If you're buying a home in Westmont or already own property in this DuPage County suburb, you've probably noticed something: insurance rates aren't what they used to be. After Illinois recorded 146 tornadoes in 2025—nearly three times the typical annual count—insurers are responding with significant rate adjustments. Allstate alone announced increases ranging from 4.9% to 10.4% taking effect in February 2026. But here's what matters more than statewide averages: understanding exactly what you're paying for and why your Westmont home needs specific coverage that a house in, say, southern Illinois might not.
Westmont's 24,201 residents enjoy an established community with a median home value of $348,362, diverse housing stock ranging from 1970s single-family homes to modern apartment complexes, and convenient access to Chicago. But that location in the heart of Illinois tornado alley means your home insurance policy needs to work harder than in less weather-prone areas. Let's break down what that actually means for your wallet and your peace of mind.
Why Westmont Home Insurance Costs What It Does
Illinois home insurance averages between $2,200 and $3,100 annually depending on which study you reference, but your actual premium depends on factors specific to your property and location. DuPage County ranks tenth nationally for tornado damage risk—not a statistic insurers ignore. When you combine that with the fact that 2025 saw unprecedented severe weather activity (including a rare December tornado outbreak), you start to understand why carriers are adjusting their rates.
Your Westmont home's age matters significantly. With a median construction year of 1976 for housing units in the village, many homes predate modern building codes designed for severe weather resistance. Older roofs, outdated electrical systems, and original plumbing increase claim likelihood, which directly impacts what insurers charge. A well-maintained 1970s ranch won't cost the same to insure as an identical property with a 20-year-old roof and knob-and-tube wiring still in the walls.
Construction type also plays a role. Westmont's housing mix—44% large apartment complexes, 40% single-family detached homes, and 16% attached units or small multifamily buildings—means different insurance considerations for different property types. Single-family homeowners carry full dwelling coverage, while condo owners typically need an HO-6 policy that covers interior improvements and personal liability but relies on the association's master policy for structural elements.
Tornado Coverage: What Your Policy Actually Protects
Here's something that surprises many Westmont homeowners: standard homeowners insurance covers tornado damage. Unlike flood insurance, which requires a separate policy through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, wind damage from tornadoes falls under your regular HO-3 policy's wind and hail coverage. When severe weather tears off your roof, breaks windows, or destroys your garage, your dwelling coverage handles the structure while personal property coverage addresses your belongings inside.
But there's a catch—your windstorm deductible. Many Illinois policies include a separate percentage deductible for wind and hail damage, typically 1% to 5% of your dwelling coverage amount. On a $350,000 home with a 2% wind deductible, you're paying the first $7,000 of damage out of pocket. That's substantially more than your standard $1,000 or $2,500 all-peril deductible. Understanding this number before disaster strikes prevents nasty surprises when you're filing a claim after severe weather rolls through.
Given DuPage County's tornado history—including an F5 tornado in 1990 that caused 29 deaths and 350 injuries—maximizing your dwelling coverage isn't paranoia. It's pragmatism. Replacement cost coverage, which reimburses you for rebuilding at current construction costs rather than your home's depreciated value, costs roughly 10% more in premiums but can mean the difference between fully rebuilding and coming up tens of thousands of dollars short after a total loss.
The Hidden Insurance Costs of Westmont Homeownership
Your home insurance premium represents just one piece of your total property ownership costs in Westmont. Property taxes here run 2.08%—double the national median of 1.02%. On a median-priced home of $348,362, you're looking at roughly $7,246 annually in property taxes before your insurance bill even enters the picture. When you combine that with rising insurance costs and mortgage payments, the total monthly outlay can catch first-time buyers off guard.
Your credit score also affects what you pay for home insurance in Illinois. Insurers use credit-based insurance scores to help predict claim likelihood, and homeowners with excellent credit can see rates 20% to 40% lower than those with poor credit scores. If you're working on improving your credit, that effort pays dividends on your insurance bill, not just your mortgage rate.
Claims history matters too, both yours and your home's. When you're buying a property in Westmont, request a CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report that shows any insurance claims filed on the property over the past seven years. A house with multiple wind damage or water damage claims will cost more to insure, regardless of whether you filed those claims. Some carriers may even decline coverage on high-claim properties, limiting your options to more expensive insurers.
Smart Coverage Decisions for Westmont Homeowners
Given the severe weather reality in DuPage County, certain coverage enhancements make sense for Westmont homes. Extended replacement cost coverage—typically 125% to 150% of your dwelling limit—provides a buffer if construction costs spike after a major weather event affects multiple properties simultaneously. After widespread tornado damage, contractor availability decreases and material costs increase. That extra coverage cushion can be the difference between fully rebuilding and making compromises.
Water backup coverage deserves serious consideration too. While tornadoes grab headlines, severe thunderstorms frequently overwhelm storm sewers and drainage systems. If water backs up through your floor drains or sump pump failure floods your basement, standard policies provide zero coverage. Water backup endorsements typically cost $40 to $100 annually and cover $5,000 to $25,000 in damage—cheap insurance given that average water damage claims exceed $10,000.
Umbrella liability coverage provides another layer of protection beyond your home policy's standard $100,000 to $300,000 liability limits. For $150 to $300 annually, you can add $1 million in liability coverage that protects your assets if someone is seriously injured on your property or if you're found liable in a major lawsuit. Given Westmont's median household income of $83,622 and median home values approaching $350,000, protecting those assets from lawsuit risk makes financial sense.
How to Get the Coverage You Need at a Price You Can Afford
Shopping multiple carriers remains the single most effective way to reduce your home insurance costs. Rates for identical coverage on the same Westmont property can vary by 40% or more between insurers. While Allstate, State Farm, and Country Financial dominate the Illinois market, regional carriers and national companies like Progressive and Nationwide compete aggressively for business. Getting quotes from at least five insurers ensures you're seeing the competitive landscape.
Bundling your home and auto insurance with the same carrier typically saves 15% to 25% on both policies. If you're paying $3,000 annually for home insurance and $1,500 for auto, that bundle discount puts $600 to $900 back in your pocket each year. Ask every insurer you're quoting about their multi-policy discount structure—some carriers offer more aggressive bundling incentives than others.
Home improvements reduce risk and therefore premiums. Replacing a roof, updating electrical and plumbing systems, installing a monitored security system, or adding storm shutters all qualify for discounts with most carriers. Document these improvements and notify your insurer—these discounts aren't always applied automatically. A new roof alone can reduce premiums by 10% to 20%, potentially saving hundreds annually while also reducing your windstorm deductible with some insurers.
Protecting your Westmont home means understanding both the risks specific to DuPage County and the coverage options that address those risks. With tornado activity reaching record levels and insurance rates climbing in response, making informed decisions about your coverage limits, deductibles, and policy endorsements matters more than ever. Start by getting quotes from multiple insurers, review your coverage annually, and invest in home improvements that reduce both your risk and your premiums. Your home is likely your largest asset—making sure it's properly protected isn't optional.
