Homeowners Insurance in California

The average California homeowners premium is $1,655 a year (NAIC) — ▼ −5% versus the U.S. average of $1,737, ranking 21st of 51.

These are estimates, not quotes. Home figures are modeled from NAIC state averages, Census home values and FEMA hazard ratings for comparison only. Real premiums depend on the insurer, the home, its roof and claims history. We are not an insurance company or agency. How we estimate

Average homeowners and renters insurance in California

Homeowners (HO-3)

$1,655

NAIC average / year

Renters (HO-4)

$171

U.S. $173

Median home value

$734,700

Census ACS

FEMA expected loss rating

Very High

all natural hazards

NAIC averages cover standard owner-occupied (HO-3) policies. Premiums scale with the cost to rebuild, so California's median home value of $734,700 and its exposure to wind, hail and wildfire explain much of the difference from other states.

Natural hazard risk in California

FEMA National Risk Index — expected annual loss by hazard (state level)
Hazard	Expected loss rating	Score	Expected annual loss
Hail	Relatively Low	49.1	$16,308,056
Tornado	Relatively Moderate	47.2	$54,496,261
Hurricane	Very Low	8.7	$8,831
Inland (river) flooding	Very High	100.0	$11,662,338,119
Coastal flooding	Relatively High	89.2	$67,271,833
Wildfire	Very High	100.0	$1,787,365,372
Earthquake	Very High	100.0	$14,853,246,588
Winter weather	Relatively Moderate	35.7	$3,392,903
Strong wind	Relatively Low	32.1	$12,509,567
Lightning	Relatively Moderate	51.9	$25,822,268

Standard homeowners policies exclude flood and earthquake; both need separate coverage. Wind and hurricane damage is covered but often with a separate percentage deductible in coastal states.

Home Insurance Estimator

Estimated annual premium

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Per month

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Estimated homeowners insurance by city

For a home at each city's median value, standard frame construction and a $1,000 deductible. The lowest estimate is in Hanford ($805) and the highest in Sunnyvale ($3,180).

City	Median home value	Median year built	Hail / wind	Est. premium
Los Angeles	$921,200	1965	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$2,135
San Diego	$906,700	1979	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,960
San Jose	$1,233,200	1976	Relatively Low / Very Low	$2,350
San Francisco	$1,394,500	1946	Very Low / Very Low	$2,305
Fresno	$374,800	1980	Relatively High / Very Low	$970
Sacramento	$506,300	1977	Relatively Low / Very Low	$1,115
Long Beach	$806,600	1959	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,920
Oakland	$929,900	1953	Relatively Low / Very Low	$1,885
Bakersfield	$371,700	1990	Relatively Low / Relatively Low	$985
Anaheim	$831,200	1973	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,795
Stockton	$440,900	1980	Relatively Low / Relatively Low	$1,105
Riverside	$584,800	1976	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,425
Irvine	$1,191,500	2002	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$2,395
Santa Ana	$713,000	1969	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,590
Chula Vista	$758,700	1987	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,700
Santa Clarita	$784,700	1987	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,875
Fremont	$1,403,800	1979	Relatively Low / Very Low	$2,625
San Bernardino	$422,300	1973	Relatively Moderate / Relatively High	$1,120
Modesto	$442,700	1978	Relatively Low / Relatively Low	$1,075
Fontana	$586,800	1989	Relatively Moderate / Relatively High	$1,455
Moreno Valley	$503,700	1988	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,265
Oxnard	$652,700	1977	Relatively Low / Relatively Low	$1,385
Huntington Beach	$1,100,000	1974	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$2,250
Glendale	$1,102,300	1966	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$2,460
Ontario	$607,600	1980	Relatively Moderate / Relatively High	$1,495
Elk Grove	$630,100	2000	Relatively Low / Very Low	$1,325
Santa Rosa	$713,900	1980	Very Low / Very Low	$1,450
Rancho Cucamonga	$740,200	1988	Relatively Moderate / Relatively High	$1,750
Garden Grove	$814,100	1965	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,770
Oceanside	$770,300	1984	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,720
Lancaster	$446,600	1986	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,195
Roseville	$661,400	1998	Very Low / Relatively Low	$1,440
Palmdale	$471,000	1989	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,245
Corona	$700,700	1991	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,645
Salinas	$654,100	1976	Very Low / Very Low	$1,375
Hayward	$854,400	1972	Relatively Low / Very Low	$1,765
Sunnyvale	$1,801,800	1976	Relatively Low / Very Low	$3,180
Escondido	$714,500	1981	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,620
Pomona	$593,800	1967	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,500
Visalia	$371,500	1988	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Low	$960
Victorville	$385,600	1994	Relatively Moderate / Relatively High	$1,040
Fullerton	$902,600	1969	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,920
Torrance	$1,074,700	1964	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$2,415
Orange	$945,800	1973	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,995
Pasadena	$1,093,300	1961	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$2,445
Santa Clara	$1,582,600	1974	Relatively Low / Very Low	$2,870
Clovis	$482,700	1996	Relatively High / Very Low	$1,185
Simi Valley	$823,800	1980	Relatively Low / Relatively Low	$1,670
Thousand Oaks	$991,600	1978	Relatively Low / Relatively Low	$1,935
Concord	$797,600	1970	Very Low / Relatively Low	$1,705
Vallejo	$589,500	1975	Very Low / Relatively Low	$1,275
Fairfield	$624,300	1986	Very Low / Relatively Low	$1,335
Berkeley	$1,413,900	1944	Relatively Low / Very Low	$2,640
Antioch	$629,700	1985	Very Low / Relatively Low	$1,415
Menifee	$537,300	2001	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,330
Richmond	$668,200	1966	Very Low / Relatively Low	$1,480
Carlsbad	$1,257,000	1989	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$2,545
Murrieta	$639,800	2000	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,530
Temecula	$679,700	1998	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,605
Santa Maria	$531,700	1982	Very Low / Very Low	$1,080
Ventura	$827,300	1973	Relatively Low / Relatively Low	$1,675
Downey	$796,600	1959	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,900
Costa Mesa	$1,115,100	1972	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$2,275
Jurupa Valley	$574,600	1979	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,405
West Covina	$779,800	1967	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,865
Rialto	$487,900	1982	Relatively Moderate / Relatively High	$1,255
El Monte	$644,000	1965	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,600
Vacaville	$620,900	1985	Very Low / Relatively Low	$1,325
Burbank	$1,089,100	1959	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$2,440
El Cajon	$681,700	1974	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,560
San Mateo	$1,618,700	1965	Very Low / Relatively Low	$2,875
Chico	$468,100	1983	Relatively Low / Very Low	$1,065
Inglewood	$792,800	1960	Relatively Moderate / Relatively Moderate	$1,890
Merced	$372,600	1985	Relatively Low / Relatively Low	$920
Redding	$382,300	1983	Very Low / Very Low	$915
Santa Barbara	$1,570,800	1965	Very Low / Very Low	$2,570
Hanford	$349,400	1987	Relatively Low / Very Low	$805

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Frequently asked questions

How much is homeowners insurance in California?

NAIC data puts the average California homeowners (HO-3) premium at $1,655 a year, ranking 21st of 51 (1 = most expensive). The national average is $1,737.

How much is renters insurance in California?

The NAIC average renters (HO-4) premium in California is $171 a year.

What natural hazards affect home insurance in California?

FEMA's National Risk Index rates California relatively high or very high for expected annual losses from inland (river) flooding, coastal flooding, wildfire, and earthquake. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood and earthquake, which need separate coverage.

Does homeowners insurance cover floods in California?

No. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage. Flood coverage is sold separately through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private insurers.

How we estimate this

We start from the NAIC average homeowners (HO-3) premium for the state, scale it by the ratio of the home value to the state median home value (Census ACS), adjust for construction type and deductible, and apply a hazard factor from FEMA National Risk Index scores for the county relative to the state. Results are rounded estimates, not quotes. Read the full methodology.

Sources used on this page