7 Best Homeowners Insurance Companies of September 2024 - NerdWallet (2024)

The best homeowners insurance companies of September 2024

Below are the companies that earned a perfect 5-star rating under NerdWallet’s scoring system. Learn more about our top home insurance companies by reading the brief summaries below and checking out our comprehensive reviews.

Amica: Best homeowners insurance for customer satisfaction

Why it's the best: Amica home insurance shines when it comes to customer service. The company draws far fewer complaints than expected for an insurer of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. And it’s perennially near the top of J.D. Power’s annual customer satisfaction studies.

It’s no slouch when it comes to coverage, either. You can upgrade to Amica's Platinum Choice package for perks like extended dwelling coverage, higher liability limits and coverage for damage due to backed-up drains or overflowing sump pumps.

Another way Amica makes policyholders’ lives easier: Its Contractor Connection program can pair you with licensed and insured contractors after a claim.

Auto-Owners: Best homeowners insurance for using an agent

Why it's the best: With Auto-Owners, you’ll need to contact an agent in order to get a quote, buy a policy or file a claim. That’s a plus for homeowners with special coverage needs or those who appreciate having a personal relationship with an agent.

Auto-Owners home insurance stands out for its robust slate of coverage options. You can add extended replacement cost coverage for your home’s structure and buy inland flood coverage, which is ideal for homeowners in low-risk areas who don’t want to buy a separate federal flood insurance policy.

Auto-Owners draws far fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size, according to the NAIC. Plus, it ranked above average for customer satisfaction in the 2023 home insurance study from J.D. Power.

Chubb: Best homeowners insurance for high-value homes

Why it's the best: Chubb targets owners of expensive homes, tailoring much of its experience toward well-to-do clients. For example, you can choose a personal liability limit up to $100 million — significantly higher than the maximum many other insurers offer. Chubb also includes perks like the HomeScan service, which helps uncover issues with your home that require attention before they can cause damage.

Chubb policies come with extended replacement cost coverage for your dwelling and replacement value for your belongings — two other unusual benefits for consumers. This means that if your home costs more than expected to rebuild after a covered disaster, Chubb will pay more than your selected dwelling limit to help cover the cost. It also means that you’ll receive enough of a payout to buy brand-new replacements for your damaged belongings, rather than getting only their depreciated value.

Country Financial: Best homeowners insurance for discounts

Why it's the best: Country Financial offers a wide range of discounts to policyholders, including ones for bundling multiple policies from the insurer, having a newer home and paying your premiums on time for at least three years.

Depending on which type of policy you choose, Country Financial may cover household mishaps, such as countertop burns or spilled paint. You may also have the option to buy guaranteed replacement cost coverage. This coverage can pay the cost of standard new construction materials and labor if you need to rebuild your home, with no limits.

Country Financial sees far fewer complaints to regulators than expected for a company of its size, according to the NAIC.

Erie: Best homeowners insurance for coverage

Why it's the best: We like Erie because in many of the locations it covers, the company includes guaranteed replacement cost coverage in its standard policies. This means Erie will pay as much as necessary to rebuild your home if it’s destroyed, even if the amount is higher than your dwelling coverage limit.

Erie also offers replacement cost coverage on your personal belongings, which ensures you’ll get more for stolen or destroyed items than you would if you had actual cash value coverage.

Erie doesn’t offer as many online bells and whistles as some other insurers do. You’ll have to call an agent to get a quote, for instance, and you can’t file claims online. But if you prefer having a personal relationship with a local agent, the company might be a good fit.

NJM: Best regional home insurance company

Why it's the best: NJM’s homeowners policies are available in only five states, but they’re a great option if you live in one of them. That’s because NJM includes several types of coverage that often cost extra from other insurers.

For example, the company’s guaranteed replacement cost coverage will pay to rebuild your home if it’s destroyed, even if the damage exceeds your dwelling limit. NJM also includes water backup coverage with its policies, which can pay for damage from backed-up sewers or drains.

Those with NJM insurance tend to be satisfied. Complaints to state regulators about NJM’s homeowners insurance are far fewer than expected for a company of its size, according to the NAIC.

USAA: Best homeowners insurance for military members and veterans

Why it's the best: USAA is open only to active military members, veterans and their families, and it tailors its policies to meet the needs of those consumers. For instance, it covers military uniforms without a deductible for those on active duty or deployed.

USAA also stands out by providing identity theft coverage in most states to help with expenses if you're the victim of identity fraud. It also covers your personal belongings on a replacement cost basis, paying the cost to replace items rather than providing only the depreciated value. Both of these offerings tend to cost extra from other insurers.

USAA has far fewer complaints to state regulators for home insurance than expected for a company of its size, according to the NAIC.

Other top home insurance companies to consider

These home insurance companies also get high marks from us. Each of the companies below earned 4.5 stars under our scoring system.

How to find the best home insurance in five common scenarios

You’re a first-time home buyer

We get it. The homebuying process can be a whirlwind and getting a homeowners policy may feel like one more item to check off a seemingly endless to-do list. But it’s still worth understanding the basics to make sure you’re financially protected.

For a quick primer, check out the essential terms to understand in your homeowners policy. Then, consider setting a calendar reminder to call your insurer six months after closing. By that point, you’ll be settled in and have a bit more time to double-check that you’ve got all the coverage you need.

You live in a high-risk area

Is your region prone to hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes or other disasters? If so, you might want to spend a little extra time researching your coverage options.

For example, most homeowners policies don't cover damage from floods and earthquakes, so you may need to purchase additional insurance. If you live along the coast, you may have a separate windstorm or hurricane deductible that’s higher than your standard deductible for other disasters. A local agent can help you assess your risks and make sure you’re fully covered.

You have a dog

If your furry pal bites a visitor or attacks someone at the dog park, the liability section of your home insurance policy may be able to help with resulting legal or medical expenses. But don’t just assume you’re covered.

Some insurance companies exclude certain breeds such as pit bulls or Rottweilers, while others won’t cover animal liability claims unless you add extra coverage to your policy. Check with your insurance company or agent to make sure your canine companion is properly covered.

You own valuable items

If you have expensive belongings, such as an antique diamond ring or a high-end guitar, check whether your homeowners policy offers enough coverage for them. Many valuable items are insured for theft only up to certain sublimits, such as $1,500.

If that’s not enough, you can typically buy extra coverage for individual items or collections. You may need to have a professional appraisal of each item.

You own an older home

Say the wiring in your century-old Victorian isn’t up to modern safety standards, or the house has unique architectural features that would be expensive to rebuild. These and other factors could make it tough to find affordable insurance for an older home. You might even need to make upgrades before you’re approved for coverage.

An experienced agent can help you weigh your options. For instance, you may want to add ordinance or law coverage to your policy to pay expenses associated with bringing your house up to current building codes during repairs.

How to compare home insurance companies

1. Decide how much coverage you need. Finding the best homeowners insurance company for you starts with making sure you’re shopping for the right coverage. A standard policy covers your house and other structures, but the amount of coverage you need depends on how much it would cost to rebuild your home.

You’ll also have several options to consider, including the amount of your homeowners insurance deductible (the amount you pay out of pocket in the event of a claim) and whether you need extra insurance for valuable items. You might also want policy upgrades to cover earthquake damage or to ensure you can replace old belongings with new ones after a loss, rather than being paid for their depreciated value. Check out How Much Home Insurance Do You Need? to learn more.

By figuring out what you need before you compare home insurance companies, you can be sure each policy you’re considering provides the same level of coverage. You can also eliminate companies that don’t offer the options you want.

2. Compare home insurance quotes. After you outline your coverage needs, you can start shopping for homeowners insurance. You’ll want to compare home insurance quotes from at least three companies to be sure you’re getting the cheapest policy you can.

Homeowners insurance costs an average of about $149 a month, according to a NerdWallet analysis. But rates can vary dramatically because no two houses are the same and each insurer uses its own formula to calculate premiums and discounts.

You can shop for quotes online or by phone, or you can work with an insurance agent or broker. Whichever route you choose, make sure to compare policies with similar coverage and deductibles.

Also, be aware that a homeowners insurance quote is only an estimate. Your price may change if an insurance company inspects your house and determines you need a different amount of coverage.

3. Research home insurance discounts. Most companies offer savings for things like:

Beyond those, you may see differences in both the number and type of home insurance discounts available. An agent can help you get all the savings you’re eligible for.

4. Check customer satisfaction and complaints. If you choose a home insurance company that’s known for making its customers happy, you can feel more confident that you'll have a good experience.

To see whether previous customers have been satisfied, you can look at studies on homeowners insurance and property claims satisfaction from J.D. Power, which surveys thousands of homeowners annually.

The NAIC website is another source of information about how insurance companies have performed. You can find out how many complaints were filed against an insurer with state regulators, the reasons for the complaints, and whether there were more complaints than expected for a company of its size.

5. Consider financial strength. You’ll want to buy homeowners insurance from a stable company with enough money to pay claims. Financial strength is one way to evaluate whether an insurer meets that standard. You can check financial strength through a rating firm such as AM Best.

NerdWallet typically recommends considering insurers with ratings of A- or higher. Any company with an AM Best rating of B+ or higher has a “good” ability to meet its obligations in AM Best’s opinion. Companies with ratings below that may not be quite as safe a bet and often have higher rates of complaints relative to their size.

Why is homeowners insurance so expensive?

If the cost of your homeowners insurance seems a lot higher than it used to, it’s not your imagination. Premiums have been on the rise for the past several years, thanks to a combination of inflation and natural disasters.

Because labor and building materials have gotten more expensive, it now costs more to rebuild or repair homes. And catastrophes like hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms have cost insurance companies billions of dollars in claim payouts. Insurers have passed their increasing costs along to their policyholders.

The map below shows the average cost of homeowners insurance in each state for homeowners with good credit, $300,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible. The darker the shade of green, the higher the cost of home insurance in that state.

For more details and the best home insurance options in your area, click on your state below.

How we ranked the best home insurance companies

NerdWallet’s editorial team considered coverage options, discounts, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, financial strength grades and more to determine the best home insurance companies.

In our research, we analyzed:

Our rating system rewards companies with many coverage options and discounts, a low number of consumer complaints and a strong financial rating. Within the consumer experience category, we looked at features such as online quotes and claim reporting. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.

Here are the categories and weights we used to come up with our list of best home insurance companies:

These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you.

Frequently asked questions