Homeowners Insurance in Brockton, Massachusetts (2024)

The Boston suburb of Brockton is home to over 100,000 people. Whether you’re a new resident or an existing property owner in the city, you need homeowners insurance if you have a mortgage. Lenders require coverage to protect their investments.

Although your lender may have some suggestions for an insurance provider, you have the ultimate say in your carrier. To help you make the best decision, we made this guide that breaks down the details of home insurance in Brockton.

Key Takeaways:

The average cost of homeowners insurance in Brockton is $1,761 annually, which is about 13% higher than the average rate in Massachusetts of $1,554.

Brockton premiums are expensive as far as Massachusetts goes. Some possible reasons for this could be the proximity to the coast and relatively high crime rates compared to nearby areas.

Coastal cities are more prone to wind and flooding damage from hurricane and tropical storm impacts, which would cost insurers tons of money if they were to hit, as evidenced in Florida. Companies usually charge higher insurance rates to coastal properties to offset their increased chances of damage.

Another factor affecting premiums is home value, which determines how much coverage you need. Carriers usually use your home’s replacement cost to determine your needed dwelling coverage amount. Basically, larger, more extravagant houses that cost more to build tend to cost more to insure since they need greater coverage amounts.

The following table shows average home insurance rates in Brockton at three different common coverage amounts.

Besides variations based on location and house value, the rates you experience will also depend on your chosen provider. Premiums vary by company since every firm has slightly different underwriting methods and business strategies. You should always shop around to find the best rates. Don’t settle for the first quote you get.

Underwriting is an insurance company’s practice of risk analysis. They determine the claim likelihood of every property, and a place more likely to generate a claim has higher premiums. Some of the most significant factors companies consider in addition to home value include:

Location: As we mentioned, homes near the coastline often have higher premiums due to greater chances of wind and flood damage. Houses in high-crime neighborhoods may also have higher rates due to the increased likelihood of theft or vandalism. Conversely, homes near fire hydrants receive discounts, as can houses in gated communities.

Home Construction: Companies note many aspects of your home’s construction as they affect the possibility of damage. Houses made from brick or concrete often withstand wind and fire damage better than wooden-framed homes and tend to have lower premiums. Additionally, homes with wind mitigation features receive discounts.

Home Age: Older houses usually have higher premiums because companies believe older structural elements, such as roofing and pipes, are more prone to fail from severe weather or general wear and tear.

Policyholder Characteristics: Policy details also impact rates. Raising your coverage limits or adding endorsements and riders to your plan increases rates while qualifying for discounts and increasing your deductible will lower premiums.

Every home insurance policy covers the same general areas of your property and personal liability. These sections in your plan are:

Dwelling Coverage: Dwelling coverage covers your home’s physical structure and elements, including the roof, walls, flooring, foundation, patios, pipes, wiring, and more. Your dwelling coverage amount is dictated by your home’s replacement cost.

Other Structures Coverage: Other structures coverage guards features on your property not attached to the main house, such as sheds, fences, carports, and detached garages. Your other structures limit is usually 10% of your dwelling limit.

Personal Property Coverage: Personal property coverage safeguards your belongings, including electronics, furniture, clothing, jewelry, and more, from theft and damage. Your personal property limit may be around 50% of your dwelling limit, but you should adjust it based on the value of your possessions.

Loss of Use Coverage: Loss of use coverage covers additional living expenses if you’re forced to temporarily move out of your home after it suffers major covered damage. Your insurer can reimburse you for lodging, groceries, storage fees, and more.

Liability Coverage: Liability coverage helps pay for medical bills, legal fees, and more if you’re found responsible for someone’s injuries or property damage in a lawsuit. You must have at least $100,000 of liability coverage in your policy, but most people opt for more.

Medical Payments Coverage: Medical payments coverage helps cover minor medical expenses if someone gets hurt around your property without the need for legal liability. Medical payments limits are usually only a few thousand dollars, such as $3,000 or $5,000.

The best homeowners insurance companies in Brockton depend on the policyholder since every person will look for slightly different aspects in their plan. The 2022 Commissioner’s Report on Home Insurance in Massachusetts, the most recent edition available upon writing, states that the companies with the largest share of the state market are:

These could all be good options for insurance companies in Brockton, but you shouldn’t restrict your search to these carriers. The best home insurance in Brockton comes from whatever carrier has the most affordable rates while satisfying all your coverage needs.

You must ensure that your plan meets your coverage needs. You might want to adjust your policy limits to suit your property. For instance, you can place your dwelling limit between 80% and 100% of your home’s replacement cost depending on your budget (raising your limit costs more). 

You can also adjust your personal property limit depending on the value of your possessions. We recommend making a home inventory if you’re unsure how much your items cost. You can also change your liability limits and ensure that they guard your financial assets sufficiently. We recommend at least $300,000 in liability coverage.

You may also want to consider endorsements, which offer optional protection for items or perils not included in standard coverage. Endorsement options vary by company but usually can be purchased for certain home-based business items, water backup coverage, or full protection for especially costly valuables, such as jewelry, art, or memorabilia.

Once you identify your coverage needs, you can take steps to save money on your plan.

Since flooding is the country’s most common and costly natural disaster, flood insurance is separate from homeowners insurance. Even the most expensive home insurance plans won’t cover flood damage.

You may want to consider flood insurance since anywhere it rains, it can flood. Multiple properties near the Salisbury Brook and Salisbury Plain River are prone to flooding in Brockton. Additionally, thunderstorms, hurricanes, and even nor’easters can bring damaging amounts of rain to any property.

You can get flood insurance in Brockton from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is provided and subsidized by the federal government or smaller private flood insurance companies. NFIP coverage is more easily accessible, but it has fewer coverage options and lower possible coverage limits.

Our team at Clovered can help you with any Brockton flood insurance questions you may have. We also partner with the NFIP and private flood carriers, so we can help you no matter what.

Insurance agencies offer an extra level of customer service and expertise. If you want additional help finding coverage, it’s never a bad idea to consult a Brockton insurance agency.

There are generally two types of insurance agents: captive and independent. A captive agency will only work with one company and is an expert in its offerings. Some large insurers like State Farm prefer to sell insurance this way.

On the other hand, independent agents work with multiple carriers and can find you the best option among their partners. 

Clovered is an independent agency partnering with some of Massachusett’s largest insurers. Our team can help you find the right policy tailored to your needs and budget. 

Feel free to use our online quote engine to compare options and possibly bind coverage with one of our partners entirely online. If you need help while quoting, you can easily live chat with our agents, who are on standby.

Or, if you’d rather work with an agent for the duration of your Brockton home insurance quote, just call us at 833-255-4117 during business hours. We’re happy to assist. You can also email us at [email protected].