Across Ohio, homeowners have quite a few affordable homeowners 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 your home and your preferences, we looked at top providers in the state, analyzed key metrics like price and customer reviews, and handpicked five winners.
Based on these factors, here are our top five picks.
The 5 Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Ohio
| Allstate | Cincinnati Financial | Erie | Grange | State Farm | |
| Our review | Our review | ||||
| A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating | A+ | A+ | A+ | A | A++ |
| J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction Score | 3/5 | N/A | 5/5 | N/A | 4/5 |
| Consumer Reports Reader Score | 82/100 | N/A (but they scored 81/100 for auto insurance) | 88/100 | N/A (but they scored 74/100 for auto insurance) | 85/100 |
| Online Quote Tool | ✓ | X | X | X | ✓ |
| Compare rates | Compare rates | Compare rates | Compare rates | Compare rates |
Average Cost of Homeowners Insurance in Ohio
We compared premiums from a dozen providers throughout the state to get an average of roughly $750 per year.
Compared to $1,211, the latest national average from the Insurance Information Institute (III), Ohio homeowners are well-situated. In fact, the III ranks Ohio 43rd of all 50 states in terms of average premium. 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 hurricanes 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. In Ohio, that’s coverage you could definitely use.
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.
Helpful resources for Ohio homeowners
If you want more information about the risk of flooding in Ohio, especially through the spring season, check out this press release from the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI). The ODI also offers a home insurance guide to help Ohians protect themselves and their homes.
In that guide, they recommend 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 should any of that property be damaged or destroyed by a covered peril.
The City of Cleveland issued a home inventory form you can use, or many insurance providers offer resources on this topic (you can review the guides from State Farm and Grange, for example).
As you’re preparing to seek out coverage, it can also be useful to gather the information you’ll need to get a quote. On top of basic details like your name, address, contact information, and when you want your coverage to start, be ready to provide:
- Details about your home and its building materials
- Your home insurance claims history for the last 5 or so years
- The safety features of your home (e.g., deadbolts, sprinklers)
Three of the five insurance providers we picked require you to work with an agent to get a quote, so you can expect some help to determine the right coverage levels for your home.
Methodology
In addition to comparing providers with the largest market share in Ohio, we also evaluated customer reviews — including those collected by Consumer Reports and J.D. Power. Additionally, we looked into each insurer’s financial standing, which indicates the provider is able to pay out your claim, even in the face of a state- or nationwide emergency.
We also perused these insurance providers’ policy offerings and resources for their customers. We analyzed their coverage options, the accompanying discounts, and their digital resources like online quoting tools or robust Q&A pages.
And, of course, we looked at the average range of premiums, giving special consideration to the most affordable home insurance providers in Ohio.
Best Ohio Homeowners Insurance Companies
Allstate
Best Ohio Homeowners Insurance
Pros
- Allstate doesn’t miss any big musts like online tools or consistent-with-average premiums
- They have lots of discount and coverage options
Cons
- Their customer service is average or just slightly above
- You can find cheaper coverage elsewhere
In Ohio, Allstate ticks all the boxes. Coverage is fairly affordable, customer reviews are decent, and the company has a comprehensive website with lots of digital tools.
Cincinnati Financial
Best Ohio Homeowners Insurance
Pros
- Affordable
- Standard coverage is customizable with add-ons
Cons
- Limited website
- No online quote tool
Cincinnati Financial is affordable and gives you the option to customize your coverage For example, Homeowners Plus policy increases your water coverage limits, for example. However, if you’re looking for digital tools, Cinicinnati Financial is not a standout.
Erie
Best Ohio Homeowners Insurance
Pros
- Excellent customer service rankings
- Customizable coverage
- 24/7 support
Cons
- Limited discount options
- No online quote tool
If you want top-of-the-line customer service, check out Erie. In the 2019 J.D. Power Home Insurance Study, Erie scored perfect 5s out of 5 for overall satisfaction, policy offering, price, and interaction. However, Erie is also relatively lacking as far as online resources go.
Grange
Best Ohio Homeowners Insurance
Pros
- Affordable
- Broad range of coverage and discount options
Cons
- No online quote tool
- Less impressive customer reviews than other picks on our list
If you want to get away from the big insurance companies, Grange is a solid option. Premiums are fairly low in Ohio and it offers extensive coverage, and other protections.
State Farm
Best Ohio Homeowners Insurance
Pros
- Lots of coverage options and discounts
- Digital tools like an insurance jargon glossary and online quoting
- Solid customer service reviews
Cons
- More expensive than most of our other picks
Ohio’s largest home insurance provider for a reason, State Farm offers robust coverage options, discounts, and digital tools. Plus, it scored 4 out of 5 for overall satisfaction, policy offering, billing process and policy information, and interaction in the latest J.D. Power Home Insurance Study.
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 |
Homeowner 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 |
Quadrant home insurance rate data as of 12/01/2019.
These rates are a sample set meant only for general comparison. Your own premium will vary. Learn how we tested rates for the cheapest home insurance companies in our methodology.
Top 3 Cheapest Homeowner Insurance Companies in Ohio
- Buckeye Insurance Group – $355
- Cincinnati Insurance – $542
- Grange Insurance – $633
Top 3 Most Expensive Homeowner Insurance Companies in Ohio
- Motorists Mutual – $930
- American Select Insurance– $866
- American Family Insurance – $863
We gathered these rates to give you a ballpark idea of what you’ll pay for your coverage, but don’t be surprised if you get a higher or lower rate than we listed.
The amount you pay for your policy depends on where in the state you live, the age of your house, how much personal property you store in your home, the deductible you choose, and a number of other factors.
The best way to ensure you’re getting the lowest possible premium is to get quotes from multiple insurance providers.
Homeowners Insurance FAQ
Is homeowners insurance required in Ohio?
While the state doesn’t technically require you to get homeowners insurance (see page 4 of this guide), your mortgage lender will.
What is the cheapest homeowners insurance in Ohio?
In the rates we cultivated based on some average specs, Buckeye Insurance took the lead with the most affordable policy. 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.
About the Authors
Kacie Goff is a insurance and personal finance writer with over five years of experience covering personal and commercial coverage options.
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