Colorado has a high wildfire risk — about 75% higher than most states (1). But wildfires aren’t behind the steepest home insurance increases in the state.
Hail is.
According to data from CBS Colorado, the state ranks second nationally in hail insurance claims (2).
The Colorado Division of Insurance found that hail accounts for 26% to 54% of the cost of homeowners’ premiums — compared to 1% to 25% for wildfires — even in areas that don’t regularly see large hailstorms.
A state bill last year would have added a fee to homeowners’ policies to fund state grants for hail-fortified roofs, but it failed. Now Colorado lawmakers are working on a new proposal to address the rate rises, but securing funding for the program remains challenging.
Colorado homeowners aren’t alone. Across the United States, extreme weather is driving up the cost of home insurance, with rates jumping 33.8% between 2018 and 2023 according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
The average homeowner pays $2,181 per year for a $300,000 dwelling policy, according to Bankrate (3). By 2053, climate-exposed households could be paying $700 more, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research (4).
While wildfires often grab headlines, there are other natural disasters driving up insurance claims and premiums:
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Hail and severe storms: Common in Colorado and parts of the Midwest. Roof damage is expensive and frequent.
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Hurricanes and windstorms: Coastal states like Florida and Texas face repeated storm losses.
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Flooding: Even inland flooding can cause costly damage.
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Tornadoes: States across “Tornado Alley” see regular claims from wind damage. (5)
On top of the weather, rebuilding costs have climbed.
Labor and materials are more expensive than they were a few years ago.
When insurers pay more for repairs, those costs often show up in future premiums.
For homeowners, that can mean higher monthly bills or, in some cases, difficulty finding coverage at all.
Read More: The average net worth of Americans is a surprising $620,654. But it almost means nothing. Here’s the number that counts (and how to make it skyrocket)
While you can’t control the weather, you can take steps to lower your risk and possibly your premium. Here are a few strategies that may help.
