A growing number of Americans say rising homeowners insurance costs are putting pressure on household budgets, according to a new national survey. Many homeowners report sharp increases in premiums over the last few years as insurers continue raising prices across the country.
Most Homeowners Say Insurance Premiums Have Increased
A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that 71% of U.S. homeowners say their home insurance costs have gone up in recent years.
Among them, 42% said their premiums had increased “a lot”. The findings are based on a nationwide survey conducted in March 2026 among more than 3,500 adults.
Very few homeowners reported seeing insurance costs fall, while many said they are now paying significantly more to keep their properties covered.
Rising Repair Costs and Insurance Company Profits Blamed
Homeowners pointed to several major reasons for the rising costs. Around 65% said insurance companies trying to increase profits were a major factor behind higher premiums.
Another 61% blamed the growing cost of repairing and rebuilding homes, including rising labour and construction material prices. Nearly half of homeowners surveyed also linked higher insurance costs to increasing extreme weather events such as storms, floods and wildfires.
Insurance companies have repeatedly warned that severe weather disasters are becoming more frequent and expensive, forcing insurers to raise premiums and reduce coverage in higher-risk areas.
Lower-Income Homeowners Face Bigger Challenges
The survey found clear differences depending on household income. Higher-income homeowners were much more likely to report rising insurance costs, partly because they are more likely to carry full insurance coverage.
Lower-income homeowners were far more likely to have no homeowners insurance at all. Around 17% of lower-income homeowners said they lacked coverage completely, compared with just 2% of upper-income households.
Researchers said this reflects wider financial pressures facing many lower-income families across the housing market.
Republicans and Democrats Disagree Over Causes
Political divisions also appeared in the survey results. Democratic homeowners were much more likely to blame extreme weather for rising premiums, while Republicans were more likely to point to government regulations.
Despite the political differences, both groups largely agreed that rebuilding costs and insurer pricing strategies were major reasons behind the increases.
Homeowners Continue Feeling Financial Pressure
The survey highlights growing concern among homeowners as insurance premiums continue rising alongside property taxes, utility bills and mortgage costs.
In many parts of the country, homeowners are now facing difficult choices about coverage levels, household spending and long-term affordability as insurance prices show little sign of slowing down.
