There are a number of factors that contribute to a policyholder's satisfaction with their insurance company. Price, the claims handling process, and ease of access to information and services all play a critical role. These factors can impact whether insureds become loyal customers or jump ship to a competitor. New research from Clearsurance takes the pulse of customer satisfaction by state to determine which states' homeowners are happiest with their insurance carrier. Based on the company's data analysis, Clearsurance ranked the 10 happiest states for homeowners' insurance policyholders, along with the 10 least happy states.

What makes a happy customer?

Reflecting on the research findings, Clearsurance analysts noted one of the biggest influences on policyholders' satisfaction with their homeowners' insurance was claims handling. States with the highest rates of customer satisfaction had an average score of 4.26 out of 5 for claims service, compared to 4.04 for the list of 10 least happy states. Another key factor, Clearsurance notes, was exposure to extreme weather. Across the country, locations with the highest exposure to extreme weather generally ranked among the least happy states, and many of the states that made the happiest list have notably lower risk exposure to extreme weather events. In fact, six of the 10 states with the highest level of customer satisfaction have not experienced a hurricane in nearly two centuries, the report notes. Consider California. It's one of the most weather-prone states in the country, with high wildfire and earthquake exposure, and ranked 13th on the happiest list for policyholder satisfaction. Clearsurance's rankings were determined by scores on a scale from 1 to 5. Find the 10 states with the happiest homeowners' insurance policyholders listed in the slideshow above. See also:

• The best insurance workplaces for millennials
• 10 best states for teen drivers
• 5 most expensive states for insuring a teen driver