Wakulla County
Wakulla County Driving Statistics and Analysis
An estimated 29,327 private and commercial vehicles call the roads of Wakulla County their home. This number accounts for approximately 0.16% of all vehicles registered in the entire state of Florida.
Over 84% of adult drivers in Wakulla County commute to work by themselves, and more than half of those commutes last for over 30 minutes.
With an estimated 20% of Florida drivers uninsured, about 5,900 vehicles in Wakulla County alone could be uninsured or underinsured.
Nearly every fifth crash in Wakulla County is a hit and run.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Wakulla County
Motor vehicle fatalities in Wakulla County statistically occur at a rate of 24.98 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: approximately 7 fatal crashes per year.
In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported over 436 crashes in Wakulla County: 7 fatal crashes, with a resultant 7 deaths. Alcohol is determined as the main factor for the fatal crashes in Wakulla County in an estimated 45% of all driving fatalities.
Auto Insurance Analysis
Nearly 30 thousand vehicles registered in Wakulla 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 Auto, Comprehensive Coverage, Commercial Transportation, Inland Marine, Gap, Ride-sharing, and so on.
Longer daily commute of roughly 13,223 Wakulla 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.
With nearly every fifth crash as a hit-and-run and with 1 out of 5 drivers uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage remains important for Wakulla County residents.
The majority of Wakulla 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 East 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.
To discuss your auto insurance needs in Wakulla County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.
Wakulla County Housing Statistics and Analysis
Like the majority of Florida, where the homes are mostly (65%) owner-occupied, Wakulla County’s estimated 14,690 housing unit market is mostly composed of Homeowner-occupied units at approximately 82%, with the remaining 18% as rentals. Wakulla County’s owner-occupied rate is also the highest in the region.
Other counties in the region also largely consist of homes inhabited by owners: Jefferson County with more than 77% of its residential real estate occupied by owners, Liberty County is at 75%, while Leon County is split 53% owner-occupied / 47% for rent.
Nearly 11% of housing units in Wakulla 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
Nearly 15 thousand housing units in Wakulla 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.
With over 2,644 housing units in Wakulla 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.
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 Wakulla County may require Renters insurance as a condition of the lease.
Wakulla 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 Wakulla 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 Wakulla 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 Wakulla 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)
Wakulla County Health Statistics and Analysis
In Wakulla County, about 15% of adult residents lack proper health insurance coverage, which is lower than the state-average (≈19%), but not the lowest among the peer counties. From lowest to highest: Leon County (over 13%), Jefferson County (over 15%), and Franklin 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%.
Nearly 1 in 5 adults in Wakulla County report problems with health.
Nearly 30% of the Wakulla County population do not participate in physical exercise activities.
Approximately 40% of the Wakulla County residents are considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more), which is higher than the Florida average of over 27%, and tied with Liberty County as the highest in the region. Among the neighboring counties, Leon County reports the lowest – at over 31% of the adult residents, while almost 34% of adults from Franklin County may be considered obese.
As of 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Miami-Dade County, offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Florida health marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis
Health insurance is the most important insurance coverage, and nearly 5 thousand residents of Wakulla County lack this necessity.
Florida is among the states that allow the sale of multiple types of health insurance and supplemental products. This makes it easier for Wakulla County residents 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.
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.
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 Wakulla 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.
Wakulla County End of Life Statistics and Analysis
Average life expectancy for the residents of Wakulla County is between 76 and 77 years old, which is lower than the state average in Florida (80). Among the neighboring counties, Leon County shows longer life spans at over 79 years old, almost level with the state average. Franklin County and Jefferson County both average at over 77 years old. The lowest life span in Florida is seen in Union County, at under 69 years old while the highest is observed in Collier County at 86 years.
In 2022 there were approximately 5,600 seniors (65 and older) residing in Wakulla County.
Life Insurance Facts
In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
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.
Nearly 22% of the adults in Wakulla County smoke, and this habit will definitely increase the life insurance premiums of roughly 6 thousand Wakulla County 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 people who do not smoke.
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.
Wakulla County Final Expenses Statistics and Analysis
Funeral expenses in and around Wakulla County vary drastically. The average price of a funeral in Wakulla County is around $8,300, which is higher than the Florida state average ($5,900) and is the second-highest figure in the surrounding area. Among the neighbors of Wakulla County, Liberty County has the highest average funeral expense cost of almost $9,400, while Jefferson County has the lowest average funeral cost in the region at $6,900.
Life Insurance Analysis
With 46% of Americans dying with savings of less than $10,000, Wakulla County seniors 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 life insurance as payment for the funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be “assignable”)
Besides the burial costs, the deceased frequently leave taxes and other debt behind for the family to take care of.
The most frequently used life insurance policies to cover “final expenses” up to $50,000 are: Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance.
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, Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance, and Final Expense (FE).
To find out more about life insurance options in Wakulla County, speak with a knowledgeable state-licensed and experienced life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison.
Wakulla County - Business
Commercial insurance needs vary between each of the approximately 551 business establishments in Wakulla County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for over 61% of all employment in the county in 2020 were:
Government (31.5%)
Manufacturing (17.7%)
Education and Health Services (11.8%)
Commercial Insurance Analysis
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.
Health providers usually get medical malpractice coverage according to the amount of damage their work can cause to the patients.
To assess your business insurance needs in Wakulla County, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers premium finance options.
