By: Ramu Garuda  June.14, 2019

As part of a recent survey on home insurance rates in Pennsylvania, Gavop analyzed the annual report published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to rank the top home insurance providers by market share and premium offered. Gavop found that Truck Insurance Exchange, a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance Group, offers the cheapest median premium at $1,011. It is, in fact, $216 less than the state median of $1,227. State Farm follows at second, with a median premium of $1,103. Allstate is third with a median premium of $1,276, $49, which is more than the state median. At just $9 more, Nationwide is fourth, with a median premium of $1,285.

The figure below shows the market share of the top providers, along with the median premiums offered by them.

A Brief Guide to Pennsylvania Home Insurance

In Pennsylvania state, homeowners pay a relatively low home insurance premium, with a median rate at $61 less than the national medin rate at $1,288. However, there are a few things that insurance buyers should consider when buying a policy such as deductibles, liability coverage, flood insurance, and claim history.

In every home insurance agreement, customers have to decide on a deductible amount, which is the money they will pay out of their pocket in the event of a claim. Usually, deductible slabs are in multiples of $500. Choosing the right deductible is very important, as the premium depends on it. Even though choosing a higher deductible can lower the premium, it is not wise to go for a high deductible if you cannot afford to finance a significant sum of money for quick repairs.

Claim history is another factor that influences insurance rates. If a homeowner has made more than two claims in a period of 10 years, it usually does not sit favorably with providers.

In Pennsylvania, the winter snow can be a potential hazard. To prepare for any accidents, such as someone slipping on the snow on your property, it is a wise decision to buy adequate liability coverage, which will take care of the person’s medical costs.

The state is also always on the verge of being flooded by heavy rains. Talk to your insurer about flood insurance coverage, which will provide more coverage than water damage from leaky pipes.

Home Insurance Premium Variation by City

Gavop has listed the home insurance median rates in all 94 cities of Pennsylvania in the table below.

Rank	City	Average Insurance Rate
1	Erie	$904
2	Pittsburgh	$921
3	Tarentum	$927
4	State College	$945
5	Greencastle	$965
6	Williamsport	$981
7	Lancaster	$996
8	Carlisle	$1,006
9	Altoona	$1,019
10	Johnstown	$1,025
11	Somerset	$1,033
12	Lebanon	$1,037
13	Chambersburg	$1,043
14	Cranberry Township	$1,062
15	Greensburg	$1,064
16	Hanover	$1,083
17	McKeesport	$1,088
19	Waynesboro	$1,090
18	York	$1,090
20	Washington	$1,092
21	Indiana	$1,093
22	McConnellsburg	$1,097
23	Brookville	$1,100
24	Scranton	$1,112
25	Pittston	$1,113
26	Sayre	$1,114
27	Mountain Top	$1,127
28	Milton	$1,129
29	Towanda	$1,135
30	Wilkes Barre	$1,135
31	Latrobe	$1,138
32	Dallas	$1,139
33	Warren	$1,141
34	Du Bois	$1,148
35	Lewistown	$1,148
36	Wellsboro	$1,155
37	Butler	$1,160
38	Johnstown	$1,163
39	Carnegie	$1,171
40	Sharon	$1,172
41	Gettysburg	$1,173
42	Punxsutawney	$1,191
44	Kittanning	$1,192
43	Monessen	$1,192
46	Harrisburg	$1,194
45	Hummelstown	$1,194
47	Bethlehem	$1,197
48	Shamokin	$1,201
49	Saint Marys	$1,202
50	Ellwood City	$1,211
51	Ridgway	$1,216
52	Lock Haven	$1,217
53	Bloomsburg	$1,220
54	Reading	$1,221
55	Clarks Summit	$1,223
56	Beaver	$1,235
58	Lehighton	$1,240
57	Waynesburg	$1,240
59	Stroudsburg	$1,262
60	Meadville	$1,263
61	Hazleton	$1,268
62	New Bethlehem	$1,269
63	Wyalusing	$1,271
64	McAlisterville	$1,272
65	Bradford	$1,273
66	Clearfield	$1,273
67	Clarion	$1,277
68	Pottsville	$1,279
69	Coudersport	$1,281
71	Millersburg	$1,293
70	Uniontown	$1,293
72	West Chester	$1,294
73	East Stroudsburg	$1,304
74	Emlenton	$1,309
75	Allentown	$1,311
76	Kane	$1,315
77	Oil City	$1,323
78	New Bloomfield	$1,348
80	Hawley	$1,357
79	Schuykill Haven	$1,357
81	Doylestown	$1,363
82	Phoenixville	$1,380
83	New Castle	$1,383
84	Titusville	$1,395
85	Ardmore	$1,400
86	Lansdale	$1,431
87	Honesdale	$1,487
88	Pottstown	$1,502
89	Levittown	$1,620
90	Fort Washington	$1,631
91	Havertown	$1,643
92	Effort	$1,745
93	Coatesville	$2,008
94	Philadelphia	$2,087

Erie – the fourth largest city by population – has the cheapest median premium (at $904) in the state. Philadelphia – the largest city by population – has the most expensive median premium (at $2,087).

Gavop also ranked five of the largest cities by population and listed the median premium in each. The findings are illustrated in the infographic below.

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