The Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Connecticut
Connecticut experiences some extreme weather, from frigid Nor’easters to coastal summer floods. That means unique seasonal property challenges; including frozen pipes, water damage, and hurricane-force winds. These fluctuations, along with rising property values, have led to higher home insurance premiums in Connecticut than many other states.
Of course, the age of your home and its specific location will affect your individual premium. But no matter where you live, it’s important to find a homeowners policy that balances reasonable pricing with great coverage and reliable service. We evaluated offerings from the top insurance companies in the state to help you get started.
How We Found the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Connecticut
We took an in-depth look at Connecticut’s five largest home insurance providers by market share: Liberty Mutual, Chubb, Travelers, State Farm, and Allstate. Using our review of the best national homeowners insurance as a guide, we ranked both their coverage and quality of service. That meant checking financial backing with the independent ratings agency A.M. Best, as well as customer service scores from Consumer Reports and J.D. Power. We also looked closely at each company’s coverage and discount options to see who had the most well-rounded offerings.
The Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Connecticut
Connecticut Homeowners Insurance Reviews
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual is the largest provider of home insurance in Connecticut, with more than 11% of the state’s market share. Beyond that, it’s one of the top-rated home insurance companies nationwide. An “A” from A.M. Best means it has solid financial backing, and 3/5 stars from J.D. Power shows reliable customer service. Plus, Liberty Mutual holds the highest Consumer Reports score of any company on this list. This indicates a smooth claims process and fair payouts — and less stress if you need to work with your insurer after a disaster.
We appreciate Liberty Mutual’s informative, streamlined website, which makes it easy to learn about coverage and discount options. The company’s online quote tool is also exceptionally thorough; it goes into detail about utilities, home improvements, even lifestyle questions (like whether you own a trampoline). This level of attention made us confident that we were receiving an accurate price estimate.
Liberty Mutual offers a great mobile app, too. It can be used to get a quote, make payments, manage your policy, and even view your ID card (in case you ever misplace it). The app is also very convenient for uploading pictures and filing insurance claims straight from your mobile device.
Chubb
Chubb is almost equal to Liberty Mutual for Connecticut market share, with about 11% of the state’s business. However, this company caters to a much more niche audience: namely, wealthy homeowners and collectors. Chubb’s specialty home insurance covers things like fine arts, expensive jewelry, and furs, in addition to the standard property and liability coverage.
If you need protection for these types of things — and don’t mind paying for it — then Chubb is an excellent choice. The company earns superior financial stability ratings, with an “A++” from A.M. Best. It also took home 3/5 stars from J.D. Power, putting its customer service on par with much larger companies like Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and Travelers.
That said, Chubb’s resources are a little underwhelming. Its website offers little information about coverage and discount options and there’s no way to request a quote online. You’ll have to contact an agent directly if you want to learn more about what this company has to offer.
Travelers
Travelers is another popular insurer in Connecticut, and a solid choice by our standards. J.D. Power respondents give Travelers 3/5 stars — the same as Allstate, Chubb, and Liberty Mutual — meaning it can be trusted for reliable customer service and fair pricing. Plus, it earns an impressive “A++” financial score from A.M. Best. That means Travelers is guaranteed to pay out, even if a large-scale disaster hits multiple insured homes in your area.
Travelers also has a few standout coverage options that we appreciate. First off, it’s the only company on this list with specialized insurance for green homes. This guarantees that your home will be repaired to LEED standards, using environmentally-friendly materials, if a covered damage occurs. We also like the option to include insurance for sewer damage or sump pump overflow, something not all companies will cover.
Besides providing great coverage, Travelers shows consistently affordable pricing in our quote comparisons. In fact, it was the cheapest option for our sample home in Connecticut. Pricing won’t look the same for everyone, but it’s worth requesting a quote to see what this company can offer you.
State Farm
State Farm is a strong insurance provider across the board. Its home insurance policies come backed by “A”-rated financials and reliable customer service. J.D. Power respondents even awarded the company 4/5 stars, a hard-to-get satisfaction score that no other company on this list achieved.
Good ratings aside, we like how easy State Farm makes it to purchase your home insurance policy. The company’s website is straightforward and informative, with helpful descriptions of its coverage types and available discounts. State Farm also does a great job explaining the difference between a home’s market value (what you paid for it) and its replacement value (the amount for which you should insure it) — even going the extra mile to help you determine your home’s replacement value with its 360Value tool.
It’s worth mentioning that State Farm returned higher quotes on our sample home than Connecticut’s other top providers. That said, its quote process was a little less detailed than some. There’s a chance that speaking with an an agent could turn up discount opportunities that the online quote process missed. We’d recommend checking in with a live rep to see how State Farm’s prices stack up for you.
Allstate
Allstate is a mainstay in Connecticut, and one of our favorite home insurance providers overall. Along with strong ratings — “A+” from A.M. Best, 3/5 customer satisfaction points from J.D. Power, and a “very good” from Consumer Reports — this company stands out for its exceptional online resources.
We especially like Allstate’s Common and Costly Claims tool: Just enter your zip code, and the site will reveal the most common home insurance claims in your area. This knowledge is extremely helpful when it comes to choosing the right kinds of coverage for your home. We also appreciate how its learning center covers the basics of homeowners insurance and gives easy-to-understand FAQ answers. These tools make it simple to select a policy and choose great coverage, no matter what level of insurance know-how you’re bringing to the table.
To top it off, Allstate is generally an affordable choice for homeowners insurance. The company keeps costs low, in part, by offering extensive discounts. Its online quote tool will ask you questions about safety devices (like security systems and fire alarms), auto-home insurance bundling, autopay, and more, then automatically apply relevant savings. Try requesting an Allstate quote along with the others on this list to see if this company can save you a little dough.
Guide to Homeowners Insurance in Connecticut
Look out for foundation issues
Many Connecticut homeowners face a unique and troubling problem when it comes to their home’s foundations. A few years ago, investigators discovered that a major supplier of building materials in the state provided faulty concrete, made with a mineral called pyrrhotite that deteriorates over time. In 2016, the state’s attorney general weighed in, putting new protections in place for homeowners that prevent insurers from canceling or refusing coverage due to a deteriorating foundation. These laws also allow homeowners to re-assess a home’s value based on a foundation report.
What does this mean for insurance buyers? Be sure to speak to an agent about what their policies are regarding “duties after loss” — i.e. what you need to do after damage/loss is incurred or discovered. Also, if you’re shopping for insurance for a home you have not yet purchased, be sure to get a foundation report and to speak to your prospective insurance company about how its results could affect your quote.
Factor hurricane deductibles into cost
State law in Connecticut permits hurricane-force winds, meaning you may have to pay a second out-of-pocket sum (on top of your standard deductible) for claims related to hurricane damage. Companies can invoke your policy’s hurricane deductible if the National Weather Service declares sustained winds of 74 mph or greater anywhere in the state.
To protect homeowners from exorbitant payments, Connecticut has put certain protections in place. For example, the state caps the total amount for hurricane deductibles according to your distance from the coast. Even if you’re not a coastal property owner, be sure to read the fine print about hurricane deductibles from your insurance company. (And if you are on the coast, we recommend reading it especially closely.)
Connecticut Homeowners Insurance FAQ
How much is homeowners insurance in Connecticut?
Homeowners insurance premiums in Connecticut are generally high: just over $1,400 per year on average (which is well above the national mean of $1,173). Why so much? Unfortunately, the same things that make Connecticut an attractive place to live — coastal real estate and long-standing, historical houses — also make owning a home expensive. The high-risk nature of seaside property and the lofty cost of repairing an old home tend to drive cost up.
That said, how much you pay can vary a lot depending on your specific location, your home’s value, and your assets. We recommend comparing quotes from a few of Connecticut’s top providers to see who can offer you the best price on the coverage you need.
What does homeowners insurance cover in Connecticut?
You homeowners insurance policy in Connecticut will cover all the basics: including structural damages, liability (which pays for physical injuries sustained on the property), and any loss of personal property in a covered situation. Beyond that, since Connecticut is a coastal state, homeowners will want to be sure they’re covered for flood and water damages. The catch: flood insurance isn’t included on most policies. You’ll likely have to buy it separately through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program.
Optional coverage add-ons, called “endorsements,” are available from all of Connecticut’s top home insurance providers. These can cover things like sewer or sump pump backup, identity theft, specialty repairs for LEED-certified homes, and more.
The Best Homeowners Insurance in Connecticut: Summed Up
About the Authors
Philip Palermo leads the For the Home category at Reviews.com, including smart home and home security services. Since November 2015, he’s worn a number of hats at Reviews.com, but these days, Philip helps manage the day-to-day editorial content workflow. He’s worked at Engadget, The Unofficial Apple Weblog, Big Think, and several local/regional newspapers. Philip's also been known to use a lot of spreadsheets to gauge how much value he's getting out of his various services and subscriptions.
