Compare Homeowners Insurance In Georgia
In our study of the top home insurance companies in Georgia, we saw rates as low as $631 a year. Our research included a review of the best companies in the state so that we could recommend them based on price, customer satisfaction and coverage. Here are our top picks for Georgia and why we chose them:
- Our top pick: Auto-Owners
- Cheapest homeowners insurance: Farmers
- Best home and auto bundle: State Farm
- Best for veterans: USAA
Cost of homeowners insurance in Georgia
The average cost of homeowners insurance in Georgia is $1,157 a year, which is below the national average of $1,215. That means Georgians enjoy average premiums about 5% below the U.S. average. The table below shows how rates have fared in recent years.
| Today | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia annual average | $1,157 | $1,267 | $1,200 |
| Georgia price per month | $96 | $106 | $100 |
| U.S. annual average | $1,215 | $1,211 | $1,192 |
| U.S. cost per month | $101 | $101 | $99 |
| Note: Average rates for today are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. Data from 2016 and 2017 is sourced from NAIC. | |||
Home insurance rates will vary between companies, which is why you should always get quotes from more than one provider. Here are how average rates from some of the top home insurance companies in Georgia compare:
Best homeowners insurance companies in Georgia
Georgia’s home insurance market is dominated by large national players: State Farm, Allstate and USAA write about 50% of all policies in the state. But the biggest doesn’t necessarily mean the best. Here’s our breakdown of the best companies in Georgia based on average premium data, customer satisfaction ratings and coverage options.
Auto-Owners Insurance: our top pick in Georgia
Auto-Owners Insurance is our pick for the top home insurance company in Georgia due to its reasonable rates, excellent customer service and coverage options. Auto-Owners controls just under 5% of the market in Georgia, making it the sixth-largest home insurer in the state.
We found the average cost of Auto-Owners home insurance to be $795 a year, more than $350 below the Georgia average. The customer service at that price point is excellent: Auto-Owners received a 4/5 in J.D. Power’s 2019 homeowners insurance satisfaction survey. Additionally, Auto-Owners’ 2018 NAIC complaint index, a measure of how many complaints a company receives relative to its size, was 0.21. Lower NAIC index scores are better, and 0.21 is far below the national average of 1.0, and among the best in Georgia.
Auto-Owners home insurance policies provide industry standard coverage and everything you’d expect from a baseline policy. In addition to standard coverage, Auto-Owners has valuable add-ons available. For example, you’ll have the option to add coverage for identity theft or equipment breakdown, like air-conditioners and major appliances.
Farmers: best for cheap rates
Farmers had the cheapest rates in Georgia, according to our study, with an average annual premium of $631, more than $500 below the Georgia average. That puts Farmers in a price bracket of its own, but cost should only be one consideration when shopping for home insurance. Here’s what else to know about Farmers' customer satisfaction and coverage.
Farmers received a 3/5 in overall satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2019 homeowners insurance survey. That’s an average rating, according to J.D. Power. Farmers’ 2018 NAIC complaint index of 0.37 is higher than some of its competitors, like State Farm, Allstate and Travelers, but is still well below the national average of 1.0. J.D. Power’s survey and the NAIC complaint index point to a middle-of-the-pack customer service experience.
Farmers prides itself on its customizable options. Most home insurers allow you to tailor your policy to some degree, but Farmers boasts that you can tweak every part of your home insurance policy. For example, you could increase your other structures limit if you have an expensive garage. This is great for folks who want to be sure they are paying for the right amount of coverage. Farmers has a network of over 48,000 insurance agents nationwide, so you’ll probably be able to find an agent close to you to help you make the difficult decisions.
State Farm: best for bundling home and auto
State Farm is our pick for the best home and auto bundle in Georgia because of its generous discounts and above-average customer service. Bundling multiple insurance policies with one company is a great way to save money and reduce the number of companies you interact with, but it isn’t right for everyone.
J.D. Power’s home and auto insurance surveys both awarded State Farm a 4/5 in overall customer satisfaction, which is above average. That’s a good sign when considering a company to bundle home and auto insurance because you would want to receive the best customer experience for both services.
State Farm advertises that customers saved an average of $854 when they switched from another company and bundled home and auto, or up to 17% savings. That’s no small number, and it may be worth it for many people. However, bundling home and auto insurance isn’t guaranteed to provide you the cheapest rates; it's possible that going with separate companies for home and auto insurance will minimize your bill. Nonetheless, bundling home and auto with State Farm is a smart option for great customer service and potential savings.
USAA: best for military members, veterans and their families
In order to be eligible for USAA’s products, you must be an active military service member, veteran or immediate family member. For those who qualify, USAA provides top-notch home insurance products, with fair rates, excellent customer service and coverage designed for military families.
USAA is one of only three companies to receive a 5/5 in J.D. Power’s homeowners insurance satisfaction survey, and it also had a NAIC complaint index of 0.15 in 2018. That’s the lowest complaint index of the top seven largest companies in Georgia, and is one of the lowest figures we’ve seen in general.
More than 690,000 veterans live in Georgia, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which represents about 4% of the U.S. veteran population. Additionally, USAA is the third-largest home insurer in Georgia, accounting for just under 11% of all policies. That means that military service members, veterans and their families will be in good company, and USAA agents will be familiar with the unique challenges their customers face.
The biggest home insurance companies in Georgia
Here’s an overview of the Georgia home insurance market. These seven companies account for 70% of all premiums in the state, which means you're likely to find them as a local option. We recommend using this table as a reference as you're shopping around.
| Company | Market share | 2019 J.D. Power overall satisfaction rating | 2018 NAIC complaint index (lower the better) |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | 26.7% | 4/5 | 0.20 |
| Allstate | 12.1% | 3/5 | 0.29 |
| USAA | 10.8% | 5/5 | 0.15 |
| Travelers | 5.9% | 2/5 | 0.30 |
| Liberty Mutual | 5.8% | 2/5 | 0.41 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | 4.6% | 4/5 | 0.21 |
| Farmers | 4.1% | 3/5 | 0.37 |
To see how Georgia’s best home insurance companies compare nationally, take a look at our best home insurance companies page.
Home insurance rates in Georgia by city
Average rates in Georgia’s cities range from $990 a year in Lawrenceville to more than $1,400 in Savannah. The difference in price is due to cities' different rate factors.
| City | Average annual premium | Difference from state average ($1,157) |
|---|---|---|
| Albany | $1,178 | 2% |
| Alpharetta | $1,037 | -10% |
| Atlanta | $1,114 | -4% |
| Augusta/Richmond County | $1,196 | 3% |
| Canton | $1,048 | -9% |
| Columbus | $1,249 | 8% |
| Dalton | $1,032 | -11% |
| Douglasville | $1,067 | -8% |
| Duluth | $1,011 | -13% |
| Dunwoody | $1,008 | -13% |
| East Point | $1,114 | -4% |
| Evans | $1,053 | -9% |
| Gainesville | $1,064 | -8% |
| Hinesville | $1,177 | 2% |
| Johns Creek | $1,016 | -12% |
| Kennesaw | $1,014 | -12% |
| Lawrenceville | $990 | -14% |
| Mableton | $1,013 | -12% |
| Macon | $1,178 | 2% |
| Marietta | $1,023 | -12% |
| Martinez | $1,057 | -9% |
| Milton | $1,025 | -11% |
| Newnan | $1,108 | -4% |
| North Atlanta | $1,058 | -9% |
| Peachtree City | $1,046 | -10% |
| Redan | $1,141 | -1% |
| Rome | $1,181 | 2% |
| Roswell | $1,029 | -11% |
| Sandy Springs | $1,048 | -9% |
| Savannah | $1,430 | 24% |
| Smyrna | $993 | -14% |
| Valdosta | $1,224 | 6% |
| Warner Robins | $1,082 | -7% |
| Woodstock | $1,042 | -10% |
| Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
Home insurance rates in Georgia by county
Homeowners insurance rates in Georgia range from an average of $1,428 in Chatham County to $1,003 in Clarke County. Rates tend to be more expensive in the eastern and southwestern counties, and cheapest in the northern counties. We don't list all 159 counties in Georgia below, but here are data for some of the most populous counties.
| County | Average annual premium | Difference from state average ($1,157) |
|---|---|---|
| Bartow | $1,140 | -1% |
| Bibb | $1,203 | 4% |
| Carroll | $1,120 | -3% |
| Chatham | $1,428 | 23% |
| Cherokee | $1,108 | -4% |
| Clarke | $1,003 | -13% |
| Clayton | $1,147 | -1% |
| Cobb | $1,026 | -11% |
| Columbia | $1,057 | -9% |
| Coweta | $1,181 | 2% |
| DeKalb | $1,089 | -6% |
| Dougherty | $1,206 | 4% |
| Douglas | $1,073 | -7% |
| Fayette | $1,061 | -8% |
| Floyd | $1,251 | 8% |
| Forsyth | $1,017 | -12% |
| Fulton | $1,109 | -4% |
| Glynn | $1,346 | 16% |
| Gwinnett | $1,032 | -11% |
| Hall | $1,072 | -7% |
| Henry | $1,103 | -5% |
| Houston | $1,127 | -3% |
| Lowndes | $1,220 | 5% |
| Muscogee | $1,241 | 7% |
| Newton | $1,078 | -7% |
| Paulding | $1,032 | -11% |
| Richmond | $1,238 | 7% |
| Rockdale | $1,094 | -5% |
| Walton | $1,079 | -7% |
| Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
Home insurance perils in Georgia
Georgia’s home insurance perils are not as severe as some of the states that surround it due to its short coastline. Nevertheless, parts of Georgia, like Savannah, are susceptible to Atlantic storms, and inland areas experience occasional severe weather.
Flood
Home insurance almost never protects you from flood damage — you’ll have to purchase a separate flood insurance policy for coverage. Most homeowners buy flood insurance through the government-funded National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In 2019, the average cost of federal flood insurance was $661 per year or $55 month, according to data from FEMA.
Between 1996 and 2016, the NFIP paid out more than $229 million for 8,605 claims in Georgia, the 14th-largest amount in the country. That means Georgia’s flood risk is above average in the U.S.
However, new research suggests that Georgia’s flood risk is even greater than previously estimated. A new analysis by First Street Foundation found 4 times more properties at risk than the previous FEMA estimates, or an additional 190,619 properties at risk. In Cherokee County, for example, First Street found 7 times more properties at risk than FEMA.
First Street's new calculation takes the rise in sea levels, creek floods and additional rainfall into account where FEMA does not. Below is a comparison between the previous FEMA estimate and the current estimate by First Street of the properties at risk of flooding.
| Most populated counties | Total Properties | FEMA total properties at risk | First Street total properties at risk | First Streat additional properties at risk compared to FEMA | Magnitude difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 4,394,633 | 157,125 | 347,744 | 190,619 | 2.21x |
| Fulton County | 308,522 | 4,695 | 21,246 | 16,551 | 4.53x |
| Gwinnett County | 282,613 | 3,933 | 18,101 | 14,168 | 4.60x |
| Cobb County | 249,874 | 5,509 | 19,214 | 13,705 | 3.49x |
| DeKalb County | 234,179 | 5,216 | 14,286 | 9,070 | 2.74x |
| Clayton County | 89,493 | 1,409 | 5,186 | 3,777 | 3.68x |
| Chatham County | 116,205 | 21,023 | 34,625 | 13,602 | 1.65x |
| Cherokee County | 103,087 | 847 | 5,930 | 5,083 | 7.00x |
| Forsyth County | 93,787 | 864 | 3,233 | 2,369 | 3.74x |
| Henry County | 86,238 | 1,346 | 4,001 | 2,655 | 2.97x |
| Hall County | 79,934 | 634 | 2,721 | 2,087 | 4.29x |
Windstorms, thunderstorms and hurricanes
Thunderstorms and hurricanes often bring heavy wind and rain, which can compromise a home’s structure. Georgia’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as its warm climate, help produce thunderstorms and hurricanes.
Home insurance typically covers damage from windstorms, such as thunderstorms and hurricanes, but it does not usually cover flood damage. So if the wind from a hurricane damages your roof, you should be covered, but likely not if a nearby river overflows and floods your basement.
Tornadoes
Tornadoes can bring high winds and flooding, both of which are a danger for your home. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, Georgia experiences an average of 30 tornadoes a year. This is fewer tornadoes than 66 per year in neighboring Florida, and notably fewer than Tornado Alley in the Midwest. Luckily, most of Georgia’s tornadoes are relatively minor.
Most home insurance policies cover damage from wind, but home insurance almost never covers flood damage. For protection from floods, you’ll need to purchase flood insurance. We recommend speaking with your agent to fully understand the specific coverages in your policy.
Methodology
We aggregated more than 1,384 quotes from every ZIP code in Georgia. Our sample home worth was worth $199,813 and built in 1987 (both the median values in Georgia), and the coverage specifications were as follows:
- Dwelling coverage: $199,813
- Personal property coverage: 50% of dwelling ($99,907)
- Other structures coverage: 10% of dwelling ($19,981)
- Loss of use coverage: 20% of dwelling ($39,963)
- Liability coverage: $100,000
- Deductible: $1,000
We considered quotes from Allstate, Auto-Owners Insurance, Country Financial, Georgia Farm Bureau, Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Travelers and USAA in finding the state average. Population and geographic data were sourced from Standard & Poor’s Financial Services.
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