The Best Home Insurance in Maryland for 2023

We looked at the cheapest rates and top companies for Maryland homeowners insurance.
Kayda Norman
Sarah Schlichter
By Sarah Schlichter and  Kayda Norman 
Published
Edited by Caitlin Constantine

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The average cost of homeowners insurance in Maryland is $1,300 per year, or about $109 per month, according to a NerdWallet analysis. That’s less than the national average of $1,820 per year.

We’ve analyzed rates and companies across the state to find the best homeowners insurance in Maryland. Our sample rates are for a homeowner with good credit and $300,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible. Your rates will be different.

Note: Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.

Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate inaccuracies in pricing data and may update rates for accuracy as new information becomes available.

We include rates from every locale in the country where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.

Our sample homeowner had good credit, $300,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible.

The best homeowners insurance in Maryland

If you’re looking to buy homeowners insurance from a well-rated national brand, consider one of these insurers from NerdWallet’s list of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies.

Company

NerdWallet star rating

Average annual rate

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$935

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,040

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,145

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,720

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,420

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,545

*USAA homeowners policies are available only to active military, veterans and their families.

More about the best home insurance companies in Maryland

See more details about each company to help you decide which one is best for you.

insurance-product-card-logo

State Farm

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Well-established insurer with a lengthy list of coverage options.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected
insurance-product-card-logo

State Farm

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Well-established insurer with a lengthy list of coverage options.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

State Farm is a great choice for homeowners who like to work directly with a company representative, as the company sells policies through a wide network of agents. And its attention to customer service has paid off; the company has fewer customer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.

State Farm offers a free Ting device as a perk for home insurance policyholders. Ting is a smart plug that monitors your home’s electrical network to help prevent fires.


insurance-product-card-logo

Farmers

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Those seeking benefits like diminishing deductibles and claims forgiveness may want to consider Farmers.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected
insurance-product-card-logo

Farmers

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Those seeking benefits like diminishing deductibles and claims forgiveness may want to consider Farmers.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Homeowners policies from Farmers may include two valuable types of insurance: extended dwelling and replacement cost coverage. Extended dwelling coverage gives you extra insurance for the structure of your house, while replacement cost coverage offers higher reimbursement for stolen or destroyed belongings.

Some Farmers policies also come with perks that can save you money. For example, with claim forgiveness, Farmers won’t raise your rate for a claim as long as you haven’t filed one within the past five years.


insurance-product-card-logo

Erie

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Best for homeowners who want to work with an agent.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected
insurance-product-card-logo

Erie

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Best for homeowners who want to work with an agent.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Based in Pennsylvania, Erie is a regional insurer that offers guaranteed replacement cost for the structure of your home. With this coverage, the company will pay to rebuild your home completely after a disaster, even if the amount exceeds your dwelling limit. Not all insurers offer this option, but it’s worth considering as a hedge against rising construction costs.

Got a car to insure, too? If you bundle your home and auto insurance with Erie, you could get a discount of around 20%. You may also be able to save if your home has certain safety and security features such as smoke alarms or sprinkler systems.

For more details, read our Erie home insurance review.


insurance-product-card-logo

Chubb

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Perks and high coverage limits for affluent homeowners.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected
insurance-product-card-logo

Chubb

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Perks and high coverage limits for affluent homeowners.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Chubb caters to high-value homes and draws far fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Its home insurance policies come with some great perks, including extended replacement cost in case it costs more than your dwelling limit to rebuild your home after a disaster.

If you insure a secondary or seasonal home in Maryland with Chubb, you can sign up for the company’s Property Manager service at no charge. With this service, a Chubb representative will inspect your home after a hurricane, report its condition to you, submit a claim on your behalf and help prevent further damage.


insurance-product-card-logo

Nationwide

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
For shoppers seeking a broad range of coverage options, Nationwide may fit the bill.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Close to expected
insurance-product-card-logo

Nationwide

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
For shoppers seeking a broad range of coverage options, Nationwide may fit the bill.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Close to expected

We like Nationwide for its wide variety of coverage options. For example, its standard homeowners insurance policy generally includes ordinance or law coverage, which can help pay to bring your home up to current building codes after a covered claim. You can add other coverage for things like identity theft and damage from backed-up sewers and drains.

Depending on how much personal assistance you need, you can get a quote for homeowners insurance on the Nationwide website or work with a local agent instead. You can also use the website to pay bills, file claims or check claim status.


insurance-product-card-logo

USAA

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Offers perks for the military community.

Coverage options

Below average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected
insurance-product-card-logo

USAA

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Offers perks for the military community.

Coverage options

Below average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

USAA sells homeowners insurance to veterans, active military members and their families. If that description fits you, you may want to consider a USAA policy. That’s because the company’s homeowners insurance has certain features that other insurers may charge extra for.

For example, USAA automatically covers your personal belongings on a “replacement cost” basis. Many companies pay out only what your items are worth at the time of the claim, which means you may not get much for older items. USAA pays enough for you to buy brand-new replacements for your stuff.


How much does homeowners insurance cost in Maryland?

The average annual cost of home insurance in Maryland is $1,300. That’s 29% less than the national average of $1,820.

How much you pay for homeowners insurance in Maryland depends on where you live. For instance, the average cost of home insurance in Baltimore is $1,560 per year, while homeowners in Silver Spring pay $1,120 per year, on average.

Average cost of homeowners insurance in Maryland by city

City

Average annual rate

Average monthly rate

Annapolis

$1,195

$100

Baltimore

$1,560

$130

Bel Air

$1,210

$101

Bethesda

$1,090

$91

Bowie

$1,350

$113

Columbia

$1,090

$91

Dundalk

$1,340

$112

Ellicott City

$1,095

$91

Fort Washington

$1,400

$117

Frederick

$1,125

$94

Gaithersburg

$1,095

$91

Germantown

$1,095

$91

Glen Burnie

$1,170

$98

Hagerstown

$1,130

$94

Hyattsville

$1,365

$114

Laurel

$1,210

$101

Owings Mills

$1,225

$102

Parkville

$1,285

$107

Pasadena

$1,220

$102

Rockville

$1,095

$91

Salisbury

$1,485

$124

Silver Spring

$1,120

$93

Upper Marlboro

$1,375

$115

Waldorf

$1,295

$108

Westminster

$1,045

$87

The cheapest home insurance in Maryland

Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the Maryland average of $1,300.

Company

NerdWallet star rating

Average annual rate

Brethren Mutual

Not rated

$685

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$935

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,040

Donegal

Not rated

$1,145

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,145

What to know about Maryland homeowners insurance

Maryland homeowners have a few natural disasters to consider when shopping for home insurance, including hurricanes, flooding, winter weather and wildfires.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

While less common than in coastal states further south, hurricanes and tropical storms can still cause extensive damage when they strike. If you live near the Maryland coast, make sure you have enough coverage for the wind and flood damage often caused by hurricanes. Wind damage is typically included in a standard homeowners policy, but flooding isn't, which we cover in the next section. Read more about hurricane insurance.

While your policy typically covers wind damage, make sure to read it closely, as you may have a separate wind deductible. These are often a flat rate, such as $1,000, or a percentage of your dwelling coverage. For example, your policy may have a $1,000 deductible for most claims and a 1% deductible for wind claims. So if your house has $250,000 worth of dwelling coverage, you’d have to pay for the first $2,500 of wind damage yourself.

Flooding

Standard homeowners insurance policies typically don't cover flood damage. As a result, homeowners in flood-prone areas may need to purchase separate flood insurance to protect their property from water damage.

To find out if you’re at risk, check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood maps or visit RiskFactor.com, a website from the nonprofit First Street Foundation. Even if your property is deemed low risk, it may be worthwhile to purchase flood insurance for extra peace of mind.

Remember that while you can purchase flood coverage anytime, there’s typically a 30-day waiting period before the insurance takes effect. Here’s more information about flood insurance and waiting periods.

Winter weather

Maryland can see harsh winter weather, including heavy snowfall, ice storms and freezing temperatures. This can damage a home's structure, roof or plumbing systems.

A standard homeowners policy will cover most damage from winter storms. However, you should carefully review your policy, as some types of winter weather damage may require extra coverage.

If you have damage from water seepage caused by snowmelt, that may need to be covered under a separate flood policy. Damage caused by negligence, such as frozen pipes if you fail to keep your heat at an adequate temperature while you’re out of town, also may not be covered.

Wildfires

Although less prevalent in Maryland compared with some other states, wildfires can still occur, particularly in wooded or rural areas. Homeowners insurance typically covers damage from fires, but make sure to review your policy to ensure you have enough coverage in case of wildfires.

Pay particular attention to your dwelling coverage limit. This is the amount the insurance company will pay to rebuild your house. A significant fire can destroy your whole home, so talk with your insurer to make sure you have enough coverage to rebuild if necessary.

Maryland insurance department

The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) oversees the state’s insurance industry. Its website provides helpful resources about insurance rates and claims, as well as information to help you file a complaint against your insurance company. You can access the complaint form on the MIA website, and if you have questions about insurance complaints, you can call the MIA for help at 800-492-6116.

Looking for more insurance in Maryland?

Amanda Shapland contributed to this story.

Frequently asked questions

Homeowners insurance is not legally required in Maryland, but your mortgage lender may require you to buy it. For more information, read Is Homeowners Insurance Required?

Standard homeowners insurance policies in Maryland do not cover flooding. If you live in a high-risk area or are concerned about the possibility of flooding, you will need to purchase separate flood insurance.

There are several ways to save money on homeowners insurance in Maryland:

  • Shop around to make sure you’re getting the best rate.

  • Choose a higher deductible. You’ll pay more out of pocket if you file a claim, but your premiums will be lower.

  • Bundle your home and auto insurance for a lower overall rate. See the best home and auto insurance bundles.

  • Ask your insurer if you qualify for any home insurance discounts.

Methodology

NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-old homeowners from a variety of insurance companies in every ZIP code across the state. All rates are rounded to the nearest $5.

Sample homeowners were nonsmokers with good credit living in a single-family, two-story home built in 1984. They had a $1,000 deductible and the following coverage limits:

  • $300,000 in dwelling coverage.

  • $30,000 in other structures coverage.

  • $150,000 in personal property coverage.

  • $60,000 in loss of use coverage.

  • $300,000 in liability coverage.

  • $1,000 in medical payments coverage.

We made minor changes to the sample policy in cases where rates for the above coverage limits or deductibles weren’t available.

These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.

Star rating methodology

NerdWallet’s homeowners insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverages, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full homeowners insurance rating methodology.

Complaint methodology

NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2019-2021. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.

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