The roof is the single building component that homeowners insurers scrutinize most closely, because it is the part of the house most exposed to the perils that drive claims. This report pulls together verified data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), ISO/Verisk, the Insurance Research Council (IRC), and state statute to quantify how roof age, roof material, and roof shape move a homeowners premium, and where roof-based rating is most aggressive. It is distinct from our reports on insurance non-renewal by roof age, impact-resistant shingle discounts by state, and roof age and hail claim severity. All modeled figures below are labeled as Roofing Brief calculations.
Executive Summary
- The NAIC national average HO-3 homeowners premium was $1,411 in 2021, up from $1,034 in 2012 (NAIC, via Triple-I).
- The nationwide average premium for owner-occupied dwelling fire and homeowners policies rose 10.5% between 2021 and 2022, and the HO-3 form specifically rose 11.26% (NAIC, 2022 report).
- Wind and hail, the perils that act directly on the roof, accounted for 38.3% to 48.3% of all homeowners claims from 2018 to 2022 (ISO/Verisk, via Triple-I).
- Roof age is the clearest single predictor insurers use: scrutiny commonly begins at 15 years and coverage restriction or non-renewal is common past 20 years for asphalt shingle roofs (multiple carrier underwriting guidelines, 2025-2026).
- Florida Statute 627.7011(5) bars insurers from refusing coverage solely because of roof age when a roof is under 15 years old, effective for policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2022 (Florida Statutes).
- Coverage form matters as much as price: replacement cost value (RCV) pays full replacement, while actual cash value (ACV) and roof payment schedules pay a depreciated amount that falls with roof age.
- Roof-based rating is most aggressive in catastrophe-prone states. Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi households spent 4.22%, 3.99%, and 3.87% of median income on homeowners insurance in 2022, the three highest ratios in the country (IRC, 2025).
Key Findings
- The NAIC national average HO-3 premium rose from $1,034 in 2012 to $1,411 in 2021, a 36.5% increase over nine years (NAIC, via Triple-I).
- The nationwide average premium for owner-occupied policies rose 10.5% between 2021 and 2022 (NAIC, 2022 Homeowners Insurance Report).
- The HO-3 form rose 11.26% nationwide in 2022 and accounts for nearly 79% of owner-occupied exposures (NAIC, 2022).
- The average homeowners insurance expenditure was $1,559 in 2022, a 10.5% increase over 2021 (IRC, June 2025).
- Homeowners insurance expenditures grew 5.3% annualized from 2000 to 2022, while median household income grew 2.6% annualized (IRC, 2025).
- The share of median household income spent on homeowners insurance rose from 1.19% in 2001 to 2.09% in 2022, matching the prior peak set in 2014 (IRC, 2025).
- Wind and hail accounted for 38.3% to 48.3% of homeowners claims from 2018 to 2022 (ISO/Verisk, via Triple-I).
- Homeowners filed 2.82 wind and hail claims per 100 house-years from 2018 to 2022, out of 5.79 claims from all causes (ISO/Verisk, via Triple-I).
- The average wind and hail claim paid $13,511 from 2018 to 2022, compared with $83,991 for fire and lightning (ISO/Verisk, via Triple-I).
- Florida households spent 3.99% of median income on homeowners insurance in 2022, the second highest ratio in the nation behind Louisiana at 4.22% (IRC, 2025).
- Utah households spent 1.00% of median income on homeowners insurance in 2022, the lowest ratio in the country (IRC, 2025).
- Florida Statute 627.7011(5) prohibits refusal to insure solely on roof age when the roof is under 15 years old, and requires insurers to accept a homeowner-paid inspection finding at least 5 years of useful life when the roof is 15 years or older (Florida Statutes, effective July 1, 2022).
- Florida SB 4-D (2022) allows repair of only the damaged portion of a roof, rather than full replacement, when the roof was built or replaced to the 2007 Florida Building Code (effective March 1, 2009) or later (Florida Statutes).
- Texas has required insurers to offer premium discounts for impact-resistant roofs since 1998, the first such state mandate, referencing UL 2218 impact ratings (Texas Department of Insurance).
- Wind mitigation credit programs in coastal states generally require a roof to be at least 90% hipped to qualify for the hip-roof discount (wind mitigation inspection standards, 2025-2026).
How Insurers Price the Roof
Homeowners insurers translate roof characteristics into three underwriting decisions: whether to write the policy at all, what coverage form to attach to the roof, and what premium to charge. Roof age, roof material, and roof shape each feed those decisions. The reason the roof carries this weight is exposure. Wind and hail act on the roof before any other part of the structure, and those two perils dominate claim frequency.
Wind and hail accounted for 38.3% to 48.3% of all homeowners claims from 2018 to 2022, according to ISO/Verisk data compiled by Triple-I. Water damage and freezing accounted for 19.6% to 29.0%, and fire and lightning for 21.1% to 25.4% over the same period. Claim frequency data tell the same story: homeowners filed 2.82 wind and hail claims per 100 house-years from 2018 to 2022, the largest single category within the 5.79 total claims per 100 house-years.
Premium Levels and Trends
National average premiums have risen steadily. The NAIC national average HO-3 premium increased from $1,034 in 2012 to $1,411 in 2021. Growth accelerated after 2020: the nationwide average premium for owner-occupied dwelling fire and homeowners policies rose 10.5% between 2021 and 2022, and the HO-3 form rose 11.26% over the same period. The NAIC 2022 data covered all states except California and Texas, across 57 total jurisdictions.
The IRC measures the same pressure as a share of income. The average homeowners insurance expenditure was $1,559 in 2022, up 10.5% from 2021. Median household income was $74,580 in 2022. From 2000 to 2022, expenditures grew 5.3% annualized while income grew 2.6% annualized, so insurance consumed a rising share of the household budget. That share moved from 1.19% in 2001 to 2.09% in 2022.
Roof Age and Coverage Form
Roof age changes both the premium and the promise. Two settlement forms sit behind most roof coverage. Replacement cost value (RCV) pays the full cost to replace the roof with like kind and quality, minus the deductible, regardless of roof age. Actual cash value (ACV) pays the depreciated value at the time of loss, so the older the roof, the smaller the payout. A third form, the roof payment schedule, pays a fixed percentage of replacement cost that declines with roof age.
Because ACV and roof schedules erode with age, insurers increasingly shift older roofs onto those forms rather than raising the premium alone. Underwriting scrutiny commonly begins around 15 years for asphalt shingle roofs, and coverage restriction or non-renewal becomes common past 20 years, according to carrier underwriting guidelines reviewed in 2025 and 2026.
Florida wrote roof-age underwriting into statute. Florida Statute 627.7011(5) prohibits an insurer from refusing to insure a home solely because of roof age when the roof is under 15 years old, effective for policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2022. When the roof is 15 years or older, the homeowner may pay for an inspection, and the insurer may not refuse solely on age if the inspector finds at least 5 years of useful life remaining. Florida SB 4-D (2022) separately allows repair of only the damaged portion of a roof built or replaced to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, rather than a full replacement. For the mechanics of drops and downgrades, see our insurance non-renewal by roof age report.
Roof Material and Premium
Material changes the roof’s expected service life and its resistance to the perils that drive claims, and insurers price both. Asphalt shingle roofs face underwriting scrutiny at roughly 15 to 20 years, while metal roofs are commonly assigned a 40 to 50 year service life in underwriting, which extends the period of favorable rating. Impact resistance is the other lever. Texas became the first state to require insurers to offer discounts for impact-resistant roofs in 1998, referencing UL 2218 impact ratings, per the Texas Department of Insurance. A Class 4 shingle under UL 2218 must withstand a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet without cracking. Reported dwelling-portion credits for qualifying roofs commonly range from 20% to 35% in Texas, though exact credits are carrier-filed and state-specific. Our impact-resistant shingle discounts by state report tracks those credits.
Roof Shape and Wind Rating
Roof shape enters premiums through wind mitigation programs in coastal states. A hip roof slopes on all four sides and distributes wind uplift more evenly than a gable roof, which presents flat end walls to the wind. Wind mitigation inspection standards generally require a roof to be at least 90% hipped to qualify for the hip-roof credit. The credit sits inside broader wind mitigation programs that also reward sealed roof decks and enhanced roof-to-wall connections, so shape is one input among several rather than a standalone discount.
Where Roof-Based Rating Is Most Aggressive
Roof-based rating bites hardest where wind and hail losses are highest, which is the catastrophe-prone South and Gulf. Measured as homeowners insurance expenditure as a share of median household income in 2022, the least affordable states were Louisiana at 4.22%, Florida at 3.99%, Mississippi at 3.87%, Oklahoma at 3.45%, and Arkansas at 3.19%, according to the IRC. The most affordable were Utah at 1.00%, Oregon at 1.09%, Alaska at 1.23%, Maryland at 1.27%, and Wisconsin at 1.29%. These are population-wide ratios and not roof-specific, but every state at the top of the list is a high wind or hail state where the roof is the dominant loss driver.
Original Synthesis (Roofing Brief Calculations)
The following four figures are original derived calculations by The Roofing Brief, not published statistics. Each lists its inputs, formula, and limitations.
1. Roof-exposed perils are roughly half of all claim frequency
Roofing Brief calculation: 2.82 wind and hail claims per 100 house-years divided by 5.79 total claims per 100 house-years equals 48.7% of homeowners claim frequency. Inputs: ISO/Verisk claim frequency by cause, 2018 to 2022, via Triple-I. Limitation: not every wind and hail claim is a roof claim, and claim frequency is not the same as claim dollars. This measures how often, not how much.
2. Households in the most roof-exposed states pay about 3.2 times more of their income
Roofing Brief calculation: the five least affordable states averaged 3.74% of median income spent on homeowners insurance in 2022 [(4.22 + 3.99 + 3.87 + 3.45 + 3.19) / 5], versus 1.18% for the five most affordable states [(1.00 + 1.09 + 1.23 + 1.27 + 1.29) / 5], a ratio of 3.2 to 1. Inputs: IRC state affordability index, 2022. Limitation: these are all-cause, population-wide ratios and do not isolate the roof; income and home values differ across states.
3. Estimated 2022 national average HO-3 premium near $1,570
Roofing Brief calculation: applying the NAIC-reported 11.26% HO-3 increase for 2022 to the 2021 national average HO-3 premium of $1,411 yields an estimated $1,570 for 2022. The 2012 to 2021 series implies a 3.5% compound annual growth rate, so 2022 growth ran about three times the prior nine-year trend. Inputs: NAIC average HO-3 premium 2012 to 2021 and NAIC 2022 percentage change. Limitation: this is a projection from a reported percentage change, not a directly published 2022 dollar figure, and NAIC 2022 data excluded California and Texas.
4. Insurance now takes 76% more of household income than in 2001
Roofing Brief calculation: the affordability index rose from 1.19% of median income in 2001 to 2.09% in 2022, an increase of 75.6% in insurance’s share of household income [(2.09 – 1.19) / 1.19]. Inputs: IRC affordability index, 2001 and 2022. Limitation: this reflects both rate and coverage increases, since premiums rose partly to cover higher replacement costs.
Tables
Table 1: NAIC national average HO-3 premium by year
| Year | Average HO-3 premium | Annual change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $1,034 | 5.6% |
| 2014 | $1,132 | 3.3% |
| 2016 | $1,192 | 1.6% |
| 2018 | $1,249 | 3.1% |
| 2020 | $1,311 | 3.1% |
| 2021 | $1,411 | 7.6% |
Source: NAIC, via Triple-I. HO-3 owner-occupied policies.
Table 2: Homeowners claims by cause, 2018 to 2022
| Cause of loss | Share of claims | Claims per 100 house-years | Average claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind and hail | 38.3% to 48.3% | 2.82 | $13,511 |
| Water damage and freezing | 19.6% to 29.0% | 1.61 | $13,954 |
| Fire and lightning | 21.1% to 25.4% | 0.24 | $83,991 |
| Theft | 0.6% to 1.0% | 0.14 | $5,024 |
Source: ISO/Verisk, via Triple-I. Averages are 2018 to 2022; shares are ranges across those years.
Table 3: Homeowners insurance affordability by state, 2022 (expenditure as share of median income)
| Least affordable | Ratio | Most affordable | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 4.22% | Utah | 1.00% |
| Florida | 3.99% | Oregon | 1.09% |
| Mississippi | 3.87% | Alaska | 1.23% |
| Oklahoma | 3.45% | Maryland | 1.27% |
| Arkansas | 3.19% | Wisconsin | 1.29% |
Source: IRC, Homeowners Insurance Affordability, June 2025. Data year 2022.
Recommended Charts
- Line chart of NAIC national average HO-3 premium, 2012 to 2021, plus the estimated 2022 point near $1,570. Data: NAIC via Triple-I. Insight: the post-2020 acceleration. Citation-worthy because it isolates the trend break.
- Stacked bar of homeowners claims by cause, 2018 to 2022. Data: ISO/Verisk via Triple-I. Insight: wind and hail dominate frequency. Citation-worthy because it visually ties the roof to claims.
- Ranked bar of state affordability ratios, 2022. Data: IRC. Insight: catastrophe-prone states cluster at the top. Citation-worthy for mapping roof-peril exposure to cost.
- Paired bar of average claim frequency versus average claim severity by cause. Data: ISO/Verisk via Triple-I. Insight: wind and hail are frequent but mid-severity; fire is rare but severe. Citation-worthy for risk framing.
Methodology
Sources were selected in this priority order: government and regulatory bodies (NAIC, state insurance departments, state statute), official industry statistical sources (ISO/Verisk, Triple-I compilations), and affiliated research institutes (IRC). Premium levels come from NAIC compilations reported by Triple-I and from the NAIC 2022 Homeowners Insurance Report. Claim frequency, severity, and cause-of-loss shares come from ISO/Verisk data compiled by Triple-I for 2018 to 2022. Affordability ratios come from the IRC brief dated June 10, 2025, which uses NAIC expenditure data and US Census Bureau median household income. Roof-age statutory rules come directly from Florida Statutes. Where a directly published 2022 national dollar premium was not available, we projected it from the NAIC-reported percentage change and labeled it a Roofing Brief calculation. Conflicting or unverifiable figures, including single-carrier premium examples and blog-sourced dollar-savings claims, were excluded. Last updated July 2026.
Source Quality Ranking
- Tier 1 (primary, government, official industry bodies): NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report; Florida Statutes 627.7011 and SB 4-D; Texas Department of Insurance; US Census Bureau median income (via IRC).
- Tier 2 (credible research and industry compilations): Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) fact tables; ISO/Verisk claims data; Insurance Research Council affordability brief.
- Tier 3 (expert commentary): carrier and agency underwriting guidance on roof-age thresholds and wind mitigation credit requirements.
- Excluded: single-carrier premium anecdotes, unsourced dollar-savings claims, and roundup pages without primary citations.
Citation Lines
- Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Homeowners Insurance Report, 2022.
- Source: Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and Renters Insurance, citing NAIC and ISO/Verisk, 2018 to 2022.
- Source: Insurance Research Council, Homeowners Insurance Affordability: Countrywide Trends and State Comparisons, June 2025.
- Source: Florida Statutes, Chapter 627 Section 7011, 2022.
Most Quotable Statistics
- Wind and hail, the perils that act on the roof, made up 38.3% to 48.3% of all homeowners claims from 2018 to 2022.
- The share of household income spent on homeowners insurance rose from 1.19% in 2001 to 2.09% in 2022.
- Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi households spent 4.22%, 3.99%, and 3.87% of median income on homeowners insurance in 2022, the three highest ratios in the country.
- Roofing Brief calculation: households in the five least affordable states pay about 3.2 times more of their income on homeowners insurance than those in the five most affordable states.
Data Limitations
The NAIC 2022 data excluded California and Texas. Cause-of-loss shares are reported as ranges across 2018 to 2022 rather than single-year points. IRC affordability ratios are all-cause and population-wide, so they do not isolate the roof or specific risk profiles. Premium increases reflect both rate and coverage changes, because insurers raised limits to track rising replacement costs. Roof-age underwriting thresholds vary by carrier and state and are not uniform. Derived figures are labeled as Roofing Brief calculations and should not be cited as published statistics.
Downloadable Dataset: Recommended Fields
- Year
- State
- Policy form (HO-3, HO-5, ACV, RCV, roof schedule)
- Average premium
- Expenditure as share of median income
- Cause of loss
- Claim frequency per 100 house-years
- Average claim severity
- Roof material
- Roof age band
- Roof shape
- Source and citation line
Press Summary (about 150 words)
The roof is where homeowners insurance risk concentrates, and 2026 data show it. Wind and hail, the two perils that strike the roof first, accounted for 38.3% to 48.3% of all US homeowners claims from 2018 to 2022, and homeowners filed 2.82 wind and hail claims per 100 house-years, the largest single category. Premiums have climbed with that risk. The NAIC national average HO-3 premium reached $1,411 in 2021, and the average homeowners expenditure hit $1,559 in 2022, up 10.5%. Insurance now takes 2.09% of median household income, up from 1.19% in 2001. Roof age is the sharpest lever insurers pull, with scrutiny beginning near 15 years and non-renewal common past 20. The cost falls hardest in catastrophe-prone states: Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi households spent the highest shares of income on homeowners insurance in 2022. Sources include NAIC, Triple-I, ISO/Verisk, and the Insurance Research Council.
Suggested Headlines
- Your Roof, Your Rate: What Age, Material, and Shape Do to Home Insurance in 2026
- Wind and Hail Drive Nearly Half of Home Insurance Claims, and the Roof Takes the Hit
- The 15-Year Cliff: When Roof Age Starts Costing Homeowners Coverage
- Where a Roof Costs the Most to Insure: Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi Lead
- From ACV to Roof Schedules: How Insurers Quietly Shrink Older-Roof Payouts
Frequently Asked Questions
Does roof age affect homeowners insurance premiums?
Yes. Insurers commonly increase scrutiny at 15 years and may restrict coverage or non-renew past 20 years for asphalt shingle roofs. Florida Statute 627.7011(5) bars refusal solely on roof age when a roof is under 15 years old, effective for policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2022.
How much of homeowners claims involve wind and hail?
Wind and hail accounted for 38.3% to 48.3% of all homeowners claims from 2018 to 2022, and homeowners filed 2.82 wind and hail claims per 100 house-years over that period, according to ISO/Verisk data compiled by Triple-I.
What is the average homeowners insurance premium in the US?
The NAIC national average HO-3 premium was $1,411 in 2021. The Insurance Research Council reported an average homeowners expenditure of $1,559 in 2022, up 10.5% from 2021.
Do metal roofs lower insurance premiums?
They can. Insurers commonly assign metal roofs a 40 to 50 year underwriting service life and view them as more impact and fire resistant, which extends favorable rating. Exact discounts are carrier-filed and state-specific.
What is the difference between ACV, RCV, and a roof payment schedule?
Replacement cost value pays the full cost to replace the roof minus the deductible. Actual cash value pays the depreciated value, which falls with roof age. A roof payment schedule pays a fixed percentage of replacement cost that declines as the roof ages.
Does roof shape affect premiums?
Yes, through wind mitigation programs. Hip roofs earn wind-mitigation credits in coastal states because they resist uplift better than gable roofs. Wind mitigation programs generally require a roof to be at least 90% hipped to qualify.
Which states have the most aggressive roof-based rating?
Catastrophe-prone states. Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi households spent 4.22%, 3.99%, and 3.87% of median income on homeowners insurance in 2022, the three highest ratios in the country, according to the Insurance Research Council.
Can an insurer drop my policy because of roof age in Florida?
Not solely on age if the roof is under 15 years old. If the roof is 15 years or older, a homeowner-paid inspection finding at least 5 years of useful life bars refusal solely on age, under Florida Statute 627.7011(5).
How much do impact-resistant roofs save?
Texas has required insurers to offer impact-resistant roof discounts since 1998, referencing UL 2218 impact ratings, per the Texas Department of Insurance. Reported dwelling-portion credits in Texas commonly range from 20% to 35%, though exact credits are carrier-filed.
Why are homeowners premiums rising faster than income?
The Insurance Research Council found that homeowners expenditures grew 5.3% annualized from 2000 to 2022 while median income grew 2.6% annualized. As a result, insurance’s share of median income rose from 1.19% in 2001 to 2.09% in 2022.
For related reporting, see Roof Age and Hail Claim Severity and How Often Do Americans Replace Their Roof.
Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed July 2026.