The Best Homeowners Insurance of September 2024 (2024)

Get rates from top providers in minutes

State Farm

Our overall top pick

MONTHLY COST$183.31

Our top pick for homeowners insurance, State Farm, is an especially suitable option for new homeowners due to its user-friendly website and straightforward quote process. It generally takes between 15 and 20 minutes to get a quote, and while you wait, you can read online explainers about coverage types.

In addition to an easy application process, State Farm offers many coverage options and discounts to help you lower your premiums and select a policy that fits your needs.

Third-Party Consumer Trust Ratings

State Farm is the largest writer of home insurance in the U.S. by direct written premiums, according to Triple-I, with $22.1 billion in 2021.

State Farm has 24/7 customer service for claims filing, making it easy for policyholders to initiate a claim. After a covered loss, you can initiate the claims process by calling your agent, calling State Farm’s dedicated claims number or filing online. State Farm consistently ranks average or above average in J.D. Power’s US Property Claims Satisfaction Study.

What Policyholders Say

We surveyed thousands of homeowners regarding their experiences shopping for home insurance and filing claims to pinpoint provider strengths and weaknesses. Our most recent survey on home insurance claims, consisting of 1,000 participants, found that 319 had a policy with State Farm — making it the most popular provider in this review.

Like Allstate, water damage was the most common claim filed by State Farm policyholders, with almost 34% of claims valued between $1,000 and $5,000. Notably, nearly 98% of these claims were approved, with most denials primarily resulting from items not covered by the policy.

We asked State Farm policyholders why they were most satisfied and found the top responses were affordable cost, useful coverage and customer service. Half of the policyholders who stated they were dissatisfied with State Farm felt their policies were too expensive and their coverage was unsatisfactory. A State Farm representative provided us with the following comment regarding our survey results:

“State Farm values the relationships we have with our customers. If a customer has any questions, we encourage them to reach out through their agent, online at StateFarm.com, or by calling 1-800-STATE-FARM.”

Nationwide

Best for natural disaster damage

MONTHLY COST$222.76

Nationwide’s standard homeowners plan includes many coverages that insurers typically offer as add-ons, which makes it ideal for those looking for a comprehensive policy. We especially like how it provides flood and earthquake protection as optional coverages, leading us to name it the insurer best for natural disaster damage.

Nationwide also offers credit card protection that protects you from unauthorized debit or credit card transactions. For all of their benefits, Nationwide’s policies are relatively more expensive than those of its competitors.

Third-Party Consumer Trust Ratings

Strong third-party ratings are indicative of Nationwide’s financial strength and customer satisfaction. The provider has an A rating with AM Best and has ranked above average in the 10 most recent J.D. Power US Claims Satisfaction Study reports.

What Policyholders Say

We surveyed several thousand homeowners with home insurance policies to gain insights into their experiences while shopping for a plan and filing a claim. In our most recent survey, 77 out of 1,000 participants had an insurance policy with Nationwide.

Water damage was the most common claim filed by Nationwide policyholders, with over 31% of these claims valued between $5,000 and $10,000. Our respondents reported 96% of their claims as approved, with the most common reason for denial being that the respondent did not meet the filing deadline.

Most Nationwide policyholders reported being satisfied with the company’s affordable cost, customer service, and easy-to-use mobile or web app. Most cases of dissatisfaction were related to expensive premiums, a lack of endorsem*nts or add-ons, and poor customer service. We reached out to Nationwide for comment but did not receive a response. However, over half of the 77 participants stated they were very likely to recommend Nationwide to a friend or family member. One survey participant said this about their experience filling a claim with Nationwide:

“When I had Nationwide homeowners insurance, I filed a claim because a windstorm blew down my backyard fence. I had to get and send quotes for a fence repair to Nationwide to get the claim approved, which was frustrating. However, the agent was extremely responsive and sent a check right away. It took around one to two weeks for my claim to be approved, and I emailed my insurance agent to start the process.”

USAA

Best for military members and veterans

MONTHLY COST$169.05

USAA provides many military-specific coverages and discounts, making it ideal for active-duty military members, veterans and their families. With this insurer, you do not have to pay a deductible in case of a covered loss to your military equipment or uniform. It also offers replacement cost coverage as part of its standard policy.

You can save on your USAA policy by taking advantage of discounts for multi-policy bundling, customer loyalty, and protective and connected home devices.

Third-Party Consumer Trust Ratings

USAA has an A++ financial strength rating with AM Best, removing any doubt around its claims-paying ability. It also consistently scores higher than the national average and other providers on this list in the J.D. Power US Property Claims Satisfaction Study.

However, although J.D. Power publishes scores for USAA, it notes that USAA is not rank-eligible because of its coverage eligibility restrictions.

What Policyholders Say

Since every provider has strengths and weaknesses, we surveyed thousands of homeowners on their experiences shopping for a plan and filing a claim with top insurers. In our most recent June 2024 survey, we found that 89 out of 1,000 respondents had a USAA home insurance policy.

Water damage was the most common claim filed through USAA, with over 31% of these claims valued between $5,000 and $10,000. Over 97% of claims filed by survey participants through USAA were approved, with all denials resulting from damage considered normal wear and tear or negligence.

Most USAA policyholders satisfied with the company noted its customer service and affordability as the top reasons why. The two survey participants who were dissatisfied noted unsatisfactory coverage and an unsatisfactory claims experience. Our team reached out to USAA for comment on its claim process but did not receive a response.

Allstate

Best for discounts

MONTHLY COST$168.95

Allstate sells many extended coverage options to help customers create policies that fit their needs. The company lets policyholders upgrade their policies with up to nine riders, which helps it stand out among its competitors. Aside from its extensive add-ons list, the insurer offers many discounts to help lower your premiums.

Its additional coverage options include identity theft protection, electronic data recovery, green improvement reimbursem*nt, sports equipment, musical instruments and scheduled personal property coverage.

Third-Party Consumer Trust Ratings

Allstate is the second-largest home insurer in the U.S. according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and has served homeowners across the country since 1931.It’s an established provider in the insurance industry with an A+ (Superior) rating by AM Best, which is AM Best’s second-highest rating for financial stability.

We also tracked Allstate’s rating in the J.D. Power US Claims Satisfaction Study from 2013 to 2024. The provider ranks close to average in every year we analyzed.

What Policyholders Say

We surveyed thousands of home insurance policyholders on their experiences shopping for a plan and filing a claim to better understand the strengths and pain points of various providers. Our June 2024 survey on home insurance claims, consisting of 1,000 participants nationwide, found that 215 people had a policy through Allstate.

Water damage was the most common claim filed by Allstate policyholders, with 30% of these claims valued between $5,000 and $10,000. Ninety-eight percent of these claims were approved, with most denials resulting from an item not being covered.

When asked why they were satisfied with their Allstate coverage, around 40% of participants noted affordable insurance costs and useful coverage options. Those dissatisfied were most displeased with plan costs and poor customer service. We reached out to Allstate for comment on its J.D. Power score and customer complaints but did not receive a response.

Erie

Best for customer satisfaction

MONTHLY COST$178.17

Erie gets high marks for its customer service, which is reflected in its customer satisfaction score from J.D. Power. Its standard homeowner policy also offers higher levels of coverage than other insurers. For example, Erie pays up to $500 for a covered loss to birds, fish and many other pets.

In addition, Erie covers your personal property with replacement cost coverage, which means you won’t have to worry about the depreciation in the item’s actual cash value over time. However, Erie’s policies are not available in every state.

Third-Party Consumer Trust Ratings

Since its inception in 1925, Erie has grown into a Fortune 500 company with more than 6,000 employees and 6 million policies in force. The provider has solid financials, earning an A+ financial strength rating with A.M. Best.

Erie’s founders set out to create an insurance company that “emphasized customer service above all else.” That vision is evident in Erie’s high third-party ratings for customer service and claims satisfaction. It draws fewer than expected complaints filed with state insurance departments and consistently scores above average in J.D. Power’s claims satisfaction study.

File a claim by contacting your local Erie agent or calling a dedicated 24/7 claims line.

What Policyholders Say

To understand home insurance provider strengths and weaknesses, we surveyed thousands of insured homeowners on their experiences shopping and filing claims. Our most recent survey on home insurance claims, consisting of 1,000 participants, found that only six respondents had purchased a policy with Erie.

Water damage was the most common claim filed by Erie policyholders, with almost 67% of these claims valued between $1,000 and $5,000. A full 100% of these claims were approved, but your experience may vary based on the exact circ*mstances.

When asked why they are satisfied with Erie’s homeowners insurance coverage, over half of the participants noted affordable costs and satisfactory customer service. Those dissatisfied were unhappy with their claims experience and a difficult-to-use mobile or web app.

We reached out to Erie for comment on the above-mentioned issues regarding the claims experience and received the following response:

“Since 1925, Erie Insurance has been fulfilling its promise of providing auto, home, business and life insurance rooted in the principles of honesty, decency, service and affordability,” said Matthew Cummings, an Erie spokesperson. “Erie Insurance is consistently ranked highest in J.D. Power customer satisfaction surveys and maintains one of the strongest customer retention rates in the insurance industry — from year to year, more than 91% of our policyholders stay with Erie due to our promise of being above all in service.”

Liberty Mutual

Best for finished basem*nts

We named Liberty Mutual best for finished basem*nts thanks to its discount for newly renovated homes. Ideal for homeowners looking for extra savings opportunities and discounts when signing up for a policy, we found that Liberty Mutual consistently offers impressive discounts, such as an online purchase discount and a discount for insuring the home to its replacement cost value.

Liberty Mutual’s home insurance covers your belongings at replacement cost, meaning it will pay the cost for a new item rather than the value of your used item minus depreciation. It covers your home for damage caused by perils like wind, hail, fire and hurricanes. Protection for damage caused by water backup and overflow is optional.

Third-Party Consumer Trust Ratings

Liberty Mutual is a top-rated homeowners insurance company with more than 110 years in business nationwide and an A (Excellent) financial strength rating by AM Best. This isn’t as high as some other providers on this list but is still a positive reflection of the provider’s claims-paying ability. The provider also scored well for receiving fewer than expected complaints, according to the NAIC.

Because we can’t gain first-hand experience with provider claims processes, we rely on customer reviews and the J.D. Power US Property Claims Satisfaction Study to assess the overall consumer sentiment regarding claims. Liberty Mutual scored above average in J.D. Power’s claims study for six of the 10 years we analyzed.

What Policyholders Say

We surveyed thousands of homeowners nationwide to learn more about their experiences shopping for home insurance and filing a claim. Our most recent survey, which focused on claims and consisted of 1,000 participants, found that 55 had a home insurance policy through Liberty Mutual.

Water damage was the most common claim filed by Liberty Mutual policyholders, with 33% of these claims valued between $1,000 and $5,000. Over 96% of claims filed by survey participants were approved, with the majority of denials due to damage considered normal wear and tear or negligence and failure to pay premiums.

We asked Liberty Mutual policyholders why they were satisfied with the company. The top responses were useful coverage, affordable costs and the quality of customer service. Those dissatisfied with the home insurance provider noted the claims experience as the top reason. We reached out to Liberty Mutual to learn more about its claims process but did not receive a response.

One of our survey respondents described the process of filing a claim with Liberty Mutual in more detail:

“A storm with heavy gusts caused a tree to fall through our roof. We received a new roof, deck rails, back gutters and grill. I called Liberty Mutual and started the claim process in the app, and my claim was approved in less than a week.

The most convenient part of the claims process was how hands-off things were on my end. Updates and action items were completed through the app and our claims adjuster worked directly with the various companies (roofing, restoration, etc.) so I was only responsible for finding a tree removal service and providing the invoice for reimbursem*nt.

Having no prior experience with filing claims, I was incredibly surprised at how easy the process was. I can't speak for other providers regarding claims, but the process with Liberty Mutual was unexpectedly painless and intuitive, thanks to a quality app.”

Farmers

Best for eco-friendly homeowners

MONTHLY COST$236.31

We named Farmers as the best for eco-friendly homeowners thanks to its discount for homes with green certifications. This provider’s homeowners insurance policies are all about customization. You can choose from standard, enhanced or premiere packages, which differ by coverage limits, features and cost.

Farmers’ standard homeowners policy includes personal property, temporary living expenses, medical payments and dwelling coverages. Some of its available endorsem*nts include identity theft, replacement cost, building ordinance or law and scheduled personal articles coverages.

Third-Party Consumer Trust Ratings

Farmers have been in the business since 1928. It earned an A rating with independent credit rating agency AM Best, which shows the insurer can meet its financial obligations, including paying customer claims.

Farmers lets policyholders file claims through its claims team, website or mobile app. Based on the chart below, it has historically had high customer satisfaction for property claims.

What Policyholders Say

We surveyed several thousand homeowners to gain insights into their experiences while shopping for a home insurance plan and filing a claim. In our 2024 survey on home insurance claims, 45 out of 1,000 participants had an insurance policy with Farmers.

Water damage was the most common claim made by Farmers policyholders, with almost half of claims valued between $1,000 and $5,000. Our survey found that over 91% of these claims were approved, with most denials attributed to damage considered normal wear or tear or negligence. Over half of these claims took one to two weeks for approval.

When asked why they were satisfied with their policy from Farmers, most survey participants noted affordable costs, useful coverage options and the provider’s customer service. However, 40% of respondents were dissatisfied and felt their coverage was too expensive. We reached out to Farmers for comment but did not receive a response.

Page 1 of