Calhoun County

Calhoun County Driving Statistics and Analysis

Approximately 11,176 private and commercial vehicles call the roads of Calhoun County their home. This number accounts for roughly 0.06% of all vehicles registered in the entire state of Florida.

Over 77% of adult drivers in Calhoun County commute to work by themselves, and almost half of those commutes last for more than half an hour.

With an estimated 20% of Florida drivers uninsured, about 2,000 vehicles in Calhoun County alone could be uninsured or underinsured.

Every 12th crash in Calhoun County is a statistically a hit and run.

Motor Vehicle Crashes in Calhoun County

Motor vehicle fatalities in Calhoun County statistically occur at a rate of 20.74 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: approximately 2 fatal crashes per year.

In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported over 195 crashes in Calhoun County: 8 fatal crashes, with a resultant 9 deaths (including 1 motorcyclist). Alcohol is determined as the main factor for the fatal crashes in Calhoun County in an estimated 25% of all driving fatalities.

Auto Insurance Analysis

1. Over 11,000 vehicles registered in Calhoun County need insurance coverage. Basic Liability and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverages are required for all vehicles on the road to protect others from the damage you may cause in an accident. Depending on the type of vehicle and its use, the additional required insurance may be: Private Auto, Commercial or Farm Auto, Comprehensive Coverage, Commercial or Farm Transportation, Inland Marine, Gap, Ride-sharing, Short term car insurance, and so on.
2. The majority of Calhoun County is rural, and although vehicles that utilize rural roads are less susceptible to vehicular collisions, wildlife-vehicle collisions are more likely to happen — this is especially true for Florida with its diverse ecosystem, where animals (such as deer, black bears, alligators, and various birds) frequently cross the road. According to a study reported by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), there has been a 86% increase in the black bear population in the Eastern Panhandle region of Florida from 2002 to 2015, making rural road crossings more likely. Although Personal Injury Protection coverage can cover your medical expenses and loss of income, having Comprehensive Auto insurance will help with the cost of repairing the car after hitting an animal.
3. The amount of vehicles on the roads keeps going up year after year, and with every 12th crash as a hit-and-run and with 1 out of 5 drivers uninsured, Uninsured and Underinsured coverage remains important for Calhoun County residents.

To discuss your auto insurance needs in Calhoun County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.

Calhoun County Housing Statistics and Analysis

Like the majority of Florida, where the homes are mostly (65%) owner-occupied, Calhoun County’s estimated 5,935 housing unit market is split between Homeowner-occupied and Renters (81% to 19%). In the region, Calhoun County leads the group, and with more than 75% of its residential real estate occupied by owners, Liberty County comes second. Bay County rents out almost 35%, while Jackson County is split 70% owner-occupied / 30% for rental units.
Nearly 13% of housing units in Calhoun County experience housing problems, overcrowding, poor plumbing, or issues with the kitchen. In 1 out of 4 homes, residents spend more than half of their income on housing.

Housing Insurance Analysis

1. Nearly 6,000 housing units in Calhoun County need insurance coverage. At a minimum, all owners of these properties should have Homeowners, Condo insurance, and/or Business property insurance (for apartment complexes), to protect the underlying financial investment from possible loss or damage.
2. With over 1,000 housing units in Calhoun County as rentals, landlords obtain Landlord Insurance, which covers the property itself and from the possible liability claims arising from the tenants and their guests.
3. Tenants buy Renters Insurance coverage to protect their belongings from possible damage or loss. Average renters’ insurance is inexpensive and usually covers the tenant's property from theft and damages caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Some landlords in Calhoun County may require Renters insurance as a condition of the lease.
   For consultation and advice about Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of insurance in Calhoun County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.
   A Florida P&C insurance agent:

• analyzes your needs and restrictions,
• reviews your current policy, to make sure that the coverages are reflective of the current needs and housing market- helps to update, if needed,
• researches the locally available plans that fit your needs and is usually able to find a better deal than a consumer can find on their own,
• checks for available savings and bundling discounts,
• provides you with the available options of coverage,
• explains how the differences between the options affect you once you start using each insurance product,
• assists you with the application process,
• does not affect your cost of insurance. (agent’s service is usually paid by the insurer)

Calhoun County Health Statistics and Analysis

In Calhoun County, over 18% of adult residents lack proper health insurance coverage, which is lower than the state average (≈19%), but not the highest among the peer neighboring counties. From lowest to highest: Gulf County (over 15%), Liberty County (over 16%), and Gadsden County, with the highest uninsured rate of over 19%. The highest uninsured adult rate in the state of Florida is in Hendry County, with 35% of residents uninsured, while the lowest rate is observed in St. Johns County at under 13% of the adult residents. In 2021, the average adult uninsured rate in Florida was around 19.2%.
More than 25% (or over 3,500 residents) in Calhoun County report problems with health.
Nearly 41% of the Calhoun County population do not participate in physical exercise activities.
Close to 37% of the Calhoun County residents are considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more), which is higher than the Florida average of over 27%. Among the neighboring counties, all areas are also below the state average: Bay County reports the lowest – at around 30% of the residents, while almost 44% of adults from Gadsden County may be considered obese.
In 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Calhoun County, offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Florida health marketplace.

Health Insurance Analysis

1. Health insurance is the most important insurance coverage, and over two thousand residents of Calhoun County lack this necessity.
2. Florida residents can purchase multiple types of health insurance and supplemental products. This makes it easier for them to obtain coverage that fits their specific needs (both medically and financially): Marketplace ACA health insurance, various types of Short Term insurance (up to 3 years in coverage), Hospital Indemnity, Accident & Health, etc.
3. If low-income residents could not afford to purchase health insurance, they are generally advised to apply for government subsidies, which can considerably lower the cost of insurance.
4. If you do not have pre-existing conditions, short-term health insurance may provide an alternative saving course. (* Some Florida multi-year short-term health insurance plans may cover certain pre-existing conditions after a year or more of coverage).
   Discuss your health insurance needs with a knowledgeable state-licensed Florida health insurance professional with access to a variety of health insurance options available to Calhoun County residents. Offerings of health insurance coverage and its pricing may differ between zip codes.
   A Florida health insurance agent: analyzes your health needs and restrictions, researches the locally available plans that fit your needs, provides you with the available options of coverage, and explains how the differences between the options affect you once you start using each insurance product. The agent researches the available discounts and bundling options, assists you with the application process, and at any time you need to make a change to the policy, or shop for replacement coverage.

Calhoun County End of Life Statistics and Analysis

Average life expectancy for the residents of Calhoun County is between 75 and 76 years old, which is lower than the state average in Florida (80). Among the neighboring counties, Bay County, Gadsden County, and Liberty County show longer life spans. At over 76 years old, it adds 1 year more on top of Calhoun County though it is below the state average. Gulf County residents average at over 75 years old and Jackson County is at 74 years old. While Collier County has the highest average life expectancy, the lowest life span in Florida is seen in Union County, at under 69 years old.
In 2022 there were approximately 2,600 seniors (65 and older) residing in Calhoun County.

Life Insurance Facts

1. In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
2. Life insurance premiums are based on the age of the insured when the policy begins, among other factors. The younger you are when you get it, the more you save in premiums over the duration of the policy.
3. Almost 26% of the adults in Calhoun County smoke, and this habit will likely affect the life insurance costs of these individuals by up to 4 times compared to non-smokers. A smoker’s life expectancy is deemed shorter, making them more of a risk than people who do not smoke.
4. Besides the death benefit, Cash Value life insurance can be used for Living Benefits by the insured while they are still alive, to borrow against it, or used as a source of tax-free retirement income.

Calhoun County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis

Funeral expenses in and around Calhoun County vary drastically. The average price of a funeral in Calhoun County is around $7,700, which is above the Florida state average (of $5,900) and the 2nd highest cost in the surrounding area. Among the neighbors of Calhoun County, Liberty County has the highest funeral cost of $9,400. Gadsden County, Jackson County, and Bay County have almost the same average funeral cost of $5,200, while Gulf County is at $6,800.
Across Florida, Collier County has the highest funeral cost average in the entire state, while Putnam County and DeSoto County have the lowest, both at $4,600.

Life Insurance Analysis

1. With 46% of Americans dying with savings of less than $10,000, seniors could be placing the unnecessary and frequently unbearable financial burden on family and friends. While grieving their loss, not only does the family need to plan the funeral, but quite frequently it also needs to pay for it too.
   (Note: If using life insurance as payment for the funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be “assignable”)
2. Besides the burial costs, the deceased frequently leave taxes and other debt behind for the family to take care of.
3. The most frequently used life insurance policies to cover “final expenses” up to $50,000 are: Term Life Insurance and Final Expense (also known as Burial insurance).
4. The most commonly used life insurance policies to leave money to the family are the variations of: Term Life Insurance and Cash Value insurance, such as Whole Life insurance, several types of Universal Life insurance, and Final Expense (FE).
   To find out more about life insurance options in Calhoun County, speak with a knowledgeable state-licensed and experienced life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison.

Calhoun County - Business

Commercial insurance needs vary between each of the over 250 business establishments in Calhoun County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for over 73% of all employment in the county in 2020 were:

• Government (30.3%)
• Professional and Business Services (24.9%)
• Manufacturing (18%)

Commercial Insurance Analysis

1. Professional services in the county can benefit from the professional liability insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions insurance (E&O insurance), that protects their clients in case the professional advice they give causes damages or losses.
2. Manufacturing businesses usually require insurance coverage for:

• Production facilities and property
• Employees’ health and safety
• Product liability coverage to protect the company itself if their product hurts the consumer, etc.
  To assess your business insurance needs in Calhoun County, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and premium finance options.