North Hampton, NH Home Insurance: Little Boar’s Head, Route 1A and Coastal Homes

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

Home · Flood · Auto · Umbrella · New Hampshire

North Hampton homes range from oceanfront houses along Route 1A and in Little Boar’s Head to homes on larger inland lots near the Winnicut River. Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is an independent agency in Portsmouth, and we shop each North Hampton home across 40+ carriers. We are the most-reviewed independent insurance agency in New Hampshire, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials across our two offices. Start with our New Hampshire homeowners insurance overview, or read on.

North Hampton at a glance

The town’s 2018 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update says North Hampton was incorporated in 1742, covers 14.4 square miles of forest, wetlands, coastal marsh and rocky shore, and had an estimated population of 4,514 in 2016. Surface water is dominated by the Winnicut River watershed draining northwest and by the Little River and coastal drainage draining east, with a pond impounded at the Mill Road Dam on the Little River and several tidally influenced creeks and ponds along the coast. The Little Boar’s Head Village District, which has its own zoning authority, joined the National Flood Insurance Program as a separate entity in 2017.

Where you live in North Hampton changes the policy

• Route 1A and the oceanfront. The hazard plan says roads that run parallel to the coast, such as Route 1A through North Hampton and Little Boar’s Head, are prone to splash-over when storms combine with high tide, and that roads crossing tidal marshes can flood the same way, sometimes made worse by undersized culverts. The town’s Coastal Hazards and Adaptation master plan chapter (adopted 2022) names low areas along Route 1A near North Hampton State Beach and Bass Beach as places directly affected by projected sea-level rise.
• Little Boar’s Head. The 2018 plan cites a 2015 regional study that found several areas near the coast and saltmarsh, particularly in the Little Boar’s Head Village District, susceptible to storm surge and sea-level rise. Larger and older oceanfront homes here need rebuild estimates based on restoration-quality work.
• The Little River and inland wetlands. The hazard plan says the 100-year flood zones lie mainly along the banks of the Little River and its tributaries and near wetlands. The committee identified several areas of chronic recurring flooding.
• Septic and wells everywhere. The coastal chapter says North Hampton relies entirely on on-site septic systems, and that rising groundwater can put septic systems at risk of failure. The eastern part of town and all of Little Boar’s Head are served by Aquarion wells. Ask us how your policy treats sudden failures versus wear and tear.

Flood coverage in North Hampton

The 2018 plan reports 58 NFIP policies in force in North Hampton as of November 2017, with 36 paid losses totaling $470,421, and two repetitive loss residential properties. A homeowners policy will not pay for storm surge, splash-over or rising water. Lenders require flood insurance for federally backed mortgages in a special flood hazard area, and homes outside the line can still flood. Check your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

• NFIP through Selective. We write National Flood Insurance Program policies through Selective, a Write Your Own carrier. The NFIP covers up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents. New policies generally have a 30-day waiting period (see FloodSmart), so buy before storm season, not during it.
• Private flood. When a home costs more than the NFIP building limit to rebuild, or you want coverage the NFIP leaves out, we compare Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge. Each one decides address by address.
• Elevation certificates. If you have one, send it. If the house has been raised or has flood vents, it can make a real difference in how flood carriers rate it.

More on coastal flood in New Hampshire is in our New Hampshire flood insurance guide. Water backup (sewer, drain or sump pump failure) is an add-on to homeowners; flood is separate. If your basement is finished, ask about both. See basement flooding coverage and our flood insurance overview.

Wind and coastal storms

Oceanfront and near-shore homes take the brunt of nor’easters. The coastal chapter includes a photo of a fish house that floated onto Route 1A during a coastal storm. Wind damage is generally a homeowners claim; storm surge is flood. Some carriers apply separate wind or named storm deductibles to coastal homes, so we show you each deductible in dollars before you choose. See coastal home insurance in New Hampshire.

Winter, trees and wind in North Hampton

New Hampshire winters bring ice dams, frozen pipes and heavy snow loads, and storms bring down trees and limbs. These are generally homeowners claims, subject to your deductible and policy terms. A properly sized wind and all-perils deductible, and a roof in good shape, do more for most homeowners than any single add-on. Water damage from a burst pipe is usually covered when the home is heated and occupied; long vacancies can change that, so tell us if the house will sit empty.

Larger homes

Under about $2 million, most of our 40+ carriers are in play. In New Hampshire, Andover generally writes up to about $1.5 million, or closer to $1 million for homes far from a hydrant or fire station. Around $2 million to $3 million, Hanover is often a fit; above $3 million, Cincinnati; and at $5 million and up, Chubb. Each carrier underwrites the specific house, so these are starting points, not promises.

For larger homes, see high-value home insurance in New Hampshire.

Renters and tenants in North Hampton

If you rent in North Hampton, your landlord’s policy covers the building, not your belongings or your liability. A renters policy covers both, plus extra living costs after a covered loss. We shop renters coverage across our carriers, and Progressive Home is one of them; we use Progressive Home for renters policies only. Landlords who own two- to four-family buildings can see landlord insurance.

Auto, umbrella and the rest of the household

Most North Hampton households also need auto insurance, and many add a personal umbrella. We quote them with the home so the liability limits line up, and we put rentals, second homes, boats and valuables under the same review. One agent, one renewal conversation.

Common coverage gaps we see in North Hampton

• A dwelling limit based on the purchase price or assessed value instead of the cost to rebuild
• No water backup coverage on a house with a finished basement
• Personal property limits that have not kept up with what the household actually owns
• Liability limits on the home and auto that do not line up with an umbrella, or no umbrella at all
• No ordinance or law coverage on an older home that would need code upgrades after a loss
• No flood policy on a home along Route 1A or in Little Boar’s Head
• An oceanfront home insured to market value instead of full rebuild cost

Most of these are straightforward to fix once someone reads the declarations pages side by side, and that is the first thing we do in a review.

Before storm season in North Hampton

• Know your hurricane or named storm deductible in dollars, not just as a percentage
• Photograph or video each room so a contents claim is easier to document
• Keep your declarations pages, flood policy and any elevation certificate somewhere you can reach from your phone
• If you are thinking about flood coverage, buy it well ahead of a storm because of the waiting period
• Know your septic system’s age and the date it was last pumped

Buying a home in North Hampton

Start the insurance conversation before you are under contract, not the week of closing. Send us the listing and the inspection report when you have it. The report answers most of what carriers ask: roof age, electrical panel, heating, plumbing and any water in the basement. Near the water, ask for any elevation certificate and the seller’s flood policy, and confirm whether the home is in the Little Boar’s Head Village District. We line up the homeowners binder, and a flood binder if you need one, so both are ready for your lender.

How a North Hampton home quote works

• Tell us about the house: address, year built, square footage, roof age and updates to wiring, plumbing and heating.
• Send your current declarations page so we can compare like for like and point out limits that look short.
• We shop the carriers that fit and lay the options out side by side, with the differences in coverage, deductibles and storm terms, not just price.
• You choose, and we handle the switch, including your mortgage company and the effective date, so there is no gap.

Serving North Hampton from Portsmouth

Our office is at 601 Islington St, Unit 206, Portsmouth, NH 03801, and we also work by phone, email and online. Call (603) 431-4020. Nearby, see our Rye, Hampton and Exeter pages, plus our guide to homeowners insurance in Hampton, NH.

Sources

• Town of North Hampton, Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2018
• Town of North Hampton, Coastal Hazards and Adaptation Master Plan Chapter, adopted May 17, 2022
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center
• FloodSmart, buying a flood policy

Get a quote

Tell us about the property and we will compare carriers and follow up with options. Prefer to talk? Call (603) 431-4020.

Frequently asked questions

Do you insure homes in North Hampton, NH?

Yes. We insure North Hampton homes from our Portsmouth office at 601 Islington St, and by phone, email and online. Call (603) 431-4020.

Does North Hampton flood?

Yes, in places. The town’s hazard plan says Route 1A through North Hampton and Little Boar’s Head is prone to splash-over in storms at high tide, and that the 100-year flood zones lie mainly along the Little River and its tributaries. Check your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

Does homeowners insurance cover a flooded basement?

Not from flood. Water backup from sewers, drains or a sump pump is an add-on, and rising or surface water needs a flood policy.

Who writes your NFIP flood policies?

We write NFIP policies through Selective, and we compare private flood from Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge.

Do you charge fees?

No. We do not charge any fees on any policy we write, including home, condo, renters, auto, flood and umbrella. For landlord or commercial policies, ask us how we handle dwelling and commercial accounts.