North Carolina Homeowners Insurance

U.S. Treasury FIO data for 722 ZIP codes in North Carolina (NC).

The verdict

According to U.S. Treasury FIO filings, North Carolina ranks #36 of 51 by average premium ($1,379/yr) ≠ #3 of 50 by nonrenewal (2.46%). Cost rank is not withdrawal rank.

$1,379
State avg premium (#36 of 51)
#3
Nonrenewal of 50 (2.46%)
28207
In-state premium ZIP #1 ($3,558)
28212
In-state nonrenewal ZIP #1 (5.87%)

Premium rank counts states with a reported average premium, highest first, abbreviation tiebreak. Nonrenewal rank counts states that publish a rate. In-state ZIP #1s are separate extracts.

North Carolina vs all states by ZIP-mean homeowners premium

Where this state's average ZIP premium sits among every state that reports one (lower is better for homeowners)

$1,379 Lower than most lower premium than 69% of 51 states

States, banded by ZIP-mean annual homeowners premium (FIO)

Each bar is a $0.001K-wide band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Treasury FIO Homeowners Insurance Markets Report · 2018–2022

Homeowners in North Carolina pay an average of $1,379 per year for home insurance - 22% below the national average of $1,776. That ranks North Carolina as the 36th most expensive state out of 51 for homeowners insurance. Between 2018 and 2022, premiums rose by 7.6%.

On five-year premium growth (2018–2022), North Carolina ranks 22nd out of 51 states. Its nonrenewal rate (2.46%) ranks 3rd out of 50 - nonrenewal is an early warning indicator of insurer retreat, often tied to disaster risk.

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Federal Insurance Office - "Analyses of U.S. Homeowners Insurance Markets, 2018–2022." Premium values are five-year averages across all ZIP-level observations. See methodology for how the state rank and comparison are calculated.

How North Carolina Compares

vs National Average
$1,379 vs $1,776
22% below national avg
Rank Among States
36th of 51
most expensive for homeowners insurance
Loss Ratio vs National
47.6% vs 58.0%
insurers retain more margin here
Avg Premium
$1,379/yr
National avg: $1,776 (-22% below)
Premium Change
+7.6%
2018-2022 change
Avg Loss Ratio
47.6%
Claims paid vs premiums earned
Nonrenewal Rate
2.46%
+8.8% change

Data Snapshot: North Carolina Homeowners Insurance

Across the 722 North Carolina ZIP codes in the U.S. Treasury FIO data, the average annual home insurance premium is $1,379. That is an average of ZIP codes, in which a ZIP of a few hundred people counts the same as one of tens of thousands. Weighting each ZIP by its population, closer to what a typical North Carolina homeowner pays, gives $1,485 per year. That is 22% below the national average of $1,776 per year reported by the Federal Insurance Office. North Carolina ranks 36th most expensive out of 51 states and territories on annual premium, with ZIP-level observations ranging from $761 in 28553 to $3,558 in 28207.

Between 2018 and 2022, average premiums rose by 7.6% in North Carolina, placing the state 22nd nationally on five-year premium growth. The state-level loss ratio averaged 47.6%, meaning insurers retained a healthy margin after claims, typical of stable markets. Nonrenewal rates, the share of policies insurers decline to extend at expiration, averaged 2.46% across the ZIP codes that report one, a climb of 8.8% over the study period (ranking 3rd out of 50 states).

Within North Carolina, premium dispersion across ZIP codes is substantial: the most expensive ZIP (28207 in Charlotte) charges 367% more than the least expensive (28553 in Marshallberg), reflecting local differences in catastrophe exposure, construction costs, and claims history. The FIO dataset aggregates voluntary reporting from the 40 largest homeowners insurers covering roughly 80% of the U.S. market, so ZIP-level figures represent market averages rather than individual quotes; actual premiums vary with dwelling value, deductible, coverage limits, and insurer-specific underwriting. This page is a FIO registry extract, not a quote or a recommendation.

How to read these figures: state averages on this page are computed from U.S. Treasury Federal Insurance Office data, which the office collects directly from the largest homeowners insurers and reports at the ZIP-code level. A statewide average blends expensive coastal and wildfire-exposed markets with lower-cost inland areas, so the figure is a useful benchmark but will understate what some residents pay and overstate what others pay. The loss ratio is the share of every premium dollar that insurers returned as claims; sustained ratios near or above one signal a market under pressure, where rate increases, tighter underwriting, or nonrenewals tend to follow. Claim frequency and nonrenewal rates show how often policies result in claims and how often insurers decline to renew, both of which track local catastrophe exposure. Treat the state number as a registry average, then open the ZIP table below for the same filing year's local premium and nonrenewal extracts.

Loss Ratio Reading: North Carolina

0%150%48%

North Carolina statewide - FIO 2018-2022 average: 48% (Insurer-favorable) - low claim payout, insurer retains a healthy margin.

ZIP Codes Tracked

722

Reporting Period

2018-2022

Source

U.S. Treasury FIO

Year Avg Premium Median Premium
2018 $1,282 $1,235
2019 $1,322 (+3.1%) $1,262
2020 $1,360 (+2.9%) $1,298
2021 $1,363 (+0.3%) $1,309
2022 $1,379 (+1.2%) $1,319

Average premium in North Carolina, 2018–2022

$1,250$1,300$1,350$1,400 20182019202020212022 $1,379
Average homeowners premium per year in North Carolina.

All ZIP Codes in North Carolina

722 ZIP codes sorted by premium (highest first). Click column headers to sort.

ZIP City Premium
28207 Charlotte $3,558
28646 Linville $3,489
28717 Cashiers $3,113
27927 Corolla $3,019
28480 Wrightsville Beach $2,779
28741 Highlands $2,584
28668 Roaring Gap $2,545
27949 Kitty Hawk $2,477
28747 Lake Toxaway $2,395
27605 Raleigh $2,356
28211 Charlotte $2,340
27608 Raleigh $2,335
27614 Raleigh $2,240
27957 Merry Hill $2,217
28736 Glenville $2,174
28774 Sapphire $2,170
28423 Bolton $2,166
28305 Fayetteville $2,134
28203 Charlotte $2,089
28442 Hallsboro $2,082
27518 Cary $2,046
27514 Chapel Hill $2,031
28438 Evergreen $2,028
28455 Nakina $2,022
27517 Chapel Hill $2,020
28466 Wallace $1,993
28226 Charlotte $1,988
28031 Cornelius $1,977
28173 Waxhaw $1,955
28605 Blowing Rock $1,941
27959 Nags Head $1,926
28277 Charlotte $1,925
28463 Tabor City $1,917
28430 Cerro Gordo $1,914
28450 Lake Waccamaw $1,912
28311 Fayetteville $1,909
28306 Fayetteville $1,907
27607 Raleigh $1,900
28472 Whiteville $1,899
28399 White Oak $1,888
28036 Davidson $1,887
28117 Mooresville $1,885
28270 Charlotte $1,877
28436 Delco $1,873
28431 Chadbourn $1,868
28374 Pinehurst $1,859
28371 Parkton $1,850
28432 Clarendon $1,847
28312 Fayetteville $1,845
28390 Spring Lake $1,841

Natural-hazard context (FEMA NRI)

County National Risk Index scores joined to North Carolina ZIP codes in the same FIO filing year. This is hazard and vulnerability context from FEMA, not a premium driver table and not a quote.

Mean county risk score
75.1
19th of 50 states by mean score · national mean 69.3
Counties joined
100
Distinct county FIPS on North Carolina FIO ZIPs
Most common top hazard
Hurricane
48 of 100 counties
Highest FEMA NRI counties in North Carolina
County Risk score Rating Top hazard
Mecklenburg 97.1 Relatively High Tornado
New Hanover 96.1 Relatively High Hurricane
Brunswick 95.8 Relatively High Hurricane
Counties with elevated FEMA hazard ratings in North Carolina
Hazard Elevated counties Share of joined
Winter weather 28 28%
Hurricane 23 23%
Tornado 11 11%
Flooding 4 4%
Hail 2 2%

Elevated = FEMA Relatively High or Very High rating on that hazard column. Ratings are independent per hazard; a county can appear in more than one row.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · research board: top counties by NRI score.

Nationwide states with similar insurance profiles

Two FIO peer sets for North Carolina: nearest other states by average homeowners premium and by statewide nonrenewal rate. These are cross-state neighborhoods, not the in-state ZIP table above.

Similar average premium

Nearest states by average homeowners premium ($1,379/yr here).

Similar nonrenewal rate

Nearest states by average nonrenewal rate (2.46% here).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average homeowners insurance cost in North Carolina?
Averaged across the 722 North Carolina ZIP codes in the U.S. Treasury FIO data, the annual homeowners premium is $1,379 ($1,485 when each ZIP is weighted by population, which is closer to what a typical homeowner pays). This is 22% below the national average of $1,776.
How have insurance premiums changed in North Carolina?
North Carolina homeowners insurance premiums changed by +7.6% between 2018 and 2022. The average loss ratio is 47.6%, meaning insurers pay out that percentage of earned premiums in claims.
Which ZIP code has the most expensive insurance in North Carolina?
The most expensive ZIP code for homeowners insurance in North Carolina is 28207, with an average premium of $3,558/yr. The most affordable is 28553 at $761/yr.
What is the nonrenewal rate for North Carolina homeowners insurance?
Averaged across the North Carolina ZIP codes that report one, the nonrenewal rate is 2.46%. This rate has changed by +8.8% from 2018 to 2022. Nonrenewals occur when an insurer declines to renew an existing policy at expiration. ZIP 28212 has the highest nonrenewal rate in the state at 5.87%.
What is a loss ratio and what does North Carolina's mean?
A loss ratio measures how much an insurer pays out in claims compared to premiums collected. North Carolina's average loss ratio is 47.6%. Ratios above 100% indicate insurers are paying more in claims than they collect, which often leads to premium increases.
How often do homeowners file insurance claims in North Carolina?
The average claim frequency in North Carolina is 4.82%, meaning that percentage of policies result in a claim each year. The average claim severity (cost per claim) is $14,632. Higher claim frequency and severity typically correlate with higher premiums.
What natural hazards drive risk in North Carolina?
Across 100 FEMA National Risk Index counties that join to North Carolina ZIP codes in the FIO file, the mean county risk score is 75.1 (8% above the 50-state mean of 69.3). The most common county-level top hazard is Hurricane (48 of 100 counties). Elevated (Relatively High or Very High) county ratings concentrate in Winter weather (28), Hurricane (23), Tornado (11). NRI scores are county hazard/vulnerability context from FEMA; they are not premiums and are not a quote.

North Carolina in the FIO registry

State averages sit next to ZIP-level premium and nonrenewal extracts from the same filing year.

  • North Carolina ZIP premiums and nonrenewal rates in the same table. ZIP table
  • National premium board versus the population-floored nonrenewal board. Rankings
  • How competition ranks and dual boards are derived. Methodology

State figures are five-year ZIP-level averages from U.S. Treasury FIO data, a benchmark, not a quote for any individual home.

Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Federal Insurance Office (FIO) Homeowners Insurance Data (2018-2022). Premiums are ZIP-level averages and may not reflect individual policy costs

Source data: U.S. Treasury FIO · FEMA National Risk Index · NOAA Storm Events. See our methodology.

Every figure on PlainInsure is rendered directly from U.S. Treasury Federal Insurance Office data, no number is typed in by an editor. This state's figures are rendered directly from U.S. Treasury FIO data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.