The Best Home Insurance in West Virginia for 2024

State Farm and Erie are among the best home insurance companies in West Virginia

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Updated · 5 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 West Virginia is $1,600 per year, or about $133 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia: State Farm

insurance-product-card-logo

State Farm

4.5

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

4.5

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

In West Virginia, the average annual premium for State Farm is $1,470, which is below the state average of $1,600.

State Farm is a great choice for homeowners who like to work directly with a 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.


Best homeowners insurance in West Virginia for coverage: Erie

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

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.


Best homeowners insurance in West Virginia for consumer experience: Nationwide

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

The Nationwide website offers plenty of ways to manage your policy, including filing and tracking claims, paying bills, and getting quotes. The company also has a comprehensive and highly rated mobile app.

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 West Virginia

NerdWallet analyzed home insurance companies across the state to find the best home insurance in West Virginia. 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

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

Not available

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,525

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,740

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,470

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,150

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

How much does homeowners insurance cost in West Virginia?

The average annual cost of home insurance in West Virginia is $1,600. That’s 16% less than the national average of $1,915.

In most U.S. states, including West Virginia, 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 West Virginia, those with poor credit pay an average of $3,885 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s 143% more than those with good credit.

Average cost of homeowners insurance in West Virginia by city

How much you pay for homeowners insurance in West Virginia depends on where you live. For instance, the average cost of home insurance in Charleston is $1,690 per year, while homeowners in Morgantown pay $1,565 per year, on average.

City

Average annual rate

Average monthly rate

Barboursville

$1,740

$145

Beckley

$1,735

$145

Bluefield

$2,015

$168

Bridgeport

$1,510

$126

Buckhannon

$1,550

$129

Charles Town

$1,510

$126

Charleston

$1,690

$141

Clarksburg

$1,560

$130

Elkins

$1,525

$127

Fairmont

$1,530

$128

Harpers Ferry

$1,480

$123

Hedgesville

$1,425

$119

Huntington

$1,785

$149

Hurricane

$1,695

$141

Inwood

$1,455

$121

Keyser

$1,580

$132

Martinsburg

$1,445

$120

Morgantown

$1,565

$130

Moundsville

$1,635

$136

Parkersburg

$1,715

$143

Princeton

$2,030

$169

Saint Albans

$1,635

$136

South Charleston

$1,610

$134

Weirton

$1,530

$128

Wheeling

$1,530

$128

The cheapest home insurance in West Virginia

Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the West Virginia average of $1,600.

Company

NerdWallet star rating

Average annual rate

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,470

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,525

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,150

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

What to know about West Virginia homeowners insurance

You may face certain risks when living in West Virginia. 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 likely need to purchase separate flood insurance to cover potential water damage.

To find out if your home is in a high-risk area, 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.

Note that while you can purchase flood coverage 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.

Thunderstorms

Typical homeowners insurance policies cover damage caused by thunderstorms, including wind and hail damage.

However, it’s important to review your policy for specific details and exceptions. For example, your policy may have the same deductible for most claims, but have a separate deductible for wind and hail claims.

These deductibles can be a flat rate, such as $1,000, or a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit. Suppose your policy has a $1,000 deductible for most claims and a 1% deductible for wind claims. If your house has $250,000 worth of dwelling coverage, you’d have to pay for the first $2,500 of wind damage yourself.

Winter storms

Homeowners insurance generally covers winter storm-related damages, but make sure to verify the specific coverage limits and deductibles in your policy. Some types of winter weather damage may require extra coverage. For instance, you’ll typically need a separate flood insurance policy to cover flood damage caused by snowmelt.

Landslides and mudflows

Landslides and mudslides are not covered under typical homeowners insurance policies. Landslides are considered “earth movement” events and typically need a separate policy in order to be covered. Mudflows may be covered if you have flood insurance. If you live in an area with high-risk terrain, make sure you have enough insurance to cover your home and belongings against damage from landslides or mudflows.

Wildfires

Homeowners insurance typically covers damage from fire, including wildfires, but check your policy for specific coverage details and exclusions. 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 home, so talk with your insurer to ensure you have enough coverage to rebuild if necessary.

West Virginia insurance department

The West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner is the state’s governmental organization overseeing the insurance industry. It provides consumer protections and insurance information.

If you need to file a complaint against your insurer, you can do so using an online form or by mail. The Consumer Services Division can also help answer questions about the complaint form by phone at 888-879-9842.

Amanda Shapland contributed to this story.

Frequently asked questions

Homeowners insurance is not required by West Virginia state law. However, your lender may require you to purchase home insurance. For more information, read Is Homeowners Insurance Required?

Standard homeowners insurance policies in West Virginia do not cover flooding. You’ll need additional flood insurance to cover your home and belongings against flood damage.

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

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

  • Choose a higher deductible. In case of any claims, you’ll pay more out of pocket, 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 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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