The Best Home Insurance in New Jersey for 2024

Chubb and NJM are among the best home insurance companies in New Jersey, according to NerdWallet's analysis.

We analyzed data from more than 30 insurance companies to help you find the best home insurance in New Jersey. 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 homeowners insurance

The best home insurance companies in New Jersey

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

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 in case it costs more than your dwelling limit to rebuild your home after a disaster.

If you insure a secondary or seasonal home in New Jersey with Chubb, you can sign up for the company’s Property Manager service at no charge. With this service, a Chubb representative will inspect your home after a hurricane, report its condition to you, submit a claim on your behalf and help prevent further damage.

» 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 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 water backup coverage, which applies if sewer lines or sump pumps back up and damage your home.

» READ MORE: Farmers home 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, 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

State Farm is a great choice for homeowners who like to work directly with a representative, as the company sells policies through a wide network of agents. And its attention to customer service has paid off; the company has fewer customer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.

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 New Jersey?

The average annual cost of home insurance in New Jersey is $1,150. That’s 40% less than the national average of $1,915.

In most U.S. states, including New Jersey, 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 New Jersey, those with poor credit pay an average of $2,240 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s 95% more than those with good credit.

» MORE: Does your credit score affect home insurance rates?

Average cost of homeowners insurance in New Jersey by city

The cost of your policy depends on where you live in New Jersey. For example, the average cost of homeowners insurance in Newark is $1,260 per year, on average, while homeowners in Piscataway and Edison pay less than $900 per year, on average.

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

The cheapest home insurance in New Jersey

Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the New Jersey average of $1,150.

» MORE: The cheapest homeowners insurance

Common risks for New Jersey homeowners

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

Hurricanes and tropical storms

To protect yourself financially from hurricanes and tropical storms, you’ll need insurance for both wind and flood damage. While most homeowners insurance policies cover wind damage, they generally don’t cover flooding. If you live near the coast or in another area prone to flooding, you may want to buy separate flood insurance. (Depending on where you live, your mortgage lender may even require it.)

» MORE: Why you might need flood insurance even if it's not required

If New Jersey, your homeowners policy may have a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible that’s higher than your general deductible for other types of claims.

A windstorm or hurricane deductible is typically a percentage of your home’s dwelling coverage rather than a flat dollar amount. So if your home is insured for $300,000 with a 5% deductible, you’ll have to pay for the first $15,000 of damage from a storm. To find your deductibles, check your homeowners declarations page or call your agent.

» MORE: Complete guide to hurricane insurance

Winter storms

Winter weather can cause a variety of problems for your home, including bursting pipes and fallen trees. A standard homeowners policy often covers damage due to snow or ice, though it depends on the circumstances.

For example, damage resulting from a burst pipe might not be covered if you were away from home and left the thermostat set too low. If heavy snow knocks a tree onto your roof, that damage would likely be covered. But if the tree simply falls in your yard, your policy may not pay to remove it.

Tornadoes

A standard homeowners policy covers damage to your home due to windstorms, which include tornadoes. However, it may not cover damage to your trees or landscaping. Learn more about homeowners insurance and tornadoes.

Leaking oil tanks

If your property has an underground storage tank for heating oil, you may want to check your homeowners policy to see what coverage you have. These oil tanks may leak, requiring expensive cleanup and potentially putting you at risk of a lawsuit if the damage spreads beyond your property line.

Some New Jersey homeowners insurance companies will charge you extra if you have an underground storage tank. They may also refuse to pay for damage on your property if the tank leaks. You may be able to get a certain amount of liability coverage for the tank. That means if someone sues you because a leak causes damage to their property, the company would help cover the costs.

New Jersey department of insurance

New Jersey’s Department of Banking and Insurance can help policyholders who have questions or complaints about their homeowners insurance. You can get information online or call the agency’s consumer hotline at 800-446-7467.

By law, you must receive a one-page coverage summary when you buy or renew your New Jersey homeowners insurance policy. This document explains what your policy does and doesn’t cover.

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