The Best Home Insurance in Ohio for 2024

Auto-Owners and Erie are among the best home insurance companies in Ohio.

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Updated · 4 min read
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Written by Sarah Schlichter
Lead Writer
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Assistant Assigning Editor
Fact Checked
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Co-written by Kayda Norman
Lead Writer

The average cost of homeowners insurance in Ohio is $1,390 per year. That’s compared to the national average of $1,915.

NerdWallet analyzed data from numerous insurance companies to help you find the best home insurance in Ohio in the following categories:

The rates in our analysis are estimates based on many factors, so your rate may differ.

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.

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Best affordable homeowners insurance in Ohio: Auto-Owners

insurance-product-card-logo

Auto-Owners

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Auto-Owners offers plenty of ways to customize your policy and save money on home insurance.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Auto-Owners

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Auto-Owners offers plenty of ways to customize your policy and save money on home insurance.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

In Ohio, the average annual premium for Auto-Owners is $1,185, which is less than the state average of $1,390.

Based in Michigan, Auto-Owners has been in business for more than a century. Its homeowners policies include all the basics, but you can also add coverage for things like identity theft or the failure of major appliances. Guaranteed replacement cost coverage is another optional add-on, enabling you to rebuild your home after a total loss even if your dwelling coverage limit is too low.

Auto-Owners sells homeowners insurance through independent agents.


Best homeowners insurance in Ohio for coverage: Erie and Openly

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

Far fewer than expected

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

Far fewer than expected

Pennsylvania-based Erie 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.

Got a car to insure, too? If you bundle your home and auto insurance with Erie, you could get a discount of upwards of 16%. 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

Openly

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Premium coverage for high-end homes with no dog breed restrictions.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Openly

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Premium coverage for high-end homes with no dog breed restrictions.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Openly’s default homeowners policy goes significantly beyond those of many other insurers. Most notably, it offers guaranteed replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home. That means if your house is destroyed by a covered disaster, Openly will pay whatever it takes to rebuild it the way it was before, up to $5 million.

Plus, if your things are stolen or destroyed, Openly will pay enough for you to buy brand-new replacements, rather than paying less for older items that have lost value over time. It also covers your belongings on an “open perils” basis, paying for damage from anything except scenarios your policy excludes. Most home insurance policies cover damage only from causes specifically named in your policy.

Learn more with our Openly home insurance review.


Best homeowners insurance in Ohio for consumer experience: American Family and Nationwide

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American Family

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Customizable coverage and discounts for smart-home devices.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

American Family

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Customizable coverage and discounts for smart-home devices.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Founded in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family receives fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size. You may be able to customize your policy with optional add-ons such as identity theft, equipment breakdown or service line coverage, which pays for repairs to water, power or other underground lines that run to your house.

Homeowners may be able to save on their premiums by installing smart-home devices, bundling multiple policies or setting up automatic payments.

Get more information in our American Family homeowners insurance review.

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

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Nationwide

4.5

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

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Nationwide offers a robust digital experience for its customers, including a website that makes it easy to manage policies, file and track claims, and set up automatic billing. It also has a highly rated app for Android and iOS that allows customers to file and track claims, review policy documents and set up autopay.

In addition, Nationwide’s customers have several ways to get assistance, such as reaching out to their agent or calling the company’s customer service hotline. Outside of business hours, they can use the Nationwide website to get proof of insurance, pay bills and schedule callbacks. A chatbot is also available to answer basic questions.


Full list of the best homeowners insurance in Ohio

Here are all of the insurers that received a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 or higher:

Company

NerdWallet star rating

Average annual rate

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

Not available

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

Not available

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

Not available

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,660

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,185

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,250

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,375

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,410

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

Not available

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$2,085

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

Not available

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,415

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,205

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,380

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


How much does homeowners insurance cost in Ohio?

The average annual cost of home insurance in Ohio is $1,390. That’s 27% less than the national average of $1,915.

In most U.S. states, including Ohio, many insurers use your credit-based insurance score to help set rates. Your insurance score is similar but not identical to your traditional credit score. 

In Ohio, those with poor credit pay an average of $2,775 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s nearly twice as much as those with good credit.

Average cost of homeowners insurance in Ohio by city

How much you pay for home insurance in Ohio may vary slightly depending on where you live. For example, the average cost of homeowners insurance in Cincinnati is $1,410 per year. In Cleveland, homeowners insurance costs about $1,390 per year, on average. 

City

Average annual rate

Average monthly rate

Akron

$1,350

$113

Canton

$1,280

$107

Cincinnati

$1,410

$118

Cleveland

$1,390

$116

Columbus

$1,395

$116

Dayton

$1,425

$119

Dublin

$1,225

$102

Elyria

$1,325

$110

Grove City

$1,340

$112

Hamilton

$1,465

$122

Hilliard

$1,270

$106

Lancaster

$1,320

$110

Lima

$1,415

$118

Lorain

$1,295

$108

Mansfield

$1,340

$112

Massillon

$1,180

$98

Medina

$1,300

$108

Mentor

$1,130

$94

Middletown

$1,465

$122

Newark

$1,370

$114

Springfield

$1,415

$118

Toledo

$1,415

$118

Warren

$1,285

$107

Westerville

$1,275

$106

Youngstown

$1,355

$113

The cheapest home insurance in Ohio

Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the Ohio average of $1,390.

Company

NerdWallet star rating

Average annual rate

Buckeye

Not rated

$565

Ohio Mutual

Not rated

$825

Hastings Mutual

Not rated

$1,140

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,185

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,205

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,250

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,375

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,380

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

What to know about Ohio homeowners insurance

You may face certain risks when living in Ohio. Here are a few of the most common, along with steps you can take to insure your home properly against them.

Winter weather

Standard homeowners policies cover damage from problems you might encounter in the colder months, such as burst pipes or heavy snow and wind. 

However, your policy won’t cover everything. You may find, for example, that you need separate flood insurance for flooding caused by melting snow. Or if a tree falls on your property in a storm, your insurer may pay to fix your home and remove the tree but not to replace it. Check your policy or contact your agent if you’re unsure about your coverage.

Flooding

Flood damage can be expensive and a standard homeowners policy won’t help you pay to repair it. Instead, you’ll need separate flood insurance. While your mortgage lender may require you to buy flood insurance if your home is in a high-risk area, even homes outside of traditional floodplains can experience flood damage.

To find out if you’re at risk, put your address into the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood maps or visit RiskFactor.com, a website from the nonprofit First Street Foundation. Even if you have a low risk, it may be worthwhile to purchase flood insurance to protect yourself financially.

While you can buy flood coverage anytime, there is typically a 30-day waiting period before the insurance takes effect.

Ohio insurance department

In Ohio, the Department of Insurance oversees the insurance industry. It’s where you can learn more about insurance regulations in the state or file a complaint against your insurance company. For direct assistance, you can call the agency toll-free at 800-686-1526.

Frequently asked questions

The state does not legally require homeowners insurance, but your mortgage lender may require you to buy it. For more information, read Is Homeowners Insurance Required?

Here are three ways to save money on homeowners insurance in Ohio:

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

  • Choose a higher home insurance deductible. (A deductible is the amount of a claim you’re responsible for.) In case of any claims, you’ll pay more out of pocket, but your annual rates will be lower.

  • Bundle your home and auto insurance for an overall lower rate. Learn more about home insurance discounts.

Standard homeowners insurance policies typically don’t cover flooding. That means you may want to buy separate flood insurance if you’re in a high-risk area.

Amanda Shapland contributed to this story.

Methodology

NerdWallet calculated median rates for 40-year-old homeowners from various 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.

We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor,” as reported to the insurer, to see rates for homeowners with poor credit.

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 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare with 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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