Missouri Insurance Costs Fall in the Middle of the Pack, But Severe Weather Threats Loom

Missouri homeowners face mid-range insurance premiums compared with both their regional neighbors and the broader U.S.

While not as high as storm-prone Gulf Coast states, Missouri’s costs are higher than some nearby Midwestern states, reflecting its exposure to tornadoes, hail, and severe weather.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Realtor.com® 2025 Climate Risk Report highlight Missouri’s position in the national picture.

Missouri’s Insurance Costs in Context

According to newly released American Community Survey (ACS) data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Missouri homeowners with a mortgage typically pay $1,500–$1,999 annually for homeowners insurance, while those without a mortgage average $1,000–$1,499. Overall statewide costs fall into the $1,000–$1,499 range.

Missouri has 1,757,433 insured homeowner households in total—1,032,787 with a mortgage and 724,646 without. Among mortgaged owners, 100,537 pay less than $100 annually and 63,347 pay $4,000 or more. Among those without a mortgage, 141,514 pay less than $100 and 35,087 pay $4,000 or more.

Compared with nearby states, Missouri sits in the mid-range. Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa homeowners with a mortgage typically pay $1,000–$1,499, making them more affordable. Arkansas, by contrast, is similar to Missouri, with mortgaged households paying $1,500–$1,999. Kansas and Oklahoma trend higher, with mortgaged owners averaging $2,000–$2,499. This positions Missouri as a middle-ground state: more expensive than its northern neighbors but cheaper than its Tornado Alley counterparts to the west.

Climate Risks Across the Region

The Realtor.com 2025 Climate Risk Report highlights how climate exposure is pushing up premiums in many parts of the country. Miami homeowners pay the most in the U.S., with average premiums of $22,718 annually, representing 3.7% of median home value. Florida metros such as Cape Coral, Sarasota, and Tampa also dominate the list of highest insurance burdens.

Missouri does not appear in the report’s rankings of metros with the steepest insurance burdens, nor in the lists of highest flood, hurricane, or wildfire risks.

Still, the state’s exposure to tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers remains a concern. These recurring hazards help explain why costs are higher than in northern states, even if they are far below Gulf Coast levels.

A National Affordability Challenge

Even with mid-range costs, Missouri homeowners are not immune from the broader affordability crisis. The Realtor.com 2025 Insurance Affordability Report found that 75% of Americans believe homeowners insurance could soon become unaffordable, while nearly half said they had already faced challenges obtaining or renewing policies.

Rising costs are already shaping housing choices. Nearly 30% of homebuyers said they had completely changed their search areas because of insurance challenges, while another quarter said they had overhauled their buying strategies altogether. Alarmingly, 58% of homeowners nationwide said they would consider dropping coverage if premiums rose too high, with younger generations the most likely to take that risk.

For Missouri homeowners, current costs fall in the middle of the national spectrum, offering some stability compared with the most expensive states. Still, as climate risks continue to intensify, affordability may become a more pressing issue even in mid-range markets.

This article was produced with editorial input from Dina Sartore-Bodo, Gabriella Iannetta, and Allaire Conte.