The Best Home Insurance in Connecticut for 2024

Chubb and NJM are among the best home insurance companies in Connecticut, according to our analysis.

We analyzed data from more than 30 insurance companies to help you find the best home insurance in Connecticut. Below are the insurers that earned 4.5 stars or more in our analysis. Rates are based on a sample homeowner with good credit, $300,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible.

Note: Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.

» MORE: The best home insurance companies

The best home insurance companies in Connecticut

Here's more information about the best homeowners insurance companies in Connecticut.

Amica stands out for its customer service and broad range of coverage options. The company has drawn far fewer consumer complaints to state regulators than expected for an insurer of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

You can customize your policy with extra coverage above your dwelling limit, in case your house costs more to rebuild than expected. You may also want to add coverage for damage from water backups or recovery from identity theft.

» READ MORE: Amica homeowners insurance review

Chubb caters to owners of high-value homes and draws far fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size, according to the NAIC. Its home insurance policies come with some great perks, including extended replacement cost coverage in case it costs more than your dwelling limit to rebuild your home after a disaster.

Chubb policyholders may also be able to take advantage of the company’s HomeScan service, which uses infrared cameras to look for problems behind the walls of your home.

» READ MORE: Chubb homeowners insurance review

NJM includes coverage that other companies typically charge extra for. For example, NJM will pay the full cost to rebuild your home even if it’s more than your dwelling limit. It will also pay enough for you to buy brand-new replacements for your belongings if they’re stolen or destroyed. (Many companies pay a lower amount based on depreciation.)

On top of its robust coverage options, NJM also stands out for customer service. It’s drawn far fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for an insurer of its size, according to the NAIC.

» READ MORE: NJM homeowners insurance review

The Andover Companies’ home insurance policies generally come with broader coverage for your belongings and more coverage for the structure of your home than a standard homeowners policy provides. (Note that most but not all homes qualify for this coverage.)

Most Andover policies also include a generous amount of ordinance or law coverage, which pays to upgrade your home to current building codes during repairs after a covered claim.

» READ MORE: Andover Companies homeowners insurance review

Cincinnati Insurance sells homeowners policies through independent agents, with various options for standard and high-value homes. You may be able to add coverage for things like identity theft, personal cyber attacks or certain types of water damage.

Cincinnati may offer you a discount for bundling home and auto insurance, having a newer home or installing a centrally monitored alarm system.

» READ MORE: Cincinnati Insurance homeowners insurance review

Farmers stands out for its lengthy list of discounts, including ones for installing protective systems like fire alarms and sprinklers, not smoking for the past two years, and paying your premium on time.

Add-on options include personal property replacement cost coverage, which will fully reimburse you for the cost of replacing a stolen, damaged or destroyed item. You may also want to buy coverage for water damage caused by backed-up drains or sewer lines.

» READ MORE: Farmers homeowners insurance review

The Hanover gives homeowners lots of choices. You can opt for an auto/home package, a policy designed for high-value homes or a standalone policy for a standard house. You can further customize your policy with a range of options such as guaranteed replacement cost coverage, which will pay as much as it takes to rebuild your home after a disaster.

The Hanover sells policies exclusively through local independent agents. That means online quotes aren’t available, but you can get personal service to help you choose the right coverage.

» READ MORE: Hanover homeowners insurance review

Nationwide’s standard homeowners policies include ordinance or law coverage, which pays to bring your home up to the latest building codes after a covered claim. They also include coverage for unauthorized credit or debit transactions. For an extra cost, you may be able to add coverage for things like water backup damage, identity theft and stronger materials to replace your roof.

Depending on how much personal assistance you need, you can get a quote for homeowners insurance on the Nationwide website or work with a local agent instead. You can also use the website to pay bills, file claims or check claim status.

» READ MORE: Nationwide homeowners insurance review

Openly’s default homeowners policy goes significantly beyond those of many other insurers. Most notably, it offers guaranteed replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home, which means the company will pay whatever it takes to rebuild your home if it’s destroyed.

Plus, if your things are stolen or destroyed, Openly will pay enough for you to buy brand-new replacements, rather than paying less for older items that have lost value over time. It also covers your belongings on an “open perils” basis, paying for damage from anything except scenarios your policy excludes. Most home insurance policies cover damage only from causes specifically named in your policy.

» READ MORE: Openly homeowners insurance review

As America’s largest home insurer, State Farm stands out for its long list of coverage options. Its policies generally include extra dwelling coverage in case it costs more than expected to rebuild your home after a covered disaster. You may also be able to add coverage for things like identity theft, damage from backed-up drains and personal injury liability.

State Farm offers a free Ting device as a perk for home insurance policyholders. Ting is a smart plug that monitors your home’s electrical network to help prevent fires.

» READ MORE: State Farm homeowners insurance review

Travelers offers a robust online experience. You can use the website to get a homeowners insurance quote, file and track claims, make payments, and learn about insurance basics.

Its coverage offerings are similarly strong. For example, you may be able to add extra coverage in case the dwelling limit on your home isn’t enough to rebuild your house after a disaster. One unique option is Travelers’ green home coverage, which pays extra if you want to use eco-friendly materials when repairing or rebuilding your home after a covered claim.

» READ MORE: Travelers homeowners insurance review

USAA sells homeowners insurance to veterans, active military members and their families. If that description fits you, you may want to consider a USAA policy. That’s because the company’s homeowners insurance has certain features that other insurers may charge extra for.

For example, USAA automatically covers your personal belongings on a replacement cost basis. Many companies pay out only what your items are worth at the time of the claim, which means you may not get much for older items. USAA pays enough for you to buy brand-new replacements for your stuff.

» READ MORE: USAA homeowners insurance review

How much does homeowners insurance cost in Connecticut?

The average annual cost of home insurance in Connecticut is $1,575. That’s 18% less than the national average of $1,915.

In most U.S. states, including Connecticut, many insurers use your credit-based insurance score to help set rates. Your insurance score is similar but not identical to your traditional credit score.

In Connecticut, those with poor credit pay an average of $3,095 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s 97% more than those with good credit, who pay $1,575.

» MORE: How your credit score affects homeowners insurance

Average cost of homeowners insurance in Connecticut by city

How much you pay for home insurance in Connecticut will depend on your ZIP code. For example, the average cost of homeowners insurance in Hartford is $1,540 a year, while homeowners in New Haven pay an average of $2,065 per year.

» MORE: What’s the average cost of homeowners insurance?

The cheapest home insurance in Connecticut

Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the Connecticut average of $1,575.

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Common risks for Connecticut homeowners

Here are a few things to keep in mind when evaluating home insurance options in Connecticut.

Winter weather

Heavy snow can collapse your roof, while frozen pipes and ice dams can cause water damage. A standard homeowners policy will generally cover these scenarios as long as you’ve taken steps to protect your home. For instance, your insurer may not cover damage from a frozen pipe if you turned off your heat while you were away from home.

However, some types of winter weather damage might require extra coverage. For example, your homeowners policy won’t pay for damage from melting snow that seeps into your basement. For that, you’d need separate flood insurance.

If it isn’t clear in your policy, contact your insurance agent to see what coverage you have for winter hazards.

» MORE: How to file a home insurance claim

Flooding

Most standard homeowners insurance policies won’t cover flooding from external sources such as heavy rain, overflowing bodies of water, tidal surges or melting snow. If your home is in a flood plain, your lender will likely require you to purchase flood insurance.

To assess your flood risk, look up your address on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood maps. However, FEMA’s maps don’t always capture all types of flood risk, so you may also want to check the website of the nonprofit First Street Foundation, which models climate risks. Enter your address in the top left corner to see your home’s flood risk rating on a scale of 1 to 10.

Note that while you can purchase flood coverage anytime, there’s typically a 30-day waiting period before the insurance takes effect.

» MORE: Why you might want flood insurance — even if it’s not required

Tropical storms and thunderstorms

While Connecticut is rarely in the direct path of hurricanes, it's still susceptible to tropical storms and thunderstorms that can cause flooding, as mentioned above, plus hail and heavy winds.

In Connecticut, your homeowners insurance policy will generally cover damage from high winds or hail, but you may have a separate wind deductible in your policy. This additional deductible can take the form of a flat rate, such as $1,000, or a percentage of your dwelling coverage. (A homeowners insurance deductible is the amount subtracted from your claim payout.)

For example, your policy may have a $1,000 deductible for most claims and a 1% deductible for wind claims. So if your house has $250,000 worth of dwelling coverage, you’d have to pay for the first $2,500 of wind damage yourself.

A hurricane deductible may also apply if your home experiences damage during a hurricane declared by the National Hurricane Center. Make sure to review your policy and understand your coverage limits if you live in a part of Connecticut with a higher risk of storm damage.

» MORE: Home insurance calculator: Estimate your rate

Connecticut insurance department

The Connecticut Insurance Department oversees the state’s insurance industry and has useful resources for consumers. For example, it provides an insurance company search tool and answers frequently asked questions about homeowners insurance in Connecticut.

You can file a complaint against your insurance company on the department's website, through email or by mail. You can also call its consumer hotline with insurance questions at 800-203-3447.