Guide to home insurance in North Carolina (2024)

We break down everything you need to know about home insurance in North Carolina — from average costs, the best companies, how to prepare for hurricane season, and much more.

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By

Andrew HurstSenior Editor & Licensed Insurance ExpertAndrew Hurst is a former senior editor at Policygenius who has spent his entire career writing about life, disability, home, auto, and health insurance. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, and Property Casualty 360.

Edited by

Jennifer GimbelJennifer GimbelSenior Managing Editor & Home Insurance ExpertJennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.
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Reviewed by

Michael Reynolds, CSRIC®, AIF®, CFT-I™Michael Reynolds, CSRIC®, AIF®, CFT-I™Financial AdvisorMichael Reynolds, CSRIC®, AIF®, CFT-I™, is a financial advisor, principal and founder of Elevation Financial, host of the weekly personal finance podcast Wealth Redefined®, and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius.

Updated|3 min read

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Our ultimate guide to home insurance in North Carolina can help you find the best home and flood insurance companies in your area, learn about the average cost of home insurance where you live, find the right coverage for the type of property you want to insure, and more.

Jump down to learn about home insurance in North Carolina …

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Average cost of home insurance in North Carolina

The average cost of home insurance in North Carolina is $1,545 per year, but rates have gone up for many homeowners. According to our Policygenius Home Insurance Pricing Report, people who renewed their coverage in 2023 were hit with an average premium increase of 19% compared to the year before.

Unfortunately, rates in North Carolina will likely keep going up. As hurricanes get stronger, severe weather will affect more properties in North Carolina. Wind and flood damage combined with higher, inflation-driven costs to rebuild damaged homes will push home insurance rates higher for many North Carolina residents.

Learn more >> Average cost of home insurance in North Carolina

Best home insurance in North Carolina

The best homeowners insurance company in North Carolina is Auto-Owners Insurance for its broad range of coverage options and highly rated customer service. Rates from Auto-Owners are more expensive than average in North Carolina, but assuming it fits your budget and coverage needs, we still think the company is worth considering.

Company

Best for … 

Average annual cost

Policygenius rating

Auto-Owners Insurance

Overall

$2,447

5.0 out of 5

State Farm

Low rates

$900

4.8 out of 5

Nationwide

Robust coverage options

$2,395

4.5 out of 5

Erie

Water damage protection

$1,876

4.5 out of 5

Allstate

Short-term rental coverage

$923

4.4 out of 5

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed home insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services in March 2022 for ZIP codes in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., for a 40-year-old female homeowner with no claim history, good credit, a $1,000 deductible, and the following coverage limits:

  • Dwelling: $300,000

  • Other structures: $30,000

  • Personal property: $150,000

  • Loss of use: $60,000

  • Liability: $300,000

  • Medical: $1,000

All rates based on the above coverage limits except where otherwise noted.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Find your best home insurance rates in North Carolina with our free calculator

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Cheapest home insurance in North Carolina

The cheapest homeowners insurance company in North Carolina is Allstate, followed by Kemper and North Carolina Farm Bureau. Home insurance from Allstate costs about 40% less than the statewide average.

If you’re having trouble finding affordable home insurance, consider bundling your home and auto insurance, paying your premiums all at once, and comparing quotes before buying coverage. It’s also worth re-shopping your home insurance every year to get your best rates.

Company

Average annual cost

Policygenius rating

Allstate

$923

4.4 out of 5

Kemper

$1,129

4.4 out of 5

Farm Bureau Insurance

$1,210

3.9 out of 5

Lititz Mutual Insurance

$1,210

N/A

Bankers Insurance

$1,411

N/A

Lighthouse Property Insurance

$1,522

N/A

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Learn more >> Cheapest home insurance companies in North Carolina in 2024

North Carolina home insurance rates by city

Jacksonville has the cheapest homeowners insurance rates in North Carolina (among its 20 largest cities). Home insurance in Jacksonville costs about 15% less than the statewide average in North Carolina. Winston-Salam and Asheville also have cheaper-than-average home insurance rates.

City

Average annual cost

Apex

$1,759

Asheville

$1,193

Burlington

$1,440

Cary

$1,758

Chapel Hill

$1,475

Charlotte

$1,605

Concord

$1,481

Durham

$1,749

Fayetteville

$2,250

Gastonia

$1,390

Greensboro

$1,471

Greenville

$2,217

High Point

$1,468

Huntersville

$1,558

Jacksonville

$847

Kannapolis

$1,481

Raleigh

$1,760

Rocky Mount

$2,000

Wilmington

$1,146

Winston-Salem

$1,415

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Find your best home insurance rates in North Carolina with our free calculator

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How to buy home insurance

Given the possibility of severe weather and flooding in North Carolina, it’s worth keeping a few things in mind as you shop for home insurance.

  • Know whether your home insurance covers damage from wind and hail, tornadoes, and hurricanes — if you live in a high-risk area, your policy may limit your coverage.

  • Consider getting replacement cost coverage so that you can fully rebuild your home if it’s destroyed by severe weather.

  • Shop for flood insurance if you live in a flood-prone area.

  • Get a homeowners insurance policy that matches up with your property — you may have to shop for coverage designed for high-value homes, vacation homes, or buildings you own and lease.

Learn more >> How to buy home insurance in North Carolina

Flood insurance in North Carolina

A regular homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover flood damage. If your home is on the coast of North Carolina or in another low-lying area where flood risk is high, it’s a good idea to purchase flood insurance. Here’s what you should know:

  • Around 16% of the homes in North Carolina are in a high-risk flood zone.

  • The average cost of flood insurance in North Carolina is about $77 a month or $920 per year.

  • Coverage is most expensive in Asheville ($2,501 per year) and cheapest in Indian Beach ($372).

  • Most flood insurance policies are sold by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), but you can also get flood insurance from a private insurer.

Learn more >> Compare quotes for flood insurance in North Carolina

Mobile home insurance in North Carolina

Home insurance is not exactly the same thing as mobile or manufactured home insurance. In North Carolina, American Modern, Progressive, and Foremost are among the top insurance companies offering home insurance specifically designed for mobile homes.

Company

Policygenius rating

American Modern

4.9 out of 5

Progressive

4.5 out of 5

Foremost

4.2 out of 5

Learn more >> Mobile home insurance companies in North Carolina

When is hurricane season in North Carolina?

North Carolina’s hurricane season lasts from the start of June until the end of November, with the peak of the season happening from August to October. [1] Hurricanes come with high winds and storm surges that cause flood damage, but they can also cause tornadoes and powerful thunderstorms that affect areas further inland.

While most homeowners insurance policies cover wind damage, including wind from both hurricanes and tornadoes, your home insurance may have what’s called a “hurricane deductible.” In places like North Carolina that experience more hurricanes than other states, your policy won’t have a regular flat deductible; instead your deductible will be a percentage of your policy’s dwelling coverage (the part that covers its physical structure).

Learn more >> Hurricane season in North Carolina

Learn more about home insurance in North Carolina

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References

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Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. Learn more about how we use and vet external sources as part of oureditorial standards.

  1. North Carolina Emergency Management - Ready Dot Gov

    . "

    Hurricanes

    ." Accessed July 25, 2024.

Author

Andrew Hurst is a former senior editor at Policygenius who has spent his entire career writing about life, disability, home, auto, and health insurance. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Forbes, USA Today, NPR, Mic, Insurance Business Magazine, and Property Casualty 360.

Editor

Jennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.

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