Nebraska Homeowners Face Among the Highest Insurance Costs in the U.S.

What happened

A University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO)–cited item in Live Insurance News reports that Nebraska homeowners now face some of the highest homeowners insurance costs in the country. Research by UNO associate professor of economics Zhigang Feng shows the average Nebraska homeowner pays about $4,800 annually, compared with a national average near $2,601.

Why it matters

Higher premiums affect household budgets, mortgage affordability, and decisions about where to live. Nebraska is listed among the five most expensive states for homeowners insurance, together with Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. That grouping signals regional exposure to severe weather and disaster risk that insurers price into policies.

What's driving the rise

Feng and the coverage point to Nebraska's exposure to multiple severe weather hazards: hail, tornadoes, and wildfires. Nebraska sits in areas known for both tornado and hail activity. Recent events, including a significant August hailstorm, are cited as examples of storms that have contributed to a rapid shift in the insurance climate in the Midwest.

Feng experienced last year's hailstorm directly and is using that experience alongside his research to communicate why premiums have climbed and what homeowners should expect moving forward.

Who is speaking

Zhigang Feng is an associate professor of economics at UNO. His work focuses on macroeconomics and computational methods and has appeared in several peer-reviewed economics journals. The Live Insurance News item highlights his research on Nebraska's insurance costs and his outreach to local homeowners.

Immediate implications for homeowners

• Expect higher annual costs: The cited average of about $4,800 per year in Nebraska is nearly twice the national average figure provided.
• Coverage choices matter: With premiums rising, homeowners may revisit coverage limits, deductibles, and endorsements to manage costs, though the coverage does not detail specific consumer options.
• Local risk exposure is central: Location within Nebraska matters because proximity to frequent hail and tornado paths will influence individual policy pricing.

What UNO is doing

UNO is promoting Feng's research through its Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications and links the finding to the university's broader role in research and community engagement. The university background provided notes UNO's R2 research designation and areas of public service but does not claim direct policy interventions.

Bottom line

Nebraska homeowners are paying substantially more for homeowners insurance than the national average, driven largely by the state's exposure to hail, tornadoes, and wildfire risks. UNO economist Zhigang Feng's research and personal experience with recent storms are being used to explain the trends to local residents.