The Best Homeowners Insurance in Vermont for 2023

The average cost of homeowners insurance in Vermont is $815 per year, or about $68 per month, according to a NerdWallet analysis. That’s less 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 Vermont.

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.

See more details about each company to help you decide which one is best for you.

America’s largest home insurer celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022. One useful endorsement you may be able to add to a State Farm policy is an inflation guard rider, which automatically increases your policy limits to make sure your coverage doesn’t fall short.

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.

Chubb caters to high-value homes and draws far fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Its home insurance policies come with some great perks, including extended replacement cost in case it costs more than your dwelling limit to rebuild your home after a disaster.

Chubb policyholders may also be able to take advantage of the company’s HomeScan service, which uses infrared cameras to look for problems behind the walls of your home.

Founded in 1828, Vermont Mutual sells homeowners insurance through local independent agents. The company stands out for service, drawing far fewer complaints than expected for an insurer of its size.

You may be able to add coverage for major appliances such as water heaters, laundry machines or solar energy systems. Other endorsements may be available to cover identity theft, damage to underground service lines, backed-up drains and theft of expensive jewelry.

USAA sells homeowners insurance to veterans, active military members and their families. If that description fits you, you may want to consider a USAA policy. That’s because the company’s homeowners insurance has certain features that other insurers may charge extra for.

For example, USAA automatically covers your personal belongings on a “replacement cost” basis. Many companies pay out only what your items are worth at the time of the claim, which means you may not get much for older items. USAA pays enough for you to buy brand-new replacements for your stuff.

The average annual cost of home insurance in Vermont is $815. That’s 55% less than the national average of $1,820.

In most U.S. states, including Vermont, 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 Vermont, those with poor credit pay an average of $1,705 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s 109% more than those with good credit.

How much you pay for homeowners insurance in Vermont depends on where you live. For instance, the average cost of home insurance in Burlington is $780 per year, while homeowners in Montpelier pay $815 per year, on average.

Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the Vermont average of $815.

Vermonters looking for the best homeowners insurance should make sure their policy covers damage from risks like winter weather, flooding, wind and hail, landslides and wildfire.

Vermont’s winters bring heavy snow and freezing temperatures, as well as nor’easters. This can lead to roof damage, frozen pipes, ice dams and other issues that might result in costly repairs.

Homeowners insurance generally covers winter storm-related damages, but 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.

Vermont sees flooding from heavy rain and snowmelt, and the damage can be widespread. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so homeowners in flood-prone areas may need to purchase separate flood insurance.

To find out 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.

Severe thunderstorms are responsible for a lot of property damage in Vermont, in large part due to hail and wind. Large hail can damage roofs, windows and siding, and wind can also cause a lot of destruction.

Damage from wind and hail is typically covered under standard homeowners insurance policies. However, your policy may have a separate wind/hail deductible, typically from 1% to 5%. If your house has $250,000 worth of dwelling coverage and a 1% deductible for wind claims, you’d have to pay for the first $2,500 of wind damage yourself.

Vermont’s hilly terrain and heavy rainfall can lead to landslides, which pose a risk for homeowners. Landslides are not covered under standard homeowners insurance, so you’ll likely need to buy an optional add-on for your policy in order to be covered.

The tree-covered landscape of Vermont raises the risk of wildfire, especially during the spring and fall. Wildfires can spread quickly due to dry conditions and can cause significant damage to homes and property.

Standard homeowners insurance typically covers damage caused by fire, but residents of high-risk areas should read their policies closely to ensure they understand any exclusions. Pay particular attention to the dwelling coverage limit, which is how much the insurance company will pay to rebuild your house. Check with your insurer to ensure you have enough coverage to rebuild if necessary.

The Insurance Division of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation oversees the state’s insurance industry. It is responsible for licensing insurers and regulating insurance products to help protect consumers.

In addition to providing consumer information, the division helps consumers who need to file complaints about their insurers online, by mail or fax. If you have questions about filing an insurance complaint, contact the division at 800-964-1784 or [email protected].