Ohio is a state as vibrant as its people, it has beautiful landscapes and stellar cities. This state’s residents are also at risk of experiencing natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes, storms, and power outages.
Across The Buckeye State, homeowners have quite a few affordable insurance options. Picking the right policy for you all comes down to your priorities. To help you hone in on the best Ohio homeowners insurance company for you, we looked at top providers in the state, analyzed key metrics like price and customer reviews and handpicked four winners. Based on these factors, two of these companies, Allstate and State Farm, are part of our national list of best homeowners insurance and the other two are smaller local home insurance companies with great perks.
The 4 Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Ohio
- Cincinnati Insurance: Best Pricing Options
- Grange: Best for Comprehensive Coverage
- Allstate: Best for New Homebuyers
- State Farm: Superlative
Compare Ohio’s Top Insurance Companies
| Company | Average Price | AM Best Financial Strength | J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction* |
| Cincinnati Insurance | $542 | A+ | N/A |
| Grange | $633 | A | N/A |
| Allstate | $819 | A+ | 829 |
| State Farm | $858 | A++ | 829 |
*Based on a 1,000-point scale. Information as of 09/22/2020
Cincinnati Insurance Co.
Cincinnati Insurance is a writer of business and individual policies based in Ohio, though it has a strong presence in Ohio. It positions itself toward high-net-worth individuals, but it sells policies for homes of any value.
Best Pricing Options
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Good for high-value homes
- Homeowners Plus endorsement
- Good customer service
Cons
- Few discounts
- Lacks third-party ratings
Discounts available
- Home and auto bundle discount
- Home alarm discount
Unique features
The Executive Homeowner Plus endorsement offers uncommon coverage, including personal property replacement without a deduction for depreciation
** Regional providers sometimes don’t have enough third-party ratings to calculate a score.
Grange Insurance
If you want to get away from the big insurance companies, Grange is a solid option. Premiums are fairly low and it offers extensive coverage among other protections for your belongings.
Best for Comprehensive Coverage
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Affordable
- Broad range of coverage options
- Wide variety of discounts
Cons
- No online quote tool
- Less impressive customer reviews than other picks on our list
Discounts available
- DIY home inspection
- Claim-free discounts
- Smart fire alarm
Unique features
Grange Insurance is focused on ensuring that its customers understand their home’s protection, providing them coverage information on its website. We also liked the fact that they offer home maintenance and claims-free discounts.
*J.D. Power 2019 Home Insurance Customer Satisfaction Survey, based on a 1,000-point scale
Allstate
Allstate’s strength is in the diversity of its offerings and discounts, which allow you to pick and choose the coverage that works best for your circumstances. It has a great website, with tons of useful information.
Best for New Homebuyers
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Diverse discount opportunities
- Informative website and digital tools
- Above-average customer service
Cons
- NAIC complaint index high
- Financial strength ratings good, but not great
Discounts available
- Early signing discount
- Home buyer discount
- Hail-resistant roof discount
Unique features
Allstate’s discount list is longer than most national insurers. You could save up to 10% on your premiums if you sign up for your new policy at least 7 days before the current one expires.
*J.D. Power 2019 Home Insurance Customer Satisfaction Survey, based on a 1,000-point scale
Further Reading on Allstate:
State Farm
State Farm offers above-average customer support along with competitive pricing and solid coverage options. For those new to home ownership, its Simple Insights blog can tell you everything you need to know about homeownership in general.
Best Web Experience
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Financially strong
- Excellent web presence
- 19,000+ agents nationally
- Informative blog
Cons
- Limited discounts
- Higher premiums
Discounts available
- Multiple policy discount
- Fire, smoke, or burglar alarms discount
- Impact-resistant roof discount
Unique features
State Farm’s comprehensive website makes it easy to get a detailed quote in minutes. You can also pay your bill, file and manage a claim, and handle most maintenance tasks either online or via the company’s app.
*J.D. Power 2019 Home Insurance Customer Satisfaction Survey, based on a 1,000-point scale
Further Reading on State Farm:
Average Cost of Homeowners Insurance in Ohio
We compared premiums from a dozen home insurance companies in Ohio to get an average of roughly $750 per year. Compared to $1,211, the ranks, Ohio is the 8th most affordable state for home insurance. Thank your lucky Buckeye stars you’re not paying premiums in hurricane-target states like Louisiana and Florida.
Home Insurance Add-Ons That Will Further Protect You
Although there is a lower risk of extreme weather or earthquakes in Ohio, it still pays to be prepared. Review your homeowners insurance policy to make sure you have the right level of coverage. For example, some policies protect you against damage caused by the weight of sleet, snow, and ice, if you are not covered for those, you may want to add them to your Ohio homeowners insurance.
It’s also important to know that most home insurance policies don’t protect you against flooding. You can use FEMA’s flood plain map to figure out if you’re living in an at-risk area and should consider a separate flood policy.
The Cheapest Homeowner Insurance Companies in Ohio
| Homeowner Insurance Companies | Average Annual Premium |
| Buckeye Insurance | $355 |
| Cincinnati Insurance | $542 |
| Grange Insurance | $633 |
| Western Reserve Group | $684 |
| Farmers Insurance | $756 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | $792 |
| Allstate | $819 |
| Hastings Mutual | $825 |
| State Farm | $858 |
| American Family Insurance | $863 |
| American Select Insurance | $866 |
| Motorists Mutual | $930 |
| Average | $744 |
Cost of Homeowners Insurance by Age of Home
| Credit Rating Tier | Average Annual Premium |
| 0-10 | $738 |
| 10-25 | $974 |
| 25-50 | $993 |
| 50+ | $996 |
| Average Across Age of Home Tiers | $925 |
| Credit Rating Tier | Average Annual Premium |
Top 3 Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Companies in Ohio
- Buckeye Insurance Group: $355 average annual premium
- Cincinnati Insurance: $542 average annual premium
- Grange Insurance: $633 average annual premium
Top 3 Most Expensive Homeowners Insurance Companies in Ohio
- Motorists Mutual: $930
- American Select Insurance: $866
- American Family Insurance: $863
Resources Helpful for Ohio Homeowners
If you want more information about the risk of flooding in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) created a comprehensive guide with information to help you get the right policy to protect your loved ones, home and personal belongings. The guide recommends making a home inventory to keep tabs on all of your personal property. Not only does this help you ensure you have enough personal property coverage, but it also streamlines your claim filing process if you are affected by a covered peril.
The City of Cleveland issued a home inventory form you can use and many insurance providers offer resources on this topic.
As you’re preparing to seek out coverage, it can also help gather the information you’ll need to get a quote on top of necessary details like your name, address, contact information and when you want your coverage to start. Other influential criteria are details about your home and its building materials, home insurance claims history for the last five or so years, and lastly, safety features of your home like deadbolts, sprinklers and fire alarms. These factors can help to determine the right coverage levels for your home.
Homeowners Insurance FAQ
Is homeowners insurance required in Ohio?
While the state doesn’t require you to get homeowners insurance, if you have a mortgage, your lender might require you to have one, which lowers the risk for them should anything happen to the property.
What is the cheapest homeowners insurance in Ohio?
Buckeye Insurance took the lead with the most affordable policy with its annual average premium starting at $355. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be the cheapest for you, though.
Get quotes from at least a few providers or have an independent insurance agent do this for you so you can get the most affordable coverage based on your unique needs.
Methodology
We evaluated the companies based on their customer rating and experience, financial stability, and coverage to determine the best providers. To compare home insurance companies across the board, we then calculated a Reviews.com score based on the following:
- Customer Ratings: Customer ratings are an indication of satisfaction with the process of filing a claim. We measured this using J.D. Power Homeowners Satisfaction ratings.
- Coverage: As there isn’t one company to fit everyone’s needs, we evaluated companies by the amount of coverage options and add-ons available.
- Confidence: It is extremely important for insurance companies to fulfill customers’ claims. Companies with sound financial strength will not have issues paying out claims, regardless of the amount. However, companies with weak financial strength might not be able to pay out claims. We measured this using AM Best’s ratings, which specializes in assessing the financial strength of insurance companies.
- Customer Experience: The amount of complaints a company receives is an indicator of the overall customer experience as it expresses dissatisfaction. We have based this measure on the NAIC National Complaint Index.
About the Authors
Nina Rodríguez-Quirós is a feature writer for Reviews.com. Over the last year, she has covered insurance providers, claims handling, coverage and more. She has been featured in Allconnect.com and holds a Master’s Degree in Theory and Research of Communications from the University of Puerto Rico. Her favorite review is Millennials and Auto Insurance.
