Kingstone Insurance vs NYCM Insurance

Verdict

Kingstone Insurance and NYCM Insurance both concentrate on New York homeowners, and both sell only through independent agents and brokers, so one agent can often quote them side by side. Their business models differ. NYCM is a policyholder-owned mutual in Edmeston, founded in 1899, that writes only in New York and has announced no pause or nonrenewal program. It ranked #62 nationally by 2025 homeowners premiums ($347.3 million, 0.18%, per NAIC data) and 6th in New York with 3.85%. Kingstone is a Kingston stock company (Nasdaq: KINS), founded as a fire mutual in 1886 and demutualized in 2009. It ranked #88 ($216.7 million, 0.11%) and says it was the 11th-largest New York homeowners writer in 2025.

The rating story is the second split. NYCM carries an AM Best rating of A (Excellent), cut from A+ in March 2018, and its site still listed A in 2026. Kingstone has no AM Best rating; Demotech affirmed it at A (Exceptional) on September 14, 2026. A lender that requires AM Best, or a shopper who compares grades across agencies, will treat the two differently, and Demotech ratings and Florida's insurers explains how Demotech works.

The appetite differs as well. Kingstone says it specializes in coastal homes, high-value homes and seasonal and second homes that larger carriers have backed away from. In 2025 it bought renewal rights to about $70 million of AmGUARD's downstate book, then began writing California homeowners on a surplus lines basis in June 2026 and plans Connecticut through a new subsidiary. It stopped writing new business outside New York in 2023 and left New Jersey. NYCM offers tiered forms, including Premier dwelling extensions of 125% to 150% of Coverage A. Neither profile gives a roof settlement basis or a J.D. Power home ranking.

Choose Kingstone if

• You own a coastal, seasonal, second or high-value home in New York that a larger carrier declined or priced out.
• You want to set Coverage B, C and D limits independently, plus service line, equipment breakdown, inland flood, cyber or home-sharing options.
• You own a one- to four-family rental, or hold the home in a family trust or LLC, and need Kingstone's landlord policy.
• You accept a Demotech A (Exceptional) rather than an AM Best rating, and you are not planning to buy the California surplus lines product expecting guaranty fund protection.

Choose NYCM Insurance if

• You want a long-established mutual with an AM Best rating (A, Excellent) and a stable single-state book.
• You want tiered forms where Premier adds 125% dwelling replacement, contents at replacement cost and $5,000 of water backup, with the high-value form going to 150% and $10,000.
• You want a long discount list, including claim-free, retirement, work-from-home, renovation and green home credits.
• You want one company for home and car through more than 1,000 independent agents, with an app and 24/7 claims line.

Key differences

Before you decide

Ask the same agent for both quotes with identical Coverage A, deductibles and endorsements, including water backup, and ask how the wind or hurricane deductible applies at your address. Confirm each is writing new business there and which form or program you are being quoted. Home insurance in New York and the Northeast describes the state market, Financial strength ratings: AM Best, S&P, Moody's and Demotech covers Demotech versus AM Best, and admitted vs surplus lines home insurers: what you give up matters if you are offered a surplus lines policy. how to compare homeowners insurance quotes helps you line them up.