ZIP 02121 · Suffolk County
Dorchester, MA Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance market metrics for ZIP 02121, Dorchester, Massachusetts.
- 21.9%
- Loss ratio
- 2.75%
- Nonrenewal rate
- #62 of 500
- Massachusetts rank
- 5,746
- Policies
The verdict
At $3,124/yr, Dorchester, MA (ZIP 02121) sits in the 95th percentile nationally for homeowners insurance costs, 76% above the U.S. average.
- $3,124
- Avg premium (2022)
- +76%
- vs U.S. average
- +10.6%
- since 2018
- 95th
- national percentile
According to U.S. Treasury Federal Insurance Office data. How we calculate the percentile and national comparison: methodology.
Data Snapshot: ZIP 02121 (Dorchester, MA)
U.S. Treasury FIO ZIP-level observations put the average homeowners insurance premium in ZIP 02121 (Dorchester, MA) at $3,124 per year for 2022 across approximately 5,746 reported policies. That is 76% above the national average of $1,776 per year, placing this ZIP in the 95th percentile nationally. Massachusetts homeowners pay $2,294 per year on average; this ZIP diverges by 36% (above), ranking #62 of 500 tracked ZIPs in Massachusetts by premium. The closest-priced peer within Massachusetts is Brewster (ZIP 02631) at $3,123, essentially matching this ZIP's rate.
The loss ratio for ZIP 02121 is 21.9%, meaning insurers retained a working margin after claims. Claim frequency, the share of policies with at least one claim, is 4.75%, and the average claim severity (amount paid per claim) is $14,375. 2.75% of ZIP 02121 policies go unrenewed at expiration, a rise of 65.2% over the past five years, a pattern that tends to precede broader insurer pullback in stressed markets.
Over the 2018–2022 window, ZIP 02121 premiums risen 10.6%, spanning $2,826 to $3,175 (five-year average: $2,985), an annualized rate of +2.5% per year.
How to read these numbers
The figures on this page come from the U.S. Treasury Federal Insurance Office, which collects homeowners insurance premium and claims data directly from the largest property insurers in the country. Because the data is aggregated at the ZIP-code level and averaged across many policies, it describes the typical cost in an area rather than a quote for any single home. Two houses on the same street can pay very different premiums depending on their age, construction type, roof condition, prior claims, and the specific coverage limits and deductibles the homeowner selects. The loss ratio shows how much of every premium dollar insurers paid back out as claims; a ratio above one means carriers lost money locally, which often precedes rate increases or carrier exits. Rising nonrenewal and claim frequency reveal how stressed the local market has become. Use these figures to gauge the direction and scale of costs in your area, then request quotes from several licensed carriers before buying or renewing a policy. FIO data aggregates voluntary reporting from the 40 largest homeowners insurers, covering roughly 80% of the U.S. market, so figures represent market averages rather than individual policy quotes; your own premium will vary with dwelling value, deductible, coverage limits, construction type, and insurer-specific underwriting. This page is educational research only and is not insurance advice, homeowners should request quotes from multiple licensed carriers or an independent agent before purchasing or renewing coverage.
How ZIP 02121 Compares
Premium History
Average premium in ZIP 02121, 2018–2022
| Year | Avg Premium | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $2,826 | - |
| 2019 | $2,878 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | $2,922 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $3,175 | +8.7% |
| 2022 | $3,124 | -1.6% |
5-Year Trend Summary
Similar ZIP Codes in Massachusetts
Other ZIPs in Massachusetts priced close to this one.
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What this means for ZIP 02121
This ZIP runs well above the U.S. average, shop coverage actively and budget for it.
- Put ZIP 02121 side by side with nearby ZIPs to see where you'd pay less. Compare ZIPs
- Massachusetts's statewide premium and nonrenewal picture, compared to other states. Massachusetts overview
- Understand what loss ratio reveals about this area's insurance market. Loss ratio guide
FIO figures are ZIP-level market averages across the largest insurers (~80% of the market), not a quote for any single home. Request quotes from multiple licensed carriers before buying or renewing.
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
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is homeowners insurance in ZIP 02121? ▼
What affects homeowners insurance costs in Dorchester, MA? ▼
Is homeowners insurance expensive in ZIP 02121 compared to the national average? ▼
What is the nonrenewal rate in ZIP 02121? ▼
How have premiums trended in ZIP 02121 over 5 years? ▼
How does ZIP 02121 compare to the Massachusetts state average? ▼
Every figure on PlainInsure is rendered directly from U.S. Treasury Federal Insurance Office data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on 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.