The Best Home Insurance in Rhode Island for 2024
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The average cost of homeowners insurance in Rhode Island is $2,070 per year, or about $173 per month, according to a NerdWallet analysis. For comparison, the national average is $1,915 per year.
NerdWallet analyzed data from numerous insurance companies to help you find the best home insurance in Rhode Island in the following categories:
Best for affordability: Amica.
Best for coverage: The Andover Companies.
Best for consumer experience: Nationwide.
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.
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Best affordable homeowners insurance in Rhode Island: Amica
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
Amica
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
In Rhode Island, the average annual premium for Amica is $1,135, which is well below the state average of $2,070.
Amica stands out for its customer service and broad range of coverage options. The company has drawn far fewer consumer complaints to state regulators than expected for an insurer of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or NAIC.
You can customize your policy with extra coverage above your dwelling limit, in case your house costs more to rebuild than expected. You may also want to add coverage for damage from water backups or recovery from identity theft.
Get more information in our Amica homeowners insurance review.
Best homeowners insurance in Rhode Island for coverage: The Andover Companies
Andover Companies
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
Andover Companies
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
The Andover Companies’ home insurance policies generally come with broader coverage for your belongings and more coverage for the structure of your home than a standard homeowners policy provides. (Note that most but not all homes qualify for this coverage.)
Most Andover policies also include a generous amount of ordinance or law coverage, which pays to upgrade your home to current building codes during repairs after a covered claim.
Get more information in our Andover homeowners insurance review.
Best homeowners insurance in Rhode Island for consumer experience: Nationwide
Nationwide
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
Nationwide
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
Nationwide offers a robust digital experience, 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.
Learn more with our Nationwide homeowners insurance review.
Full list of the best homeowners insurance in Rhode Island
NerdWallet analyzed home insurance companies across the state to find the best home insurance in Rhode Island. Here are all of the insurers that received a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 or higher:
Company | NerdWallet star rating | Average annual rate |
|---|---|---|
$1,135 | ||
$2,550 | ||
Not available | ||
Not available | ||
$2,325 | ||
Not available | ||
USAA* | Not available | |
*USAA homeowners policies are available only to active military, veterans and their families. | ||
How much does homeowners insurance cost in Rhode Island?
The average annual cost of home insurance in Rhode Island is $2,070. That’s 8% more than the national average of $1,915.
In most states, including Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island, those with poor credit pay an average of $3,495 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s 69% more than those with good credit.
Average cost of homeowners insurance in Rhode Island by city
How much you pay for homeowners insurance in Rhode Island depends on where you live. For instance, the average cost of home insurance in Providence is $2,330 per year, while homeowners in Newport pay $2,095 per year, on average.
City | Average annual rate | Average monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
Barrington | $1,545 | $129 |
Bristol | $2,120 | $177 |
Central Falls | $1,850 | $154 |
Coventry | $2,160 | $180 |
Cranston | $1,800 | $150 |
Cumberland | $1,745 | $145 |
East Greenwich | $2,285 | $190 |
East Providence | $1,840 | $153 |
Johnston | $2,275 | $190 |
Lincoln | $2,160 | $180 |
Middletown | $2,095 | $175 |
Newport | $2,095 | $175 |
North Kingstown | $2,235 | $186 |
North Providence | $1,810 | $151 |
Pawtucket | $1,770 | $148 |
Portsmouth | $1,925 | $160 |
Providence | $2,330 | $194 |
Riverside | $1,895 | $158 |
Smithfield | $2,010 | $168 |
Tiverton | $2,095 | $175 |
Wakefield | $2,285 | $190 |
Warwick | $2,340 | $195 |
West Warwick | $2,085 | $174 |
Westerly | $2,285 | $190 |
Woonsocket | $1,765 | $147 |
The cheapest home insurance in Rhode Island
Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the Rhode Island average of $2,070.
Company | NerdWallet star rating | Average annual rate |
|---|---|---|
NLC Insurance | Not rated | $1,125 |
$1,135 | ||
Narragansett Bay | 4.0 NerdWallet rating | $1,505 |
What to know about Rhode Island homeowners insurance
You may face certain risks when living in Rhode Island. Here are a few of the most common, along with steps you can take to insure your home properly against them
Flooding
Standard homeowners insurance policies typically do not cover flood damage. As a result, homeowners in flood-prone areas may need to buy separate flood insurance to pay for potential water damage.
To find out whether 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 buy flood insurance for extra peace of mind.
Remember that while you can buy flood coverage at any time, there’s typically a 30-day waiting period before the insurance takes effect. Here’s more information about flood insurance and waiting periods.
Winter storms and nor’easters
Homeowners insurance typically covers most winter storm-related damage, but it's essential to review your policy and understand any specific limitations or exclusions. For example, flooding due to snowmelt may only be covered by a separate flood insurance policy.
Coastal storms and hurricanes
In general, there are two primary risks associated with coastal storms and hurricanes: wind damage and flood damage. Flood damage, as discussed above, is not included in standard homeowners insurance policies. Those living in coastal areas of Rhode Island will want to look into buying separate flood insurance.
You may have a separate hurricane deductible that kicks in when a hurricane warning is issued and remains in effect for 24 hours. In Rhode Island, your hurricane deductible can be a flat rate or a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit (or a combination of the two). Either way, it can’t exceed 5% of your home’s insured value. So if your home has $300,000 worth of dwelling coverage, you could have a hurricane deductible up to $15,000.
Rhode Island insurance department
The Insurance Division of the state's Department of Business Regulation oversees the insurance industry in Rhode Island. In addition to providing consumer resources that answer common questions about insurance, the agency's website also includes an online form that allows you to file a complaint against your insurer. Contact the division with questions by email at [email protected] or by phone at 401-462-9520.
Amanda Shapland contributed to this story.
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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