Reviews Report
- Reviews.com rates Cincinnati Insurance as the best Ohio home insurance company, earning a 4.25 out of 5.
- The cheapest home insurance in Ohio is also Cincinnati Insurance, with $542 average premiums.
- The average annual home insurance premium in Ohio is $874, which is below the national average.
Home insurance in the Buckeye State is affordable compared to other states. The average cost of homeowners insurance in Ohio is $874 per year, making it the sixth cheapest state for home insurance in the country. Although home insurance is not legally required in Ohio, it’s a good idea to purchase coverage to protect your homes and personal belongings.
We did some research to find the best homeowners insurance in Ohio, and found that Cincinnati Insurance, Allstate, Grange, and State Farm are the top companies. We chose these providers based on their average premiums, third-party ratings, coverage options, and discounts.
The 4 Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Ohio
- Cincinnati Insurance: Cheapest Ohio Home Insurance
- Allstate: Best Ohio Home Insurance for Optional Coverages
- Grange: Best Ohio Home Insurance for Discounts
- State Farm: Best Ohio Home Insurance for Online Tools
Compare Ohio’s Top Insurance Companies
| Reviews.com Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options. | Average Premium** | J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction** J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | AM Best AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | Standard & Poor’s Standard & Poor’s (S&P) rates creditworthiness for businesses, countries and cities that issue bonds. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin Cincinnati Insurance | 4.25 | $542 | N/A | A+ | A+ | |
| Pin Allstate | 3.8 | $819 | N/A | A+ | AA- | |
| Pin Grange | 3.75 | $633 | N/A | A | N/A | |
| Pin State Farm | 2.8 | $858 | 829 | A++ | AA |
Information accurate as of May, 2021
*Data provided by Coverage.com
**J.D. Power’s 2020 Home Insurance Satisfaction Study. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Cheapest Ohio Home Insurance
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Below-average premium costs
- Home insurance tiers offer tailored coverage
- Strong financial ratings
Cons
- No online quotes available
- Few discounts
- Most optional coverages are only available with a high-value home policy
Available Discounts
- Multi-policy
- New home
- Claims-free
- Protective device
Additional Coverage
- Earthquake insurance
- Golf cart insurance
- Identity theft insurance
- Family shield coverage
- Assisted living coverage
- Flood insurance
- Water backup/sump pump coverage
- Green updates coverage
- Service line coverage
- Equipment breakdown coverage
- Cyber protection
- Emergency event cancellation coverage
- Single deductible
- Loss prevention device coverage
Best for Optional Coverages
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Lots of discounts
- Many optional coverages
- Helpful website with several tools and resources
Cons
- High number of company complaints
- More expensive premiums
- Below-average ratings for claims satisfaction
Available Discounts
- Deductible rewards
- Claims-free
- Multi-policy
- Responsible payer
- Welcome and loyalty
- Home buyer
- Automatic payments
- Protective device
- Early signing
Additional Coverage
- Host Advantage insurance
- Flood insurance
- Identity theft restoration
- Water backup coverage
- Scheduled personal property coverage
- Business property coverage
- Sports equipment coverage
- Green improvement reimbursement
- Yard and garden coverage
- Electronic data recovery coverage
- Musical instruments coverage
More Allstate Insurance Reviews
Best for Discounts
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Below-average premium costs
- Broad range of coverage options
- Wide variety of discounts
Cons
- No online quote tool
- No digital tools or resources
- Not rated by J.D. Power
Available Discounts
- Multi-policy>
- Advance quote
- Pay in full
- Pay on-time
- DIY home inspection
- Home maintenance
- Smart fire alarm
- Claim-free
Additional Coverage
- Service line coverage
- Home cyber protection
- Sewer/drain backup coverage
- Replacement cost coverage
- Valuables coverage
- Identity theft insurance
- Equipment breakdown coverage
- Assisted living care coverage
Best for Online Tools
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Robust and user-friendly website
- Detailed online quotes
- Helpful tools and resources for first-time home insurance buyers
Cons
- Not many discounts
- Discounts are not available in every state
- Below-average claims satisfaction reviews
Available Discounts
- Multi-policy
- Home safety device
- Impact-resistant roof
Additional Coverage
- Replacement cost coverage
- Identity restoration coverage
- Flood insurance
- Water back up coverage
- Earthquake insurance
- Ordinance/law coverage
- Inflation coverage
- Personal articles coverage
More State Farm Insurance Reviews
*Data provided by Coverage.com
**J.D. Power’s 2020 Home Insurance Satisfaction Study. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Average Cost of Home Insurance in Ohio
The average homeowners insurance in Ohio costs $874 per year, according to 2018 data from the Insurance Information Institute (III). The cost of home insurance in Ohio is less expensive than the United States national average rate, which is $1,249 per year, and it’s also cheaper than some neighboring states. For example, the average home insurance premium in Indiana is $1,030 per year, and the average rate in Kentucky is $1,152 per year.
One of the biggest factors that contributes to the low cost of home insurance in Ohio is the risk of severe weather. Although Ohio does experience harsh winter weather, flooding, and tornadoes, the state rarely faces natural disasters that could potentially damage or destroy a large number of homes.
However, keep in mind that you might pay more or less than the statewide average rate in Ohio based on your age, credit score, and your zip code. For instance, the cost of home insurance in Columbus, OH, will be different from the cost of home insurance in Cincinnati, OH.
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 |
Average Homeowner Insurance Costs by Age of Home in Ohio
| Age of Home | 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 Homeowner 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 Homeowner Insurance Companies in Ohio
- Motorists Mutual: $930
- American Select Insurance: $866
- American Family Insurance: $863
Common Home Insurance Perils in Ohio
Although the risk of severe weather in Ohio is relatively low, there are some weather risks that homeowners should be aware of. For instance, flooding can occur in Ohio due to heavy rainfall, snow melt in the winter, and water levels rising in the Ohio River. Data shows that about 2.3% of homes in Ohio are at risk of structural damage due to flooding.
Additionally, wildfires can cause damage to homes throughout Ohio. Every year, there are an average of 800 wildfires in the state, that burn between 4,000 and 5,000 acres of forest and grassland. The southern, northwestern, and eastern parts of Ohio see the most wildfire activity.
Ohio homeowners should also be aware of the home theft rates in the state. In the second quarter of 2018, there were 5,687 home burglaries, which was down from 6,827 in the same period of the year prior. While break-ins are rare, having a Ohio home insurance policy is important because it ensures that any stolen property will be replaced if your home is burglarized.
Add-on home insurance coverage in Ohio
Basic homeowners insurance coverage is fairly robust, but there are many losses that home insurance does not cover. You can find your policy’s covered perils on your insurance declaration page.
To fill gaps in coverage, Ohio homeowners should consider purchasing add-on policies. For example, investing in a flood insurance policy is valuable, because basic home insurance will not cover flooding and residual water damage. All of the providers we reviewed, with the exception of Grange, sell flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Another add-on policy that can be beneficial for Ohio homeowners is scheduled personal property coverage, also called valuable items coverage, which is available through all five providers on our list. This policy extends your coverage limits for the valuable belongings you keep in your home, like furs, collections, jewelry, and fine art.
Before you purchase homeowners insurance in Ohio, we recommend checking out some of these state-sponsored resources:
- Ohio Department of Insurance’s Homeowners Insurance Guide
- City of Cleveland’s Home Inventory Worksheet
- Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness’ Flood Insurance Information
Ohio Home Insurance FAQ
Methodology
We evaluated Ohio home insurance companies based on availability, customer satisfaction, financial stability, and coverage to determine Reviews.com score and create our best home insurance reviews. To compare home insurance companies with other providers across the board, we calculate each Reviews.com score based on the following:
- Coverage: The more options a home insurance company has for insurance add-ons and coverages, the higher it scores in our methodology.
- Customer Experience: We reviewed the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ National Complaint Index and compared each homeowners insurance company’s complaint rating.
- Customer Satisfaction: With J.D. Power’s 2020 Home Insurance Satisfaction Study, we assigned a score to each company based on the rating it received.
- Financial Stability: Reviews.com utilized AM Best ratings to assign a score based on each home insurance company’s financial stability.
- Discounts: We reviewed and compared the number of discounts advertised on each home insurance company’s website. The more available discounts, the higher the score in this metric.
About the Authors
Elizabeth Rivelli is an insurance writer for Reviews.com. Over the last year, she has covered insurance providers, best policies, industry trends and more. Elizabeth has been featured in The Simple Dollar, Bankrate and Coverage.com, among others. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. The Best Term Life Insurance Companies is Elizabeth’s favorite review on Reviews.com.
