Wind and hail are the most important issues to considering insurance for a home.  Floods, earthquakes and hurricanes are not the reigning factors to home insurance, believe it or not. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, home insurance is especially particular and more costly to homes made of wood frames and that are located in high-density areas or regions that lack nearby construction materials. These factors, combined with heavy winds and hail, play the largest roles for insurance carriers as they calculate their risks and price their policies. 

The average cost to insure a U.S. home in 2003 was $668 a year. Idaho takes the lowest average for home insurance within the states, averaging $433 per year, while Texas is the most expensive with home insurance averaging $1,328 per year.

Following behind the course of wind and hail, homes in largely populated cities and regions, and states that are hurricane and earthquake-prone (along with other large natural disasters) make the top ten most expensive states for home insurance.

The Top Ten Most Expensive States for Home Insurance (Average Annual Prices)

1. Texas; $1,328
2. Louisiana; $975
3. Oklahoma; $925
4. Florida; $810
5. District of Columbia $806
6. Mississippi; $793
7. Kansas; $772
8. Colorado; $762
9. California; $753
10. Minnesota; 733