Walton County
Walton County Driving Statistics and Analysis
The roads of Walton County are considered home to around 67,405 private and commercial vehicles. This number represents around 0.37% of all vehicles registered in the entire state of Florida.
Over 77% of adult drivers in Walton County commute to work by themself, and almost half of those commutes last for more than 30 minutes.
With an estimated 20% of Florida drivers uninsured, roughly 13,500 vehicles in Walton County alone could be uninsured or underinsured.
Approximately every fifth crash in Walton County is a hit and run.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Walton County
Motor vehicle fatalities in Walton County statistically occur at a rate of 17.65 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: approximately 12 fatal crashes per year.
In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported over 1,692 crashes in Walton County: 35 fatal crashes, with a resultant 40 deaths (including 33 motorcyclists). Statistically, about 32% of all driving fatalities in Walton County involve alcohol.
Auto Insurance Analysis
Over 67 thousand vehicles registered in Walton 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.
The longer daily commute of over 19,600 Walton 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.
The majority of Walton 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 50% increase in the black bear population in the northwestern 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.
With a fifth of crashes as a hit-and-run and with 1 out of 5 drivers uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage is increasingly important for Walton County residents.
To discuss your auto insurance needs in Walton County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.
Walton County Housing Statistics and Analysis
Just like the majority of Florida, with an owner-occupied rate of 65%, Walton County’s estimated 61,161 housing unit market is split between Homeowner-occupied at 75% and Renters at 25%.
The neighboring counties largely consist of homes inhabited by owners as well. Washington County has the highest homeowner-occupied rate at 78%, followed by Holmes County with a 76%. Bay County and Okaloosa County contribute the largest portion of its real estate for rent, with the lowest owner-occupied rates of 65% and 63%, respectively.
About 18% of housing units in Walton 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
Over 61 thousand housing units in Walton 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 15 thousand housing units in Walton County as rentals, landlords obtain Landlord Insurance, which covers the property itself and the possible liability claims arising from the tenants and their guests.
Renters insurance Miramar Beach: enants 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 Walton County may require Renters insurance as a condition of the lease.
Walton 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 Walton 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 Walton 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 Walton 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)
Walton County Health Statistics and Analysis
Over 19% of adult residents lack proper health insurance coverage in Walton County, which is similar to the state average. Among the neighboring counties, Washington County also has 19% uninsured adult residents. Bay County and Okaloosa County follow with 18% and 16% uninsured adult residents, respectively, while Holmes County leads with 21% uninsured adult residents - the highest in the region. In 2021, the average adult uninsured rate in Florida was around 19.2%.
More than 18% (or nearly 14,795 residents) in Walton County report problems with health.
31% of the Walton County population do not exercise on a regular basis, and this contributes to why around 32% of its residents are considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more). Among its neighboring counties, Washington County has the highest obesity rate at 38% followed by Holmes County at 36%. Bay County and Okaloosa County, on the other hand, have 30% and 28% adult obesity rates, respectively. All areas have a higher obesity rate than the Florida average of over 27%.
As of 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Walton 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 over 14 thousand residents of Walton 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 Floridians to obtain coverage that fits their specific needs (both medically and financially): Marketplace or Group 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 Walton 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.
Walton County - End of Life Statistics and Analysis
The average life expectancy for the residents of Walton County is between 78 and 79 years old, which is slightly lower than the state average of 80 years old in Florida. All neighboring counties are also below the state average: Okaloosa County at 78 years old, Bay County and Holmes County at 76 and 74 years old, respectively, and Washington County at 73 years old - the lowest in the region.
Statewide, Collier County has the highest average life expectancy at 86 years old, while the lowest life span in Florida is seen in Union County, at under 69 years.
In 2022 there were approximately 16,100 seniors (65 and older) residing in Walton 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 Walton County smoke, and this habit will definitely increase the life insurance premiums of close to 14,000 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 people who do not smoke.
Walton County Final Expenses Statistics and Analysis
The average price of a funeral in Walton County is around $7,200, which is more costly than the Florida state average of $5,900. All of its neighboring counties have a lower funeral cost than the state average: Washington County at $5,300, Bay County at $5,300, and Holmes County at $5,200.
Across Florida, Collier County has the most expensive funeral cost average in the entire state, while Putnam County and DeSoto County have the lowest, both at around $4,600.
Life Insurance Analysis
With 46% of Americans dying with savings of less than $10,000, over 7 thousand Walton 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 for the funeral.
(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.
Besides the death benefit, which the beneficiaries receive after your death, you can use life insurance while still alive to:
Use for retirement income replacement that comes free of the federal income tax and to
Help pay the costs of terminal illness, where your beneficiaries get paid the unused portion of the death benefit.
To find out more about life insurance options in Walton County, speak with a knowledgeable state-licensed and experienced life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison.
Walton County - Business
Commercial insurance needs vary between each of the more than 3,200 business establishments in Walton County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for nearly 59% of all employment in the county in 2020 were:
Education and Health Services (24.9%)
Manufacturing (21.1%)
Government (12.8%)
Commercial Insurance Analysis
Health providers usually get medical malpractice coverage according to the amount of damage their work can cause to the patients.
Manufacturing businesses usually require insurance coverage for:
Production facilities and property
Employees’ health and safety
Product liability coverage to protect the company itself if its product hurts the consumer, etc.
To assess your business insurance needs in Walton County, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and premium finance options.
