Raleigh, the bustling state capital of North Carolina, is home to many museums, restaurants, and other attractions. It’s also the second-most-populated city in North Carolina.
Homeowners in Raleigh pay an average of $2,264 for a $300,000 home insurance policy with a $1,000 deductible — slightly higher than the state average of $2,110.
If you’re considering buying a home in Raleigh, understanding the market and the cost of home insurance is important. While Raleigh is inland enough that strong hurricanes rarely affect it, the city is prone to tropical storms.
Here’s what you should know about comparing home insurance quotes and finding affordable coverage in Raleigh.
State Farm, Bankers Insurance Group, and Encompass are some of the cheapest home insurance companies in Raleigh.
Hurricanes rarely affect Raleigh, but tropical storms, severe thunderstorms, and hail are relatively common. Standard home insurance policies cover damage from thunderstorms and hail.
Homeowners insurance in Raleigh costs slightly less than the national average of $2,377.
Best home insurance companies in Raleigh
Fortunately, you’ve got many options for a homeowners insurance policy in Raleigh, as several insurance companies serve the area. The best homeowners insurance for you won’t necessarily be the cheapest, so keep that in mind as you compare quotes.
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Cheapest rates: State Farm
Best insurer for bundling: Encompass
Best insurer for local advocacy: North Carolina Farm Bureau
North Carolina Farm Bureau has been supporting farmers and the local community since its founding in 1953. Not only does this insurance company offer multiple coverages and relatively affordable rates, but its many advocacy programs help farmers and other rural residents.
If you’re interested in purchasing insurance from a company that gives back to the broader state, North Carolina Farm Bureau could be a good option. It offers homeowners insurance, auto insurance, renters insurance, and many other insurance products designed to protect its policyholders.
Exclusive member benefits available
Several available insurance products
Must be a member to purchase insurance
Membership costs $25 per year
Best insurer for discounts: Travelers
Cheapest home insurance in Raleigh
State Farm offers the cheapest home insurance for Raleigh homeowners, with average annual homeowners insurance policies of $764 per year.
Below are some of the cheapest home insurance companies in Raleigh and their average rates.
Cost of homeowners insurance in Raleigh
The average cost of home insurance in Raleigh is $2,264 annually for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible. But many factors affect your insurance rates. Insurance companies consider your home’s age, exact location, security and structural features, your past claims, your chosen deductible and coverage needs, and your credit history when calculating your premiums.1
Different insurance companies also offer different rates, which is why it’s essential to shop around for coverage if you’re a Raleigh homeowner.
Cost of homeowners insurance by dwelling coverage amount
A higher amount of homeowners insurance coverage comes with a higher price tag, which makes sense because you’re getting more protection. In general, your dwelling coverage, which protects your home’s structure in the event of a natural disaster or other incident, should equal your home’s replacement value.
Here’s a look at how dwelling coverage limits could affect your premiums in the state of North Carolina. Rates shown are for policies with a $1,000 deductible.
Cost of homeowners insurance by deductible
In general, your rates will be lower if you opt for a higher home insurance deductible, or the amount you’ll pay out of pocket before your insurer pays out. This is typically true whether you live in Raleigh or any other location in the U.S. While a higher deductible could lower your home insurance rates, be sure you can afford the deductible you choose in case you need to file a claim.
Here’s how deductible amounts affect the average cost of homeowners insurance for policies with $300,000 in dwelling coverage in Raleigh.
How to get cheap homeowners insurance in Raleigh
While home insurance might be slightly more expensive in Raleigh compared to the rest of North Carolina, it’s still possible to find relatively cheap coverage. Here are a few strategies that could help you save on a homeowners policy if you live in the North Carolina state capital:2
Shop around. Insurance rates aren’t standard across companies, which is why it’s essential to get multiple home insurance quotes. You might find that one insurance company offers much cheaper rates than another for similar coverage.
Install home safety features. Many insurers will reduce your homeowners insurance premiums if you install certain safety and security features. It’s common to get discounts for adding smoke detectors, burglar alarms, sprinkler systems, and more. Some home safety features are relatively cheap and could save you money on your home insurance in the long term.
Ask about discounts. While certain insurance companies may be forthcoming with discounts, others may not. Do your due diligence and ask which discounts are applicable to you. Taking advantage of available discounts might reduce your premiums by a fairly significant amount.
North Carolina homeowners insurance rates by city
Raleigh has fairly high rates, on average, compared to many other North Carolina cities. Things like local population, crime rates, and proximity to public services can affect premiums, so rates may also vary within different ZIP codes in the same city. People in coastal North Carolina might also pay higher homeowners insurance rates, as hurricanes are more likely to make landfall along the coast.
Here’s a look at how average insurance premiums vary across cities in North Carolina for policies with $300,000 in dwelling coverage.
How much homeowners insurance do you need in Raleigh?
Chances are if you’re buying a home in Raleigh, you’re probably taking out a mortgage. If that’s the case, your mortgage lender will require you to get homeowners insurance as a condition of your loan. This ensures your home (and its collateral) has protection in case something damages or destroys it.
In general, your dwelling coverage should be enough to replace your home if a fire or another covered incident destroys it. You’ll also want personal property coverage to replace your personal items if there is damage or theft. The amount of coverage you need depends on your individual situation. For example, if you have several expensive personal belongings and have concerns about theft, you might opt for more coverage.
But no matter how much coverage you get, it’s essential to understand what your home insurance policy covers and any potential exclusions. Reading over your policy will offer insight into how it protects your most valuable investment.
What are some of the biggest risks when owning a home in Raleigh?
Approximately 18 hurricanes and tropical storms have affected North Carolina in the last 20 years.3 Hurricanes rarely affect Raleigh because it’s far enough inland. But the city isn’t immune to all risks, so homebuyers should be aware of potential issues.
Here are a few common perils that could affect your home in Raleigh:
Raleigh homeowners insurance FAQs
If you’re shopping for a home insurance policy in Raleigh, this additional information may help as you research your coverage options.
How much is home insurance in Raleigh?
Home insurance in Raleigh costs $2,110 per year for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible, according to Insurify data. But your rates will vary depending on many factors, including your ZIP code, age of your home, square footage of your home, and the types of coverage you choose.
Which company has the cheapest homeowners insurance in Raleigh?
State Farm has the cheapest homeowners insurance Raleigh, with annual premiums of $764. Bankers Insurance Group and Encompass also have affordable coverage in the city, with respective annual premiums of $1,188 and $1,252.
Does Raleigh require homeowners insurance?
No. Raleigh doesn’t require homeowners insurance, but your lender will require it if you have a mortgage on your home.
Even if you don’t have a mortgage, home insurance is essential because it protects you financially if something damages or destroys your home and you have to make costly repairs.
What is the best insurance company in North Carolina?
With above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings, an Insurify Quality (IQ) Score of 8.2 out of 10, and competitive rates, State Farm is one of the best insurance companies in North Carolina. Other top insurers include North Carolina Farm Bureau and Travelers.
)