What renters in Massachusetts actually pay, from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ 2023 Homeowners Insurance Report (published July 2026) — plus why the Bay State sits just above the national average: a hard insurance market, the MPIUA FAIR Plan, and the winters that fill claims adjusters’ calendars.
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Massachusetts at a glance
The figures below are the NAIC’s state average HO-4 (renters) premium for Massachusetts — total premiums divided by total policies, 2023 policy year, published July 2026.
Average renters premium · Massachusetts$180/yr~$15 a month · #13 of 51 states (1 = priciest) · 104% of the US average
$180/yrAverage annual premium (NAIC 2023)
~$15/moMonthly equivalent
104%Of the national average
#13 of 51Price rank (1 = priciest)
Massachusetts$180/yrMassachusetts average · ~$15/mo
+$7/yrvs national average
National average$173/yrAll 50 states + DC
Massachusetts vs the country
Mississippi · priciest state$263/yr
Louisiana$250/yr
Oklahoma$220/yr
Massachusetts · your state · #13$180/yr
United States average$173/yr
South Dakota · cheapest state$125/yr
How it works: figures are the NAIC’s state average HO-4 (renters) premiums — total premiums divided by total policies, 2023 policy year, published July 2026. Monthly = annual ÷ 12. Rank is out of all 50 states + DC, priciest first. These are premiums paid, averaged across coverage amounts — a quote for a specific $30k/$100k policy will differ. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Why Massachusetts sits above the national average
Massachusetts’ $180 average is 104% of the national figure and the 13th-highest in the country — $7 a year above the US average, $4 a year less than Rhode Island and $6 less than Florida. The premium doesn’t come from hurricanes this time; it comes from winter, old buildings, and a hard insurance market.
Output · formula · meaning
Output
Formula
What it means
Average annual premium
Σ premiums ÷ policies
What the typical Massachusetts renter pays per year: $180.
Monthly equivalent
annual ÷ 12
The monthly budget figure: about $15.
Index vs US average
state avg ÷ $173 × 100
Massachusetts sits at 104% of the national average — $7 a year more.
Price rank
sorted, priciest first
Massachusetts is #13 of 51 — just outside the ten priciest.
3 things Massachusetts renters should know
The FAIR Plan is growing on the coast. The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (MPIUA) — the state’s FAIR Plan — is the market of last resort for property the private market won’t write. In 2026’s hard market, many private carriers decline homes within about a mile of the water based on wind models and satellite imagery, and on Cape Cod and the Islands roughly 40% of homes now sit on the FAIR Plan. Its dwelling coverage is broader than most states’ FAIR plans (open-peril, up to $1M) but never covers flood or earthquake — and since 2025, new FAIR Plan policies in coastal Special Flood Hazard Areas must also carry separate flood insurance.
Winter is the claims season. Massachusetts winters fill adjusters’ calendars with the unglamorous stuff: ice dams that back water under shingles, frozen pipes that burst inside walls, and snow-load damage. Windstorm, hail, and snow/ice collapse are covered perils on a standard HO-4 renters policy — but flooding is excluded, and a frozen pipe that ruins your electronics is the kind of claim a $180/yr policy exists for.
Your ZIP code moves the price more than the state average moves. Quote aggregators show Boston running around $22 a month and Springfield about $24, versus smaller cities near $16–$18 — driven by dense triple-decker housing stock, theft rates, and rebuild costs. The $180/yr NAIC figure is premiums actually paid statewide; shop at least three carriers (prices vary widely between them) and ask about bundling with an auto policy.
Who uses this page
Boston newcomers: students, hospital staff, and first-job movers — is ~$15/month about right for your first policy?
Cape and coastal renters: Cape Cod, the Islands, and the South Shore — understanding the wind-vs-flood split and the FAIR Plan before you sign.
Military members: PCS moves to Hanscom AFB or the Coast Guard stations — what the state average covers before you pick a policy.
Researchers & students: the NAIC figures are public statistics — cite them with the block below.
Accuracy & limitations
These are 2023-policy-year averages published in July 2026 — the freshest official data available, but your 2026 quote will differ by ZIP code, building construction, coverage limits, deductible, claims history, and credit-based insurance score. Treat $180/yr as a benchmark, not a quote. Massachusetts’ hard market also means fewer carriers competing on the coast than inland — shopping is worth the hour.
Cite this data pageBright Side Kit. “Average Renters Insurance Cost in Massachusetts.” brightoolbox.com, 2026.Bright Side Kit. "Average Renters Insurance Cost in Massachusetts." https://brightoolbox.com/renters-insurance-cost-massachusetts/ Accessed October 22, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Is renters insurance required in Massachusetts?
No state law requires it — no US state mandates renters insurance. Landlords can, and many Massachusetts landlords do, require it as a lease condition, often with a liability minimum. If your lease requires it, you need the policy to keep the lease.
How much is renters insurance in Massachusetts per month?
The state average premium is about $15 a month ($180 a year) according to NAIC 2023 data — 104% of the national average, ranking 13th of 51 states. Quote sites run Boston around $22 a month and Springfield about $24; flood coverage costs extra on top.
What is the Massachusetts FAIR Plan (MPIUA)?
The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association is the state’s FAIR Plan — the last-resort market for residential property the private market won’t insure, often on the coast. It offers broader open-peril coverage than most states’ FAIR plans (dwelling coverage up to $1 million) but excludes flood and earthquake, and since 2025 new policies in coastal flood zones must also carry separate flood insurance.
Does Massachusetts renters insurance cover winter damage?
Windstorm, hail, and snow/ice collapse are typically covered perils on a standard HO-4 policy — so ice dams and frozen-pipe bursts qualify. Flooding (from rain, storm surge, or melting snow at ground level) is excluded and needs a separate NFIP policy.
Does renters insurance cover flooding in Massachusetts?
No — standard HO-4 policies exclude flood everywhere, including Massachusetts. Flood insurance is a separate product sold through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Renters near the coast, the Charles River, or the Merrimack River should understand the gap.
Who regulates renters insurance in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts Division of Insurance licenses insurers and agents, reviews rates — including the FAIR Plan’s — and accepts consumer complaints. It oversees both the private market and the MPIUA residual market.