The Best Cheap Wisconsin Homeowners Insurance for 2024

Wisconsin homeowners insurance rates are well below the national average, but many residents still wind up paying $1,000 or more annually for their coverage. Fortunately, it's possible to score a much lower rate by working with the best Wisconsin home insurance providers. Here's a closer look at which companies offer the cheapest rates for several common scenarios.

• Cheapest overall for the state: West Bend
• Cheapest for new home construction: Farmers
• Cheapest for older homes: Farmers
• Cheapest for homeowners who have filed a claim: West Bend

Cheapest overall for the state

The typical Wisconsin homeowner pays about $992 per year for their policy. But those who go with West Bend only pay about $594 on average.

These companies also make the list of the cheapest homeowners insurance in Wisconsin:

• Badger Mutual Insurance, where the average Wisconsin homeowner pays about $724 annually
• Farmers, which charges about $746 annually for a Wisconsin homeowners insurance policy

Cheapest for new home construction

Farmers offers some of the best deals on new construction. Its average annual premium of $347 is nearly half the state average of $623 for these homes.

Those who own new homes can also score great rates with these companies:

• West Bend, where new homes typically cost about $405 annually to insure
• Badger Mutual Insurance, which charges about $444 per year to insure a new Wisconsin home

Cheapest for older homes

Farmers also offers some of the best deals for older homeowners. It only charges about $649 to insure a 50-year-old home in Wisconsin whereas the state average is about $990 for these houses.

These companies also offer some of the best homeowners insurance in Wisconsin for older homes:

• West Bend, which charges about $659 per year to insure a 50-year-old home
• Badger Mutual Insurance, which charges $706 per year for these homes

Cheapest for homeowners who have filed a claim

West Bend is the most affordable option for homeowners who have previously filed a claim. While the average Wisconsin homeowner with one previous claim pays about $1,098 per year, West Bend's customers only pay about $670 annually.

These companies also offer affordable Wisconsin home insurance rates to those with a claims history:

• Badger Mutual Insurance, which charges these homeowners about $706 annually
• Farmers, where homeowners with a single claim pay about $774 per year

Average home insurance cost in Wisconsin compared to the national average

Wisconsin homeowners insurance premiums are well below the national average in every category, as outlined in the table below. But it's important to remember that rates can vary a lot depending on the home's location within the state as well as its size and construction.

Wisconsin homeowners insurance review

Here are a few things all Wisconsin homeowners should know when shopping for a policy:

Location within the state has a big effect on rates

Wisconsinites who live in the eastern part of the state, north of Milwaukee, have some of the lowest annual homeowners insurance premiums in the state. By contrast, those who live in the western part of the state, especially in the area a little north of Minneapolis, have some of the highest average annual homeowners insurance premiums. So the rates that homeowners in these areas pay could be quite different from the averages listed above.

Wisconsin home prices are below the national average

One reason that Wisconsin has such affordable home insurance rates compared to the national average could be the lower average cost of its homes. The typical Wisconsin home only costs about $266,750, according to The Ascent's research on average home price by state, while the national average is $354,649.

Larger homes are typically more expensive to insure, especially if they're made with a lot of high-end materials. So Wisconsin homeowners with more expensive properties should expect to pay more than the averages listed above. By contrast, those with cheaper homes may pay less for their homeowners insurance.

What are the most common homeowners insurance claims in Wisconsin?

Here's a look at some of the most common homeowners insurance claims in Wisconsin:

Flood damage

Floods occur in every state, and they're especially common in low-lying areas. Wisconsin has a lot of lakes and sees a lot of snowfall in the winter. When all of this melts, it can trigger floods. Heavy rains in summer can also lead to flood damage.

Unfortunately, this isn't covered by a typical homeowners insurance policy. Those who want protection against floods will have to invest in a separate flood insurance policy. Some mortgage lenders may require this if the home is located in an area that has experienced flooding before.

Wind damage

Though not directly in Tornado Alley, Wisconsin isn't too far off. It's been known to experience tornadoes and high winds, which can bring trees down on homes or take shingles off of roofs. These claims can be pretty costly, which is why many insurers now require homeowners to pay a separate wind/hail deductible when filing one of these claims.

Winter storm damage

Like most of the northern half of the country, Wisconsin sees a lot of snow in the winter. This can lead to problems like burst pipes or roofs collapsing. Homeowners can take steps to mitigate these risks, but having adequate insurance is key to fully protect the home.

Homeowners insurance options and discounts in Wisconsin

Here's a look at which homeowners insurance discounts give residents the biggest bang for their buck in Wisconsin.

Bundling is the best way to save

Bundling reduced the cost of the average annual Wisconsin homeowners insurance premium to $825. No other single discount saves homeowners even close to this much. So those hoping to insure their vehicles as well are better off doing so with the same company they insure their home through.

New roofs are a huge plus to insurers

Homeowners can spend thousands of dollars on a new roof, but they'll recoup some of these costs in the form of lower home insurance premiums. Those who have recently replaced their roof pay about $871 per year on average. That's over $100 less than the state average for a typical Wisconsin home.

Many rewards for fire protection

Wisconsin homeowners can earn discounts for having smoke alarms, monitored fire alarms, and having a fire extinguisher in their homes. But the biggest fire prevention discount is reserved for those who install sprinklers. This drops the average annual Wisconsin home insurance premium to $917.

It's worth noting that not all home insurance companies offer all of these discounts. So homeowners considering installing sprinklers should seek out a provider who will reward them for this.

Six cheapest cities in Wisconsin for homeowners insurance

The following six cities have the lowest average annual homeowners insurance premiums in Wisconsin.

Five most expensive cities in Wisconsin for homeowners insurance

Homeowners in these five Wisconsin cities pay the most for their coverage: