Best homeowners insurance in South Dakota (2024)

We looked at average costs, customer service ratings, and policy options from multiple top insurers to find the best and cheapest home insurance companies in South Dakota.

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By

Pat HowardManaging Editor & Licensed Home Insurance ExpertPat Howard is a licensed insurance expert and managing editor at Policygenius. Pat has written extensively about the home insurance industry and his insights as a subject matter expert have appeared in several top tier publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Reuters. Pat has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.

Edited by

Jennifer GimbelJennifer GimbelSenior Managing Editor & Home Insurance ExpertJennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.

Updated|3 min read

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The average cost of homeowners insurance in South Dakota is about $2,426 per year for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, according to our latest home insurance pricing analysis.

South Dakota experiences inclement weather in all four seasons, including tornadoes, winter storms, and wildfires, not to mention the state's heavy rainfall and flash flooding. To ensure your home is adequately protected, South Dakota residents should ensure they have the right homeowners insurance policy from a reputable insurer.

Compare home insurance rates in South Dakota

Compare the best homeowners insurance companies in South Dakota

According to our analysis, Auto-Owners Insurance, State Farm, Farmers, Nationwide, and American Family are the best homeowners insurance companies in South Dakota.

Policygenius analyzed thousands of quotes across the state to find the average cost of homeowners insurance from each company. We then looked at J.D. Power customer satisfaction scores, complaint data, and coverage offerings to find the best homeowners insurance in South Dakota.

Company

Average monthly cost

Policygenius rating

Auto-Owners Insurance

$245

5.0 out of 5

State Farm

$271

4.8 out of 5

Farmers

$150

4.5 out of 5

Nationwide

$233

4.5 out of 5

American Family

$349

4.5 out of 5

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed home insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services in March 2022 for ZIP codes in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., for a 40-year-old female homeowner with no claim history, good credit, a $1,000 deductible, and the following coverage limits:

  • Dwelling: $300,000

  • Other structures: $30,000

  • Personal property: $150,000

  • Loss of use: $60,000

  • Liability: $300,000

  • Medical: $1,000

All rates based on the above coverage limits except where otherwise noted.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

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2024 Policygenius award winner

Auto-Owners Insurance

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange star

5.0

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A++

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

Bundle home & auto

Offers extended replacement cost

Offers flood insurance

Why we chose itchevron icon

Auto-Owners Insurance is the best homeowners insurance company in South Dakota thanks to its extensive policy and coverage options, its high marks for financial strength, and its customer experience ratings.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Offers a slew of extra coverage add-ons

  • Offers lots of discounts

  • Flood insurance through the NFIP

Cons

  • Not able to get quotes or file claims online

  • Rates are more expensive than average in South Dakota

More detailschevron icon

Why we chose Auto-Owners Insurance

Auto-Owners Insurance is one of the best home insurance companies in South Dakota, especially if you want to add more protection to a basic policy. Auto-Owners offers endorsements like guaranteed replacement cost coverage, water backup protection, inland flood coverage, and more.

In South Dakota, Auto-Owners' rates are more expensive than average, but the company offers more than a dozen discounts, including many that are easy to qualify for, like signing up for automatic payments and paperless billing.

How much does Auto-Owners home insurance cost in South Dakota?

The average cost of Auto-Owners home insurance in South Dakota is $2,941 per year, which is 21% more expensive than the statewide average.

How to get quotes

To get a homeowners insurance quote, you’ll have to call a local Auto-Owners Insurance agent.

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2024 Policygenius award winner

State Farm

State Farm logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange star

4.8

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A++

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

Bundle home & auto

Offers extended replacement cost

Offers flood insurance

Offers earthquake insurance

Wind/hail deductible

Offers wildfire insurance

Why we chose itchevron icon

State Farm is one of the best home insurance companies in South Dakota thanks to its large selection of policy options, high customer service marks, and industry-best financial stability ratings.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Top-tier coverage add-ons, including extended replacement cost coverage

  • High customer satisfaction and financial strength ratings

  • Big discount for bundling home and auto coverage

Cons

  • No discounts for first-time homebuyers

  • Rates are more expensive than average in South Dakota

More detailschevron icon

Why we chose State Farm

State Farm is one of our picks for the best home insurance in South Dakota, especially if you want to add protection to a basic policy. With State Farm homeowners can get extended replacement cost coverage for their homes, replacement cost coverage for their personal property, water backup protection, and more.

State Farm's customer service is highly rated, too. The company has received high ratings from policyholders, according to J.D. Power’s 2022 customer satisfaction, claims, and digital experience surveys. It has also received the highest rating possible from A.M. Best for financial strength and stability.

How do State Farm home insurance rates compare to the South Dakota average?

The average cost of home insurance from State Farm in South Dakota is $3,246 per year, which is 34% more expensive as than the statewide average.

How to get a quote

Online through State Farm or by contacting your local State Farm agent.

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2024 Policygenius award winner

Farmers

Farmers Insurance logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange star

4.5

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

Offers extended replacement cost

Bundle home & auto

Smart home discounts

Why we chose itchevron icon

Farmers is one of the best home insurance companies in South Dakota for those who want to add coverage to their policies. Farmers also has a range of discounts and high claims satisfaction scores.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Optional extended or guaranteed replacement cost dwelling coverage

  • Receives few complaints from policyholders and has a high claims satisfaction score

  • Cheaper than average rates

Cons

  • Below-average scores on J.D. Power’s overall customer satisfaction and digital experience surveys

More detailschevron icon

Why we chose Farmers

Farmers is one of the best home insurance companies in South Dakota, especially if you want to add coverage to a basic policy. Optional coverages from Farmers include guaranteed or extended replacement cost coverage, water backup protection, and a personal articles floater.

Farmers also earned a high score in J.D. Power’s 2022 claims satisfaction study (though it scored below average on J.D. Power’s overall customer satisfaction and digital experience surveys). Plus, Farmers receives fewer complaints than average, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

How do Farmers home insurance rates compare to the average in South Dakota?

The average cost of Farmers home insurance in South Dakota is $1,804 per year, which is 26% cheaper than the state's average annual premium.

How to get a quote

Online through Farmers

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2024 Policygenius award winner

Nationwide

Nationwide logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange star

4.5

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A+

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

Bundle home & auto

Mobile app

New homebuyer discount

Offers extended replacement cost

Why we chose itchevron icon

Nationwide is one of the best homeowners insurance companies in South Dakota for people who want complete coverage. You can strengthen a basic Nationwide policy with the company's range of coverage add-ons.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Multiple high-quality coverage options

  • Highly rated for claims satisfaction with J.D. Power

Cons

  • Rates are higher than average

  • Below-average customer satisfaction and digital experience ratings

More detailschevron icon

Why we chose Nationwide

Nationwide is the best homeowners insurance company for those who can take advantage of its large selection of coverage options. These include guaranteed and extended replacement cost coverage, better roof replacement, new belongings coverage, water backup protection, and equipment breakdown coverage.

Nationwide has also received high ratings from J.D. Power for claims satisfaction, and it ranks fifth on J.D. Power's Property Claims Satisfaction Study from 2022. The company also receives far fewer complaints than other insurers, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Although we found that Nationwide's rates are more expensive than average in South Dakota, you might be able to lower your premiums with the company's discounts. These include discounts for bundling, renovating your home, buying a new home, and others.

How do Nationwide home insurance rates compare to the South Dakota average?

The average cost of Nationwide home insurance in South Dakota is $2,795 per year, which is 15% more expensive than the South Dakota average of $2,426 per year.

How to get a quote

Online through Policygenius or Nationwide

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2024 Policygenius award winner

American Family

American Family home insurance

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange star

4.5

AM Best rating 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

Offers extended replacement cost

Offers flood insurance

Bundle home & auto

Why we chose itchevron icon

American Family is one of the best home insurance companies in South Dakota, especially for people who want to add coverage to a basic policy. AmFam also has high customer service ratings and several discounts.

Pros and conschevron icon

Pros

  • Several one-of-its-kind coverage endorsements and policy perks

  • High customer satisfaction and digital shopping satisfaction scores with J.D. Power

Cons

  • Requires you to work with an agent to purchase a policy

  • Rates are more expensive than average in South Dakota

More detailschevron icon

Why we chose American Family

American Family is one of the top home insurance companies in South Dakota. You can customize your American Family policy with up to 15 additional coverage options — including inland flood, equipment breakdown, and service line coverage.

American Family is more expensive than average in South Dakota, but with AmFam's many discounts (including paying your premiums all at once, opting for paperless billing, and signing up for automatic payments) your premiums could be cheaper.

How do American Family home insurance rates compare to the South Dakota average?

The average annual cost of American Family home insurance in South Dakota is $4,187 per year, which is 73% more expensive than the statewide average.

How to get a quote

Online with American Family or by contacting a local agent

Compare home insurance rates in South Dakota

How much is homeowners insurance in South Dakota?

The average cost of homeowners insurance in South Dakota is $2,426 per year, or $202 a month, for a home insurance policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage. This means insurance in South Dakota is around $700 more per year than the national average.

South Dakota homeowners insurance rates by city

Home insurance costs in South Dakota can vary considerably from city to city. Cities with a high risk of extreme weather or property crime will typically have the most expensive rates on average.

Here’s a look at the average annual cost of home insurance in the 20 largest cities in South Dakota.

City

Average monthly cost

Average annual cost

Difference from state average (%)

Sioux Falls

$24

$287

-8%

Rapid City

$25

$303

-3%

Aberdeen

$23

$278

-11%

Brookings

$25

$305

-2%

Watertown

$27

$325

5%

Mitchell

$24

$292

-6%

Yankton

$24

$284

-9%

Huron

$25

$301

-3%

Pierre

$24

$283

-9%

Spearfish

$27

$326

5%

Vermillion

$24

$286

-8%

Brandon

$24

$290

-7%

Harrisburg

$24

$286

-8%

Sturgis

$27

$325

5%

Tea

$24

$292

-6%

Madison

$27

$319

3%

Belle Fourche

$27

$323

4%

Dell Rapids

$25

$294

-5%

Hot Springs

$26

$311

0%

Milbank

$25

$305

-2%

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South Dakota homeowners insurance rates by coverage amount

The table below highlights the average annual premium in South Dakota for five different levels of dwelling coverage, which is the part of your policy that covers structural damage to your home.

Generally speaking, more dwelling coverage means higher homeowners insurance rates, as shown in the table below.

Dwelling coverage limit

Average yearly cost

$100,000

$1,243

$200,000

$1,846

$300,000

$2,426

$400,000

$3,070

$500,000

$3,697

Compare home insurance rates in South Dakota

Cheapest homeowners insurance companies in South Dakota

After analyzing home insurance rates in all of the state's ZIP codes, we found that the cheapest home insurance companies in South Dakota are North Star Mutual, Farmers, State Auto, Allstate, and USAA.

Company

Average annual cost

North Star Mutual Insurance

$1,752

Farmers

$1,804

State Auto

$2,028

Allstate

$2,093

USAA

$2,293

Farmers Mutual of Nebraska

$2,562

Farm Bureau Insurance

$2,669

Nationwide

$2,795

Auto-Owners Insurance

$2,941

State Farm

$3,246

American Family

$4,187

Collapse table

Cheapest South Dakota homeowners insurance if you have poor credit

Poor credit can be bad news when it comes to home insurance rates. Insurance companies consider a bad credit score to be an indicator of risky behavior and an increased risk of filing an insurance claim.

With an average rate of $1,179 per year, State Auto has the cheapest home insurance rates in South Dakota for a homeowner with poor credit.

Company

Average annual cost

State Auto

$1,179

North Star Mutual Insurance

$2,494

Farmers Mutual of Nebraska

$2,694

Allstate

$3,199

USAA

$3,269

Farmers

$3,302

Nationwide

$3,673

Farm Bureau Insurance

$3,710

Auto-Owners Insurance

$4,227

State Farm

$5,567

American Family

$5,633

Collapse table

Cheapest South Dakota homeowners insurance if you have an older home

It can cost a lot to insure older homes. That's because they're more prone to structural damage than new homes. Older homes are also often constructed out of materials and with features that would be expensive to replace if they were damaged.

With an average annual premium of $1,681, Farmers offers the cheapest home insurance rates in South Dakota for an older home.

Company

Average annual cost

Farmers

$1,681

North Star Mutual Insurance

$1,752

State Auto

$2,057

Allstate

$2,116

USAA

$2,200

Farm Bureau Insurance

$2,526

Farmers Mutual of Nebraska

$2,562

Nationwide

$2,626

Auto-Owners Insurance

$2,958

State Farm

$3,246

American Family

$4,234

Collapse table

Cheapest South Dakota homeowners insurance if you have a history of claims

If you have multiple claims on your record, you'll typically pay more for home insurance, as insurers will consider you more likely to file future claims than a homeowner with a spotless claims history.

With an average annual premium of $1,752, North Star Mutual offers the cheapest home insurance rates in South Dakota if you've filed three claims within a five-year period.

Company

Average annual cost

North Star Mutual Insurance

$1,752

Farmers

$2,103

Farmers Mutual of Nebraska

$2,562

State Auto

$2,904

Auto-Owners Insurance

$3,174

USAA

$3,429

Farm Bureau Insurance

$3,564

State Farm

$3,706

Nationwide

$4,336

Allstate

$5,085

American Family

$6,132

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How to buy homeowners insurance in South Dakota

South Dakota residents shopping for insurance should ensure they have adequate homeowners insurance to protect their homes and lifestyles if disaster strikes. 

5 steps to buying homeowners insurance in South Dakota

  1. Reach out to a licensed Policygenius agent. If you have questions on where to start, how much coverage you need, or what deductible is best, a Policygenius agent can help. Our agents are available to make shopping for home insurance easier, and our services are free.

  2. Consider purchasing flood insurance. Most homeowners policies don’t cover damage caused by floods. Since the impact of flood water on your home can be costly and unexpected, it’s good to be prepared.

  3. Figure out how much you can afford to pay for your deductible. Choosing a high policy deductible could lower your rate substantially, so if your home doesn’t face much in the way of bad weather or property crime, you may want to consider a high deductible plan. 

  4. Compare quotes from a Policygenius agent. A Policygenius agent can walk you through your quotes and help you determine the right coverage for your house at the best price.

  5. Choose your policy, sign it, and pay your first premium. Once you’ve chosen a policy, all that’s left to do is make your first payment and you’re all set.

Compare home insurance rates in South Dakota

Frequently asked questions

What is the average home insurance cost in South Dakota?

The average home insurance rate in South Dakota is $202 a month or $2,426 per year. That’s about $700 more per year than the national average.

Do I have to have home insurance on my house in South Dakota?

You're not legally required to have home insurance, but we highly recommend it to any South Dakota homeowner. Additionally, most mortgage lenders require you to carry home insurance before extending you a loan, so you'll likely need to purchase it anyway.

How do I lower my home insurance rates in South Dakota?

One of the easiest ways to lower your home insurance rates is by comparing quotes from multiple companies with Policygenius. Once you’ve reviewed your quotes, a Policygenius agent can help you select a policy that works for your coverage and budget needs and help you sort out any additional details, like deductibles and potential discounts you may be eligible for.

Author

Pat Howard is a licensed insurance expert and managing editor at Policygenius. Pat has written extensively about the home insurance industry and his insights as a subject matter expert have appeared in several top tier publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Reuters. Pat has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.

Editor

Jennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.

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