Harris County
Driving in Harris County
Harris County's roadways are used by an estimated 3,749,205 private and commercial vehicles. This figure equates to around 16.03% of all vehicles registered in Texas.
Nearly 80% of adult drivers in Harris County commute alone to work, and nearly 1 in 2 of those commutes exceed 30 minutes.
Driving without auto insurance is unlawful in Texas. With more than 20% of Texas drivers driving without insurance, almost 750,000 vehicles in Harris County alone are uninsured.
Auto Insurance Analysis:
The following are some of the reasons why auto insurance premiums in Harris County tend to be higher than in relatively less populated areas.
There are over 3.7 million registered vehicles in Harris County that require some kind of coverage. Depending on the type of car and its objective, the following could be needed: Auto liability, private automobile, comprehensive coverage, ride-sharing coverage, gap coverage, and so forth.
There are 2.3 million daily commuters in Harris County, and this is one of the main reasons why premiums are higher here. More vehicles on the road equals more risk of collision, which means rates go up.
The daily commute of 1.4 million people in Harris County is one of the major contributors to higher premiums, as it increases the amount of time a driver is behind the wheel and thereby increases their chances of getting into an accident.
Uninsured drivers make up for around one fifth of all Texas drivers. These drivers place extra burden on the other road users and other drivers who must pay out of their pockets for damages and losses caused by the uninsured. Texas drivers spend around $900,000,000 annually on UM/UIM.
Contact a Texas-licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) insurance professional to find out more about auto insurance options in Harris County.
Harris County Housing
Similarly to the rest of Texas, where most homes are owner-occupied, Harris County's 1,911,657 housing unit market is split between homeowners (55%) and renters (45%). The Texas average housing units are split at 62% (Homeowners) and 38% (Renters). The surrounding counties are also predominantly made up of owner-occupied homes, with Chambers County having the highest percentage of homeownership at 83% while Harris County has the lowest homeownership.
In Harris County, 1 in every 5 households faces housing difficulties, including the following:
- Increasing housing cost
- Lack of plumbing facilities
- Overcrowding, or
- Lack of proper kitchen facilities
Housing Insurance Analysis:
In order to protect your property from damage and loss, you should buy an insurance policy. There are three types: homeowners, renters, and landlords. Here's an overview of the types of home insurance protection in Harris County, Texas.
Nearly two million housing units in Harris County require Homeowners or Condo insurance to protect the homeowner's property against loss or damage. Apartment complexes are protected by Commercial Property insurance.
Landlord insurance is strongly recommended for property owners of the nearly 860 thousand rental units. This safeguards the property against potential liability claims brought by tenants.
Tenants are encouraged to obtain Renters Insurance to protect their valuables from probable damage or loss. Renters' insurance policies often cover tenants' property against theft and damage caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. As a requirement of the lease, landlords frequently require renters to purchase insurance.
Because of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, Harris County is one of the most vulnerable areas in the state to being hit by a stray storm or hurricane. It's important for residents in Harris County to understand how the danger of a hurricane affects their home insurance coverage, in addition to being prepared and knowing what to do in the event of a major hurricane. As a result, it is prudent for homeowners, landlords, and renters in the county to obtain proper loss and damage insurance policies.
Harris County Flood Warning System (HCFWS) monitors the rainfall and the level of water in the bayous and major stream across the county.
Speak with a reputable, Texas-licensed insurance agent to help you choose the right policy for your residential insurance needs:
A P&C insurance agent in Texas:
- Examines your needs and limits,
Does research to find the appropriate insurance coverage for you,
Presents all your options and explains how each one works,
Helps you complete the application, and
Won't increase your insurance premiums. (The agent is compensated by the insurer.)
Harris County Health
Harris County has one of the highest rates of uninsured without proper health insurance coverage in the state and the lowest rate among its immediate neighbors. Nearly 1 out of 4 adults and more than 12% of all children in Harris County lack health insurance, which is higher than the average adult uninsured rate in Texas (21%). The next highest adult uninsured rate around the neighboring counties after Harris County is in Waller County, with almost 24%, while Fort Bend County has the lowest rate of 15%.
In Harris County, more than 1 in 5 adults report having health difficulties. This equates to more than 764,000 people.
It is estimated that nearly 22% of the Harris County population does not engage in any form of physical activity.
Approximately 30% of Harris County people are deemed obese (with a BMI of 30 or higher), which is close to the state average of approximately 31% in Texas. With just 26% of its residents classified as obese, Fort Bend County has the lowest obesity rate of the neighboring counties, while Galveston and Waller counties have the highest obesity rate (35%).
There are at least 5 health insurers in Harris County that offer affordable and frequently subsidized Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance, on and off the state marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis:
Health insurance is the most important type of insurance coverage to have, yet more than 1 million people in Harris County do not have this essential coverage.
Texas residents have a wide range of Health Insurance options - from ACA Marketplace to Short-Term Plans that provide protection for one or two or three years at a time - as well as Hospital Indemnity Plans and Accident & Health Coverage - among others.
If you are unable to obtain health insurance owing to the high cost of coverage, lower-income Texans may apply for government subsidies, which can dramatically reduce their monthly premium payments. If you don't have any pre-existing conditions and want to save money on your policy, you can purchase Short Term Insurance instead so that you'll still be covered if something goes wrong.
Contact a licensed Texas health insurance agent for a consultation and guidance on the various health insurance options available in Harris County.
Harris County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
Harris County residents have an average life expectancy of about 79.9 years, which is slightly higher than the Texas average of 79.2 years. Among the neighboring counties, Montgomery, Brazoria, and Waller Counties also surpass the Texas average, while Fort Bend County ranks the highest lifespan in the area at 83 years old. Galveston County, on the other hand, ranks the lowest at 78 years old, although it is also close to the Texas average.
As of 2022, there were over 500,000 seniors (65 and older) residing in Harris County.
Life Insurance Facts:
In 2021, 48% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
Premiums for life insurance are determined by the insured's age at the time the policy begins. The younger you are when you purchase it, the more money you save on premiums over the policy's duration.
Motor Vehicle Fatalities in Harris County
In Harris County, fatalities from motor vehicle accidents occur at a rate of approximately 10.55 per 100,000 vehicles, resulting in an average of more than 395 fatal crashes every year, according to statistical data. Alcohol is a contributing factor in roughly 33% of all traffic deaths in Harris County.
More than 97,000 collisions were reported in Harris County by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) in 2020, with a total of 501 fatalities as a result.
Final Expenses – Harris County Funeral Home Cost
The cost of a funeral in and around Harris County varies drastically. It has been estimated that the average cost of a funeral in Harris County is approximately $8,200, making it the most expensive in the surrounding area. When compared to Harris County's neighbors, Montgomery County reports having the second-highest average funeral cost of around $7,300, while funeral homes in Galveston, Brazoria, and Fort Bend Counties can be found for a price that is nearly the state's average of $6,200.
Life Insurance Analysis:
The primary motivation for buying life insurance is to ensure that the loved ones left behind will have financial support if something happens to you. It can be an investment for retirement and in the future of your family.
With the rising costs of living, many people are left with very small savings when they die. 46 percent of Americans die with less than $10,000 in savings. Based on this, 240,000 senior residents in Harris County may be putting undue financial burdens on their families and friends. Instead of focusing on grieving, the family has to find a way to pay for funeral and other costs.
Aside from funeral expenses, the deceased frequently leave behind unpaid taxes and other liabilities that must be dealt with by the family.
Final Expense Insurance and Term Life Insurance are the two most common types of insurance that are purchased with coverage of up to $50,000, which can help pay for "final expenses".
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.
To purchase life insurance in Texas, you can contact a life insurance licensed agent in the state of Texas for a consultation and advice on life insurance options in Harris County.
The use of a Texas insurance agent usually comes at no extra expense to the policyholder.
With the help of a Texas insurance agent, you have access to a variety of insurers with different options that will best suit your needs.
A Texas insurance agent will help you understand how the differences between the options affect you and your beneficiaries.
A Texas insurance agent will assist you with the application process.
