ZIP 85281 · Maricopa County

Tempe, AZ Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance market metrics for ZIP 85281, Tempe, Arizona.

85.4%
Loss ratio
1.04%
Nonrenewal rate
#144 of 325
Arizona rank
1,657
Policies

The verdict

Homeowners insurance in Tempe, AZ (ZIP 85281) runs $1,197/yr on average: the 23rd percentile nationally and 33% below the U.S. average.

$1,197
Avg premium (2022)
-33%
vs U.S. average
+12.0%
since 2018
23rd
national percentile

According to U.S. Treasury Federal Insurance Office data. How we calculate the percentile and national comparison: methodology.

Avg Premium (2022)
$1,197/yr
+12.0% since 2018
Loss Ratio
85.4%
Claims paid vs premiums
Claim Frequency
7.13%
Avg severity: $14,339
Nonrenewal Rate
1.04%
-36.3% change

Data Snapshot: ZIP 85281 (Tempe, AZ)

Homeowners in ZIP 85281 (Tempe, AZ) pay an average of $1,197 per year for insurance as of 2022, according to U.S. Treasury FIO ZIP-level data across approximately 1,657 reported policies. Against a national average of $1,776 per year, ZIP 85281 comes in 33% below, the 23rd percentile among all tracked ZIPs. Compared to the Arizona state average of $1,226, this ZIP runs 2% below, ranking #144 of 325 tracked ZIPs in Arizona by premium. The closest-priced peer within Arizona is Williams (ZIP 86046) at $1,197, essentially matching this ZIP's rate.

At a loss ratio of 85.4%, insurers are operating on thin margins here in this ZIP. About 7.13% of policyholders in this ZIP file a claim annually, and the average claim severity (amount paid per claim) is $14,339. 1.04% of ZIP 85281 policies go unrenewed at expiration, a drop of 36.3% over the past five years, a pattern that tends to precede broader insurer pullback in stressed markets.

Premium data spanning 5 years shows ZIP 85281 costs have risen 12.0% since 2018, from a low of $1,069 to a high of $1,197, an annualized rate of +2.9% 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 85281 Compares

vs National Average
$1,197 vs $1,776
33% below national avg
vs Arizona Average
$1,197 vs $1,226
2% below state avg
National Percentile
23th percentile
More affordable than most ZIPs

Premium History

Average premium in ZIP 85281, 2018–2022

$1,050$1,100$1,150$1,200$1,250 20182019202020212022 $1,197
Average homeowners premium per year in ZIP 85281.
Year Avg Premium YoY Change
2018 $1,069 -
2019 $1,070 +0.1%
2020 $1,122 +4.8%
2021 $1,153 +2.7%
2022 $1,197 +3.9%

5-Year Trend Summary

5-Year Avg Premium
$1,122
Premium Range
$1,069 - $1,197
Annual Change Rate
+2.9% per year
Years of Data
5 (2018-2022)

What this means for ZIP 85281

Treat these figures as a starting benchmark, real quotes from carriers will vary.

  • Compare ZIP 85281 against nearby ZIPs to spot where rates run lower. Compare ZIPs
  • Arizona's statewide premium and nonrenewal picture, compared to other states. Arizona overview
  • Loss ratio explains a lot about this area's insurance market, here's how to read it. 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 85281?
Homeowners insurance in ZIP 85281 (Tempe, AZ) averages $1,197 per year as of 2022, close to the national median at the 23rd percentile, #144 of 325 ZIPs in Arizona. Premiums have changed +12.0% over the past 5 years.
What affects homeowners insurance costs in Tempe, AZ?
Three figures shape homeowners insurance costs in ZIP 85281: claims frequency (7.13%), loss ratio (85.4%), and nonrenewal rate (1.04%), together placing this ZIP at the 23rd national percentile for cost.
Is homeowners insurance expensive in ZIP 85281 compared to the national average?
Nationally, ZIP 85281 lands in the 23rd percentile: its $1,197/yr average is 33% below the U.S. figure of $1,776/yr.
What is the nonrenewal rate in ZIP 85281?
Insurers decline to renew 1.04% of policies in ZIP 85281 in Arizona, a drop of 36.3% over the past 5 years.
How have premiums trended in ZIP 85281 over 5 years?
ZIP 85281 premiums spanned $1,069 to $1,197 across the 2018-2022 window, a 5-year average of $1,122. The annualized change rate is +2.9% per year.
How does ZIP 85281 compare to the Arizona state average?
ZIP 85281 runs 2% below the Arizona state average ($1,226/yr vs this ZIP's $1,197/yr), ranking #144 of 325 tracked ZIPs in Arizona by premium.

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.