In 2023, the cost of homeowners insurance in the United States climbed 12% to an average of $1,770 per year, according to Insurify. An increase in both the frequency and severity of climate disasters has driven these rising costs, and have made some states so unprofitable for insurers that they've begun to end the writing of certain lines of business in those areas. There are several home improvements those in areas with higher natural catastrophe risk can implement in order to help lower both their risk and their home insurance costs, including:

• Replacing their older roofs in order to protect against wind damage and leaks.
• Installing a home security system
• Upgrading their plumbing to a modern material like copper or CPVC plastic to reduce the risk of leaks and water damage.
• Installing smoke detectors and a sprinkler system

Homeowners may also be eligible for premium discounts if they eliminate "attractive nuisances" on their property (like swimming pools), and utilize smart home technology like doorbell cameras or automatic lights. Insurify determined New Hampshire residents enjoy the most affordable home insurance rates in the U.S., followed by Minnesota, Vermont, Maine and Connecticut. In the slideshow above, we'll look at the states Insurify found to have the least affordable homeowners coverage in the U.S. when comparing local wage growth to insurance rate increases.

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• Reforms to disaster aid expose growing home insurance gap
• 6 reasons for insurance premium increases
• Most trusted U.S. home insurance companies in 2024