Hilo Home Insurance at a Glance
For the same house, homeowners insurance in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced averaged $1,705 a year ($142 a month) as of Sept. 30, 2026, across 5 insurers, 0.5% above the Hawaii average of $1,696 a year. Without State Farm, which priced about 2.1 times the other insurers’ average, it would be $116 a month. That’s for a 2,000 sq ft wood-frame house with a composition roof, built in 1997 and insured for $300,000 with a $1,000 deductible and a 2% hurricane deductible.
For the same home, prices among the 5 insurers we compared ranged from $62 to $246 a month, a $184-a-month gap for identical coverage. State Farm priced far above the others; the other 4 ranged from $62 to $212. These are sample prices for one example home, not quotes or offers.
- $300K dwelling
- $1,000 deductible
- 2% hurricane deductible
- $300K liability
- Built 1997
- Composition roof
- 2,000 sq ft wood-frame house
- See the homes we priced
Rates as of Sept. 30, 2026 · Page updated Nov. 10, 2026
Hilo home insurance: key numbers (1 ZIP code)
- Home
- $1,705/yr $142/mo
- Home without State Farm
- $1,393/yr $116/mo
- Renters
- $221/yr $18/mo
- Condo
- $540/yr $45/mo
How much is homeowners insurance in Hilo?
Homeowners insurance in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced averages $142 a month for the house we priced, with rates as of Sept. 30, 2026. The 5 major insurers we compared are Allstate, Dongbu Insurance, Liberty Mutual, First Insurance Company of Hawaii and State Farm, and each one priced our sample home in that ZIP code, in Hawaii County. That’s above the Hawaii average of $141 a month.
Small sample: this guide is based on one Hilo ZIP code, 96720, the only Hilo ZIP code in our rate data. Our Hawaii home insurance page covers 46 ZIP codes across the state, where the same house averages $141 a month, 0.5% less than in this ZIP code.
Our figures are for a $300,000 dwelling, which works out to about $5.68 a year for each $1,000 of dwelling coverage in this ZIP code; insuring a larger or costlier house for more usually costs more, though not always in step with the limit.
For the same insurers in ZIP code 96720, the Hilo average rose 14.0% since Nov. 2025, from $1,496 a year ($125 a month) on Nov. 30, 2025, to $1,705 ($142) on Sept. 30, 2026, as State Farm’s rose 40.4%, Dongbu Insurance’s rose 8.7% and First Insurance Company of Hawaii’s rose 4.3%.
Homeowners insurance averages by insurer in Hilo for our sample home (rates as of Sept. 30, 2026)
| Insurer | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $62 | $739 |
| Dongbu Insurance | $94 | $1,131 |
| Liberty Mutual | $97 | $1,160 |
| First Insurance Company of Hawaii | $212 | $2,542 |
| State Farm | $246 | $2,951 |
Allstate averaged $62 a month ($739 a year), Dongbu Insurance $94 ($1,131), Liberty Mutual $97 ($1,160), First Insurance Company of Hawaii $212 ($2,542) and State Farm $246 ($2,951) for our sample home.
Same sample home: each insurer’s average yearly price in the same Hilo ZIP code, 96720, Nov. 30, 2025 and Sept. 30, 2026
| Insurer | Nov. 30, 2025 (per year) | Sept. 30, 2026 (per year) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $2,102 | $2,951 | +40.4% |
| Dongbu Insurance | $1,040 | $1,131 | +8.7% |
| First Insurance Company of Hawaii | $2,438 | $2,542 | +4.3% |
| Allstate | $739 | $739 | No change |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,160 | $1,160 | No change |
All 5 insurers in the table priced Hilo ZIP code 96720 on both dates.
Prices are nearly the same across Hawaii. For our sample home, Allstate, Dongbu Insurance and First Insurance Company of Hawaii charged one price in all 46 Hawaii ZIP codes we priced, and Liberty Mutual and State Farm varied by less than 3% from one ZIP code to another ($1,132 to $1,160 and $2,902 to $2,951 a year). In ZIP code 96720, Liberty Mutual charged $1,160 and State Farm $2,951, the high end of those ranges. Renters and condo prices were the same in every Hawaii ZIP code for every insurer. So in Hilo’s ZIP code 96720, the insurer you choose sets your price, not your address; our Hawaii home insurance page has each insurer’s statewide price, the change since Nov. 2025 and the renters and condo detail.
Why one insurer stands out: in ZIP code 96720, State Farm’s average for our sample home, $246 a month, is about 2.1 times the other 4 insurers’ average. It stays in our figures. Without it, the average in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced would be $116 a month ($1,393 a year), 0.3% above the Hawaii average without State Farm, $116 a month (Hawaii’s all-insurer average is $141).
Same sample home in Hilo with all 5 insurers and without State Farm (rates as of Sept. 30, 2026)
| Place | Per month | Per year | vs. Hilo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilo, all 5 insurers | $142 | $1,705 | Baseline |
| Hilo, without State Farm | $116 | $1,393 | −18.3% |
| Hawaii | $141 | $1,696 | −0.5% |
The Hawaii figure includes every insurer we priced in the state.
Who has the cheapest homeowners insurance in Hilo?
Prices for the same home vary so much by insurer that the lowest one for our sample home may not be lowest for you, so compare a few quotes. The home table above lists every insurer’s average for the same home.
What changes your price: where the house sits, its value, age and roof, your deductibles, claims and credit, and whether you add a car. In the one Hilo ZIP code we priced, the average for this house was $142 a month, while insurers’ averages there ran from $62 to $246.
If prices stayed where they are today, the $1,803-a-year gap between the lowest and highest averages among the insurers anyone can buy from in Hilo’s ZIP code 96720, other than State Farm, which priced far above the rest, would add up to $9,015 over five years for this house.
Hilo, HawaiiRates as of Sept. 30, 2026
Hilo Home Insurance Cost Calculator
Same sample home and coverage in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced, from insurers’ filed rates. Only the insurer and the ZIP code change.
In Hilo, our sample house costs $142 a month ($1,705 a year) on average in the one ZIP code we priced, 96720, across 5 insurers, about the same as the Hawaii average of $141 a month. Rates as of Sept. 30, 2026.
| Insurer | A month | A year | ZIP codes priced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate Two lowest | $62 | $739 | 1 |
| Dongbu Insurance Two lowest | $94 | $1,131 | 1 |
| Liberty Mutual | $97 | $1,160 | 1 |
| First Insurance Company of Hawaii | $212 | $2,542 | 1 |
| State Farm | $246 | $2,951 | 1 |
Our sample houseSame in every ZIP code, so only the price changes
- 2,000 sq ft, two-story
- Frame house, composition roof
- Built in 1997
- $300,000 dwelling coverage
- $300,000 liability
- $1,000 deductible
- 2% hurricane deductible where used
- Owner 40, good credit, no claims in 10 years
Sample prices built from insurers’ filed rates, not quotes or offers.
- Two lowest-priced insurers anyone can buy from: Allstate ($62 a month) and Dongbu Insurance ($94 a month), in Hilo.
- Small sample: we priced one Hilo ZIP code, 96720, so this is that ZIP code’s average, not a citywide one.
- One high price: State Farm’s price is at least twice the average of the other insurers here. Without State Farm, the average is $116 a month ($1,393 a year).
Try a ZIP code:
- Same sample policy in every ZIP code
- Insurers’ filed rates as of Sept. 30, 2026
- Sample prices, not quotes or offers
How we priced this
We priced one sample policy per type. House: a 2,000-square-foot, two-story frame house with a composition roof, built in 1997, with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 liability, a $1,000 deductible and a 2% hurricane deductible; a 40-year-old owner with good credit and no claims in 10 years. Condo: a condo policy with $60,000 of condo coverage, $300,000 liability and a $1,000 deductible (building built in 2005); a 40-year-old owner with good credit and no claims. Renters: a renters policy with $40,000 for your belongings, $300,000 liability and a $1,000 deductible; a 40-year-old renter with good credit and no claims. For each insurer and ZIP code we use the lowest price it returned that can actually be bought; a ZIP code’s average is the average of its insurers, and the Hilo average is the average of its ZIP codes, so each ZIP code counts once.
When one insurer’s lead over the next is under 5% or over 30%, we name the two lowest instead of one. Insurers that sell only to members (USAA, AAA clubs) are labeled and never called the lowest price anyone can buy.
Your ZIP code matters
Hilo home insurance by insurer
We priced the same house in 96720, the one Hilo ZIP code in our data. Here is every insurer’s yearly price for it there, so you can see how much the insurer alone moves the price:
Yearly home insurance price for our sample home by insurer and Hilo ZIP code (rates as of Sept. 30, 2026)
| Insurer | 96720 |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $739 |
| Dongbu Insurance | $1,131 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,160 |
| First Insurance Company of Hawaii | $2,542 |
| State Farm | $2,951 |
| ZIP average | $1,705 |
In Hilo, the insurer you pick moves the price. For our sample home, insurers’ averages in this ZIP code are $2,212 a year apart, from $739 to $2,951.
We priced one ZIP code in Hilo, so this page can’t show how the price changes from one part of Hilo to another.
Average home insurance prices by ZIP code in Hilo, HI, for the house we priced (rates as of Sept. 30, 2026). Monthly averages; renters ($18) and condo ($45) are in the text below.
| ZIP | Home |
|---|---|
| 96720 | $142 |
Each ZIP code’s figure averages the insurers we priced there.
Same house, different city: how does Hilo compare?
The same sample home costs $142 a month in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced and $141 in Honolulu (11 ZIP codes), the Hawaii city in our data with at least 5 ZIP codes priced.
Kailua, the other Hawaii city with a local guide like this one, averages $141 a month in the 1 Kailua ZIP codes we priced. For renters and condo owners, the one Hilo ZIP code average $221 and $540 a year, against $221 and $540 in Kailua.
Same sample home: average home insurance prices in Hilo, other Hawaii cities in our data and the state (rates as of Sept. 30, 2026)
| Place | Per month | Per year | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilo (1 ZIP code) | $142 | $1,705 | +0.5% |
| Honolulu (11 ZIP codes) | $141 | $1,689 | −0.4% |
| Kailua (1 ZIP code) | $141 | $1,689 | −0.4% |
| Hawaii (46 ZIP codes) | $141 | $1,696 | Baseline |
| Average of the 50 states and D.C. | $258 | $3,101 | +82.8% |
Each city covers the ZIP codes in our rate data with that city as their main mailing address; every row prices the same house.
Compared with Honolulu, the same house costs 0.9% more to insure in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced.
Against the average of the 50 states and D.C. ($258 a month), our sample home costs 45.0% less to insure in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced.
For the statewide picture, see home insurance costs in Hawaii, Kailua home insurance costs and Honolulu home insurance costs.
Compare all states: home insurance costs for the same house in all 50 states and D.C.
What drives home insurance risk in Hilo?
Our prices come from one sample home and don’t separate causes. These official records show the natural hazards homes in and around Hilo face, with ratings for Hawaii County from FEMA’s National Risk Index (December 2025 version), and how each kind of hazard fits into a home insurance policy.
Hazard ratings for Hawaii County
- FEMA’s National Risk Index rates Hawaii County’s overall natural hazard risk as Relatively High, with lightning and volcanic activity rated Very High and earthquake, riverine flooding and wildfire rated Relatively High, according to FEMA’s National Risk Index.
- In the same index, hurricane is rated Relatively Low and hail, strong wind, tornado, winter weather and ice storm are rated Very Low for Hawaii County, according to FEMA’s National Risk Index.
What these hazards mean for your policy
- Why it matters for your premium: FEMA rates earthquake Relatively High for Hawaii County. Standard homeowners policies generally leave out earthquake and other earth movement, such as landslides, so ask about separate earthquake coverage if that risk worries you.
- Why it matters for your premium: FEMA rates wildfire Relatively High for Hawaii County. Fire, including wildfire, is a covered peril in a standard homeowners policy, so wildfire risk near a home can raise its price or limit which insurers will write it.
Disaster declarations in Hawaii County
Since 2000, FEMA has made 30 disaster declarations that cover Hawaii County: 13 major disaster declarations, 6 emergency declarations and 11 fire management assistance declarations, according to FEMA’s OpenFEMA disaster declarations data.
The most recent declarations covering Hawaii County were for Hurricane Lala, a major disaster declared on October 7, 2026 (DR-4951), and an earthquake, declared a major disaster on September 1, 2026 (DR-4936); the 2018 Kilauea eruption and earthquakes brought DR-4366, declared on May 11, 2018, according to FEMA’s OpenFEMA disaster declarations data.
Lava-flow hazard zones in Hilo
The part of Hilo south of the Wailuku River lies in Lava-Flow Hazard Zone 3 on Mauna Loa, and the part north of the river is in Zone 8 on Mauna Kea, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s 1997 hazard report; Zone 1 is the most hazardous, and the hazard falls as the zone number rises.
The Hawaii Insurance Division says most insurers are unwilling to issue policies in Lava Zones 1 and 2, so the Hawaii Property Insurance Association, a state-created insurer, is where many owners there turn for new coverage. The USGS places Hilo in Zones 3 and 8, not 1 or 2, but insurers can map lava zones differently, so ask each one which lava zone it uses for your address.
Past storms and floods near Hilo
A tsunami on May 23, 1960 sent waves up to 35 feet high into Hilo Bay, killing 61 people and destroying or severely damaging about 540 homes and businesses, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Is flood covered, and how common is flood insurance in Hilo?
Flood damage isn’t covered by a standard home, renters or condo policy at all; it needs a separate flood policy.
As of August 3, 2026, Hawaii County had 1,215 residential flood insurance policies in force under the National Flood Insurance Program, covering about 1.8% of its 69,412 residential structures, according to FEMA’s OpenFEMA NFIP residential penetration rates.
The County of Hawaii, which includes Hilo, joined FEMA’s Community Rating System in May 2011 and is rated Class 7, which takes 15% off flood insurance premiums in mapped high-risk flood zones and 5% elsewhere, according to FEMA’s NFIP Community Status Book.
Mauna Loa’s 1880-81 lava flow came within 1.1 miles of the Hilo Bay shoreline before it stalled, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Hilo International Airport averages 120.39 inches of precipitation a year, according to NOAA’s 1991-2020 climate normals, so heavy rain is routine, and flood damage from it needs a separate flood policy.
You can look up a Hilo address on Hawaii County’s online tsunami evacuation zone map, linked from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency’s tsunami pages (see the official resources below); the agency says the zone should be treated as the minimum safe evacuation distance.
A new flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program usually takes 30 days to start, so buying one when water is already rising is too late. FEMA’s flood map service (msc.fema.gov) shows whether a Hilo address sits in a mapped high-risk flood zone, where a mortgage lender will usually require flood insurance.
How do Hilo homes compare with our sample home?
In Hilo, the median value of an owner-occupied home is $483,000, 66.1% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners and the median home was built in 1978, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020-2024, 5-year data).
Our sample house was built in 1997, so the typical Hilo home is 19 years older. Insurers often price older homes, roofs, wiring and plumbing differently, so tell each one your home’s real age and updates.
In ZIP code 96720, 15,767 of 20,182 housing units (78.1%) are single-family detached houses like our sample home, according to the same Census survey.
We insured our house for $300,000 of rebuilding cost. Insure yours for what it would cost to rebuild, not for the $483,000 median market value: market value includes the land, and rebuilding costs can be higher or lower than the sale price.
Fire protection in Hilo
Hilo is served by the Hawaii Fire Department, and we didn’t find a fire protection class it publishes for Hilo. ISO’s Public Protection Classification runs from 1 (the strongest protection) to 10, and many insurers use it when they price a home, so ask each insurer which class it uses for your address.
How much is homeowners insurance on a $300,000 house in Hilo?
For a house with $300,000 of rebuilding coverage, a $1,000 deductible and a 2% hurricane deductible, homeowners insurance in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced averages $142 a month ($1,705 a year) across the 5 insurers we compared (rates as of Sept. 30, 2026). That’s 0.5% above the $141-a-month Hawaii average for the same house. In ZIP code 96720, insurers’ averages for that same house ran from $62 to $246 a month. Without State Farm, which priced far above the rest, the average would be $116 a month.
Is $200 a month a lot for home insurance in Hilo?
$200 a month is 40.8% above our sample home’s $142-a-month average in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced. In ZIP code 96720, 3 of the 5 insurers we compared averaged under $200 for the same house: Allstate ($62), Dongbu Insurance ($94) and Liberty Mutual ($97). If a quote for your home is near $200, compare its dwelling limit and deductibles with ours ($300,000 and $1,000) before you decide.
What is the 80% rule in homeowners insurance?
Many policies reduce a partial-loss payment if you insure a Hilo home for less than 80% of its replacement cost, the cost to rebuild it. For our $300,000 sample house, that’s at least $240,000, so check your limit against a current rebuilding cost, not the home’s market value.
How do hurricane and wind deductibles work in Hilo?
Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket on each claim before your insurer pays. The house we priced has a $1,000 deductible for covered losses other than a hurricane, including wind and hail. Our sample home request also includes a 2% hurricane deductible, a setting we use in every state; real policies near the coast may carry a larger hurricane deductible, so ask for yours.
Your wind and hail deductible in dollars (illustration only)
| Dwelling coverage | 1% | 2% | 5% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $2,000 | $4,000 | $10,000 |
| $300,000 (our sample home) | $3,000 | $6,000 | $15,000 |
| $400,000 | $4,000 | $8,000 | $20,000 |
The table shows deductibles, not premiums. At 2%, the deductible on our sample home’s $300,000 dwelling is $6,000, more than the $1,705 a year that house averages in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced.
A higher deductible usually lowers your premium, so weigh the lower price against the bigger bill you’d face after a storm.
Ready to compare
How much is renters insurance in Hilo?
Renters insurance for our sample renter averages $18 a month ($221 a year) in Hilo’s ZIP code 96720.
Each of the 5 insurers we compared charged the same renters price in every Hawaii ZIP code we priced, from $13 to $29 a month, so in Hilo (ZIP code 96720) the insurer, not the address, sets the price. The table shows each insurer’s renters price; our Hawaii home insurance page adds the change since Nov. 2025.
Renters insurance averages by insurer in Hilo for our sample renter (rates as of Sept. 30, 2026)
| Insurer | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Dongbu Insurance | $13 | $150 |
| State Farm | $13 | $154 |
| First Insurance Company of Hawaii | $17 | $201 |
| Allstate | $21 | $255 |
| Liberty Mutual | $29 | $345 |
In ZIP code 96720, Dongbu Insurance averaged $13 a month ($150 a year), State Farm $13 ($154), First Insurance Company of Hawaii $17 ($201), Allstate $21 ($255) and Liberty Mutual $29 ($345) for our sample renter.
Our sample renter lives in an apartment built in 2005 and insures $40,000 of belongings with $300,000 liability and a $1,000 deductible. The renter is 40, single, with good credit and no claims. Rates as of Sept. 30, 2026, from 5 sample prices by 5 insurers across one Hilo ZIP code.
- $40K belongings
- $300K liability
- $1,000 deductible
For what a renters policy covers and leaves out, see renters insurance in Hawaii.
How we got these renters prices: each insurer’s price in the one Hilo ZIP code in our data. Sample prices, not quotes or offers.
How much is condo insurance in Hilo?
Condo insurance for our sample condo averages $45 a month ($540 a year) in Hilo’s ZIP code 96720.
Each of the 5 insurers we compared charged the same condo price in every Hawaii ZIP code we priced, from $27 to $54 a month, so in Hilo (ZIP code 96720) the insurer, not the address, sets the price. The table shows each insurer’s condo price; our Hawaii home insurance page adds the change since Nov. 2025.
Condo insurance averages by insurer in Hilo for our sample condo (rates as of Sept. 30, 2026)
| Insurer | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $27 | $318 |
| Liberty Mutual | $44 | $532 |
| First Insurance Company of Hawaii | $49 | $585 |
| Dongbu Insurance | $52 | $618 |
| Allstate | $54 | $648 |
In ZIP code 96720, State Farm averaged $27 a month ($318 a year), Liberty Mutual $44 ($532), First Insurance Company of Hawaii $49 ($585), Dongbu Insurance $52 ($618) and Allstate $54 ($648) for our sample condo.
Our sample condo is a 2,000-square-foot unit in a building built in 2005, with $60,000 of coverage for the unit, $60,000 for belongings, $300,000 liability and a $1,000 deductible. The owner is 40, single, has good credit and no claims in 10 years.
- $60K unit coverage
- $60K belongings
- $1,000 deductible
- Built 2005
Which part of a Hilo condo is yours to insure?
The association’s master policy covers the building, and your condo policy covers what the declaration and master policy leave to you. In our sample policy, $60,000 covers the inside of the unit and $60,000 your belongings, and that package averages $45 a month in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced.
Before you buy, ask the association for its master policy and deductible; see condo insurance in Hawaii for what to check.
You may also want to compare: car + home insurance in Hilo
Many Hilo homeowners insure a car too. Some insurers take roughly 5% to 15% off when you buy home and car insurance from them together (Insurance Information Institute), but the same insurer has to write both policies, and buying both from one insurer isn’t always the lower-priced choice, so compare both ways.
See car insurance rates in Hilo · Hawaii car insurance rates · How bundling home and auto insurance works
Frequently asked questions about home insurance in Hilo
What is the average cost of home insurance in Hilo?
For the house we priced, the one Hilo ZIP code we priced averages $1,705 a year ($142 a month) across the 5 insurers we compared, with rates as of Sept. 30, 2026. That’s 0.5% above the Hawaii average of $141 a month. With one ZIP code, treat it as a small sample.
How much is homeowners insurance in Hawaii?
For the same house, our Hawaii average is $1,696 a year ($141 a month) across 46 ZIP codes, with rates as of Sept. 30, 2026. The one Hilo ZIP code we priced averages $142 a month for it, and our Hawaii page lists every insurer and city we priced.
How much is insurance on a $300,000 house in Hilo?
Our sample house is insured for $300,000 of dwelling coverage, and in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced it averages $1,705 a year ($142 a month). A $350,000 or $400,000 house usually costs more to insure, though not always in step with the limit, so quote your own rebuilding cost.
How do I get homeowners insurance quotes in Hilo?
Enter your ZIP code in any quote box on this page to compare free homeowners insurance quotes for your Hilo address. Get at least three: for our sample home, the 5 insurers anyone can buy from that we compared averaged $62 to $246 a month in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced.
Does Hilo home insurance cover wind and hail damage?
Generally, yes, minus your deductible: a standard homeowners policy covers wind and hail damage. Hurricane damage usually has its own percentage deductible, so work it out in dollars: on our $300,000 sample house, 2% is $6,000, against an average premium of $1,705 a year in this ZIP code.
Is flood damage covered by home insurance in Hilo?
No. A standard Hilo home or renters policy doesn’t cover flooding. You need a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer, and a new NFIP policy usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before a flood threatens; the flood section above has the local NFIP numbers.
Are Hilo home insurance rates going up in 2026?
For the house we priced, the average in the one Hilo ZIP code we priced rose 14.0% for the same insurers and ZIP codes between Nov. 30, 2025 and Sept. 30, 2026, to $142 a month. Your own renewal depends on your insurer, your home and your claims.
What do renters and condo insurance cost in Hilo?
In the one Hilo ZIP code we priced, our sample renter ($40,000 of belongings, $300,000 liability) averages $18 a month ($221 a year) across the 5 insurers we compared, and our sample condo ($60,000 of unit coverage, $60,000 for belongings) averages $45 a month ($540 a year) across the 5 insurers we compared.
Official resources for Hilo homeowners
- Hawaii Emergency Management Agency: tsunami evacuation zones The state emergency agency, with preparedness pages for tsunami, flash flooding and hurricanes, plus tsunami evacuation zones.
- Hawaii County Hazard Mitigation Plan (2025) The County Civil Defense Agency’s plan for reducing disaster risk to people and property across Hawaii County.
- USGS: How Were the Hawaii Lava-Flow Hazard Zones Determined? The USGS explanation of Hawaii’s lava-flow hazard zones and how they are based on past flows and terrain.
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners: homeowners guide Coverage basics and the 80% rule.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center The official source for FEMA flood maps.
- FloodSmart FEMA’s site for the National Flood Insurance Program.
- Hawaii Insurance Division: homeowners insurance FAQs What the Division says about coverage in lava zones and where to turn if insurers say no.
How we calculated these prices
We priced the same house with 5 major insurers, in the one Hilo ZIP code in our data, using licensed insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services, with rates as of Sept. 30, 2026. Each Hilo figure is the average of the ZIP-code averages, and monthly figures are yearly figures divided by 12. These are sample prices for one example home, renter and condo, not quotes or offers.
Full details
The homes we priced
- Home (HO-3, a standard homeowners policy): Our sample home is a 2,000-square-foot, two-story wood-frame house with a composition roof, built in 1997, insured for $300,000 with $150,000 for belongings, $300,000 liability and a $1,000 deductible for covered losses other than a hurricane. Our home price requests also set a 2% hurricane deductible, the same setting in every state. The owner is 40, single, has good credit and no claims in 10 years.
- Renters (HO-4, a renters policy): Our sample renter lives in an apartment built in 2005 and insures $40,000 of belongings with $300,000 liability and a $1,000 deductible. The renter is 40, single, with good credit and no claims.
- Condo (HO-6, a condo unit-owner policy): Our sample condo is a 2,000-square-foot unit in a building built in 2005, with $60,000 of coverage for the unit, $60,000 for belongings, $300,000 liability and a $1,000 deductible. Same owner profile as the home.
- All three are in protection class 3 (a fire-protection rating), 1,000 feet from a hydrant and 3 miles from a fire station, with the distance to the coast set at 10 miles in every state’s price requests, so differences between ZIP codes come from how each insurer prices that ZIP code.
How the averages work: for each insurer and ZIP code we used its lowest eligible price, averaged the insurers in each ZIP code, then averaged the ZIP codes, so every ZIP code counts the same. Percentages are worked out before rounding, so they can differ slightly from the rounded dollars shown. The price change compares the same insurers in the same ZIP codes on Nov. 30, 2025, and Sept. 30, 2026.
Which insurers we name: we don’t name a lowest-priced insurer when its lead over the next one is more than 30%, or when it was priced in fewer than 90% of a place’s ZIP codes, and we show the average without any insurer priced at more than twice the others. Each section says which insurer, if any, passed these tests for that line. We also never name an insurer that sells only to members, such as USAA (military families only) or an AAA insurer, and when the two lowest are within 5% of each other we call it a near tie.
Sample: Home: 5 sample prices from 5 insurers across one ZIP code. Renters: 5 from 5 insurers. Condo: 5 from 5 insurers. Hilo here means the one ZIP code in our rate data whose main post-office city is Hilo (96720), in Hawaii County. That’s a small sample: we publish a full city page when at least 5 ZIP codes are priced and this shorter local guide when 1 to 4 are.
Insurer notes: we review every note an insurer attaches to a price before publishing, with the same rules as our Hawaii page.
- Some counted prices carry notes that don’t change the coverage we priced (for example, a rating-tier label); we keep them.
Comparisons: the other cities and Hawaii use the same method and rates; the 50-states-and-D.C. figure averages each state’s average and D.C.’s.
Sources for local facts: FEMA, U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA, U.S. Census Bureau, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii Insurance Division, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Insurance Information Institute.
Rates as of Sept. 30, 2026; price changes compare prices as of Nov. 30, 2025.
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Autumn Cafiero Giusti is a licensed life and health insurance broker and award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience. She writes extensively about flood, Medicare, home, and life insurance for publications like U.S. News and CBS News.
