How Much Is Homeowners Insurance on Long Island in 2026?

Last updated September 28, 2026 by Matthew Kleinfelder, PRK Insurance Agency, Melville, NY.

The average homeowners insurance premium on Long Island is about $2,882 a year, or roughly $240 a month, for a policy with $300,000 of dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible, according to Insurify’s Long Island analysis. That is above the New York State average of $2,124 and the national average of $2,584 in the same data set. Real quotes across Nassau and Suffolk range far more widely than any average suggests: an inland cape in Hicksville or Commack usually prices well below that figure, while a bayfront home in Freeport, Lindenhurst or the Hamptons can cost several times more and carry a hurricane deductible of 1% to 5% of the dwelling limit. This post from PRK Insurance Agency in Melville explains what drives the number, how Nassau compares with Suffolk, and how to bring the premium down without hollowing out the policy.

Key takeaways

• Long Island premiums run above the New York and national averages because of coastal wind exposure, flood adjacent construction, an older housing stock and some of the highest rebuilding costs in the country.
• Distance to the water, roof age, dwelling limit, deductibles, claims history and the coverage form move the price more than the county line does.
• Hurricane deductibles of 1% to 5% are the norm on Long Island. A single statewide trigger applies to policies issued or renewed from February 2, 2026.
• Flood is never included. Budget for a separate NFIP or private flood policy if the home is near the South Shore bays, the North Shore harbors or a mapped flood zone.
• The cheapest quote is often the thinnest policy. Compare dwelling limits, roof settlement terms, water backup, ordinance or law and liability limits before comparing price.
• An independent agency can quote one house with many carriers at once, which is the fastest way to find both the right coverage and the right price.

The short answer: expect to pay more than the New York average

Insurify’s figure of $2,882 a year for Long Island is built on a standard profile: $300,000 of dwelling coverage, a $1,000 deductible, a typical liability limit and no claims. Most Long Island homes need more dwelling coverage than that. Construction and labor costs in Nassau and Suffolk are among the highest in the United States, and a rebuild of a 2,000 square foot colonial commonly runs well past $300,000 before the finishes are counted. Published averages also lag the market by a year or more. Treat them as a floor when you budget, not as a forecast of what your renewal will say.

Three things push Long Island above the rest of the state. The island’s shape puts a large share of its homes within a few miles of the Atlantic, the Great South Bay or Long Island Sound, so wind and surge losses from one storm can hit thousands of policies at once, and insurers price for that. The housing stock is old, with most of Nassau built between 1947 and 1965 and much of western Suffolk soon after, which means older roofs, plumbing and electrical systems. And the cost to rebuild is high, so every dollar of dwelling coverage costs more to insure. Read our Long Island homeowners insurance guide for a full walk through of what the policy covers.

What drives the price of a Long Island homeowners policy

Distance to the water and wind exposure

This is the single largest local factor. A home in Long Beach, Point Lookout, Oceanside, Freeport, Merrick, Seaford, Massapequa, Amityville, Lindenhurst, Babylon, Bay Shore, Sayville, Patchogue’s waterfront, Mastic Beach, Westhampton, Southampton, East Hampton or Montauk is rated for hurricane wind and, in many cases, for surge. Carriers measure distance to the coast in feet, not miles, and some will not write new business within a set distance of the shore at all. Inland homes in Levittown, Hicksville, Plainview, Smithtown, Commack, Hauppauge, Ronkonkoma and Holbrook see much lower wind loads and much lower premiums. If you are near the water, our coastal homeowners insurance page explains which carriers are still active and what they ask for.

The dwelling limit and the cost to rebuild

Premium scales with the dwelling limit, and the dwelling limit should track the cost to rebuild, not the sale price. On Long Island, land is a large share of the sale price, so a $750,000 Levittown cape may have a rebuild cost far below its market value while a $750,000 waterfront bungalow in Babylon may cost more to rebuild than it would sell for. Ask your agent to run a current replacement cost estimate every renewal. Underinsuring to save premium is the most expensive mistake a Long Island homeowner can make, because a total loss after a fire or a storm leaves you paying the difference.

Roof age, updates and the settlement method

Insurers ask for the age of the roof, electrical panel, plumbing and heating system because those systems cause most water and fire claims. A roof older than 15 to 20 years can raise the premium, limit the carriers willing to quote, or move the roof to actual cash value settlement, which deducts depreciation from any claim payment. Replacing an aging roof, updating a fuse panel and replacing galvanized or polybutylene plumbing are the improvements that most reliably lower a Long Island premium.

Deductibles, including the hurricane deductible

A higher flat deductible lowers the premium. Moving from $1,000 to $2,500 is usually worthwhile for a household that can absorb a small loss. The hurricane deductible is a different decision. The New York State Department of Financial Services notes that hurricane deductibles commonly run from 1% to 5% of the dwelling limit, so a 5% deductible on a $700,000 dwelling limit is $35,000 out of pocket after a hurricane. Under the DFS regulation that took effect on February 2, 2026, a hurricane deductible can only be triggered when a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or higher makes landfall in New York, applies from 12 hours before landfall until 12 hours after the hurricane watch or warning is cancelled, and applies to wind damage only. Ask for the deductible in dollars, and compare a 2% and a 5% option on the same carrier before you decide.

Claims history and the household

Two or more claims in the past three to five years, especially water claims, raise the premium and shrink the list of carriers. Dogs of certain breeds, an unfenced pool, a trampoline, a wood stove or a home based business also affect both price and eligibility. New York permits insurers to use a credit based insurance score within state rules, so credit also plays a role.

Oil heat, buried tanks and older systems

A large share of Long Island homes still heat with oil, and many older properties in Suffolk have or had a buried tank. Underwriters ask whether a buried tank has been removed or properly abandoned because a leak can cost tens of thousands of dollars to remediate and standard policies exclude pollution. Some carriers offer an oil tank endorsement. Disclose the tank up front; finding it at claim time is far worse than paying a little more for the right endorsement.

Bundling and payment discounts

Placing the home and the cars with the same carrier is usually the largest available discount, and it can also simplify a claim after a storm that damages both. Paying annually, installing water leak sensors, a monitored alarm, a new roof, impact rated windows or hurricane straps, and being claim free for several years all earn credits with many carriers.

Nassau County versus Suffolk County: does it matter?

Less than most people think. Insurers rate by ZIP code and by distance to the water, so a South Shore home in Massapequa in Nassau and a South Shore home in Lindenhurst in Suffolk are rated on similar exposure, while a home in Garden City and a home in Smithtown, both inland, are rated far more gently than either. Nassau’s older housing stock and higher rebuild costs push some inland premiums up, and the East End’s exposure and high home values push some Suffolk premiums up. The practical rule is that the water line matters more than the county line, and the age of the roof matters more than either.

How to lower a Long Island premium without gutting the policy

• Raise the flat deductible to a level you could pay tomorrow, usually $2,500, and keep the hurricane deductible at 2% or less if the carrier allows it.
• Replace a roof that is past 20 years, update a fuse or Federal Pacific panel and remove a buried oil tank, then send the receipts to your agent.
• Bundle home and auto with the same carrier and ask for every discount the carrier files: alarm, water sensors, new home buyer, claim free, paid in full and wind mitigation.
• Set the dwelling limit from a current replacement cost estimate, not a lender’s minimum or last year’s number plus inflation.
• Schedule jewelry, art and collectibles instead of relying on blanket increases, and review personal property coverage at a realistic level.
• Avoid filing claims under $2,000. A claim on the record costs more over five years than most small repairs.
• Quote the home with an independent agency that represents many carriers. PRK compares the same house with more than 30 insurance companies, which is how we find both the price and the terms.

When the cheapest quote is a mistake

A quote that comes in $600 below the others usually gets there by settling the roof at actual cash value, capping water backup at $5,000, leaving out ordinance or law coverage, cutting personal liability to $100,000 or using a 5% hurricane deductible. None of that shows up on a price comparison and all of it shows up at claim time. Compare the dwelling limit, the roof settlement terms, water backup and ordinance or law limits, the liability limit and the hurricane deductible in dollars before you compare the premium. Then add a personal umbrella policy if the household has a pool, a boat, teenage drivers or significant assets.

How PRK quotes Long Island homes

PRK Insurance Agency is an independent agency at 425 Broadhollow Road in Melville. We write homeowners, condo, coastal, high value, landlord and flood coverage across Nassau and Suffolk with more than 30 insurance companies, which means one conversation produces quotes from every carrier that fits the house rather than a single company’s offer. Send us the current declarations page, the age of the roof and major systems, and the address, and we will come back with options that show the dwelling limit, deductibles and endorsements side by side. Our clients have left more than 380 Google reviews with a 4.9 star average, most of them about exactly this process.

Frequently asked questions

Premium figures are averages published by third parties for a standard profile and will not match any specific quote. Coverage descriptions are general. Eligibility, limits, exclusions and availability vary by policy and insurance company. Speak with a licensed insurance professional about your home.

Sources: Insurify, Best Home Insurance in Long Island; New York State Department of Financial Services, Homeowners Insurance Basic Coverage; New York State Department of Financial Services, Third Amendment to 11 NYCRR 74 (hurricane deductibles).

Related Long Island insurance guides

• Long Island homeowners insurance guide
• Homeowners insurance nonrenewal on Long Island: what to do next
• Long Island flood insurance guide
• Homeowners insurance from PRK
• High value homeowners insurance
• Coastal homeowners insurance