Jefferson County

Jefferson County Driving Statistics and Analysis

Approximately 11,991 private and commercial vehicles were registered by Jefferson County residents. Comprising around 0.07% of all vehicles registered in Florida, these vehicles travel Jefferson County’s roads on a daily basis.

Jefferson County has nearly 84% of its adult drivers commuting to and from work alone, and more than half of these drivers need more than 30 minutes to complete each trip.

With an estimated 20% of Florida drivers uninsured, roughly 2,400 vehicles in Jefferson County alone could be uninsured or underinsured.

Approximately every 6th crash in Jefferson County is a hit and run.

Motor Vehicle Crashes in Jefferson County

Motor vehicle fatalities in Jefferson County statistically occur at a rate of 22.24 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: approximately 3 fatal crashes per year.

In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported over 315 crashes in Jefferson County: 4 fatal crashes, with a resultant 5 deaths. Statistically, over 19% of all driving fatalities in Jefferson County involve alcohol.

Auto Insurance Analysis

1. Close to 12 thousand vehicles registered in Jefferson 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 Ranch Transportation, Inland Marine, Gap, Ride-sharing, Short term car insurance, and so on.
2. The longer daily commute of nearly 5 thousand Jefferson County residents raises the cost of auto insurance because it increases the amount of time a driver spends on the road, which in return increases the chances of getting into a possible car accident.
3. Jefferson County is a rural county, 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 an 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.
4. With every sixth of crashes as a hit-and-run and with 1 out of 5 drivers uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage is increasingly important for Jefferson County residents.

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

Jefferson County Housing Statistics and Analysis

Just like the majority of Florida, which has an owner-occupied rate of 65%, Jefferson County’s estimated 7,037 housing unit market is also dominated by residential properties inhabited by the people who own them. The market is split between homeowner-occupied homes at 77% and renters at 23%.
The neighboring counties largely consist of homes occupied by owners as well. Wakulla County leads with 82% of its housing units occupied by its homeowners. Taylor County and Madison County follow with a 77% and 74% owner-occupied rate. Leon County, on the other hand, has the lowest figure having 53% of homes as owner-occupied and 47% of its housing for rent — this means that almost every other housing property is inhabited by or available for tenants to move into.
Over 14% of housing units in Jefferson County experience housing problems, overcrowding, poor plumbing, or issues with the kitchen. In 1 out of 4 homes, residents spend more than 50% of their income on housing.

Housing Insurance Analysis

1. Over 7 thousand housing units in Jefferson 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 nearly 2 thousand housing units in Jefferson County as rentals, landlords obtain Landlord Insurance, which covers the property itself and the possible liability claims arising from the tenants and their guests.
3. Renters Insurance Monticello: 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 Jefferson County may require Renters insurance as a condition of the lease.
4. Jefferson County is located on the coast, not far from one of the main hurricane formation areas in the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricanes bring in primarily wind and flood damage. The highest probability of a hurricane occurrence in Jefferson County is between early June and the end of November. Every Florida resident should be aware of the procedures and safeguards set in place by the local County and State agencies. All homeowners, landlords, and renters in Jefferson County need to 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 Jefferson 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,
• 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)

Jefferson County Health Statistics and Analysis

In terms of uninsured adults, Jefferson County, and its neighboring counties have a lower rate than the state average of 19%. Nearly 16% of adult residents lack proper health insurance coverage in Jefferson County. This is followed by Wakulla County and Leon County with 15% and 14% uninsured adult residents, respectively. Madison County, on the other hand, has 18% of its adult residents uninsured - the highest in the region. In 2021, the average adult uninsured rate in Florida was around 19.2%.
More than 1 in 5 adults (or more than 3,200+ residents) in Jefferson County report problems with health.
A person may be considered obese if he or she has a BMI of 30 or more. On average, Jefferson County has an adult obesity rate of over 35%, which is 8 points higher than the average obesity rate of the entire state of Florida. One possible contributor to this is the physical inactivity of approximately 26% of Jefferson County’s residents. Its neighboring counties also surpassed Florida’s average adult obesity rate of 27%. Over 31% of adult Leon County residents are obese, while Madison County and Taylor County have an obesity rate of nearly 36%. Wakulla County, on the other hand, leads the group of counties, having approximately 40% of its adult residents tagged as obese.
As of 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Jefferson 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 2 thousand adult residents of Jefferson County lack this necessity.
2. Florida is among the states that allow the sale of multiple types of health insurance and supplemental products. This makes it easier for Floridians 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 health insurance is not being purchased due to unaffordability, low-income consumers are generally advised to apply for government subsidies, which can substantially lower the cost of insurance.
4. If you do not have pre-existing conditions, Short-term insurance may provide an alternative saving path. (* 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 Jefferson County residents.
   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.

Jefferson County End of Life Statistics and Analysis

The average life expectancy for the residents of Jefferson County is between 77 and 78 years old, which is a couple of years shorter than the Florida average of 80 years old. Its neighboring counties, Madison County and Taylor County, both have an average life expectancy of 76 years old - the lowest in the region. Leon County, on the other hand, has the highest life expectancy of 79 years old.
In 2022 there are over 3,600 seniors (65 and older) residing in Jefferson 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 course of the policy.
3. Over 22% of the adults in Jefferson County smoke, and this habit will 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 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.

Jefferson County Final Expenses Statistics and Analysis

The average price of a funeral in Jefferson County is around $6,900, which is more costly than the Florida state average of $5,900. Its neighboring counties also have higher average funeral costs compared to the statewide average. Taylor County and Leon County also have average funeral costs of around $6,900.
Statewide, Collier County tends to have the most expensive funerals, while Putnam County and DeSoto County have the lowest, both closer to $4,600.

Life Insurance Analysis

1. With 46% of Americans dying with savings of less than $10,000, over 1,600 Jefferson County senior residents could be placing an unnecessary and frequently unbearable financial burden on family and friends. Instead of grieving their loss, the family must concentrate on finding a way to pay. (Note: If using senior 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 debts behind for the family to take care of. Discuss your senior life insurance options with licensed Florida professionals.
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). Speak with an agent about senior life insurance options.
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, Final Expense (FE) and multiple Universal Life insurance policies.
   To find out more about life insurance options in Jefferson County, speak with a knowledgeable state-licensed and experienced life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison.

Jefferson County - Business

Commercial insurance needs vary between each of the estimated 360+ business establishments in Jefferson County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for approximately 55% of all employment in the county in 2020 were:

• Trade, Transportation and Utilities (22%)
• Government (20.3%)
• Education & Health Services (12.7%)

Commercial Insurance Analysis

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.
2. Health care professionals can benefit from Medical malpractice coverage, which protects both the patients and the insured medical professionals.
   To assess your business insurance needs in Jefferson County, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and premium finance options.