The Best Homeowners Insurance in Massachusetts for 2021

If you’re a homeowner in Massachusetts, you’ll typically pay less than the national average for your home insurance. At an average of $1,205 per year, home insurance in Massachusetts costs over $350 less than the national average of $1,585.

NerdWallet analyzed rates from 18 different insurers in the state to determine the best homeowners insurance in Massachusetts. Keep in mind that these rates are estimates and depend on many different factors, so yours may vary.

You can customize your homeowners policy with numerous add-ons, but below are the types of coverage that generally come standard:

Here’s a little bit more about each company and the extras they offer.

Amica gives homeowners several relatively easy ways to save money, such as discounts for receiving bills electronically and signing up for automatic bill pay. You can also potentially get cash back at the end of your policy period by signing up for Amica’s dividend policies, which can pay out 5% to 20% of the policy’s annual premium if the company performs well.

Although Chubb is one of the more expensive insurers in the state, its standard policy includes coverage options for which others often charge extra. For example, homeowners who buy Chubb’s Masterpiece policy can receive the full amount it costs to replace damaged or destroyed personal items rather than the items’ depreciated value.

The Hanover offers several home insurance packages, some of which include helpful features like reimbursement for replacing your locks after losing your keys, or paying to remove debris after a covered event. It’ll also waive your deductible if a loss is more than $50,000.

State Farm’s standard “increased dwelling limit” coverage may appeal to homeowners because of the financial cushion it provides if you need to rebuild your home. As long as the home is insured for the amount State Farm estimates it will cost to replace it, State Farm provides up to an additional 20% of that amount should costs go up while rebuilding.

Travelers’ standard policy does not come with some of the coverage options provided by other insurers. Travelers does, however, offer unique add-ons such as green home coverage that can help cover the cost of using sustainable materials to rebuild or repair your home.

If you’re an active military member or a veteran, or are a family member of one, USAA offers several benefits that normally cost extra from other insurers. Identity theft coverage and replacement cost for damaged or stolen personal items are just two of the benefits available to policyholders in most states.

NerdWallet looked at the rates from each insurer in 578 ZIP codes in Massachusetts to find the lowest home insurance premiums in the state. We found a statewide average annual premium of $1,205, but your rate may vary depending on where you live. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive rates in Massachusetts was over $1,500 per year.

Here are the five cheapest homeowners insurance rates in Massachusetts:

And here’s a look at all the available rates:

Here are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind as you evaluate your options for home insurance in Massachusetts:

• You may be subject to a “hurricane deductible.” Massachusetts has been hit by many major storms — including hurricanes — and if it happens again, homeowners may have to pay a hurricane deductible before their insurance will kick in. This deductible is a percentage of your home’s insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. So if your home is insured for $300,000 with a 5% deductible, you have to pay the first $15,000 of damage from a storm before your insurer will give you a cent.

• You should also consider flood insurance. Flood damage is not typically covered by homeowners insurance, so you’ll likely need a separate flood insurance policy in order to be covered. That can be a good idea especially if you live on the coast or in an area prone to flooding, but your home might also be vulnerable to flooding without you knowing it. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood maps can help give you the flood risk at your specific address.

• Your rate will vary depending on where you live. Popular seaside destinations Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket also have the most expensive home insurance in the state, and overall rates become cheaper the farther you get from the coast. To see the average rate where you live, here’s a look at the county-by-county breakdown: