South Carolina Homeowners Insurance

U.S. Treasury FIO data for 366 ZIP codes in South Carolina (SC).

Homeowners in South Carolina pay an average of $1,765 per year for home insurance — 1% below the national average of $1,776. That ranks South Carolina as the 25th most expensive state out of 51 for homeowners insurance. Between 2018 and 2022, premiums fell by 0.6%; nonrenewal rates climbed by 207.0% over the same period.

On five-year premium growth (2018–2022), South Carolina ranks 46th out of 51 states. Its nonrenewal rate (3.92%) ranks 1st out of 50 — nonrenewal is an early warning indicator of insurer retreat, often tied to disaster risk.

Source: 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 caveats.

Avg Premium
$1,765/yr
National avg: $1,776 (-1% below)
Premium Change
-0.6%
2018-2022 change
Avg Loss Ratio
37.5%
Claims paid vs premiums earned
Nonrenewal Rate
3.92%
+207.0% change

Data Snapshot: South Carolina Homeowners Insurance

South Carolina homeowners paid an average of $1,765 per year for home insurance based on U.S. Treasury FIO data covering 366 ZIP codes across the state. That is 1% below the national average of $1,776 per year reported by the Federal Insurance Office. South Carolina ranks 25th most expensive out of 51 states and territories on annual premium, with ZIP-level observations ranging from $1,032 in 29683 to $14,548 in 29401.

Between 2018 and 2022, average premiums fell by 0.6% in South Carolina, placing the state 46th nationally on five-year premium growth. The state-level loss ratio averaged 37.5%, 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 3.92%, a climb of 207.0% over the study period (ranking 1st out of 50 states).

Within South Carolina, premium dispersion across ZIP codes is substantial: the most expensive ZIP (29401 in Charleston) charges 1309% more than the least expensive (29683 in Slater), 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 for educational research only and is not insurance advice — homeowners should obtain quotes from multiple licensed carriers or an independent agent before purchasing or renewing coverage.

Loss Ratio Reading: South Carolina

0%150%38%

South Carolina statewide — FIO 2018-2022 average: 38% (Insurer-favorable) — low claim payout — insurer retains a healthy margin.

ZIP Codes Tracked

366

Reporting Period

2018-2022

Source

U.S. Treasury FIO

Premium Trends (2018-2022)

Year Avg Premium Median Premium
2018 $1,775 $1,463
2019 $1,796 (+1.2%) $1,473
2020 $1,788 (-0.4%) $1,478
2021 $1,766 (-1.2%) $1,447
2022 $1,765 (-0.0%) $1,459

Average Premium by Year

$1,775
2018
$1,796
2019
$1,788
2020
$1,766
2021
$1,765
2022

All ZIP Codes in South Carolina

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

ZIP City Premium
29401 Charleston $14,548
29482 Sullivans Island $13,528
29941 Sheldon $11,467
29915 Daufuskie Island $9,796
29451 Isle Of Palms $7,957
29928 Hilton Head Island $7,594
29439 Folly Beach $5,023
29455 Johns Island $4,347
29926 Hilton Head Island $4,299
29464 Mount Pleasant $4,198
29487 Wadmalaw Island $4,017
29920 Saint Helena Island $3,941
29438 Edisto Island $3,665
29585 Pawleys Island $3,621
29403 Charleston $3,557
29466 Mount Pleasant $3,344
29429 Awendaw $3,328
29458 Mc Clellanville $3,230
29412 Charleston $3,227
29492 Charleston $3,205
29449 Hollywood $3,106
29446 Green Pond $3,051
29907 Beaufort $3,017
29685 Sunset $2,949
29407 Charleston $2,939
29572 Myrtle Beach $2,935
29902 Beaufort $2,825
29440 Georgetown $2,781
29469 Pinopolis $2,725
29940 Seabrook $2,719
29910 Bluffton $2,670
29470 Ravenel $2,396
29577 Myrtle Beach $2,378
29414 Charleston $2,360
29906 Beaufort $2,354
29582 North Myrtle Beach $2,334
29935 Port Royal $2,278
29909 Okatie $2,257
29576 Murrells Inlet $2,230
29575 Myrtle Beach $2,226
29945 Yemassee $2,210
29420 North Charleston $2,154
29410 Hanahan $2,122
29579 Myrtle Beach $2,118
29418 North Charleston $2,047
29676 Salem $2,043
29510 Andrews $2,040
29453 Jamestown $2,037
29426 Adams Run $2,036
29479 Saint Stephen $2,032

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average homeowners insurance cost in South Carolina?
The average homeowners insurance premium in South Carolina is $1,765 per year, based on U.S. Treasury FIO data covering 366 ZIP codes. This is 1% below the national average of $1,776.
How have insurance premiums changed in South Carolina?
South Carolina homeowners insurance premiums changed by -0.6% between 2018 and 2022. The average loss ratio is 37.5%, meaning insurers pay out that percentage of earned premiums in claims.
Which ZIP code has the most expensive insurance in South Carolina?
The most expensive ZIP code for homeowners insurance in South Carolina is 29401, with an average premium of $14,548/yr. The most affordable is 29683 at $1,032/yr.
What is the nonrenewal rate for South Carolina homeowners insurance?
The average nonrenewal rate in South Carolina is 3.92%. This rate has changed by +207.0% from 2018 to 2022. Nonrenewals occur when an insurer declines to renew an existing policy at expiration. ZIP 29926 has the highest nonrenewal rate in the state at 43.85%.
What is a loss ratio and what does South Carolina's mean?
A loss ratio measures how much an insurer pays out in claims compared to premiums collected. South Carolina's average loss ratio is 37.5%. 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 South Carolina?
The average claim frequency in South Carolina is 4.25%, meaning that percentage of policies result in a claim each year. The average claim severity (cost per claim) is $13,650. Higher claim frequency and severity typically correlate with higher premiums.

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 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

Related

Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainInsure Editorial

Verify with HUD →  ·  Verify with NOAA →  ·  Verify with FEMA →