Home insurance rates have skyrocketed over the past few years as natural disasters and extreme weather become more frequent and the costs of home repairs keep climbing.
While homeowners everywhere are feeling the pinch, some states have been hit harder than others. U.S. homeowners are paying an average of $2,490 per year for $300,000 in dwelling coverage, according to a recent Nerd Wallet report. However, homeowners in 10 states are paying significantly more than the national average.
That figure doesn't even include additional coverage for events like floods, earthquakes and other disasters that standard home insurance doesn't cover.
10 states with the most expensive home insurance in 2026
If you're looking to move to cut down on housing costs, you might want to check out the states with the cheapest home insurance, especially if you live in one of the states below.
Before seeing who's paying the most to protect their homes, use the tool below from Bankrate to see how the best rates for you compare to the national average:
10. Colorado
Coming in 10th place, Colorado homeowners are paying an average of $3,910 per year for standard home insurance. Nestled between tornado alley to the east and fire country to the west, the Rocky Mountain state faces an above-average risk of both natural disasters.
It's the growing wildfire risk that has driven the surge in home insurance prices in the state this year. To combat soaring rates, Colorado lawmakers recently passed legislation to make the wildfire risk scoring models used by insurers more transparent.
While it won't take effect until later this year, the new law also establishes clearer guidelines on fire-proofing steps homeowners can take to protect themselves (and earn discounts on their premiums). If you live here, the law in question is House Bill 1182, and you can keep an eye out for when the new law takes effect.
9. South Dakota
Being so far north and inland, you might be surprised to find a state like South Dakota on this list. But with home insurance premiums averaging $3,965, South Dakotans are paying nearly $1,500 more than the national average to protect their homes.
That's partly because the biggest threats in the state are generally ones that are covered in a standard policy. The most common causes of damage in South Dakota are winter weather and hail, both of which your standard policy should protect against.
Flooding can be a risk as well, especially in spring and summer when rapid snowmelt can cause flash flooding. For that, you'll need to buy separate flood insurance.
8. Tennessee
While Tennessee doesn't really have to deal with hurricanes or tornadoes, it still gets its share of severe storms, flooding and sinkholes. Those threats have driven average home insurance premiums up to $4,220 per year, or over $1,700 above the national average.
To make matters more expensive, two of its biggest threats, flooding and sinkholes, aren't usually included in a standard home insurance policy. You'll need to buy flood insurance and earthquake insurance (which covers other land movements, like sinkholes) to be fully protected here.
7. Alabama
If you're buying a home in Alabama, expect to spend about $4,285 per year for home insurance. The biggest threat to homeowners here is flooding, but tornadoes and hurricanes are not unheard of.
When shopping for coverage, keep an eye out for separate deductibles. Many policies here will have different deductibles for different types of damage. Even if your standard deductible is, say, $1,000, you might have a separate wind damage deductible that's higher, for example.
6. Mississippi
Coming in sixth place, Mississippi homeowners are paying an average of $4,445 per year for standard home insurance. The Magnolia State is in a unique position that puts it on the outskirts of two separate extreme weather zones.
As a Gulf state, it deals with the Atlantic hurricane season each year, mainly in the south. It’s also just outside of tornado alley, so it experiences a few touchdowns each year, especially in winter.
5. Texas
Even insurance premiums are bigger in Texas. Homeowners in the state pay $4,915 per year on average. That's almost $2,500 above the national average.
Some areas see even higher costs, though. In Pasadena, for example, home insurance premiums averaged $10,940.
The Lone Star state faces multiple threats, though the risks vary in different regions. In winter and spring, tornadoes roll through the state on their way north. By summer, hot, dry conditions increase the risk of wildfires statewide. On the southern coast, hurricanes coming in from the Gulf can cause severe damage.
If you do live near the coast, double-check your policy. In addition to excluding flood damage, standard policies in this region sometimes don't cover wind damage. Without flood or wind coverage, you'll be more or less on your own next hurricane season. So make sure you know what your policy covers and purchase any additional coverage you need to fully protect your home.
4. Arkansas
In Arkansas, homeowners fork over an average of $4,955 per year for home insurance. That's over $2,000 higher than the national average.
It's also one of the states where insurers can use your credit score to adjust your rates. Have below-average credit? You could pay nearly double the state average, or $9,720 per year for the same coverage because of it.
Like its neighboring states, Arkansas mainly faces thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes. Flooding is also a widespread issue, especially for homeowners closest to the Mississippi River.
3. Kansas
Homeowners in Kansas pay $5,455 per year on average for standard homeowner's insurance. If you've seen The Wizard of Oz, you know exactly why Kansas made the list of states with the most expensive home insurance.
It's right in the middle of tornado alley, seeing an average of 96 tornadoes per year, according to the National Weather Service. The risk is highest in summer. While these are typically covered in a standard policy, it's important to track any damage and be ready with relevant documents before making a tornado-related claim.
2. Nebraska
You might be surprised to see this midwestern state ranking so high on this list when states like Florida didn't even crack the top 10. But Nebraskan homeowners are paying $6,015 annually for coverage.
The reason for the sky-high premiums largely comes down to Nebraska's harsh storm season — it's one of the worst states for hail damage and intense winds.
1. Oklahoma
The average premium for the state is $7,255 per year, making it the most expensive state for home insurance in 2026.
Like Kansas, Oklahoma residents face above-average home insurance premiums due to the higher risk of tornadoes and wind-heavy thunderstorms. Tornadoes are most likely to happen in spring here.
Homeowners in the eastern half of the state also face higher risks of flooding, a disaster that typically isn't covered by standard insurance. So they need to pay even more to add flood coverage.
