High Point sits at the heart of North Carolina's Piedmont Triad, known worldwide as the furniture capital of the world. But beyond the International Home Furnishings Market, this Guilford County city of nearly 117,000 residents has a diverse housing landscape—from historic neighborhoods to modern developments—and faces unique weather challenges that every homeowner needs to understand when shopping for insurance.
If you own a home in High Point, or you're thinking about buying one, here's what you need to know about protecting your investment in 2025 and beyond. Spoiler alert: rates are going up, tornado season is a real concern, and you might be underinsured without even realizing it.
What You'll Pay for Home Insurance in High Point
The average North Carolina homeowner pays around $3,749 per year for home insurance. High Point, as a Piedmont city with moderate risk profiles (you're not on the hurricane-prone coast, but you're not in the mountains either), typically falls close to this statewide average.
Here's the hard truth: your premium is about to go up. The North Carolina Rate Bureau and Insurance Commissioner reached an agreement for a 7.5% rate increase effective June 1, 2025, followed by another 7.5% increase on June 1, 2026. That means if you're paying the state average of $3,749 right now, you'll be paying around $3,992 in mid-2025 and roughly $4,291 by mid-2026. Between 2020 and April 2025, North Carolina homeowners insurance rates have already climbed 44.4% cumulatively.
Why the increases? Construction costs have skyrocketed—rebuilding your home now costs between $180 and $250 per square foot in North Carolina. Add in inflation, more severe storms, and rising reinsurance costs (what insurance companies pay for their own insurance), and you get the picture. It's not just High Point or North Carolina—this is a nationwide trend.
Tornadoes and Severe Weather: High Point's Biggest Insurance Concern
Let's talk about March 18, 2021. An EF-1 tornado tore through High Point with wind speeds up to 95 mph, carving a path 2.5 miles long and up to 500 yards wide. High Point and nearby Burlington bore the brunt of the damage. This wasn't some freak occurrence—North Carolina averages about 29 tornadoes per year, with April and May being peak months.
Your home insurance policy should cover tornado damage to your dwelling, other structures (like your detached garage or shed), and your belongings. But here's what catches people off guard: if your dwelling coverage is set too low, you'll be on the hook for the difference. With construction costs what they are, a policy that made sense three years ago might leave you tens of thousands of dollars short if a tornado hits.
Beyond tornadoes, High Point sees its share of severe thunderstorms, hail, and wind damage. The Piedmont Triad doesn't face the hurricane risk of the coast, but severe weather still causes significant home damage every year. Standard homeowners policies cover wind and hail damage, but you'll want to check your deductible—some insurers use percentage-based deductibles for wind damage, which can mean higher out-of-pocket costs.
High Point's Housing Market and What It Means for Your Coverage
High Point's housing market has about 44,000 housing units, with single-family homes making up roughly 64% of the housing stock. The median home value sits between $230,000 and $244,500 depending on the source and timing, and home values increased about 3.9% over the past year. The market is somewhat competitive, with homes typically staying on the market for about 47 days.
Here's why this matters for your insurance: your policy should cover the cost to rebuild your home, not its market value. Those are two different numbers. Your home might be worth $240,000 on the market, but rebuilding it could cost $300,000 or more depending on its size and features. With construction costs ranging from $180 to $250 per square foot, a modest 1,500-square-foot home could cost $270,000 to $375,000 to rebuild from scratch.
High Point's diverse housing stock—from older homes in established neighborhoods to newer construction in growing areas—means insurance needs vary widely. Older homes might have plumbing, electrical, or roofing issues that affect your rates or coverage. Newer homes might have features that qualify for discounts, like impact-resistant roofing or modern electrical systems.
What Your Policy Should Cover (and What It Won't)
North Carolina doesn't legally require you to have homeowners insurance, but if you have a mortgage, your lender absolutely will. A standard homeowners policy in High Point includes four main components:
Dwelling coverage protects the structure of your home, including built-in systems like plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. Other structures coverage typically provides 10% of your dwelling coverage for detached structures like garages, sheds, or fences. Personal property coverage protects your belongings—furniture, electronics, clothing—usually up to 50-70% of your dwelling coverage. And liability coverage, arguably the most important part, protects you if someone gets hurt on your property or you accidentally damage someone else's property.
Here's what standard policies don't cover: flood damage, earthquakes, mudslides, and in some cases, windstorm or hail damage (though you can usually add these back). High Point isn't in a high-risk flood zone like coastal areas, but flooding can happen anywhere. If you're near creeks or in a low-lying area, flood insurance might be worth considering. It's a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or private insurers.
How to Get the Right Coverage at the Best Price
With rates climbing, you want to make sure you're getting value for your premium dollars. Start by getting quotes from multiple insurers—rates can vary significantly between companies even for the same coverage. Consider working with an independent insurance agent who can shop multiple carriers for you.
Ask about discounts. You might qualify for lower rates if you bundle your home and auto insurance, install a security system or smoke detectors, have a newer roof, or go claims-free for several years. Some insurers offer discounts for homes in gated communities or neighborhoods with lower crime rates.
Review your coverage limits annually, especially given current construction cost trends. Make sure your dwelling coverage reflects what it would actually cost to rebuild your home today, not what you paid for it or what it's worth on the market. Consider replacement cost coverage instead of actual cash value—it costs more upfront, but it means you get enough to replace your damaged property without depreciation factored in.
Finally, understand your deductible. A higher deductible lowers your premium, but make sure you can afford to pay that amount out of pocket if disaster strikes. With tornado risk in High Point, you want to balance affordable premiums with a deductible you can actually handle.
Protecting your High Point home doesn't have to be complicated, but it does require understanding the specific risks you face and making sure your coverage keeps pace with rising costs. With rate increases on the horizon and tornado season rolling around every spring, now's the time to review your policy and make sure you're covered for what matters most.
