Fact CheckedNerdy takeaways
Chubb is the top-rated insurer in North Carolina, offering the best coverage for high-value homes.
Amica offers the strongest consumer experience.
State Farm is our best value pick, with premiums well below the state average.
Cincinnati Insurance draws the fewest complaints.
USAA is our top choice for military families.
Homeowners in North Carolina are facing rising premiums and, in some areas, fewer choices for home insurance. But quality options are still available. To help you find the best home insurance in North Carolina, we gathered and analyzed data from insurance companies around the state.
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. Even if an insurer serves your state, it may not write policies for all homes in all areas.
The best home insurance companies in North Carolina
Best for high-value homes
Chubb
- Far fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
- Standard coverage includes features that many companies offer only as extras.
- Perks to help you protect your home.
- Most consumers can't get a quote online and will instead need to contact a local agent.
Why it’s worth a look: Chubb’s policies are designed for high-value homes, and they come with plenty of perks. For example, they include coverage for water damage from backed-up drains and sewers. With most other home insurers, you’d need to pay extra for this coverage.
Standout feature: Chubb’s HomeScan service, included with your policy, can find leaks and other potential problems hidden behind your walls.
Average rates: Not available.
» READ MORE: Chubb homeowners insurance review
Best consumer experience
Amica
- High customer satisfaction ratings and low consumer complaints.
- Platinum Choice package offers extra coverage.
- Dividend policies can return a portion of your premiums.
- You can start a quote online but may have to finish the buying process by phone.
Why it’s worth a look: Amica may be a good fit if you value customer service. It’s a perennial favorite in J.D. Power’s home insurance satisfaction surveys, and it draws a very low volume of consumer complaints to state regulators.
Standout feature: For a comprehensive suite of coverage, consider upgrading to Amica’s Platinum Choice package. It includes extra coverage for your home and valuables.
Average rates: Not available.
» READ MORE: Amica homeowners insurance review
Best value
State Farm
- User-friendly website.
- Agents offer personalized service.
- Policies generally include extra coverage for your home’s structure.
- Below average for claim satisfaction in a recent J.D. Power study.
Why it’s worth a look: Of our top-rated North Carolina home insurers, State Farm had the most affordable rates in our analysis. Despite the low price, State Farm’s coverage is solid. Its policies generally include a little extra coverage for your home in case it costs more than expected to rebuild after a disaster.
Standout feature: Unlike many other home insurers, State Farm doesn’t have a list of dog breeds that it won’t insure. (Some companies won’t provide liability coverage for pit bulls, Rottweilers or other breeds they believe are more likely to bite.) Learn more about how home insurance covers dog bites.
Average rates: Below are the average annual rates for a range of dwelling coverage limits.
Dwelling coverage amount | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
$200,000 | $515 |
$300,000 | $750 |
$400,000 | $1,980 |
$500,000 | $2,700 |
$600,000 | $3,180 |
» READ MORE: State Farm homeowners insurance review
Fewest complaints
Cincinnati Insurance
- Various coverage options.
- Far fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
- Coverage available for higher-value homes.
- No online quotes.
- Very little information on website.
Why it’s worth a look: Cincinnati’s policyholders generally seem satisfied with their coverage, judging by the very low number of complaints they file with state regulators. The company offers a variety of coverage options to choose from, including packages for high-value homes.
Standout feature: Cincinnati policyholders can get a discount when buying automatic water shutoff systems to help prevent leak damage.
Average rates: Not available.
» READ MORE: Cincinnati homeowners insurance review
Best for military families
USAA
- Policies include standard coverage that often costs extra elsewhere.
- Fewer customer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.
- Perks for military homeowners.
- Available only to active military members, veterans, some federal employees and their families.
Why it’s worth a look: USAA’s policies are designed for the military community. For example, they include coverage for military uniforms and equipment with no deductible. Home-sharing and landlord coverage are available for those who rent their home out while on deployment.
Standout feature: USAA covers your belongings on a replacement cost basis. That’s a more generous type of coverage than actual cash value, which some companies offer. Learn more about actual cash value vs. replacement cost coverage.
Average rates: Below are the average annual rates for a range of dwelling coverage limits.
Dwelling coverage amount | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
$200,000 | $1,145 |
$300,000 | $1,655 |
$400,000 | $2,055 |
$500,000 | $2,460 |
$600,000 | $2,870 |
*USAA homeowners policies are available only to active military, veterans, some federal workers and their families. | |
» READ MORE: USAA homeowners insurance review
Other top home insurance companies in North Carolina
These home insurance providers are also worth a look.
Company | NerdWallet star rating | Average annual rate |
|---|---|---|
$2,315 | ||
$4,395 | ||
$2,175 |
Common North Carolina home insurance problems
Flooding. A recent study found that flooding in North Carolina is more common than previously believed, with 43% of flooded buildings located outside of federally designated flood plains. Standard home insurance policies don’t cover flood damage, so you might need separate flood insurance.
You can check your flood risk with North Carolina’s Flood Risk Information System, which incorporates federal flood maps and additional data. However, federal maps don’t always capture all types of flood risk. You may want to check another source such as First Street, a company that models climate hazards. Enter your address at the top of the page to see your home’s flood risk rating.
Wind damage from hurricanes or tornadoes. Homeowners insurance usually covers wind damage. But in North Carolina, you may pay a separate deductible for wind or hail damage. These separate deductibles are often a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit. For example, you might have a $1,000 deductible for most claims, plus a 2% wind and hail deductible. If your home has $300,000 worth of dwelling coverage, your deductible for wind and hail claims would be $6,000.
Depending on where you live, your insurer may decline to provide wind and hail coverage as part of your homeowners insurance policy. If that happens, you can buy windstorm insurance from a private insurer or one of the state’s insurers of last resort. (Learn more below.)
Winter weather. Snow is most common in North Carolina’s western mountain region. A standard homeowners policy covers many types of winter storm damage. For example, if a pipe freezes and bursts or snow knocks a tree onto your roof, your insurer will usually pay for the damage. But if you don’t take appropriate steps to protect your home, your insurance company may not pay for repairs.
North Carolina insurers of last resort
For North Carolina homeowners who have trouble finding insurance, the state has two last-resort options:
The North Carolina Joint Underwriting Association, also known as the FAIR Plan, provides policies in non-coastal parts of the state.
The Coastal Property Insurance Pool covers the state’s 18 coastal counties.
Coverage limits for residential policies from both plans are capped at $1 million. You can buy personal property coverage for up to 40% of your dwelling coverage limit.
Coverage is often limited under last-resort plans. For example, both NCJUA and CPIP plans cover your belongings on an actual cash value basis. So if the items are destroyed, your policy will pay what they were worth — not enough to buy brand-new replacements.
Common optional coverage
A standard homeowners policy can sometimes fall short, so it's worth looking for ways to make it more comprehensive. For example, we recommend asking if your insurer offers extended or guaranteed replacement cost coverage for your home. These add-ons give you extra dwelling coverage in case it costs more than you expect to rebuild your home after a disaster. Having this coverage can be a useful hedge against inflation.
Here are a few additional types of coverage you may want to buy.
Floods are the most common weather disaster in the U.S. and can happen anywhere, not just coastal areas. You can buy flood insurance through the federal government or from private companies. Learn whether you need flood insurance.
Consider buying earthquake insurance if you live in an at-risk area.
Homeowners policies generally won’t cover damage if a drain backs up into your home or your sump pump fails. Adding water backup coverage can help with these issues.
Homeowners policies may cover your stuff on an actual cash value or replacement cost basis. With actual cash value, the policy will pay less for older items that have lost value over time. To get enough of a claim payout to buy brand-new items, opt for replacement cost coverage.
If you have expensive jewelry, fine art or other valuables, you may need extra insurance for them. Learn more about scheduled personal property coverage.
Service line coverage pays to fix damaged water, gas, sewer or other underground lines on your property.
If your HVAC system or another major appliance fails, equipment breakdown coverage can help pay for repairs.
How much does homeowners insurance cost in North Carolina?
The average cost of homeowners insurance in North Carolina is $3,025 per year, or about $252 per month. That's 21% more expensive than the national average of $2,490 per year for the same amount of coverage.
These rates are based on a sample home insurance policy with $400,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in liability coverage, a $1,000 deductible and no recent claims.
Did you know...
The dwelling coverage limit on your policy should be the amount it would take to rebuild your home, based on the cost of labor and construction in your area. It won't necessarily be the price you paid for the house or how much you could sell it for now. Use our calculator to estimate your home's rebuilding cost.
The median rebuilding cost for North Carolina homes is $421,846, according to data from First Street, a climate risk modeling firm.
Below are the average rates for policies with various dwelling coverage limits.
Dwelling coverage amount | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
$200,000 | $1,550 |
$300,000 | $2,405 |
$400,000 | $3,025 |
$500,000 | $3,610 |
$600,000 | $4,190 |
The rates above are for homeowners with good credit. In North Carolina, policyholders with poor credit pay an average of $3,965 per year — an increase of 31%.
Average cost of homeowners insurance in North Carolina by city
The amount you pay will vary depending on where you live in the state. For example, the average cost of homeowners insurance in Wilmington is $7,410 per year, while Charlotte homeowners pay $2,255 per year, on average.
City | Average annual rate | Average monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
Apex | $2,420 | $202 |
Asheville | $1,985 | $165 |
Burlington | $2,185 | $182 |
Cary | $2,420 | $202 |
Chapel Hill | $2,405 | $200 |
Charlotte | $2,255 | $188 |
Concord | $2,045 | $170 |
Durham | $2,380 | $198 |
Fayetteville | $3,550 | $296 |
Gastonia | $2,205 | $184 |
Greensboro | $2,150 | $179 |
Greenville | $3,490 | $291 |
Hickory | $1,985 | $165 |
High Point | $2,360 | $197 |
Holly Springs | $2,420 | $202 |
Huntersville | $2,150 | $179 |
Jacksonville | $4,255 | $355 |
Kannapolis | $2,045 | $170 |
Mooresville | $2,155 | $180 |
Raleigh | $2,420 | $202 |
Rocky Mount | $2,940 | $245 |
Wake Forest | $2,275 | $190 |
Wilmington | $7,410 | $618 |
Wilson | $2,985 | $249 |
The cheapest homeowners insurance in North Carolina
Here are the insurers we found with the cheapest rates for a variety of dwelling coverage limits.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Average annual rate
$515
Lititz Mutual
Not rated
$825
North Carolina Farm Bureau
Not rated
$825
$1,160
$1,145
*USAA homeowners policies are available only to active military, veterans, some federal workers and their families.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Average annual rate
$750
Lititz Mutual
Not rated
$1,245
North Carolina Farm Bureau
Not rated
$1,245
$1,715
$1,655
*USAA homeowners policies are available only to active military, veterans, some federal workers and their families.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Average annual rate
Lititz Mutual
Not rated
$1,535
North Carolina Farm Bureau
Not rated
$1,535
$1,980
$2,175
$2,055
*USAA homeowners policies are available only to active military, veterans, some federal workers and their families.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Average annual rate
Lititz Mutual
Not rated
$2,120
North Carolina Farm Bureau
Not rated
$2,120
$3,100
$3,180
$2,870
*USAA homeowners policies are available only to active military, veterans, some federal workers and their families.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Average annual rate
Lititz Mutual
Not rated
$2,120
North Carolina Farm Bureau
Not rated
$2,120
$3,100
$3,180
$2,870
*USAA homeowners policies are available only to active military, veterans, some federal workers and their families.
Cheap homeowners insurance in North Carolina by claims history
Here are the cheapest home insurance companies in North Carolina for homeowners who've filed a recent claim.
Company | NerdWallet star rating | Average annual rate |
|---|---|---|
Lititz Mutual | Not rated | $1,535 |
North Carolina Farm Bureau | Not rated | $1,535 |
$2,285 | ||
$2,445 | ||
$2,565 | ||
*USAA homeowners policies are available only to active military, veterans, some federal workers and their families. | ||
These rates are based on a sample homeowner with good credit, $400,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible.
Cheap homeowners insurance in North Carolina by credit score
Here are the cheapest home insurance companies in North Carolina for homeowners with poor credit. Read more about how your credit scores impact home insurance rates.
Company | NerdWallet star rating | Average annual rate |
|---|---|---|
Lititz Mutual | Not rated | $1,535 |
North Carolina Farm Bureau | Not rated | $1,535 |
$2,835 | ||
$3,540 | ||
Heritage | Not rated | $3,560 |
These rates are based on a sample home insurance policy with $400,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in liability coverage, a $1,000 deductible and no recent claims.
Get home insurance quotes in minutes
Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.Common discounts
Make sure to ask your home insurance company about any discounts you may be eligible for. Here are some of the most common:
Many insurers offer savings if you buy more than one policy, such as home and car insurance. See our picks for the best home and auto insurance bundles.
Got a burglar alarm, smoke detectors or a smart device that alerts you if you have a leak? Safety and security features like these could earn you a discount.
Sign up for paperless billing or set your premiums to autopay, and you could get a discount.
Many insurance companies give discounts to customers who’ve gone a certain number of years without filing a home insurance claim.
Some insurers offer discounts to new policyholders or reward those who’ve stuck around for a while.
Teachers, doctors, members of the military and others may be eligible for discounts from certain insurers.
Learn more about common home insurance discounts.
North Carolina Department of Insurance
The North Carolina Department of Insurance oversees the state’s insurance industry. It also provides information and resources to consumers. You can file a complaint about your insurer or request help using the agency’s website. You can also get assistance by calling 855-408-1212.
How we review home insurance
Our editorial team considers these factors when rating homeowners insurance companies:
This part of our star rating is based largely on consumer complaints to state regulators, as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. When available, we also include each company’s performance in the most recent J.D. Power Home Insurance Study. Other factors in our consumer experience score include customer-friendly features such as online claims filing and quotes.
We use AM Best and Demotech ratings to confirm each insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims.
Companies score higher if they offer many common endorsements and include more comprehensive coverage in their standard plans. In particular, we look at features such as extended coverage for the structure of your home and replacement cost coverage for personal belongings.
We evaluate how many of the most common home insurance discounts each company offers.
See our complete homeowners insurance rating methodology.
Frequently asked questions
There’s no law in North Carolina that requires you to buy homeowners insurance. But if you have a mortgage on your home, your lender will probably require you to buy it. For more information, read Is Homeowners Insurance Required?
The high risk of tropical storms makes home insurance pricey near the North Carolina coast. More generally, the cost of home insurance has been going up across the country. The combination of inflation and natural disasters has made rebuilding more expensive. That increased cost is reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Make sure you’re getting all the home insurance discounts you’re eligible for. You may be able to save by bundling your home and auto policies or strengthening your home against hurricanes. Shop regularly to see if cheaper policies are available. We recommend getting home insurance quotes once a year from at least three companies.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.Advancing Earth and Space Sciences. Earth's Future. Accessed Mar 3, 2026.
- 2.North Carolina State Climate Office. Winter Storms. Accessed Mar 3, 2026.
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, coverage, discounts, claims process and website functionality. 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 or star ratings.
Here’s how we weighted each category to come up with our list of the best home insurance companies:
Consumer experience (40%).
Financial strength (30%).
Coverage (25%).
Discounts (5%).
Read our full home insurance ratings methodology for more details.
Homeowners insurance rates methodology
NerdWallet calculated median rates for 40-year-old homeowners from various insurance companies in ZIP codes across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. 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:
$400,000 in dwelling coverage.
$40,000 in other structures coverage.
$200,000 in personal property coverage.
$80,000 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.
In states where credit is a rating factor, we changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor,” as reported to the insurer, to see rates for homeowners with poor credit.
In select states, we added a single wind damage claim to see rates for homeowners with a claim on their record.
These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
Complaint methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. 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.
Rebuilding cost methodology
The median home rebuilding cost referenced above is based on 2025 replacement cost data from First Street, a climate risk modeling firm. Actual replacement costs may vary based on factors like location, square footage, construction materials, the age of your home and local labor costs.
