Pennsylvania Homeowners Insurance Quotes (2023)

The average cost of homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania is $143 per month, or $1,716 per year. Living in the ninth-cheapest state for homeowners insurance, Pennsylvania homeowners enjoy relatively low costs.

Flooding is the most common natural disaster facing homeowners in Pennsylvania.^[1] While a standard homeowners insurance policy won’t cover flood damage, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers flood insurance policies. When you purchase a policy from the NFIP, there’s a 30-day waiting period before the policy takes effect. If you’re considering flood insurance, it’s critical to make the purchase before a flood is imminent.^[2]

Best home insurance companies in Pennsylvania

Homeowners can find many high-quality home insurance companies in Pennsylvania. However, the best home insurance company for you will vary depending on your situation. Here’s a look at some of the top home insurance companies for Keystone State homeowners.

Best large insurer: Nationwide

Homeowners in the state of Pennsylvania pay an average of $120 per month for a policy with Nationwide. The below-average cost is paired with close-to-average customer satisfaction with a 2022 J.D. Power Home Insurance Study score of 816 out of 1,000.^[3]

Best insurer for cheap rates: Travelers

Travelers offers average home insurance rates of $84 per month in Pennsylvania. While these might be some of the cheapest rates, Travelers earned a relatively low J.D. Power score of 794 out of 1,000.^[3] Depending on your needs, you might choose to prioritize cost over customer satisfaction ratings.

Best for storm coverage: Amica Mutual

Amica Mutual earned the top spot for customer satisfaction in the 2022 J.D. Power Home Insurance Study.^[3] With a score of 849 out of 1,000, the company has a reputation for keeping customers happy. Amica Mutual helps customers find and purchase flood insurance, which it advertises as more extensive than what the NFIP offers.

Best insurer for high-value homes: Pure Insurance

Homeowners with high-value homes might need more coverage than a standard policy offers. Pure Insurance specifically writes policies for high-value homes. You’ll need to work with a local agent for a customized proposal.

Best regional insurance company: Erie

Erie serves a handful of states, including Pennsylvania. The company earned above-average customer satisfaction ratings in the J.D. Power study, with a score of 827 out of 1,000.^[3] With a local feel, you’ll need to work with an agent to explore your policy options.

See More: Top 10 Largest Home Insurance Companies: Consumer Reviews, Rates

Methodology

Insurify’s team of data scientists analyze millions of home insurance quotes, and weigh publicly available reviews, claims payout rates, complaint indexes, financial strength scores, company reputations, and proprietary quoting data. Our editorial team applies this insight to inform our unbiased reviews and recommendations.

How much is homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania?

On average, homeowners in Pennsylvania pay $143 a month for home insurance. However, your home insurance costs will vary based on several factors. Some of those factors include your location, your home’s age, construction quality, and the home insurance policy type you select.

How your policy choices affect home insurance rates in Pennsylvania

When you select a home insurance policy, you’ll have many choices to make. For example, you’ll need to choose a policy form, deductible, coverage limits, and more. Each decision affects your total cost.^[4]

Your policy form

Policy forms offer different coverage types. These are the most common home insurance policy forms:

• Broad form (HO-2): This covers the dwelling, other structures, personal property, personal liability, and medical payments. This type of policy only covers perils, like storms or vandalism, specifically listed in the policy. It doesn’t cover unnamed perils.

• Special form (HO-3): This policy form also covers damage to the dwelling, other structures, personal property, personal liability, and medical payments. However, it also covers perils that an HO-2 excludes.

• Comprehensive form (HO-5): This form offers more coverage than the broad and special forms for your personal property.

• Modified form (HO-8): This form includes “functional replacement cost” for older homes. If the building materials in your older home aren’t available for reconstruction, the policy will cover the cost to rebuild with materials commonly available today.^[4]

The forms provide different approaches to covering perils, which are sources of loss, like a fire or flood. Policy forms that cover more perils typically cost more than forms that cover fewer perils.

Before settling on any home insurance policy, you should always check which perils it covers. It’s critical to find a policy that offers coverage for the perils you’re concerned about.

Read More: What Are Perils in Insurance?

Your coverage level

An insurance policy with a higher coverage limit gives you more financial protection against covered perils. Generally, a higher coverage level will result in higher premiums. Here’s how coverage amounts affect average monthly insurance costs in Pennsylvania:

Your deductible

When filing a claim, the deductible is the amount of money you pay out of pocket. Homeowners who choose a higher deductible can often find lower insurance premiums. However, it’s important to avoid choosing a deductible higher than you might be able to reasonably pay.

How location affects home insurance rates in Pennsylvania

The location you call home affects your home insurance rates. Home insurance rates vary widely across state lines. But within your state, your specific ZIP code can affect your rates too.

Some location-related factors that affect your exact costs include the location of the nearest fire department, proximity to the coast, and the expected frequency of weather events.^[5]

Here are average monthly quotes for select cities in Pennsylvania:

What are the cheapest home insurance companies in Pennsylvania?

Travelers, Grange, and State Auto offer some of the cheapest home insurance policies to Pennsylvania homeowners. While these insurance companies offer average monthly rates below $90, the average monthly cost for Pennsylvania homeowners is $143 per month.

Depending on your unique coverage needs, you might find more or less expensive monthly premiums. 

The table below includes the average monthly quotes for the cheapest home insurance companies in Pennsylvania:

How much homeowners insurance do you need in Pennsylvania?

Homeowners insurance isn’t mandatory in Pennsylvania. But if you take out a mortgage on your home, most mortgage companies will require home insurance policies.^[4]

Everyone has a unique financial situation that affects their insurance needs. Generally, it’s a good idea to insure your home for at least 80% of its replacement cost. Additionally, you may want to insure your personal property at the replacement cost or the actual cash value. Don’t forget to consider personal liability coverage and medical payments coverage.^[4]

Before you finalize a home insurance policy, make sure you understand exactly what it covers.

What home insurance coverages should you buy in Pennsylvania?

Everyone has different insurance needs. Here’s a look at the home insurance coverages you should consider buying in Pennsylvania:

• Dwelling coverage: If your home needs repairs after a covered event, this part of your policy kicks in. The covered perils may include fire, lightning, windstorm, hail, vandalism, theft, explosion, riot, glass breakage, smoke, and more.

• Other structures coverage: If you have other structures on your property, like an unattached garage, you may want to opt for this coverage.

• Personal property coverage: The contents of your house make it a home. Many policies offer coverage for personal property that may extend to furniture and other possessions. However, most insurers include limits on coverage for jewelry and precious metals.

• Liability coverage: Liability coverage protects you from lawsuits stemming from an event on your property. For example, if someone falls on your property, liability coverage may help pay the costs of a potential lawsuit.

• Medical payments coverage: If someone is injured on your property, this coverage helps cover their medical bills.

• Additional living expenses coverage: If you must move out during repairs after a covered event, this coverage would help you pay for living expenses. For example, the policy might pay for a hotel while your home is renovated after a fire.^[6]

What optional home insurance coverages should you buy in Pennsylvania?

A standard home insurance policy might not cover all your needs. Here’s a look at some optional coverages to consider:

• Flood insurance: Flood insurance isn’t part of a standard home insurance policy. But flooding is a significant threat to Pennsylvanian homeowners. You may have the option to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.

• Valuable possessions: Many home insurance policies have a specific limit of coverage on high-value personal property. Some common limitations come with jewelry, furs, coins, guns, and art. However, you can often purchase additional specialty coverage to protect these items.

How much home insurance coverage should you have in Pennsylvania?

Home insurance isn’t a one-size-fits-all product. Homeowners must evaluate their homes for different risk factors and choose a policy to suit their needs. Some details to consider include:

• Home’s value: The market value of your home significantly affects insurance premiums. A high-value home often requires a policy with higher limits.

• Home’s location: Consider what risk factors surround your home. For example, a home in a lowland area might be at risk of flooding.

• High-value contents: If you have personal property with significant value, you might want to consider extra coverage.

Regardless of the policy type you need, it’s critical to get quotes from at least three different insurers before moving forward. Otherwise, it’s easy to overpay.

What are some of the biggest risks when owning a home in Pennsylvania?

As a homeowner in Pennsylvania, you’ll face many risks. Here’s a look at some of the biggest ones:

• Flooding: Floods are one of the most common natural disasters in the state. Standard home insurance policies don’t cover floods. You may have the option to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.

• Sinkholes: Pennsylvania is one of the states most at risk for sinkholes.^[7] Many insurance forms exclude sinkhole coverage. If you live in an affected area of the state, you may be able to purchase coverage through the state government.^[6]

• Severe storms: Severe winter storms, tropical storms, tornadoes, and thunderstorms all impact the state. Most standard home insurance policies include coverage for these events.^[1]

How can you save money on homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania?

Home insurance is a necessary expense for most homeowners. But you don’t have to overpay for the coverage you need.

Bundle home and auto insurance

Some insurance companies offer both home and auto insurance. When you purchase both policies through the same insurance company, you can often tap into savings.^[8]

Look for discounts

“Look for any discounts that you may be eligible for, such as having a home security system, [or] having multiple policies,” says Rhett Stubbendeck, CPCU and CEO of LeverageRx, an insurance and financial planning company. Don’t hesitate to ask your insurer about any discounts on the table.

Raise your deductible

A higher deductible often leads to a lower premium. If you opt to raise your deductible, be ready to cover the cost of filing a claim at any time.

Read More: Selecting a Home Insurance Deductible

Comparison shop

It’s impossible to know if you’re getting a great deal without shopping around. Take a few minutes to compare quotes across multiple insurance companies to lock in the best rates.

Average home replacement cost in Pennsylvania

The replacement cost of your home considers the amount to replace or rebuild your home with similar building materials. The replacement cost is often different from the market value of your home. Some experts recommend getting insurance coverage for at least 80% of your home’s replacement cost.^[6]

Here’s a look at average home replacement costs by city:

Pennsylvania homeowners insurance FAQs