How much does homeowners insurance cost on average?

The national average for homeowners insurance in 2026 is approximately $2,600 per year. However, costs vary dramatically by state — from around $605/yr in Hawaii to over $7,900/yr in Florida. Location, home value, construction type, and natural disaster risk all affect your premium.

Is renters insurance worth it?

Yes, for most people. At an average of $290/year ($24/month), renters insurance covers your personal property (typically $20,000-$50,000), provides $100,000-$300,000 in liability coverage, and pays for temporary housing if your rental becomes uninhabitable. The liability protection alone makes it worthwhile.

How is landlord insurance different from homeowners insurance?

Landlord insurance covers rental properties and typically costs 25% more than homeowners insurance. It includes lost rental income coverage if the property becomes uninhabitable, enhanced liability for tenant injuries, and coverage for tenant-caused damage. Standard homeowners policies don't cover rental properties.

Why does car insurance cost so much more in some states?

Auto insurance varies due to state regulations (no-fault vs. tort), uninsured motorist rates, population density, traffic patterns, crime rates, and weather conditions. No-fault states like Michigan and New York tend to have higher premiums. States with high uninsured rates also see higher costs for covered drivers.

What factors most affect insurance costs?

The biggest factors are: natural disaster risk (hurricane, tornado, wildfire, earthquake), state regulatory environment, litigation costs, local construction costs, crime rates, population density, and age of housing stock. Some factors like credit score and claims history also significantly impact individual premiums.

Where does InsuranceCostCity get its data?

Our data draws from publicly available sources including NAIC rate filings, state insurance department annual reports, FBI Uniform Crime Report data, FEMA disaster declarations, Census Bureau demographics, and industry reports. We combine these with cost-of-living adjustments and local risk factors to estimate city-level insurance costs.

Home → Blog → Homeowners Insurance for Older Homes: Costs, Challenges & Solutions

Guides9 min readUpdated 2026-04-04

Homeowners Insurance for Older Homes: Costs, Challenges & Solutions

Why Older Homes Cost More

Pre-1970 homes face 20-40% higher premiums: knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized plumbing, harder-to-replace materials, higher replacement cost, accumulated maintenance.

Solutions: Update electrical/plumbing/roof ($15K-$40K, earns 10-20% credit). Consider HO-8 policy (functional replacement). Document all upgrades. Shop specialist carriers (Foremost, Openly, Swyfft). Get 4-point inspection ($150-$300).

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