Wisconsin Homeowners Pay Some of the Lowest Insurance Costs In The Country

Wisconsin homeowners benefit from some of the lowest home insurance premiums in the Midwest, even as costs rise sharply in more climate-exposed states.

While affordability is a growing concern across the U.S., new data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the 2025 Climate Risk Report show that Wisconsin households continue to enjoy relatively modest insurance costs.

Wisconsin’s Insurance Costs Stay Affordable

According to the American Community Survey (ACS) data from the U.S. Census Bureau,Wisconsin homeowners with a mortgage typically pay $1,000–$1,499 annually for homeowners insurance, while those without a mortgage average just $800–$999. Overall statewide costs also fall into the $1,000–$1,499 range.

Wisconsin has 1,723,526 insured homeowner households in total—1,033,752 with a mortgage and 689,774 without. Among mortgaged owners, 114,679 pay less than $100 annually and 27,357 pay $4,000 or more. Among those without a mortgage, 116,900 pay less than $100 and 16,031 pay $4,000 or more.

Compared with nearby states, Wisconsin is among the most affordable. Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio homeowners with a mortgage also average $1,000–$1,499, aligning closely with Wisconsin. Michigan homeowners pay the same range, while Iowa is slightly cheaper for some non-mortgaged households, averaging $800–$999. By contrast, Minnesota and North Dakota trend higher, at $1,500–$1,999 for mortgaged households. This makes Wisconsin one of the lowest-cost insurance states in the Upper Midwest.

Climate Risks Across the Region

The Climate Risk Report highlights how insurance burdens are much steeper in other regions. Miami leads the U.S., with homeowners paying an average of $22,718 annually, or 3.7% of home value. Other Florida metros such as Cape Coral, Sarasota, and Tampa also rank among the most expensive markets.

Wisconsin does not appear on the report’s list of metros with the steepest insurance burdens, nor is it highlighted for flood, hurricane, or wildfire risks. While the state does face tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and localized flooding along rivers and lakes, these hazards have not significantly raised statewide homeowners insurance costs. Compared with coastal and southern states, Wisconsin’s climate risks remain relatively moderate.

A National Affordability Challenge

Even though Wisconsin homeowners currently pay modest premiums, affordability concerns are mounting nationwide. The Realtor.com 2025 Insurance Affordability Report found that 75% of Americans believe homeowners insurance could soon become unaffordable, while nearly half said they had already faced challenges renewing or obtaining coverage.

These affordability pressures are also shaping homebuying behavior. Nearly 30% of homebuyers said they had completely changed the areas where they were searching because of insurance concerns, while another quarter reported overhauling their strategies altogether. A recent migration analysis shows that buyers are increasingly relocating to markets with the lowest home insurance premiums, reshaping demand across regions.

Even more troubling, 58% of homeowners nationwide said they would consider dropping coverage if premiums rose too high, with younger buyers especially likely to take that risk.

Wisconsin’s Outlook

For Wisconsin households, today’s relatively low homeowners insurance costs are a major advantage compared with national hot spots. Still, with severe weather growing more frequent across the Midwest, residents may want to use a home insurance comparison tool to evaluate coverage options. Affordability may become a greater concern in the future as climate pressures build.

This article was produced with editorial input from Dina Sartore-Bodo, Gabriella Iannetta, and Allaire Conte.