By Jonathan Merwin, Founder and CEO, Licensed Insurance Advisor. Updated October 29, 2026.
Who insures waterfront homes on Squam Lake? Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is an independent agency that compares 40+ carriers for Squam Lake camps, island homes and larger year-round houses in Holderness, Sandwich, Center Harbor and Moultonborough. For larger homes we quote Hanover, Andover, National General and Openly, and the largest go to Cincinnati or Chubb. Call (603) 431-4020.
Key facts
- Squam Lake covers about 6,791 acres and is the second-largest lake entirely within New Hampshire; it is where On Golden Pond was filmed (Lakes Region Tourism, Squam Lake).
- Big Squam has about 61 miles of shoreline and 67 islands, and Little Squam adds about 408 acres (The Laker on the Squam Lakes Association).
- The Squam watershed covers about 36,644 acres, and about 26% of it is permanently protected (Squam Lakes Watershed Plan).
- Building within 250 feet of the lake falls under the state’s protected shoreland rules (NHDES Protected Shoreland FAQ).
- We don’t charge any fees.
What makes a Squam home different to insure
Squam is quieter and less built-up than Winnipesaukee, and that shapes the insurance. Many homes are old family camps passed down for generations, with stone fireplaces, screened porches and hand-built details. Others are large newer houses on the hills above the lake. A lot of them share the same issues: long dirt roads or boat-only access, volunteer fire departments, private wells and months of empty winter.
Island and boat-access homes
Fire response by boat or ice. Winter monitoring is essential.
Old family camps
Hand-built details cost more to rebuild than their size suggests.
Docks and boathouses
Often worth more than the default limit. Ice damage wording matters.
Hillside homes
Long drives, wells and propane. Fire protection drives underwriting.
Island access, fire response and winter
Squam has dozens of islands, and many shore homes are reached only by long private roads. Carriers ask how far the house is from the fire station, whether a truck can get up the drive, whether there is a dry hydrant or pond nearby, and how an island home would be reached in an emergency. In winter they ask who checks the house and how often. Monitored smoke and low-temperature alarms, leak sensors with an automatic shutoff, and a caretaker are the most useful things you can add before applying.
Rebuilding on the shore
Most building within 250 feet of the lake needs a shoreland permit, the first 50 feet is a waterfront buffer, and primary structures sit behind a 50-foot building line (NHDES Protected Shoreland FAQ). Docks need separate state approval (NHDES waterfront development permits). An old camp that sits close to the water may not be rebuilt in the same spot, and on an island every load of materials comes by barge. We look for extended replacement cost, ordinance or law coverage and additional living expense that can carry a long rebuild.
Carriers we compare for Squam homes
For a Squam camp, the right carrier is often the one most comfortable with the access and the age of the building. For a large newer house, it is the one that handles the rebuild figure best. Hanover writes homes up to $2 million, Andover covers New Hampshire homes up to $1.5 million, and National General and Openly add capacity, with Openly writing up to $5 million in New Hampshire. Cincinnati and Chubb take the largest homes. For high water, we compare NFIP flood with private flood from Neptune, Beyond Floods, Flow Flood, Aon Edge, CatCoverage and The Flood Insurance Agency.
Town by town around Squam
Holderness holds most of the western shore and the channel to Little Squam; Sandwich has the quiet northern shore; Center Harbor and Moultonborough share the eastern side. We have local pages for Holderness, Sandwich and Moultonborough. For larger homes in Holderness, see Holderness high-value home insurance, and for the northern shore, see Sandwich high-value home insurance.
Get a quote for your Squam Lake home
Tell us whether the home has road access, how it is heated and watched in winter, and what is on the waterfront. About 90% of our quotes go out within 24 hours, and we don’t charge any fees.
Squam Lake home insurance FAQs
Who insures waterfront homes on Squam Lake?
Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance compares 40+ carriers for Squam homes in Holderness, Sandwich, Center Harbor and Moultonborough. For larger homes we look at Hanover (up to $2 million), Andover (New Hampshire homes up to $1.5 million), National General and Openly (up to $5 million in New Hampshire). The largest go to Cincinnati or Chubb.
Can a Squam island home be insured?
Often, yes. Squam has dozens of islands, and island homes are reached by boat or over the ice. Carriers ask how fire and rescue would reach the house, how it is heated, and how it is checked in winter. Monitored alarms, low-temperature sensors and a caretaker make a big difference.
My Squam house is an old family camp. How do I set the dwelling limit?
Base it on what it would cost to rebuild today, including boat access for materials and crews, not on the assessment. Old camps with stone fireplaces, wide porches and hand-built details can cost more to rebuild than their size suggests. High-value carriers often send an appraiser.
Are docks and boathouses covered?
They usually fall under other structures, with a limit tied to the dwelling limit. A boathouse or long dock can be worth more than that, so we raise the limit or list it separately, and we check how each carrier treats ice damage.
Does homeowners insurance cover high lake water?
No. Rising lake water is flood, which homeowners policies exclude. We can quote NFIP flood and private flood from Neptune, Beyond Floods, Flow Flood, Aon Edge, CatCoverage and The Flood Insurance Agency.
Do you have an office near Squam Lake?
No. We serve Squam owners by phone, email and video from our Portsmouth office. Many of our lake clients live on the Seacoast or in Massachusetts most of the year.
About Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance
Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is a family-owned independent agency founded in Portsmouth in 2005 and licensed in 10 states. We compare 40+ carriers, hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and are New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials (see our client feedback). Our team brings 200+ years of combined experience. We don’t charge any fees.
More for lake owners: Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront home insurance, second home insurance, umbrella insurance and the statewide New Hampshire high-value home insurance guide. We serve Squam owners by phone, email and video from our Portsmouth office.
Other Lakes Region towns: high-value home insurance for Alton, Gilford, Meredith, Newfound Lake, Laconia and Lake Winnisquam. See every lake and town on our Lakes Region high-value home insurance overview.
About the author
Jonathan Merwin is the Founder and CEO of Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance and a licensed insurance agent. He started the agency in Portsmouth in 2005 and works with New Hampshire owners of larger and older homes on lake, island and seasonal homes. Read his full bio or see how we choose carriers.