Putnam County

Putnam County Driving Statistics and Analysis

An estimated 61,563 private and commercial vehicles call the roads of Putnam County their home. This figure accounts for approximately 0.34% of all vehicles registered in the entire state of Florida.

Over 81% of adult drivers in Putnam County commute to work by themself, and less than half of those commutes last for over 30 minutes.

With an estimated 20% of Florida drivers uninsured, about 12,000 vehicles in Putnam County alone could be uninsured or underinsured.

Nearly every fifth crash in Putnam County is a hit and run.

Motor Vehicle Crashes in Putnam County

Motor vehicle fatalities in Putnam County statistically occur at a rate of 39.71 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: more than 24 fatal crashes per year.

In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported about 1,230 crashes in Putnam County: 27 fatal crashes, with a resultant 28 deaths (including 4 motorcyclists). In Putnam County, alcohol is determined as the main factor for the fatal crashes in approximately 43% of all driving fatalities.

Auto Insurance Analysis

1. Nearly 62 thousand vehicles registered in Putnam 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, Farm Auto, Comprehensive Coverage, Farm Transportation, Inland Marine, Gap, Ride-sharing, Temporary car insurance, and so on.
2. Longer daily commute of over 19,000 Putnam County residents raises the cost of auto insurance because it increases the driver’s time spent on the road, which in return increases the chances of getting into a possible car accident.
3. More than half (56%) of Putnam 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 17% increase in the black bear population in central 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 a fifth of crashes as a hit-and-run and with 1 out of 5 drivers uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage remains important for Putnam County residents.

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

Putnam County Housing Statistics and Analysis

Majority (65%) of homes in Florida are owner-occupied. Similarly, Putnam County’s estimated 37,929 housing unit market is largely composed of Homeowner-occupied units (71%) while others are Rentals (29%).
Among its neighbors, St. Johns County’s housing units are mostly homeowner-occupied at over 80% while Alachua County has the least number of homeowner-occupied units at 55% which is lower than the state’s average — this means that every other home in Alachua County is a rental unit.
Across Florida, Sumter County has the most homes occupied by owners (nearly 90%) while Miami-Dade County offers the highest percentage of its real estate as rentals (49%).
Nearly 19% of housing units in Putnam County experience housing problems, overcrowding, substandard plumbing, or kitchen-related issues. In 1 out of 4 homes, residents spend more than 50% of their income on housing.

Housing Insurance Analysis

1. An estimated 38 thousand housing units in Putnam County need insurance coverage. All owners of these properties should have at least 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 11 thousand housing units in Putnam 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. Renters insurance Palatka: To protect their belongings from damage or loss, tenants buy Renters Insurance coverage. On average, it is inexpensive and it usually covers the tenant's property from theft and damages caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Some landlords in Putnam 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 Putnam 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)

Putnam County Health Statistics and Analysis

In Putnam County, over 22% of adult residents lack proper health insurance coverage, which is higher than the state average (≈19%), and the highest among its surrounding counties. Next to Putnam County, Marion County has the second-highest uninsured rate of over 21% while St. Johns County has the lowest uninsured rate of under 13% among the neighboring counties. In fact, the latter also has the lowest uninsured rate in the state of Florida. Meanwhile, the highest uninsured adult rate in Florida is in Hendry County, with 35% of residents.
More than 1 in 4 adults (or nearly 20,000 residents) in Putnam County report problems with health.
Nearly 38% of the Putnam County population do not participate in physical exercise activities.
Close to 39% of the Putnam 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, most areas are above the state average with Putnam County having the highest adult obesity rate, followed by Bradford County at over 37%. St Johns County reported the lowest rate (over 23%) of adults considered obese.
As of 2022, there are 14 health insurers in Putnam 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, however, more than 12 thousand residents of Putnam County lack this necessity.
2. Florida is among the states that allows 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. Low-income health insurance: If health insurance is considered a luxury, 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 cost-efficient 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 state-licensed Florida health insurance professional with access to a variety of health insurance plans available to Putnam 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.

Putnam County End of Life Statistics and Analysis

Average life expectancy for the residents of Putnam County is between 73 and 74 years old, which is lower than the state average in Florida (80 years old). Among the neighboring counties, Putnam County has the shortest average life expectancy while St. Johns County shows longer life spans averaging 82 years old, which adds around 8 years on top of Putnam County and 2 years over the state average.
In the state of Florida, Collier County has the highest average life expectancy at over 86 years old, while the lowest life span is seen in Union County at under 69 years old.
In 2022, there were nearly 18,000 seniors (65 and older) residing in Putnam County.

Life Insurance Facts

1. In 2022, 47% of Americans do not own any type of active life insurance policy.
2. Life insurance premiums factor in the age of the insured when the policy begins, among other things. The younger you get life insurance, the more you save in premiums over the course of the policy.
3. More than 27% of the adults in Putnam County smoke, and this habit will definitely increase the life insurance premiums of more than 16,000 adults by up to 4 times compared to non-smokers. A smoker’s life expectancy is deemed shorter, making them more of a risk than non-smokers.

Putnam County Final Expenses Statistics and Analysis

Funeral expenses in and around Putnam County vary drastically. Putnam County’s average price of a funeral ($4,600) is the lowest in its surrounding area and in the state of Florida. Among the neighboring counties, Clay County has the highest average funeral cost of almost $7,100, followed by Marion County at over $6,500.
In Florida, Collier County has the most expensive burial expenses at $9,600. The average funeral cost statewide is around $5,900.

Life Insurance Analysis

1. With 46% of Americans dying with savings of less than $10,000, over 8,000 Putnam County senior residents could be placing the 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. Apart from the burial costs, the family has to pay for taxes and other debts incurred by the deceased. Discuss your senior life insurance options with licensed Florida professionals.
3. Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance are the most frequently used life policies to cover “final expenses” up to $50,000.
4. The usual life insurance policies to leave money to the family are 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 Putnam County, speak with a knowledgeable state-licensed and experienced life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison.

Putnam County - Business

Commercial insurance needs vary among each of the nearly 1,500 business establishments in Putnam County. In 2020, the three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for over 59% of all employment in the county were:

• Government (22.3%)
• Manufacturing (22%)
• Professional and Business Services (15%)

Commercial Insurance Analysis

1. 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.

1. Professional services and consulting businesses 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.
   To assess your business insurance needs in Putnam County and to get a commercial insurance quote, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and premium finance options. Always try to compare at least 2 or 3 options before deciding on the coverage.