	$148
15	Wisconsin	$1,812	$151
16	Utah	$1,814	$151
17	West Virginia	$1,860	$155
18	Connecticut	$1,905	$159
19	Maryland	$1,918	$160
20	Virginia	$2,074	$173
21	Wyoming	$2,075	$173
22	Ohio	$2,118	$176
23	Idaho	$2,240	$187
24	Georgia	$2,323	$194
25	Arizona	$2,344	$195
26	Rhode Island	$2,445	$204
27	Mississippi	$2,529	$211
28	Illinois	$2,643	$220
29	Minnesota	$2,729	$227
30	New Mexico	$2,869	$239
31	Indiana	$2,887	$241
32	Iowa	$2,902	$242
33	Michigan	$2,924	$244
34	Tennessee	$2,958	$246
35	South Carolina	$2,974	$248
36	North Dakota	$2,982	$248
37	North Carolina	$3,124	$260
38	Montana	$3,215	$268
39	Alabama	$3,633	$303
40	Arkansas	$3,733	$311
41	South Dakota	$3,760	$313
42	Missouri	$3,979	$332
43	Kentucky	$4,042	$337
44	Texas	$4,085	$340
45	Nebraska	$4,553	$379
46	Colorado	$4,963	$414
47	Oklahoma	$5,010	$418
48	Kansas	$5,260	$438
49	Louisiana	$5,986	$499
50	Florida	$7,136	$595

Source: Insurance.com and Quadrant Information Services, March 2026, for $300,000 dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible. Monthly figures are our calculation. Your premium will depend on your home, location and coverage. 

Where insurance costs the most and least 

Most expensive: Florida ($7,136), Louisiana ($5,986), Kansas ($5,260), Oklahoma ($5,010) and Colorado ($4,963). These states face hurricanes, severe hail, tornadoes or wildfire, and in Florida’s case a history of heavy insurance litigation. 

Least expensive: Hawaii ($659), Vermont ($1,063), New Hampshire ($1,300), Maine ($1,335) and Delaware ($1,374). Note that Hawaii’s figure does not include hurricane coverage, which is usually bought separately. 

Some results surprise people. California’s average is below the national average on this measure, even though wildfire risk has pushed many homeowners out of the regular market and onto the California FAIR Plan, which announced a 29.1% rate increase in 2026. Averages hide those who cannot get standard coverage at all. 

Why every site gives a different average 

If you search for average home insurance costs, you will see very different numbers. Here is why. 

1. Quotes versus premiums actually paid. Many comparison sites use quoted prices for a sample home and driver profile. The NAIC uses premiums insurers actually collected. NAIC data showed an average of $1,818 in the Southeast and $1,396 in the Northeast in 2024. Quote-based averages tend to run higher, because real homeowners often have lower coverage amounts, higher deductibles or long-standing policies. 

2. Different coverage amounts. A policy with $300,000 of dwelling coverage costs more than one with $250,000, and less than one with $400,000. Some sites use one figure, some another, and some average whatever policies exist. 

3. Different dates. Premiums have been rising quickly, and some averages are a year or two old. Insurify, for example, put the national average at $3,012 in its 2026 analysis, reflecting its own data and methods. 

4. Different sample profiles. Credit-based insurance scores, claims history and the age of the home all change prices. Averages built on a “clean” sample profile will not match everyone. 

5. Where in the state. A statewide average blends coastal and inland areas, cities and rural towns. In some counties, prices are several times the state average. 

The takeaway: use averages to compare states with each other, not to predict your own bill. For that, you need quotes for your address. 

Why home insurance keeps going up 

• More severe weather. Hail, wind, wildfire and hurricane losses have grown. 

• Higher rebuilding costs. Labor and materials cost more than they did a few years ago, so insurers need more coverage per home. 

• Reinsurance costs. Insurers buy their own insurance, and that has become much more expensive. 

• Insurers pulling back. The NAIC found non-renewals rising in every region since 2018, which pushes some homeowners into more expensive options. 

How to lower your home insurance bill 

1. Shop at every renewal. Loyalty rarely pays in this market. An independent agent can compare several insurers at once. 

2. Raise your deductible if you have savings to cover it. Moving from $1,000 to $2,500 often lowers premiums noticeably. 

3. Bundle home and auto with one insurer. 

4. Upgrade the roof. A newer roof, or impact-resistant materials in hail areas, can bring large discounts. 

5. Add protective devices. Monitored alarms, smoke detectors, water leak sensors and automatic water shutoff valves can earn discounts. 

6. Get a wind mitigation inspection in hurricane states such as Florida. 

7. Improve your credit in states where insurers can use credit-based insurance scores. 

8. Ask about retiree or age-related discounts. Some insurers offer them to people who are home more often, since problems like leaks are caught sooner. 

9. Check your coverage amount. Make sure the dwelling limit reflects the cost to rebuild, not the market value of the home. Too little coverage is risky; too much wastes money. 

Home insurance after 60: what changes 

Owning a home for a long time brings its own insurance issues. A few are worth checking every few years: 

• The roof clock. Many insurers now treat roofs older than about 15 to 20 years as a risk, and some will only pay the depreciated value of an old roof after a storm. Ask how your policy handles roof claims, and plan the replacement before it becomes an insurance problem. 

• Outdated coverage limits. If you bought the home decades ago, your dwelling limit may not reflect today’s rebuilding costs. Many policies adjust for inflation automatically, but not always enough. Ask your agent for a new replacement cost estimate. 

• Paid-off mortgage, no lender watching. Once the mortgage is gone, nobody checks that the policy stays in force. Set up automatic payment and keep the declarations page with your important papers. 

• Your belongings. A home inventory, even a simple video walk-through on your phone, makes a claim far easier after a fire or burglary. 

• Liability. Retirees with savings and home equity can be targets in a lawsuit. An umbrella policy adding $1 million of liability coverage often costs a few hundred dollars a year. 

• Time away from home. If you travel for long stretches or spend winters elsewhere, check the policy’s rules on vacancy. Some limit coverage if the home is empty for more than 30 or 60 days. 

What this means for retirement planning 

If you are in your 40s or 50s and thinking about where to retire, home insurance should be on your list alongside property tax and cost of living. The gap between a low-cost and a high-cost state can exceed $5,000 a year, which is more than many retirees spend on groceries. 

Before buying a retirement home, ask an agent for quotes on the actual house, including wind, hail or flood coverage if relevant. And keep insurance on your list of yearly reviews once you retire, since premiums can change quickly. 

Frequently asked questions 

How much is homeowners insurance per month? About $212 a month on average for $300,000 of dwelling coverage in 2026, based on Insurance.com and Quadrant data. That ranges from about $55 a month in Hawaii to about $595 in Florida. 

What is the most expensive state for homeowners insurance? Florida, at about $7,136 a year on this measure, followed by Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado. 

What is the cheapest state for homeowners insurance? Hawaii, although its standard policies usually exclude hurricane coverage. Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Delaware are next. 

Why did my home insurance go up so much? Common reasons include rising rebuilding costs, more severe weather losses in your area, higher reinsurance costs for insurers, and changes to your home or claims history. 

Sources 

• Insurance.com and Quadrant Information Services, 2026 homeowners insurance rates by state (March 2026 data), as compiled by PNW Residences 

• National Association of Insurance Commissioners, homeowners insurance market report (August 2026), as reported by CNBC 

• Insurify, home insurance rates in the first half of 2026 

• California FAIR Plan, 2026 rate filing (via Insurify) 

Averages are for comparison only. Get personalized quotes for your home. This article is general information, not insurance advice.