Pennsylvania homeowners pay an average of $786 per year for $250,000 in dwelling coverage, which is in the lower range of premiums compared to the national average. But price alone doesn’t tell the full story. In addition to low premiums, the best homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania offer superior customer service and robust coverage to insure your home, belongings and personal liability. To help you find the best home insurance companies, Bankrate researched dozens of Pennsylvania home insurance carriers to give you a curated selection of the very best options.

How Bankrate chose the best home insurance companies in Pennsylvania

Finding the best home insurance companies in Pennsylvania starts with developing a metric to grade companies. Bankrate’s insurance experts analyzed dozens of home insurance carriers based on average rate data, policy options and discounts, online accessibility and more. We also collected information on insurers’ performance in customer service rankings by J.D. Power and financial strength ratings from AM Best.

To summarize our findings, we developed our proprietary Bankrate Score. Carriers are rated on a five-point scale based on their performance in key categories, including financial strength, customer satisfaction, national availability, coverage options and discounts, and digital policy management tools. Home insurance companies that performed well in these categories earned a higher overall Bankrate Score — the highest possible being 5 out of 5 points. You can use these Scores to quickly analyze carriers and narrow down which ones you might want to request quotes from.

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    Methodology

    Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2022 current rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on 40-year-old male and female homeowners with a clean claim history, good credit and the following coverage limits:

    • Coverage A, Dwelling: $150,000, $250,000, $350,000, $450,000, $750,000
    • Coverage B, Other Structures: $15,000, $25,000, $35,000, $45,000, $75,000
    • Coverage C, Personal Property: $75,000, $125,000, $175,000, $225,000, $375,000
    • Coverage D, Loss of Use: $30,000, $50,000, $70,000, $90,000, $150,000
    • Coverage E, Liability: $300,000, $300,000, $300,000, $300,000, $500,000
    • Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000

    The homeowners also have a $1,000 deductible and a separate wind and hail deductible (if required).

    These are sample rates and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes will differ.

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    Bankrate Score

    Bankrate Scores are calculated on a five-point scale and primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry-standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience in addition to analysis of quoted annual premiums from Quadrant Information Services, spanning all 50 states and Washington, D.C. We know it is important for homeowners to be confident their financial protection covers the likeliest risks, is priced competitively and is provided by a financially-sound company with a history of positive customer support.

    To determine how well the best home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, S&P, NAIC, and Moody’s had the most impact on the companies’ Bankrate Scores. As price is a common consideration for homeowners, we analyzed quoted premiums based on 40-year-old male and female homeowners with a home policy with $250,000 in dwelling coverage. This profile, assessed across nearly 35,000 ZIP codes in the U.S., provided a basis on which homeowners may compare each provider.

    While coverage options, insurer availability, affordability and customer experience are often the top priorities, Bankrate also analyzed each insurer’s online and mobile resources for policy management and claims handling. Insurance is rapidly evolving to keep pace with our digital world, so these aspects also carried weight in determining Bankrate Scores.

Best home insurance companies in Pennsylvania

On average, the cost of homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania is $786 per year for $250,00 in dwelling coverage. To see how the largest home insurance companies by market share in Pennsylvania compared to this figure, we obtained current premium information from Quadrant Information Services. We also analyzed each provider’s J.D. Power score, AM Best financial strength rating, available coverage, discounts and policy features.

Based on our findings, USAA, Erie and Chubb offer some of the best homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania. But if you’re looking for other options, the full list is below and might give you a good place to start:

*Not officially ranked with J.D. Power due to eligibility restrictions

**Average rates are for annual policies with $250,000 in dwelling coverage

USAA

Best for: Military-specific home insurance needs

USAA scored the highest in the 2021 J.D. Power Home Insurance Study, although it is not eligible for ranking due to its membership-based policies. USAA provides typical standard home insurance coverage and add-ons that customers can choose from. However, only active or former military members and their families have access to USAA’s insurance policies and exclusive benefits. Active personnel and family stationed at one of the Army or Navy bases in Pennsylvania may qualify for USAA membership. Veterans and retired members of the Armed Forces can also join.

Learn more: USAA Insurance review

Erie

Best for: Pennsylvania-centric home insurance

Because Erie is a Pennsylvania-based regional insurer, its agents may be more familiar with the needs of homeowners in the state than larger carriers. Founded in 1925, Erie currently has offices in eight Pennsylvania cities, including Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Allentown and Harrisburg. The company maintains an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best, indicating its sound financial position. However, Erie did score below average in the 2022 J.D. Power Insurance Digital Experience Study “Service” category, which may be due to its lack of an insurance app offering.

Learn more: Erie Insurance review

Chubb

Best for: Stacking home insurance discounts

Chubb home insurance did exceedingly well in the 2021 J.D. Power U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study, earning a score of 896 out of 1,000 and finishing third amongst all U.S. property insurers. However, it could not sustain its high rank in the 2022 Property Claims Study or in the 2021 Home Insurance Study. While the company’s rates are not the cheapest in the state, the carrier specializes in feature-rich home insurance for higher-value properties. Discounts can be earned for different scenarios, like bundling home and auto insurance, being claims-free, installing security devices and more. Chubb could be an excellent option for high-net-worth homeowners in Pennsylvania who are in search of robust home insurance coverage.

Learn more: Chubb Insurance review

Nationwide

Best for: Optional roof endorsements

Nationwide’s home insurance policy comes with many optional add-ons that could be useful for homeowners with a high-value or new home. For example, its Better Roof Replacement endorsement ensures that if your roof is damaged due to a covered claim, you could replace the roof with stronger and safer roofing materials. Before moving forward with coverage, you may want to consider Nationwide’s low customer satisfaction score from the 2021 J.D. Power Homeowners Insurance Study, which indicates that surveyed customers were mostly ineffectively satisfied with the service received from the company.

Learn more: Nationwide Insurance review

PURE

Best for: Flexibility for insuring high-value homes

PURE is another home insurance carrier tailored to high-value and luxury homes. It offers flexible options for rebuilding your home, and its guaranteed home replacement cost means that even if your home’s repairs exceed the dwelling coverage limit of your policy, you can still rebuild your home to the same standard before the covered loss. There are other options as well, like a waiver of deductible, jewelry coverage, sewer and drain backup coverage and more. Because of all these extra benefits, PURE’s average cost of homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania may be more expensive than some of its competitors.

Learn more: PURE Insurance review

How much is homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania?

The average homeowners insurance policy in Pennsylvania costs $786 per year for $250,000 in dwelling coverage. This is significantly lower than the national average annual premium of $1,383. Pennsylvania homeowners also pay less than homeowners in neighboring states such as New York, where the average premium is $1,289 annually, and Maryland, where coverage costs $1,136 annually. Low insurance premiums in Pennsylvania could be partially the result of the state’s low average home value and cost of living compared to other states.

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  Pennsylvania homeowners insurance rates by city

  Pennsylvania city	Average annual premium for $250K dwelling coverage
  Allentown	$676
  Erie	$761
  Reading	$660
  Philadelphia	$1,132
  Pittsburgh	$757

Home insurance in Pennsylvania

Every state has unique considerations when it comes to home insurance. In Pennsylvania, natural disasters are relatively common, which can affect the average cost of coverage in your area. Understanding the common causes of loss in Pennsylvania might help you choose appropriate coverage limits.

Common causes of loss in Pennsylvania

Homeowners insurance companies in the state of Pennsylvania incurred nearly $15 billion in losses in 2020, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). Pennsylvania has numerous perils and hazards homeowners should be prepared for. When shopping for home insurance, consider the following perils that are most common across the state:

• Fires: Parts of Pennsylvania are mountainous regions or heavily wooded. During drier times of the year, fire risk is higher. Residents who live in areas at risk for wildfires should be most vigilant during spring and autumn.
• Frozen pipes: Cold winters and older homes may cause pipes to freeze and burst. Insulating pipes, even with newspaper, could help prevent damage, according to Pennsylvania American Water.
• Snowstorms: Heavy snow events occur regularly during the winter months in Pennsylvania and nor’easters and blizzards that can generate two feet or more of snow are possible. Heavy snow can cause damage to roofs, which can then lead to interior damage.
• Floods: Pennsylvania experienced extensive flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida in summer 2021. Parts of Schuylkill, Lebanon and Dauphin counties are particularly vulnerable to heavy flooding.

There may also be additional perils that are not covered by a standard Pennsylvania homeowners insurance policy and may require additional coverage. Consider speaking to your insurance professional to make sure you are covered against common perils in your area.

Home insurance coverage options in Pennsylvania

Residents of the Keystone State may want to consider home insurance add-ons that protect their property and belongings against the state’s unique perils. Some coverage types that Pennsylvania homeowners might consider include:

• Flood insurance: Flood insurance coverage typically has to be purchased separately since flood-related damages are not covered by a standard home policy. Flood coverage is offered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance (NFIP) program and through some private insurers. If you live in a high-risk flood zone, a flood policy may be required.
• Replacement cost coverage: Opting for replacement cost coverage could provide you with enough coverage to purchase a new version of damaged or destroyed personal property at today’s cost. Additionally, you might be eligible for replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home, which could help to fully cover rebuilding costs if your house is destroyed.
• Sinkhole insurance: Pennsylvania is amongst the six states most vulnerable to sinkhole However, the damage is not covered through a standard home insurance policy. Adding sinkhole coverage could save you tens of thousands of dollars should one damage your property.
• Water backup coverage: Some water damage is automatically covered by home insurance policies. But if water backs up in a sewer or drain line and damages your home, you have to have this endorsement to have coverage.

Frequently asked questions

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    What is the best homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania?

    Usaa, Erie, Chubb, Nationwide and PURE are among the best Pennsylvania homeowners insurance companies, according to Bankrate’s analysis. To find out which carrier most suits your needs and home insurance budget, it’s recommended to request quotes from multiple carriers. Try to make sure that in your initial quotes, all coverage and policy limits are the same so you can compare most accurately. This way, if a carrier offers you a cheaper price for your desired coverage, you can ensure it isn’t because the quote had lower limits or missing coverage.

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    How do I get homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania?

    To obtain quotes from Pennsylvania homeowners insurance companies, you can start online, call the company or work with a local insurance agent. For a home insurance quote, you’ll need your name, address, date of birth and potentially your Social Security number. You’ll also need to provide some basic information about your home, including the year it was built, how old the roof is and details about any custom features. Once you have a quote and want to purchase the policy, a company representative can walk you through the next steps.

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    Will my Pennsylvania homeowners insurance cover flooding?

    Standard Pennsylvania homeowners insurance policies do not typically cover flooding. However, you could ask your insurance professional about options to purchase a separate flood insurance policy. Many companies can help you purchase a policy from the NFIP, but some carriers also offer private flood insurance.