Best Homeowners Insurance in Wisconsin (2024)
American Family, Erie and Farmers are the best home insurance companies in Wisconsin.
Erie has the cheapest home insurance rates of these three companies, but American Family and Farmers offer coverage options and discounts that could make up the difference for some.
Cheapest home insurance companies in Wisconsin
| Company | Average rate |
|---|---|
| Erie Insurance | $1,222 |
| American Family | $1,493 |
| USAA | $1,673 |
| Travelers | $1,738 |
| State Farm | $1,813 |
| Allstate | $2,113 |
| Farmers | $2,788 |
Erie, American Family and USAA are the cheapest homeowners insurance companies in Wisconsin.
Erie offers the state’s cheapest premiums overall, at an average of $1,222 a year, or $102 a month. American Family’s average rate isn’t too far behind, though, at $1,493 a year, or $124 a month.
Although USAA’s average premium is also lower than the state average, not everyone can buy home insurance from USAA. Only active or veteran military members and their families can get insurance from USAA.
One of the best ways to get the cheapest premium for your situation is to compare home insurance quotes from several companies before you buy or renew a policy.
Best home insurance companies in Wisconsin
American Family, Erie and Farmers are the best Wisconsin home insurance companies based on their low rates, coverage options and/or discounts.
| Company | Best for | Average rate | Customer satisfaction (higher is better) | Complaint index (lower is better) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Family | Coverage options | $1,493 | 813 (below average) | 0.49 (above average) |
| Erie | Cheap rates | $1,222 | 856 (above average) | 0.50 (above average) |
| Farmers | Discounts | $2,788 | 800 (below average) | 0.62 (above average) |
Sources: J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Home Insurance Study and 2023 complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
Best overall home insurance company in Wisconsin: American Family
American Family is the best home insurance company in Wisconsin, because of its winning combination of low rates, discounts, coverages and ratings.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Second-cheapest average home insurance rate Several discounts that could bring down your payment even more Widest range of optional coverages among companies surveyed Good complaint rating | Customer satisfaction rating could be better |
Best cheap home insurance rates in Wisconsin: Erie
Erie is the best company for cheap home insurance in Wisconsin, with premiums that average $1,222 a year.
This is 43% cheaper than the state average premium, which is $2,159 a year. It’s also 18% lower than the state’s second-cheapest company, American Family.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Cheapest home insurance rates in the state, on average Standard policies include guaranteed replacement cost coverage at no extra charge Offers extended water coverage, which provides limited flood protection Excellent customer satisfaction and complaint ratings | Offers fewer home insurance discounts than most competitors Not as many add-on coverages as most competitors, too |
Best Wisconsin home insurance discounts: Farmers
Although Farmers’ average home insurance premium is the highest of the companies we surveyed in Wisconsin, it offers numerous discounts that could make it the cheapest for you. Some of Farmers’ many discounts:
- Bundle a home and auto, life, umbrella, small business or specialty policy with Farmers
- Install protective devices like fire alarms or a security system in your home
- Go at least three consecutive years without filing a claim
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Widest range of discounts among companies surveyed Good complaint rating | High average home insurance rate Not as many add-on coverages as some competitors Customer satisfaction rating is poor |
Best Wisconsin home insurance company for coverage options: American Family
Along with its low average home insurance rate, which is just behind Erie’s, American Family offers an impressive assortment of coverage options to its customers. A few that stand out:
- Matching undamaged siding
- Hidden water damage
- Identity protection
- Senior living protection
How much is home insurance in Wisconsin?
The average cost of home insurance in Wisconsin is $2,159 a year, or $180 a month. This is based on a typical home with a dwelling limit of $400,000.
If the dwelling limit of your home insurance policy is lower than $400,000, you’ll usually pay less than this amount. If your dwelling limit is higher, you’ll likely pay more.
Wisconsin home insurance rates by coverage amount
| Dwelling limit | Average rate |
|---|---|
| $350,000 | $1,912 |
| $400,000 | $2,159 |
| $450,000 | $2,394 |
Dwelling coverage helps pay to repair or rebuild the structure of your home if a covered peril like fire, lightning, hail or vandalism damages or destroys it.
Wisconsin home insurance rates by city
Among the 15 largest cities in Wisconsin, Sheboygan homeowners pay the lowest average home insurance rates, at $1,703 a year, or $142 a month.
La Crosse homeowners pay the highest home insurance rates, on average, of the state’s biggest cities, at $2,304 a year, or $192 a month.
| City | Average rate |
|---|---|
| Appleton | $1,895 |
| Eau Claire | $2,268 |
| Fond du Lac | $1,867 |
| Green Bay | $1,889 |
| Janesville | $2,131 |
| Kenosha | $1,962 |
| La Crosse | $2,304 |
| Madison | $2,127 |
| Milwaukee | $2,196 |
| Oshkosh | $1,889 |
| Racine | $2,049 |
| Sheboygan | $1,703 |
| Waukesha | $1,922 |
| Wauwatosa | $1,893 |
| West Allis | $1,875 |
The average cost of homeowners insurance in Milwaukee is $2,196 a year, or $183 a month. The average rate in Madison is $2,127 a year, or $177 a month.
Frequently asked questions
Wisconsin law doesn’t require you to buy home insurance. Most lenders do require it, though — so If you get a mortgage for your home, you’ll usually need to buy it. Your lender may also make you get flood insurance if your home is in a flood zone.
Home insurance in Wisconsin covers damage to your home and property from perils like fire, hail, wind, falling objects and burst pipes. It also covers vandalism and theft.
However, home insurance doesn’t usually cover damage caused by floods, earthquakes, mine subsidence, sinkholes or other earth movements.
Some of the best ways to get cheap home insurance in Wisconsin or anywhere else are to:
- See if you qualify for any discounts
- Raise your home insurance deductible
- Compare quotes from several different companies
If you aren’t sure which discounts you may qualify for, contact your agent and ask.
In addition, before you raise your policy’s deductible, make sure you can afford to pay the higher amount if you need to file a claim. If you can’t, there’s no point in raising the deductible.