The Best and Cheapest Homeowners Insurance in Wisconsin (2024)
Erie offers the cheapest home insurance in Wisconsin, at an average of $862 per year.
Compare Home Insurance Quotes in Wisconsin
Best Cheap Home Insurance in WI
To find the cheapest home insurance in Wisconsin, ValuePenguin collected thousands of quotes across more than 700 ZIP codes from 16 of the state's top home insurance companies.
To find the best insurance companies in WI, our experts compared each company's cost, customer service quality and coverage options.
Cheapest home insurance quotes in WI
Erie offers the cheapest home insurance rates in Wisconsin.
The company's average rate is $862 per year for $350,000 of dwelling coverage. That's $532 per year less than the overall state average, $1,394 per year.
Compare Home Insurance Quotes in Wisconsin
If you have an expensive home, Wisconsin Mutual is one of the cheapest and best home insurance companies in Wisconsin. For $1 million in dwelling coverage, you'll pay an average of $1,222. That's around one-third of the Wisconsin state average.
Best cheap homeowners insurance in WI by dwelling coverage amount
$200,000
$350,000
$500,000
$1 million
Company | Annual rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $573 | |
| Farm Bureau | $655 | |
| State Farm | $674 | |
| American Family | $748 | |
| Hastings Mutual | $775 | ||
$200,000
Company | Annual rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| Erie | $573 | |
|
| Farm Bureau | $655 | |
|
| State Farm | $674 | |
|
| American Family | $748 | |
| Hastings Mutual | $775 | ||
$350,000
Company | Annual rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| Erie | $862 | |
|
| State Farm | $970 | |
|
| Farm Bureau | $1,043 | |
| Hastings Mutual | $1,137 | ||
|
| American Family | $1,155 | |
$500,000
Company | Annual rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| Erie | $1,154 | |
|
| State Farm | $1,284 | |
| Wisconsin Mutual | $1,411 | |
|
| Farm Bureau | $1,431 | |
| Hastings Mutual | $1,497 | ||
$1 million
Company | Annual rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| Wisconsin Mutual | $1,222 | |
|
| Erie | $2,119 | |
|
| State Farm | $2,193 | |
| Hastings Mutual | $2,698 | ||
|
| Farm Bureau | $2,725 | |
What home insurance coverage do I need in WI?
Snow and tornados are two common weather events Wisconsin homeowners need to be ready for.
Most basic home insurance covers damage from both. However, if pipes are not protected properly from freezing cold temperatures your policy might not pay for the damage.
Best home insurance in Wisconsin for most people: Erie
-
Editor's rating
- Cost: $862/yr
Erie offers top-flight customer service along with the lowest rates in Wisconsin.
Pros:
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Cheapest quotes in Wisconsin
-
Basic policy includes extra coverage
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Good customer service service
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Affordable car insurance if you bundle
Cons:
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Few options for discounts
-
Cannot buy a policy fully online
Erie delivers a great combination of low rates, strong customer service and useful coverage that comes with every policy.
Home insurance from Erie includes replacement cost coverage, which will pay for new replacements for your damaged things. It also has more expansive coverage for valuables and your animals than other insurance companies.
Erie has the cheapest coverage in Wisconsin, as well. Rates are at least one-third less than the state average for a range of home values. You can also save if you bundle with Erie car insurance, which is one of the best car insurances in Wisconsin.
You'll also get some of the best customer service in the state with Erie. The company receives few complaints from customers and is well-rated by J.D. Power.
One drawback is that you can’t buy your policy fully online. You'll have to speak to an agent at some point.
Best national company for Wisconsin homeowners: State Farm
-
Editor's rating
- Cost: $970/yr
State Farm is an affordable option in Wisconsin, with the reliability of a national company.
Pros:
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Some of the cheapest rates in WI
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Cheap rates if you bundle with auto
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Reliability of a national company
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Many local agents
Cons:
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Fewer options for discounts or extra coverage
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Likely need to work with an agent to buy a policy
State Farm has some of the lowest home insurance quotes in Wisconsin and the stability of being the largest home and auto insurance company in the country.
State Farm's home insurance rates are between 27% and 34% cheaper than the state average. That stands out most with more valuable homes, ones that might cost $1 million to rebuild.
You'll also have the backing of one of the most stable and reliable companies in the country. State Farm generally has good customer service and you'll almost assuredly have a local agent to help you through claims.
But State Farm continues to rely on agents, which means you'll likely need to speak to one to buy your policy. You can, however, get a quote online.
State Farm also doesn't have the widest set of extra coverage options. If you want to really personalize your policy, you should also look at other companies.
Best homeowners insurance for extra coverage in Wisconsin: America-Family
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Editor's rating
- Cost: $1,155/yr
American Family offers a wide range of coverage options to customize your policy.
Pros:
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Many options to add extra coverage
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Lots discounts
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Cheaper than average rates
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Good customer service
Cons:
-
Not the cheapest rates
American Family offers customers a range of extra coverage options to customize a policy.
Regular coverage will protect the structure of your house and your stuff inside from various kinds of damage. But that might not be enough coverage, depending on your circumstances. For example, if you want to start being a VRBO or AirBnB host, you would need American Family's short-term rental coverage, which will protect your property if you're renting it out for up to 62 days.
American Family extra coverages
- Equipment breakdown coverage
- Hidden water damage
- Roof damage
- Matching undamaged siding
- Sewer backup coverage
- Inland flood coverage
- Vacation home coverage
- Identity Protection
- Itemized personal property
- Senior living protection
American Family also offers some of the best customer service in Wisconsin. The Madison-based company gets a low rate of complaints, according to the NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners).
If you want the cheapest coverage, AmFam might not be the best option.
Although the company has rates that are cheaper than average, Erie, State Farm and Farm Bureau are often even cheaper.
Best WI home insurance for an expensive home: Wisconsin Mutual
-
Editor's rating
- Cost: $1,222/yr for $1 million in coverage
Wisconsin Mutual has some of the state's cheapest rates for expensive homes.
Pros:
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Low rates for pricey homes
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Few customer complaints
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Coverage for vacation homes and hobby farmers
Cons:
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No online quotes
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Few discount options
Wisconsin Mutual is the state's cheapest option if you have a house that would be expensive to rebuild after a disaster.
Rates for $1 million in dwelling coverage average $1,222 per year. That's around one third the overall price in the state.
Wisconsin Mutual also offers a wide range of extra coverage options, including some unusual ones. For example, you can get "Country Home" coverage which covers hobby type farms and offers protections for farm buildings and some farm operations.
The biggest drawback with Wisconsin Mutual is that it’s a smaller, local company, so it doesn't offer quotes online and has a relatively limited set of discount options.
Average home insurance cost in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, the average cost of home insurance is $1,394 per year.
Average rates in Wisconsin are 35% cheaper than the national average cost of home insurance, which is $2,151 per year.
Average cost of home insurance in WI by dwelling coverage amount
Dwelling coverage | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $900 |
| $350,000 | $1,394 |
| $500,000 | $1,843 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,345 |
Wisconsin home insurance is considerably cheaper than many neighboring states. In Minnesota, the average rate is $2,191 per year. In Illinois, it's $2,133 per year.
Homeowners insurance quotes in Wisconsin by city
Sheboygan, a lakefront town north of Milwaukee, has the cheapest home insurance in Wisconsin.
The average rate for a policy with $350,000 of dwelling coverage is $1,141 per year.
Osceola, a village on the St. Croix River and Minnesota border, has the most expensive rates at $1,719 per year. This may be because of the risks of river flooding. Many of the most expensive towns and cities are in the western part of the state near water sources.
Cost of WI home insurance by city
City | Annual rate | % from avg |
|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford | $1,388 | 0% |
| Abrams | $1,313 | -6% |
| Adams | $1,497 | 7% |
| Adell | $1,171 | -16% |
| Afton | $1,414 | 1% |
Rates are for a policy with $350,000 of dwelling coverage.
Milwaukee, the largest city in the state, has rates that are middle-of-the-road, only 3% more than the state average. Madison, the second-largest city, has average rates that are 8% cheaper than the state overall.
Best-rated Wisconsin home insurance companies
Erie and USAA are the best rated Wisconsin home insurance companies for customer service.
Both companies receive relatively few customer complaints and are well-rated by J.D. Power. They also were rated well by ValuePenguin's editors, who consider service metrics, coverage options and rates.
However, USAA is only available to people with military connections. That includes current servicemembers, veterans and qualifying members of military families.
Wisconsin home insurance company reviews
Company |
Rating
|
Complaints
|
|---|---|---|
| Erie | Low | |
| USAA | Low | |
| State Farm | Average | |
| Auto-Owners | Low | |
| AAA | Low |
It's crucially important to look at customer service reviews when looking for the best homeowners insurance in Wisconsin.
Good customer service means a smoother process when you need to replace things or fix your home after they are damaged. Bad customer service is not only frustrating, it might also lead you to spend more money out-of-pocket on repairs and replacement items if coverage details aren’t explained to you correctly.
What home insurance do I need in Wisconsin?
Damage from heavy snowfall and tornadoes are two of the most important things home insurance needs to cover in Wisconsin.
Fortunately, most home insurance will cover damage from both snow and wind.
Does WI home insurance cover snow damage?
Wisconsin sees a large amount of snowfall every year. Much of the state sees an average of 40 to 50 inches each year, with some areas getting more than 100 inches at times. Your home insurance will usually cover damage snow can cause to your roof or the rest of your home.
But you may not have coverage if you don't do enough to prevent pipes or other parts of your home from freezing. Your company may decide damage because of a broken pipe or to a pool was preventable.
Does home insurance in WI cover tornados?
Yes, most home insurance in the state covers damage from tornadoes. That's important if you live in Wisconsin because your home is more likely to be damaged by a tornado.
Wisconsin has had an average of 24 tornadoes per year since 1999, according to the National Weather Service.
Your insurance will most likely cover damage caused by the wind, flying objects and falling trees. But it never hurts to double check and consider extended replacement cost coverage, which will pay out more to rebuild your home if it's badly damaged.
How to get cheaper home insurance in Wisconsin
The best way to get cheaper home insurance in Wisconsin is to compare quotes from different companies, look for discounts and adjust your coverages.
Looking at multiple companies and comparing rates is usually the best way to make sure you're getting the lowest price for the home insurance you need.
Shopping around can really pay off. In Wisconsin, the gap between rates from the cheapest and most expensive home insurance companies n is $1,273 per year .
Just about every home insurance company will offer some home insurance discounts that can lower your bills.
The biggest discount usually comes from bundling aa car insurance policy with home coverage. You can also often get a discount on property insurance in Wisconsin from improving your home, like making it more resistant to fire.
If you lower your coverage limits or raise your deductible, you will almost always lower your home insurance quotes.
You should always keep in mind that your deductible needs to be low enough to pay in an emergency. If your deductible is higher, you'll get less money to repair your home if it's damaged.
The best way to lower your coverage limits is to look for any coverage extras you might not need. Just make sure your limits are high enough to pay the cost of rebuilding your home and buy new stuff it it's all damaged.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Wisconsin home insurance?
Eire and USAA have the best homeowners insurance in Wisconsin. Both have good customer service and cheap rates. However, you can only get USAA coverage if you're a military member or a qualifying family member.
What is the average cost of homeowners insurance in Wisconsin?
The average cost of homeowners insurance in Wisconsin is $1,394 per year. That's around $116 per month for $350,000 of dwelling coverage. The Wisconsin average is one third cheaper than the national average cost of home insurance, $2,151 per year.
Is homeowners insurance required in Wisconsin?
Home insurance isn't required in Wisconsin or in most other states. However, you'll almost always need a policy if you have a mortgage because your lender wants to protect a home it partially owns. It's also extremely risky not to have coverage.
What is the cheapest home insurance in Wisconsin?
Erie has the cheapest home insurance in Wisconsin, with an average rate of $862 per year for $350,000 of coverage. That's $532 per year less than the state average.
How much is home insurance in Milwaukee?
Home insurance in Milwaukee costs an average of $1,434 per year. That's 3% more expensive than the state average overall
Methodology
ValuePenguin collected and analyzed
To find the best homeowners insurance in Arizona, ValuePenguin collected quotes from 16 top companies across every residential ZIP code Wisconsin to find the cheapest rates. Quotes are for a 45-year-old married man with no prior insurance claims.
Coverage limits
- Dwelling coverage: $200,000, $350,000, $500,000 or $1 million
- Personal liability: $100,000
- Medical payments: $5,000
- Deductible: $1,000
Rate information was collected using data from Quadrant Information Services. Prices are publicly sourced from insurer filings. They should be used for comparative purposes only.
Data from the J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey, and ValuePenguin's ratings were combined to create home insurance ratings.
Snowfall statistics are from the National Weather Service as are Tornado statistics.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.