Dixie County

Dixie County Driving Statistics and Analysis

Dixie County highways are home to approximately 14,133 commercial and personal automobiles. This figure represents around 0.08% of all registered vehicles in Florida.

Over 74% of drivers in Dixie County commute to and from work by themselves, and more than a quarter (28%) of those travels last for more than half an hour.

In Florida, 1 in 5 drivers lack insurance coverage, which implies that over 2,800 vehicles in Dixie County alone might be underinsured or uninsured.

Nearly 1 in 9 vehicular accidents in Dixie County is reported as a hit-and-run.

Motor Vehicle Crashes in Dixie County

Dixie County’s automobile fatalities statistically occur at a rate of 30.55 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: Roughly four fatal crashes yearly.

In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported 206 crashes in Dixie County: 5 fatal crashes resulting in 5 deaths (including one motorcyclist). Alcohol is determined as the main factor for the fatal crashes in Dixie County, over half (53%) of all driving fatalities, which is the highest in the entire state of Florida.

Auto Insurance Analysis

1. Over 14 thousand vehicles registered in Dixie County require some type of insurance coverage. Basic Liability and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) are state-mandated coverages for all vehicles in the state of Florida for protection against damages you may cause to others during an accident. The additional required insurance will depend on the vehicle type and usage. Some of the available options are Collision Coverage, Farm or Commercial Auto, Comprehensive Coverage, Gap Coverage, Ride-sharing Coverage, etc.
2. Over 7 thousand drivers commuting daily is one of the reasons why auto premium costs in Dixie County tend to be higher, compared with less densely populated counties. Everyone driving a separate vehicle means that there are more vehicles on the road, which increases the likelihood of a collision. Risk goes up, so do the premium prices.
3. The roads of Dixie County are mostly rural. Although vehicles that use rural roads have a lesser chance of getting into a vehicular collision, 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 was an increase in the black bear population in the Big Bend 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.
4. With 11% of crashes in Dixie County reported as a hit-and-run, and with 20% of drivers being uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage becomes crucially important.

To learn more about your auto insurance and to find affordable car insurance in Dixie County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.

Dixie County Housing Statistics and Analysis

Dixie County has an estimated 9,676 housing properties, in which the houses are inhabited mostly by homeowners (79%) compared to renters (21%). Looking at Dixie County’s neighbors, the same distribution can be observed: Lafayette County leads the group with a homeowner-occupied rate of around 84% versus 16% for renters, while Taylor County tops the rate of rental housing, at 23%. In Florida, the average rate for houses inhabited by their owners is 65%.
Dixie County has nearly 14% of its housing units that experiences problems like overcrowding, plumbing issues, or kitchen problems. In 25% of homes, residents allocate more than half of their salary to housing alone. Dixie County reports the lowest rate throughout Florida in terms of the housing cost burden, at 7%.

Housing Insurance Analysis

1. Almost 10 thousand housing units in Dixie County need insurance coverage. All of these owners should have at least Homeowners, Condo Insurance, and/or Business Property Insurance (for apartment complexes) to safeguard the underlying financial investment from the possibility of damages or total loss.
2. Landlords purchase Landlord Insurance to cover the property itself from possible liability claims that can come from the tenants.
3. Tenants purchase Renters Insurance coverage to protect their personal property from possible damage or loss. The standard renter's insurance is usually inexpensive and can cover the tenant’s property from theft and damages caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Some of the landlords in Dixie County require renters insurance as part of the condition of the lease.
4. Dixie County is located on the coast, not far from one of the main hurricane formation areas in the Atlantic Ocean. Wind and flood damages are usually brought by hurricanes. The highest probability of a hurricane occurrence in Dixie County is between early June and the end of November. Every Florida resident should be informed of the procedures and precautions put in place by local County and State government institutions. All homeowners, landlords, and renters in Dixie County should maintain appropriate insurance coverage to protect their property against possible loss and damage from wind and water damage.
   For consultation and advice about Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of insurance in Dixie County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.
   A Florida P&C insurance agent:

• Examines your needs and limitations
• Examines your current policy to ensure that the coverages reflect the housing market's current requirements and help update if needed
• Reviews the local plans that meet your requirements and is generally able to discover a better offer than a customer might get on their own
• Checks for available savings and bundling discount
• Lays out available options of coverage
• Describes the effect of the different options once the insurance policy becomes active
• Helps you with the process of application
• Does not influence your cost of insurance (Agent’s service is usually paid by the insurer)

Dixie County Health Statistics and Analysis

Nearly 19% of Dixie County adults do not have adequate health insurance coverage, which is similar to the Florida average of 19.2%. Dixie County’s uninsured adult percentage is ranked 4th-highest among its neighbors, with Lafayette County having the highest uninsured adult rate of roughly 23%, while the lowest is observed in Taylor County at just over 17%. In the entire state of Florida, the highest uninsured adult rate is seen in Hendry County, with 35%, while St. Johns County has the lowest, at just under 13%.
Dixie County residents of roughly 27% experience health problems. This figure accounts for 4,717 people that are in poor health.
Furthermore, over 43% of its resident do not participate in any physical exercise activities. In addition, Dixie County leads the entire state of Florida in terms of the average number of mentally unhealthy days per month, at 5.73. These statistics may be one of the contributing factors to why 33% of its residents are considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more). Among Dixie County’s neighbors, Gilchrist County has the highest obesity rate, with almost 38%.
In 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Dixie County offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Florida health marketplace.

Health Insurance Analysis

1. Health insurance is the most crucial type of insurance coverage, and nearly 3 thousand residents of Dixie County do not have this necessity.
2. Florida allows the purchase of multiple types of health insurance and supplemental products. This is very convenient for Floridians to obtain coverage that fits their specific needs (both medically and financially). Some of the insurance options are Group or Individual Marketplace ACA Health Insurance, Various types of Short-term Insurance (up to 3 years in coverage), Hospital Indemnity, Accident & Health, etc.
3. Low-income health insurance: Due to the high cost of health insurance, not everyone can afford it. As such, the government generally advises low-income consumers to apply for its subsidies to lower the cost of insurance significantly.
4. Short-term Insurance may offer an alternative option if you do not have a pre-existing condition. (*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 plans available to Dixie County residents. Offerings of health insurance coverage and its pricing may differ between zip codes.
   A Florida health insurance agent: analyzes your 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 assists you with the application process and at any time you need to make a change to the policy, or shop for replacement coverage.

Dixie County End of Life Statistics and Analysis

Dixie County residents have an average life span of 75.3 years, which is about five years lower than the Florida average of 80.2 years and is the lowest among its immediate neighbors. Compared to Dixie County’s neighbors, the longest average life expectancy is in Lafayette County, with a 77-year average, followed by Gilchrist County at 76.9 years. In the entire state of Florida, the longest expected life span is in Collier County, with an average of 86 years, while Union County records the shortest at only 69 years.
In 2022 there were approximately 4,000+ seniors (65 and older) resided in Dixie County.

Life Insurance Facts

1. In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
2. Age is considered a significant factor that affects the cost of life insurance policies, among others. The best time to purchase it is at an early young age, as it will allow you to save money in premiums over the course of the policy.
3. Almost 31% of the Dixie County adults are smokers. This percentage is the highest across Florida. This habit can definitely increase the life insurance premiums of these adults who may have to pay by up to 4 times compared to non-smokers. A smoker's life is linked to life-threatening diseases, making them more of a risk than non-smokers.
4. Permanent Life Insurance also has a cash value component, which can be used while the insured is still alive: to borrow against, for emergency expenses, or as a tax-free retirement income.

Dixie County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis

Dixie County’s average funeral cost is around $6,050, which is higher than the Florida State average of $5,900. Among Dixie County’s neighbors, Taylor County has a higher average funeral cost of $6,900, while Levy County’s $5,900 funeral cost average is the most affordable in the region. These costs already include burial vault, casket, and embalming.
Statewide, Collier County tends to have the most expensive funerals at about $9,600, while Putnam County and DeSoto County have the lowest, both closer to $4,600.

Life Insurance Analysis

1. Approximately 46% of Americans pass away with less than $10,000 in savings, which means senior residents of Dixie County could be placing an unfortunate burden financially on their family and friends. Instead of mourning their loss, they’ll need to find ways to settle funeral balances. (Note: If using life insurance as payment for the funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be “assignable”)
2. Aside from the funeral costs, the deceased often leaves unpaid taxes and other debts that the family needs to take care of. Discuss your senior life insurance options with licensed Florida professionals.
3. The most utilized life insurance policies that cover final expenses” for up to $50,000 are Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance (FE).
4. The most common life insurance policies that leave money to the family are the variations of Term Life Insurance and Cash Value Insurance, such as Whole Life Insurance, Indexed Universal Life (IUL) Insurance, and Final Expense (FE).
   To find out more about life insurance options and to get life insurance quotes in Dixie County, speak with a knowledgeable state-licensed and experienced life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison.

Dixie County - Business

Dixie County has nearly 260 business establishments that have different commercial insurance needs. The three largest job-creating sectors that account for nearly 68% of all employment in the county in 2020 were:

• Government (35.9%)
• Manufacturing (18.3%)
• Trade, Transportation and Utilities (13.3%)

Commercial Insurance Analysis

1. Manufacturing facilities usually require insurance coverage for:

• Production areas and the property stored there,
• Employees’ health and safety
• Product liability coverage protects the company itself in case the product hurts someone and the injured party files a claim or a suit against the manufacturer.

1. Retail businesses typically insure all business-owned or leased property and the employees. Besides that, every customer-facing operation typically requires liability insurance, in case the visitor gets hurt on the premises or by using the product. If the business stores and transports goods, it needs inventory insurance and inland marine coverage.
   Evaluate your business insurance needs and get a commercial insurance quote in Dixie County by speaking with a knowledgeable commercial insurance agent licensed in Florida who has access to multiple insurers and premium finance options. Always try to compare at least 2 or 3 options before deciding on the coverage.