The Best Homeowners Insurance in Nebraska for 2023

The average cost of homeowners insurance in Nebraska is $3,710 per year, or about $309 per month, according to a NerdWallet analysis. That’s more than the national average of $1,820 per year.

We’ve analyzed rates and companies across the state to find the best homeowners insurance in Nebraska.

Note: Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state. Even if an insurer serves your state, it may not write policies for all homes in all areas.

If you’re looking to buy homeowners insurance from a well-rated national brand, consider one of these insurers from NerdWallet’s list of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies.

State Farm is a great choice for homeowners who like to work directly with a representative, as the company sells policies through a wide network of agents. And its attention to customer service has paid off; the company has fewer customer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.

State Farm offers a free Ting device as a perk for home insurance policyholders. Ting is a smart plug that monitors your home’s electrical network to help prevent fires.

Homeowners policies from Farmers may include two valuable types of insurance: extended dwelling and replacement cost coverage. Extended dwelling coverage gives you extra insurance for the structure of your house, while replacement cost coverage offers higher reimbursement for stolen or destroyed belongings.

Some Farmers policies also come with perks that can save you money. For example, with claim forgiveness, Farmers won’t raise your rate for a claim as long as you haven’t filed one within the past five years.

Founded in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family receives fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size. You may be able to customize your policy with optional add-ons such as identity theft, equipment breakdown or service line coverage, which pays for repairs to water, power or other underground lines that run to your house.

Homeowners may be able to save on their premiums by installing smart-home devices, bundling multiple policies or setting up automatic payments.

Nationwide’s standard homeowners policies include ordinance or law coverage, which pays to bring your home up to the latest building codes after a covered claim. They also include coverage for unauthorized credit or debit transactions. For an extra cost, you may be able to add coverage for things like water backup, identity theft and stronger materials to replace your roof.

The Nationwide website offers plenty of ways to manage your policy, including filing and tracking claims, paying bills and getting quotes.

USAA sells homeowners insurance to veterans, active military and their families. If you fall into one of those groups, you might want to look into USAA’s offerings. The company’s homeowners policies include some unique perks such as deductible-free coverage for military uniforms and coverage for identity theft.

Homeowners in Nebraska can take part in the company’s Connected Home program, which gives you a discount on your policy if you buy and install approved smart-home devices. These include water leak sensors, cameras and thermostats.

The average annual cost of home insurance in Nebraska is $3,710. That’s more than double the national average of $1,820.

In most U.S. states, including Nebraska, many insurers use your credit-based insurance score to help set rates. Your insurance score is similar but not identical to your traditional credit score.

In Nebraska, those with poor credit pay an average of $6,815 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s 84% more than those with good credit.

How much you pay for homeowners insurance in Nebraska depends on where you live. For instance, the average cost of home insurance in Omaha is $3,335 per year, while homeowners in Lincoln pay $2,965 per year, on average.

Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the Nebraska average of $3,710.

When shopping for the best home insurance in Nebraska, make sure to take common hazards, such as tornadoes, hail and flooding, into consideration. Read your policy carefully to ensure you understand what’s covered and what is not.

Nebraska averages 35 tornadoes annually, making these powerful storms a serious concern for Nebraska homeowners. The wind from these storms can cause extensive damage to homes, including roofing and windows. Homeowners insurance should cover such damages caused by high winds and tornadoes.

Your policy may have a separate wind/hail deductible, typically from 1% to 5%. Suppose your policy has a $1,000 deductible for most claims and a 1% deductible for wind claims. If your house has $250,000 worth of dwelling coverage, you’d have to pay for the first $2,500 of wind damage yourself.

In Nebraska, severe thunderstorms are common throughout the spring months, but they can pop up throughout the rest of the year. Hail, which often accompanies thunderstorms, can significantly damage roofs, windows, siding and other exterior features of homes. As with wind damage, your policy may have a separate hail deductible, so make sure to read your policy carefully.

Depending on the year, winter in Nebraska can bring well over 40 inches of snowfall and dangerous wind chills. But most damage from winter storms, such as roof collapse from the weight of snow, is covered under your standard insurance policy. Some types of winter weather damage may require extra coverage. For instance, you’ll typically need a separate flood insurance policy to cover flood damage caused by snowmelt.

Flooding is not common in Nebraska, but some areas, especially along major river basins, see regular flooding. As extreme weather becomes more common, unexpected and severe flooding, like the Great Flood of 2011, can cause significant damage.

Standard homeowners insurance policies typically do not cover flood damage. As a result, homeowners in flood-prone areas may need to purchase separate flood insurance.

To learn more about your risk, check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood maps and RiskFactor.com, a website from the nonprofit First Street Foundation. Even if your property is deemed low risk, it may be worthwhile to purchase flood insurance for extra peace of mind.

Remember that while you can purchase flood coverage at any time, there’s typically a 30-day waiting period before the insurance takes effect. Here’s more information about flood insurance and waiting periods.

The Nebraska Department of Insurance oversees the state’s insurance industry and provides consumer resources. In addition to providing educational information, the department can advocate on your behalf. If you have an issue with your insurer, you can file a complaint online. Contact the Insurance Complaint Division with questions at 877-564-7323 or [email protected].

Amanda Shapland contributed to this story.