Jefferson County
Driving in Jefferson County
Throughout Jefferson County, approximately 195,251 vehicles are registered for both commercial and private use. These registered vehicles account for nearly one percent of all Texas registered vehicles.
Every day, more than 89% drivers in Jefferson County commute to work, with more than a quarter of those commutes lasting more than 30 minutes.
Over 20% of Texas vehicles are uninsured, implying that nearly 40,000 vehicles are uninsured or underinsured in Jefferson County.
In Texas, having car insurance is required as "proof of financial responsibility," and driving without it is illegal.
Auto Insurance Analysis:
There are approximately 200,000 registered vehicles in Jefferson County that require auto insurance. Private auto insurance, commercial or farm auto insurance, auto liability insurance, commercial inland marine insurance, and other types of insurance are all required. The type of vehicle and its intended use may also have an impact on auto insurance.
Longer daily commutes can raise auto insurance rates by increasing the amount of time a driver spends behind the wheel. The longer a driver drives, the more likely he or she will be involved in a car accident. To summarize, the level of risk influences the cost of auto insurance.
The majority of Jefferson County residents drive alone, which contributes to traffic congestion and raises insurance rates.
Because one out of every five drivers in Texas is uninsured or underinsured, uninsured driver coverage is becoming increasingly important. Texans spend more than $900 million per year on Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage.
If you need consultation and advice on Jefferson County auto insurance, contact a Property & Casualty insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas.
Jefferson County Housing
The approximately 110 522 housing unit market in Jefferson County is split between homeowners (61%) and renters (39%), which is nearly identical to the Texas state average of a closer 3-2 split between homeowners and renters. The surrounding counties are also mostly made up of owner-occupied homes, with Chambers County leading the way with nearly 83% homeownership and Jefferson County closing in the last.
Nearly 1 in 5 housing units in Jefferson County are experiencing overcrowding, a lack of plumbing, and/or poor kitchen conditions.
Housing Insurance Analysis:
Over 100,000 housing units should be insured in Jefferson County. All housing units should be covered by homeowner's insurance to protect the owner's property from loss or damage (Homeowners or Condo). Apartment complexes and condo associations are covered by Business Property insurance.
Landlord Insurance should be purchased by property owners in Jefferson County, which has over 43,000 rental units. Landlord insurance protects both the property and its owner from potential liability issues.
Tenants typically purchase renters insurance to protect their belongings from potential damage or loss. The standard Renter's Insurance policy covers theft as well as damage from water, fire, smoke, and vandalism. Landlords may require renter's insurance as a condition of the lease.
Jefferson County is one of the most vulnerable to a stray storm or hurricane because of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. Along with being prepared and knowing what to do in the event of a hurricane, Jefferson County residents must understand how this risk affects their home insurance coverage.
Contact a Property & Casualty insurance agent in Jefferson County who is licensed in the state of Texas for consultation and advice on Homeowners insurance or Renters insurance.
Jefferson County Health
Health insurance rates in Jefferson County are higher than the state average. Uninsured adults and children make up approximately 22% of the population. This figure is higher than the 20.7% state average (in 2021). With an uninsured rate of about 23%, Liberty County ranks first among neighboring counties in terms of residents without health insurance. Hardin and Chambers counties, on the other hand, have the lowest uninsured rate, which is around 16%. Gaines County, on the other hand, has the highest rate of uninsured adults in Texas, approaching 36%, while Loving County has the lowest, around 11%.
Almost 1 out of every 4 adults in Jefferson County has a health problem. Nearly a third of the population is physically inactive, contributing to a 42% obesity rate, which is significantly higher than the Texas average of 32%. Orange County has the highest obesity rate of any peer county, accounting for 46% of its total adult population. Chambers County, on the other hand, is said to have the lowest obesity rate among its neighbors, at 33%.
There are at least 4 insurers in Jefferson County that offer affordable and regularly subsidized ACA health insurance, in and out the state marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis:
Health insurance is the most vital form of insurance, and nearly 46,000 Jefferson County residents do not have it.
Texas is one of the states that provides a broader range of health insurance and supplemental product options, making Texas healthcare more accessible: ACA-compliant Group and Individual marketplace health insurance, various types of short-term insurance (up to 3 years in coverage), hospital indemnity, accident and health, and so on.
Health insurance can be prohibitively expensive, especially for those with low incomes, so they should apply for government subsidies to significantly reduce the cost of insurance. Short-term insurance may be an option if you do not have any pre-existing conditions. (Please keep in mind that some multi-year short-term plans may cover specific pre-existing conditions after a full year of coverage.)
If you need consultation and advice on health insurance in Jefferson County, contact a health insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas.
Jefferson County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
The average life expectancy in Jefferson County is estimated to be around 76.2 years old, which is lower than the Texas state average of 79.2 years old. Chambers County has the longest life expectancy among neighboring counties, at 78.2 years old, 2 years longer than Jefferson County, while Liberty County has the shortest, at 74.1 years old. Presidio County, on the other hand, has the highest average life expectancy rate in Texas, at 88.8 years. With a life expectancy of 72.8 years, Donley County has the lowest life expectancy.
In 2022, Jefferson County had more than 37,000 senior (65 and older) residents.
Life Insurance Facts:
In 2021, 48% of Americans lacked any type of active life insurance policy.
Life insurance premiums are calculated based on the insured's age at the start of the policy, so the younger you are when you purchase it, the less you will have to pay in premiums over the policy period.
Motor Vehicle Fatalities in Jefferson County
Every year, approximately 33-34 fatal crashes occur on Jefferson County roads, resulting in a rate of 17.17 fatal crashes per 100,000 vehicles on the road.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, Jefferson County had 5,606 crashes in 2020, with 49 fatalities (TxDoT). Alcohol was responsible for more than one-fifth of all traffic fatalities.
Final Expenses - Jefferson County Funeral Home Cost
In Texas, a traditional funeral can cost between $5,000 and $12,000, which includes basic service fees, casket, embalming, transportation, viewing, and burial. The average funeral cost in Texas is $6,200, while the average funeral cost in Jefferson County is nearly $6,000. Hardin County has the most affordable funeral services among neighboring counties under $6,000, while Orange County has the most expensive, at nearly $8,000.
Life Insurance Analysis:
Nearly 46% of Americans die with less than $10,000 in life savings, which means that almost 20,000 Jefferson County senior citizens may be putting an undue burden on their family and friends with basic funeral expenses. For example, rather than mourning the loss of a loved one, the family must find a way to pay for it.
Aside from burial expenses, the deceased may have left behind taxes and debts for the family to deal with.
Term life insurance and final expense insurance are the most common life insurance policies that cover "final expenses" up to $50,000.
Term Life Insurance and Cash Value Life, such as Whole Life Insurance, Indexed Universal Life (IUL) Insurance, and Final Expenses, are the most common life insurance policies that allow money to be left to family members.
If you need consultation and advice on life insurance in Jefferson County, contact a Texas-licensed life insurance agent.
