Best South Carolina Homeowners Insurance for 2026

State Farm has the state’s best home insurance overall, but Allstate may be cheaper.

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Key takeaways
  • State Farm’s low rates and helpful coverage options make it South Carolina’s best homeowners insurance company.
  • Home insurance costs an average of $3,477 a year in South Carolina, or $290 a month.
  • The threat of storm damage makes homeowners insurance especially expensive along the coast.

Best homeowners insurance companies in South Carolina

State Farm’s low rates and flexible coverage options make it South Carolina’s best homeowners insurance company. Allstate has the state’s cheapest home insurance.

Auto-Owners and USAA stand out for other reasons, including excellent customer service. Both have a 0.5 complaint rating from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) . This means they both have half as many complaints as average over things like claims.

Best overall: State Farm

Average annual rate: $2,083

4-Stars

Why we chose it: In addition to affordable rates, State Farm offers flexible options for customizing your coverage.

Who it’s best for: Most homeowners. You can tailor State Farm’s coverage options to fit your budget and needs. For example, there are multiple roof coverage options, including an upgrade that replaces your damaged roof with even stronger materials. 

The company also offers cheap car insurance in South Carolina, making it a good option for bundling .

PROS

  • Charges 40% less than state average for home insurance
  • Cheap car insurance makes it good for bundling
  • Customize add-ons for a variety of needs and budgets

CONS

  • Not as cheap as Allstate
  • Bad NAIC complaint score

Best for cheap rates: Allstate

Allstate

Average annual rate: $1,707

4-Stars

Why we chose it: Allstate has South Carolina’s cheapest average home insurance rate. It charges about half the state average to insure a typical house.

Who it’s best for: Value seekers. Allstate’s easy-to-earn discounts make its low rates even cheaper. These include a discount just for switching to Allstate from another company. You can get another discount if you’ve recently purchased your home.

Its claims forgiveness add-on keeps your first claim from making your rate go up. Unfortunately, its car insurance rate is higher than average.

PROS

  • Cheapest home insurance in South Carolina
  • Several discounts can help you save more
  • Claims forgiveness available to keep your rate low

CONS

  • Expensive car insurance reduces savings for bundlers
  • NAIC rating means more complaints than average

Best coverage options: Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners

Average annual rate: $3,411

4-Stars

Why we chose it: Auto-Owners offers optional coverages that can prove valuable in the long run.

Who it’s best for: Homeowners who value coverage over price. Auto-Owners’ guaranteed replacement coverage protects you from being underinsured after a disaster. Its inland flood coverage can be useful if you don’t need full-on flood coverage. Its home rates are just average, but its cheap car insurance can make it a good deal for bundlers.

PROS

  • Customizable protections can save you money in the long run
  • Cheap car insurance makes it affordable to bundle
  • Excellent complaint rating means good customer service

CONS

  • Home insurance rates are just average
  • Online quotes not available

Best for military families: USAA

USAA

Average annual rate: $2,601

4-Stars

Why we chose it:  Low rates and good customer service make USAA a good choice if you meet its eligibility requirements .

Who it’s best for: Do-it-yourself insurance shoppers. USAA makes it easy to shop for home insurance online or by phone. However, you usually don’t work with the same agent on an ongoing basis.

Its customers don’t seem to mind, though. USAA’s 0.5 NAIC score means it has half as many complaints as average. 

PROS

  • Charges 25% less than state average for home insurance
  • Cheap car insurance makes bundling affordable
  • Excellent NAIC complaint score

CONS

  • Less-personalized service than other companies
  • Only available to the military community and their families

Compare home insurance rates and ratings in South Carolina

Each company’s rates vary by customer, which makes it good to compare home insurance quotes from a few companies.

CompanyAnnual rate*LendingTree ratingComplaint rating*
Allstate$1,707 4-Stars
4/5
1.2
State Farm$2,083 4-Stars
4/5
1.4
Cincinnati$2,155 4-Stars
4/5
0.2
Universal$2,916 2-Star
2/5
2.7
Auto-Owners$3,411 4-Stars
4/5
0.5
Farmers$4,034 3.5-Stars
3.5/5
0.7
Heritage$4,084 3.5-Stars
3.5/5
0.7
Progressive$4,396 3.5-Stars
3.5/5
1.8
Farm Bureau$4,437 3.5-Stars
3.5/5
0.2
Nationwide$6,421 3.5-Stars
3.5/5
1.2
USAA**$2,601 4-Stars
4/5
0.5
*Premiums are a statewide average based on $400,000 of coverage. Complaint ratings are from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), based on the 2025 Complaint Index. A lower score is better. A score of 1.0 is average for a company of that size.

LendingTree analyzed home insurance quotes from every South Carolina ZIP code to identify the best options for you.

Our team evaluated pricing, customer experience, financial reliability and coverage features to determine the top home insurance companies in your state.

See our full methodology.

South Carolina home insurance costs

Home insurance costs an average of $3,477 a year in South Carolina, or $290 a month.


Home insurance costs an average of $3,477 a year in South Carolina, or $290 a month. This is 32% higher than the national average. Your actual rate depends on things like your location, your home’s features and your credit history.

Average home insurance rates by dwelling coverage amount

The amount of coverage you need also affects your rate. For example, it costs $2,717 per year to insure a $300,000 home. This is 22% less than the average for a $400,000 policy.

You usually have to insure your home at its replacement value . This is the limit you need for your policy’s dwelling coverage .

Home insurance rates by dwelling coverage

Company$300,000$400,000 $550,000 $750,000
Allstate$1,397 $1,707 $2,222 $2,922
State Farm$1,743 $2,083 $2,525 $3,066
Auto-Owners$2,788 $3,411 $4,314 $5,986
USAA**$2,058 $2,601 $3,513 $4,769
Average$2,717 $3,477 $4,390 $5,853

Most insurance companies can help you estimate your home’s replacement value. You can help by providing details about your home, including its:

  • Year built, square footage and number of floors
  • Foundation, garage and roof types
  • Flooring, countertop and cabinet materials

You can find most of this information by looking up your home on your county assessor’s website. For an older home, you may be asked when your roof, wiring and major systems were last updated. Modernized systems usually get you a lower rate.

South Carolina home insurance rates by city

Weather risks are a major driver of South Carolina’s home insurance rates. Insurance companies charge more in areas exposed to severe coastal storms than they do in inland areas. 

This is one of the main reasons why home insurance costs $5,640 in Charleston, compared to only $2,571 in Columbia.

Pawleys Island has the state’s most expensive home insurance at $7,971 a year, more than double the state average. Sunset has the cheapest rates at $2,234 a year, or 36% less than the average.

CityAnnual rate
Abbeville$2,464
Adams Run$4,372
Aiken$2,556
Alcolu$3,235
Allendale$3,103
Anderson$2,444
Andrews$4,600
Arcadia$2,317
Arcadia Lakes$2,561
Arial$2,280
Awendaw$6,284
Aynor$4,912
Ballentine$2,604
Bamberg$3,243
Barnwell$2,899
Batesburg$2,615
Batesburg-leesville$2,586
Bath$2,589
Beaufort$4,856
Beech Island$2,589
Belton$2,453
Belvedere$2,555
Bennettsville$3,273
Berea$2,358
Bethera$4,999
Bethune$2,861
Bishopville$3,269
Blacksburg$2,399
Blackstock$2,561
Blackville$2,904
Blair$2,599
Blenheim$3,344
Bluffton$4,463
Blythewood$2,584
Boiling Springs$2,243
Bonneau Beach$4,480
Bowling Green$2,317
Bowman$3,325
Bradley$2,490
Branchville$3,300
Briarcliffe Acres$7,444
Brookdale$3,263
Brunson$3,378
Buffalo$2,398
Burnettown$2,572
Burton$4,364
Cades$3,995
Calhoun Falls$2,515
Camden$2,784
Cameron$3,178
Campobello$2,276
Canadys$3,666
Carlisle$2,449
Cassatt$2,838
Catawba$2,398
Cayce$2,554
Centerville$2,439
Central$2,322
Central Pacolet$2,357
Chapin$2,547
Chappells$2,441
Charleston$5,640
Charleston AFB$4,564
Cheraw$2,833
Cherryvale$3,095
Chesnee$2,270
Chester$2,454
Chesterfield$2,821
City View$2,359
Clarks Hill$2,514
Clearwater$2,570
Clemson$2,317
Cleveland$2,349
Clifton$2,320
Clinton$2,463
Clio$3,343
Clover$2,264
Columbia$2,571
Conestee$2,360
Converse$2,321
Conway$4,893
Coosawhatchie$3,772
Cope$3,265
Cordesville$4,516
Cordova$3,279
Cottageville$3,736
Coward$3,418
Cowpens$2,295
Crocketville$3,372
Cross$4,449
Cross Anchor$2,398
Cross Hill$2,492
Dale$5,422
Dalzell$3,089
Darlington$3,309
Daufuskie Island$6,080
Davis Station$3,223
Denmark$3,192
Dentsville$2,586
Dillon$3,470
Donalds$2,511
Dorchester$4,151
Drayton$2,342
Due West$2,506
Duncan$2,286
Dunean$2,289
Early Branch$3,611
Easley$2,303
East Gaffney$2,410
East Sumter$3,121
Eastover$2,855
Edgefield$2,684
Edgemoor$2,463
Edisto$3,265
Edisto Island$6,572
Effingham$3,318
Ehrhardt$3,270
Elgin$2,637
Elko$2,871
Elliott$3,278
Elloree$3,313
Enoree$2,363
Estill$3,633
Eureka Mill$2,449
Eutawville$3,572
Fair Play$2,411
Fairfax$3,160
Fairforest$2,308
Five Forks$2,308
Florence$3,318
Folly Beach$7,573
Forest Acres$2,555
Forestbrook$5,910
Fork$3,565
Fort Lawn$2,523
Fort Mill$2,317
Fountain Inn$2,350
Furman$3,631
Gable$3,249
Gadsden$2,718
Gaffney$2,401
Galivants Ferry$4,598
Gantt$2,329
Garden City$6,987
Garnett$3,609
Gaston$2,638
Gayle Mill$2,449
Georgetown$5,664
Gifford$3,386
Gilbert$2,547
Glendale$2,335
Gloverville$2,578
Golden Grove$2,374
Goose Creek$4,503
Gramling$2,273
Graniteville$2,545
Gray Court$2,423
Great Falls$2,584
Greeleyville$3,935
Green Pond$4,530
Green Sea$4,633
Greenville$2,318
Greenwood$2,484
Greer$2,286
Gresham$4,186
Grover$4,318
Hamer$3,483
Hampton$3,630
Hanahan$5,156
Hardeeville$4,263
Harleyville$3,879
Hartsville$3,215
Heath Springs$2,634
Hemingway$4,571
Hickory Grove$2,331
Hilda$2,905
Hilton Head Island$6,286
Hodges$2,505
Holly Hill$3,407
Hollywood$4,644
Homeland Park$2,465
Honea Path$2,427
Hopkins$2,674
Horatio$3,170
Huger$4,745
India Hook$2,265
Inman$2,266
Inman Mills$2,263
Irmo$2,530
Irwin$2,618
Islandton$3,703
Isle Of Palms$7,322
Iva$2,488
Jackson$2,595
Jacksonboro$4,207
Jamestown$4,614
Jefferson$2,781
Jenkinsville$2,598
Joanna$2,476
Johns Island$5,534
Johnsonville$3,823
Johnston$2,699
Jonesville$2,383
Judson$2,357
Kershaw$2,717
Kiawah Island$6,137
Kinards$2,459
Kingstree$4,058
La France$2,465
Ladson$4,524
Lake City$3,717
Lake Murray of Richland$2,550
Lake Secession$2,477
Lake View$3,561
Lake Wylie$2,264
Lakewood$3,112
Lamar$3,321
Lancaster$2,700
Lando$2,533
Landrum$2,310
Lane$4,150
Langley$2,577
Latta$3,574
Laurel Bay$4,363
Laurens$2,449
Leesville$2,562
Lesslie$2,305
Lexington$2,546
Liberty$2,317
Liberty Hill$2,796
Little Mountain$2,436
Little River$6,106
Little Rock$3,458
Livingston$3,012
Lobeco$4,466
Lodge$3,407
Long Creek$2,358
Longs$5,204
Loris$5,030
Lowndesville$2,549
Lugoff$2,702
Luray$3,358
Lydia$3,320
Lyman$2,285
Lynchburg$3,329
Manning$3,298
Marietta$2,385
Marion$4,036
Martin$2,879
Mauldin$2,329
Mayesville$3,211
Mayo$2,297
Mc Bee$2,877
Mc Clellanville$6,330
Mc Coll$3,341
McConnells$2,329
McCormick$2,472
Meggett$4,645
Miley$3,633
Modoc$2,559
Monarch Mill$2,419
Moncks Corner$4,478
Monetta$2,629
Montmorenci$2,575
Moore$2,291
Mount Carmel$2,515
Mount Croghan$2,817
Mount Pleasant$5,705
Mountain Rest$2,325
Mountville$2,481
Mullins$4,139
Murphys Estates$2,482
Murrells Inlet$6,958
Myrtle Beach$7,003
Neeses$3,013
Nesmith$4,096
New Ellenton$2,561
New Zion$3,259
Newberry$2,437
Newport$2,258
Newry$2,357
Nichols$4,180
Ninety Six$2,466
Norris$2,317
North$2,942
North Augusta$2,519
North Charleston$4,612
North Hartsville$3,294
North Myrtle Beach$7,348
Northlake$2,440
Norway$3,051
Oak Grove$2,531
Oakland$3,095
Okatie$4,488
Olanta$3,307
Olar$3,181
Orangeburg$3,250
Pacolet$2,348
Pacolet Mills$2,359
Pageland$2,788
Pamplico$3,736
Parker$2,354
Parris Island$5,327
Patrick$2,870
Pauline$2,311
Pawleys Island$7,971
Peak$2,477
Pelion$2,643
Pelzer$2,381
Pendleton$2,425
Pickens$2,245
Piedmont$2,362
Pine Ridge$2,580
Pineland$3,754
Pineville$4,370
Pinewood$3,188
Pinopolis$4,719
Plum Branch$2,468
Pomaria$2,472
Port Royal$4,870
Powdersville$2,352
Privateer$3,104
Prosperity$2,433
Rains$3,946
Ravenel$4,615
Red Bank$2,545
Red Hill$4,943
Reevesville$3,844
Rembert$3,081
Richburg$2,510
Richland$2,333
Ridge Spring$2,641
Ridgeland$3,767
Ridgeville$4,246
Ridgeway$2,535
Rion$2,573
Rock Hill$2,306
Roebuck$2,285
Round O$3,820
Rowesville$3,318
Ruby$2,805
Ruffin$3,709
Russellville$4,322
Salem$2,272
Salley$2,618
Salters$4,013
Saluda$2,591
Sandy Springs$2,448
Sangaree$4,381
Sans Souci$2,326
Santee$3,444
Saxon$2,305
Scotia$3,633
Scranton$3,648
Seabrook$4,356
Seabrook Island$6,135
Sellers$3,736
Seneca$2,348
Seven Oaks$2,512
Sharon$2,319
Shaw AFB$3,102
Sheldon$4,233
Shell Point$4,364
Silverstreet$2,477
Simpsonville$2,304
Six Mile$2,266
Slater$2,374
Slater-Marietta$2,317
Smoaks$3,932
Smyrna$2,333
Socastee$5,768
Society Hill$3,288
South Congaree$2,560
South Sumter$3,105
Southern Shops$2,316
Spartanburg$2,298
Springdale$2,576
Springfield$2,969
St. Andrews$2,531
St. George$3,882
St. Helena Island$6,007
St. Matthews$3,049
St. Stephen$4,326
Starr$2,473
Startex$2,318
State Park$2,627
Sullivan’s Island$6,498
Summerton$3,371
Summerville$4,409
Sumter$3,116
Sunset$2,234
Surfside Beach$7,200
Swansea$2,629
Tamassee$2,357
Tatum$3,308
Taylors$2,285
Tega Cay$2,272
Tillman$3,693
Timmonsville$3,319
Townville$2,448
Travelers Rest$2,348
Trenton$2,657
Troy$2,507
Turbeville$3,260
Ulmer$3,147
Una$2,357
Union$2,419
Utica$2,360
Valley Falls$2,267
Vance$3,489
Varnville$3,638
Vaucluse$2,598
Wade Hampton$2,287
Wadmalaw Island$5,382
Wagener$2,614
Walhalla$2,342
Wallace$3,060
Walterboro$3,765
Ward$2,630
Ware Shoals$2,519
Warrenville$2,572
Waterloo$2,505
Watts Mills$2,448
Wedgefield$3,099
Welcome$2,363
Wellford$2,309
West Columbia$2,543
West Pelzer$2,361
West Union$2,369
Westminster$2,368
Westville$2,799
White Rock$2,638
White Stone$2,357
Whitmire$2,427
Wilkinson Heights$3,268
Williams$3,804
Williamston$2,382
Williston$2,788
Windsor$2,634
Winnsboro$2,541
Winnsboro Mills$2,543
Woodfield$2,585
Woodruff$2,322
Yemassee$4,018
York$2,287

Current state of home insurance in South Carolina

The cost of homeowners insurance in South Carolina has gone up by 30% since 2020. This increase is blamed on a combination of factors.

  • Powerful storms have required insurance companies to rebuild more homes than normal.
  • Inflation has driven up the cost of rebuilding homes faster than usual.

Insurance companies have been raising their rates to keep up with these growing expenses. 

Here are steps you can take to lower your home insurance costs, or at least keep them from going up too fast:

  • Shop around: Each company uses a different system to set your rate. Getting quotes from a few companies helps you find the cheapest rate for your situation.
  • Raise your deductibles: A higher deductible usually lowers your rate. Make sure to keep money in the bank to cover it if a disaster strikes. The state’s Catastrophe Savings Account program helps you sock away emergency funds on a tax-free basis.
  • Strengthen your home: Securing your roof and installing water-resistant features improves your home’s ability to withstand storms. Some improvements can also get you a tax credit from the state.

South Carolina hurricane insurance

There’s no single type of home insurance coverage for hurricanes in South Carolina. Instead, there is a combination of insurance protections for them.

Wind insurance in South Carolina

In most parts of the state, standard home insurance covers wind damage from hurricanes. There’s an exception in coastal areas, where some companies don’t cover wind and hail damage. In this situation, you can get a separate windstorm policy. The South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association, or Wind Pool, can help.

Standard home insurance usually has a higher deductible for wind damage than it does for other risks like fire. Some policies come with a hurricane deductible, which usually applies to wind-related damage from a named storm.

Flood insurance in South Carolina

Standard homeowners insurance does not cover floods. Instead, you can get flood insurance to protect against this risk. It costs an average of $771 a year in South Carolina, or $64 a month.

Most people buy flood insurance through the government-run National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It comes with a 30-day waiting period, so it’s good to line up your policy before hurricane season begins. The waiting period does not apply if you’re buying flood insurance to close a loan.

A few private companies also offer flood insurance in South Carolina. Private flood insurance usually has a shorter waiting period than the NFIP and is sometimes cheaper.

Your current home insurance agent, or the ones you shop with, can usually get you an NFIP quote. Neptune Flood, Wright Flood and Allstate are good companies to contact for private flood quotes.

The inland flood coverage that Auto-Owners offers does not provide as much protection as true flood insurance.

Compare homeowners insurance companies in SC

Comparing quotes can save you money on homeowners insurance. Consider these tips to save time.

  • Find your declarations: Your current policy’s declarations page summarizes your coverages, limits and deductibles. Sharing it with other companies helps you get quotes faster.
  • Prepare to bundle: Most companies give you a big discount for getting your home and auto insurance from them. Get quotes for both policies to see each company’s combined rate.
  • Check the details: It’s normal for your coverage limits to vary slightly by company. You should still make sure information about you and your home is accurate in each quote.
  • Compare apples to apples: The coverage options and deductibles in each quote should match up.
  • Ask about discounts: Your quotes may include a few discounts, but you don’t want any to get overlooked.

How LendingTree helps you find the right policy

Shopping for home insurance isn’t always straightforward — especially when availability and pricing can vary widely. LendingTree makes it easier by helping you explore options from multiple insurers so you can find coverage that fits your needs and budget.

How it works

Tell us about your home

Answer a few quick questions about your home, location and coverage needs. 

Compare options from insurers

See quotes and typical rates from insurers that offer coverage in your area.

Choose the right policy

Review your options and pick the coverage that fits your needs and budget.

Frequently asked questions

Flood insurance is only required if you need a mortgage in a high-risk flood zone. Lenders make you get it for your loan. South Carolina’s widespread flood risks often make it worth getting on a voluntary basis in other situations.

Home insurance typically only covers wind-related hurricane damage. The exception is in coastal areas, where some policies exclude wind and hail damage. You can usually get separate windstorm coverage in these situations.

Home insurance does not cover flooding that accompanies a hurricane. Flood insurance protects against this risk.

Many South Carolina home insurance policies have hurricane deductibles. These are usually higher than your deductible for other risks like fire. This means you have to pay more out of your own pocket for hurricane repairs than you do for other disasters. 

Methodology

How we chose the best homeowners insurance in South Carolina

The rates shown in this article are based on an analysis of non-binding quotes obtained in February 2026 from Quadrant Information Services for sample homes in every South Carolina ZIP code. Unless otherwise noted, policies include:

  • Dwelling coverage: $400,000
  • Other structures: $40,000
  • Personal property: $200,000
  • Loss of use: $80,000
  • Personal liability: $100,000
  • Guest medical payments: $5,000
  • Deductible: $1,000

How we create LendingTree ratings

Our team of insurance experts evaluates insurance companies across several categories, including average rates, discounts, coverage options, third-party customer service ratings and app/website experience. We use this information to create LendingTree ratings, which help us identify and recommend the best insurance companies for consumers.

For third-party customer service ratings, we included the NAIC’s complaint index scores and financial strength ratings from AM Best. NAIC complaint index scores show how well companies treat customers over things like claims, while financial strength ratings from AM Best reflect the ability to pay out claims.

See our home insurance ratings methodology and full editorial guidelines for further details.

**USAA is only available to current and former members of the military and their families.