Smith County
Driving in Smith County
An estimated 187,832, or around 0.80% of private and commercial vehicles in Texas, are registered in Smith County. More than 83% of adult drivers in Smith County drive to work alone, with over 42,000 of them commuting for 30 minutes or more.
It is estimated that 20% of Texas drivers are uninsured, which can be close to 38,000 vehicles in Smith County alone.
Auto Insurance Analysis:
Almost 188 thousand vehicles registered in Smith County need some type of insurance coverage. Depending on the type of vehicle and its use, the required insurance may be Private Auto, Commercial Auto, Auto Liability, Comprehensive Coverage, Commercial Transportation, Inland Marine, etc.
Nearly 117 thousand drivers commuting daily is one of the reasons why auto premium costs in Smith County tend to be higher, compared with less densely populated counties. Everyone driving a separate vehicle means that there are more vehicles on the road, which increases the likelihood of a collision. The risk goes up, so do the premium prices.
With 1 out 5 drivers uninsured in Texas, Uninsured Driver Coverage becomes increasingly important. Texans spend nearly $900 million annually to pay for Uninsured and Underinsured Auto Coverage.
For consultation and advice about auto insurance in Smith County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas.
Smith County Housing
Smith County's approximately 94,101 housing units, like the rest of Texas, are mostly inhabited by homeowners rather than renters, with nearly 3 owner-occupied homes for every 2 rental units. The bordering counties are mostly made up of owner-occupied dwellings as well. Wood County has the greatest rate of homeowners living in their homes (over 80%), followed by Upshur County (78%). Gregg County, with a 40% renter-occupied rate, is the area's leading provider of rental units.
Nearly 16% of the housing in Smith County are experiencing housing issues due to high housing costs, issues with plumbing, and utilities. In approximately 15% of Comal County homes, the family residing on the property spends more than 50% of their income on housing.
Housing Insurance Analysis:
Over 94 thousand housing units in Smith County need insurance coverage. At a minimum, all of them should have Homeowners or Condo insurance, and/or Business property insurance (for apartment complexes) to protect their investment from loss or damage.
With nearly 32 thousand housing units in Smith County as rentals, landlords are advised to obtain Landlord Insurance, which covers the property itself and from the possible liability claims arising from the tenants.
Tenants obtain 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 Smith County may require Renters insurance as a condition of the lease.
For consultation and advice about Homeowners insurance or Renters insurance in Smith County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas. Preferably the one who can represent multiple insurers, to provide a comparison of options.
Smith County Health
Smith County’s uninsured rate of nearly 21% is in line with the Texas state average. Compared to the neighbors in the area: Upshur County has the least number of residents without proper health insurance (19%), while nearly 24% of Van Zandt County’s residents lack this essential protection, which is also the highest uninsured rate among the neighbors.
More than 1 in 5 adults in Smith County report problems with health. That is over 37,000 people.
One of the biggest causes of poor health in Smith County is a lack of physical activity, with 23% of residents failing to engage in exercise activities on a regular basis.
That lack of physical exercise is reflected in the obesity of 33% of Smith County residents.
At least 2 health insurers in Smith County offer affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance, on and off the state marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis:
Health insurance is the most important insurance coverage and almost 42 thousand residents of Smith County lack this necessity.
Texas is one of the states that permits the selling of a variety of health insurance and supplemental products. This makes it easier for Texans to receive coverage that meets their unique needs (both physically and financially): Group or Individual Marketplace ACA health insurance, several types of Short-Term Insurance (up to three years in coverage), Hospital Indemnity, Accident and Health Insurance, etc.
If health insurance is not being purchased due to unaffordability, low income residents are advised to apply for government subsidies, which can substantially lower or completely eliminate the out-of-pocket cost of insurance coverage.
If you do not have pre-existing conditions, Short term insurance may provide an alternative saving path. (Some Texas 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 Texas health insurance professional with access to a variety of health insurance options available in Smith County.
Smith County Mortality Rate and the End of Life Statistics
The average life expectancy of the Smith County resident is 78.1 years, which is lower than the Texas average of 79.2 years. As for the neighboring counties, Smith County also has the highest life expectancy and the lowest is in Henderson County with an average life expectancy of 74.9 years.
In 2022, Smith County had more than 40,000 seniors (65 years and older) residents.
Life Insurance Facts:
In 2021, 48% of Americans did not have life insurance.
Premiums for life insurance are determined by the insured's age at the start of the policy. The younger you are when you purchase it, the more money you will save in premiums over the life of the policy.
Motor Vehicle Fatalities in Smith County
Motor vehicle fatalities in Smith County occur at a rate of 17.35 per 100,000 vehicles on the road resulting in an average of 32-33 fatal collisions per year.
In 2020, the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT), reported 5,195 crashes in Smith County. Out of those, 50 crashes resulted in 58 fatalities. Alcohol has been determined to be the primary cause of fatal crashes in Smith County in more than 20% of all driving fatalities.
Final Expenses – Smith County Funeral Home Cost
Smith County's average funeral expense is around $7,600. This is more than the average funeral expense in Texas, which is roughly $6,200. Smith County has the highest funeral home cost among the neighbors, followed by Henderson County with an average funeral home cost of $6,900. Cherokee County has the lowest funeral home cost among the nearby counties at $5,000.
Life Insurance Analysis:
With 46% of Americans dying with less than $10,000 in assets, the cost of a simple burial
can become a problem, putting an unwelcome and often awful strain on family and
friends. Rather than grieving, the family must concentrate on determining how to pay.Apart from burial fees, the deceased frequently leave behind taxes and other debts for the family to deal with.
Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance is the most commonly
utilized life insurance policies to cover "final expenses" up to $50,000.Variations of Term Life Insurance and Whole Life Insurance, particularly Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance and Final Expense insurance, are the most often utilized life insurance products to leave money to the family.
For consultation and advice about life insurance in Smith County, contact a life insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas. Look for an agent who works with multiple insurers and is able to provide options for all major types of life insurance coverage. This way you get to compare: what option works best to fit your needs.
