The roads of Dauphin County are home to approximately 242,278 personal and commercial vehicles. This figure constitutes about 2% of all vehicles registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Nearly 77% of daily commuters in Dauphin County drive by themselves to work, and around 1 in 4 of those commutes take more than half an hour to complete due to heavy traffic.
In Dauphin County, vehicular fatalities statistically occur at a rate of 9 per 100,000 vehicles on the road; around 22 fatal collisions per year.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), there were 2,957 crashes in Dauphin County in 2021, with 41 of them fatal. Alcohol-impaired driving accounts for around 24% of fatalities in Dauphin County.
Over 240 thousand registered cars in Dauphin County need insurance coverage. Property Damage and Bodily Injury Liability coverages are required by Pennsylvania law for all motor vehicles. Depending on the type of vehicle and its use (commercial or private), the additional required insurance may be, Commercial Auto, Non-owners car insurance, Comprehensive Coverage, Private Auto, Commercial Transportation, Inland Marine, Gap, Ride-sharing, Short-term car insurance, etc.
Pennsylvania is considered a “no-fault” state where each insured's own coverage pays for bodily injury. Meanwhile, the "choice no-fault" stipulation allows drivers to opt out of "no-fault" coverage. Furthermore, Pennsylvania's modified comparative negligence law dictates that the amount of damage an insurer must pay is equivalent to the degree of fault of each party in an accident.
The number of cars on the road of Dauphin County increases year after year. While the rate of uninsured drivers in Pennsylvania remains around 7%, The vast number of vehicles on congested roads suggests the need for Uninsured Motorist coverage. You never know how much insurance coverage the vehicle in front of you has, prior to having an accident with them.
To evaluate your auto insurance requirements and to find affordable car insurance in Dauphin County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.
Roughly 127,177 residential units in Dauphin County are split into 63% owner-occupied units and 37% for renters. Dauphin County’s rate for homes inhabited by the owner is lower than the Commonwealth’s average of 69% and the lowest among its neighbors, with Perry County having the highest percentage in the region.
COUNTY | Homeowners | Renters |
Dauphin County | 63% | 37% |
Cumberland County | 70% | 30% |
Juniata County | 74% | 26% |
Lancaster County | 69% | 31% |
Lebanon County | 71% | 29% |
Northumberland County | 71% | 29% |
Perry County | 81% | 19% |
Schuylkill County | 75% | 25% |
York County | 75% | 25% |
In the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the highest owner-occupied rate is in Pike County, where only 16% of housing is for rent, while Philadelphia County is the Commonwealth leader with the highest percentage of its dwelling units for rent (47%).
1 in 7 homes in Dauphin County have problems like substandard plumbing, overcrowding, or inadequate kitchen conditions. In about 12% of homes, residents spend more than 50% of their income on housing.
Close to 130 thousand housing units in Dauphin County need insurance coverage. All owners of these properties should have at least Homeowners, Condo insurance, and/or Business property insurance (for multi-housing units) to protect the underlying financial investment from potential damage or loss.
With over 47 thousand housing units in Dauphin County as rentals, Landlord Insurance is obtained by landlords to protect the property itself from possible liability claims arising from the tenants and their guests.
Renters Insurance Harrisburg: Tenants purchase Renters Insurance to safeguard their belongings against possible loss or damage while staying in a rented space. Typical renters' insurance is affordable and often covers the tenant's property against theft and damage caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. In Dauphin County, landlords may require renters insurance as part of the lease agreement.
For consultation and to get a quote on Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of insurance in Dauphin County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed by the state of Pennsylvania.
A Pennsylvania 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.
Roughly 9% of individuals under the age of 65 in Dauphin County lack health insurance, which is higher than the Commonwealth’s average (8%). Looking at its peer counties, Juniata County has the highest rate of uninsured adults in the region and across Pennsylvania, while Schuylkill County, York County, Northumberland County, and Cumberland County are all tied for the lowest rate.
COUNTY | Uninsured Adults |
Dauphin County | 9% |
Cumberland County | 7% |
Juniata County | 12% |
Lancaster County | 11% |
Lebanon County | 9% |
Northumberland County | 7% |
Perry County | 10% |
Schuylkill County | 7% |
York County | 7% |
With Juniata County having the highest uninsured adult rate in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the lowest rate is observed in Butler County, at around 5% of the adult residents.
Nearly 1 in 5 Dauphin County residents experience health concerns, partly because 19% of the population is smokers. Additionally, around 8% of them have restricted access to healthy foods.
On top of this, over 28% of residents do not engage in physical exercise activities, which contributes to the fact that 35% of the population are classified as obese (with a BMI of 30 or more). Dauphin County’s obesity rate is the highest among its immediate neighbors, with Lancaster County having the lowest in the region, at 31%.
In 2022, 58,760 residents of Dauphin County were enrolled in Medicare, with the following utilization:
Dauphin COUNTY - MEDICARE | Usage |
Original Medicare | 44% |
Medicare Advantage | 56% |
Original Medicare Part A and Part B | 35% |
Medicare Advantage and Other Health Plan Part A and Part B Beneficiaries | 56% |
Medicare Part D (Medigap) | 37% |
Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan | 43% |
In 2022, there were 13 health insurers in Dauphin County, offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Exchange.
Nearly 24 thousand residents in Dauphin County do not have the most important insurance coverage, which is health insurance.
Pennsylvania is one of the states that allow the sale of multiple types of health insurance and supplemental health insurance. This means that residents of Dauphin County will be able to choose the coverage that fits their specific needs. (both medically and financially): Group or Individual Marketplace ACA health insurance, various types of Short Term insurance (up to 3 years in coverage), Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Accident & Health insurance, etc.
Low-income health insurance: Low-income residents who cannot afford health insurance in Dauphin County are advised to apply for government-funded subsidies, which can help decrease the cost of insurance.
Short - term health insurance may provide an alternative saving path if you do not have pre-existing conditions. (TIP: Some Pennsylvania multi-year short-term health insurance plans may cover certain pre-existing conditions after a year or more of coverage).
Talk about your health insurance needs with a knowledgeable, state-licensed health insurance professional in Pennsylvania who has access to a variety of health insurance plans available to residents of Dauphin County. The availability and cost of health insurance coverage may vary between zip codes.
A Pennsylvania health insurance agent: analyzes your health 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 researches the available discounts and bundling options, assists you with the application process, and at any time you need to make a change to the policy or shop for replacement coverage.
The average lifespan in Dauphin County is roughly 78.2 years, which is almost at par with the average of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (78 years). Compared to the counties in the region, Cumberland County has the longest average life expectancy, while Schuylkill County reports the shortest in the region.
COUNTY | Average Life Expectancy |
Dauphin County | 78.2 |
Cumberland County | 80.1 |
Juniata County | 78.9 |
Lancaster County | 80.0 |
Lebanon County | 78.4 |
Northumberland County | 76.1 |
Perry County | 77.7 |
Schuylkill County | 75.0 |
York County | 78.6 |
Across Pennsylvania, the longest average life expectancy is observed in Centre County, at over 82 years, while the shortest is reported in Fayette County, at under 75 years old.
In 2022, roughly 50,016 seniors (65 and older) were residing in Dauphin County.
In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
The cost of life insurance premiums depends on a variety of factors, including the age of the insured when the policy begins. So, if you purchase it at a younger age, you will save more on premiums over the course of the policy.
Around 19% of Dauphin County's adult residents smoke. As a result, more than 41 thousand inhabitants will most likely have to pay up to four times more for their life insurance premiums than non-smokers. A smoker's life expectancy is considered to be shorter than that of non-smokers, making them a greater risk.
Aside from the death benefit, Cash Value life insurance can be used for Living Benefits by the insured while they are still alive, to borrow against it, or even used as a source of tax-free retirement income.
The average funeral cost in Dauphin County is around $6,300, which is lower than the Commonwealth’s average of $6,700. This price already includes basic service fees, casket, embalming, transportation, viewing, and burial. The average funeral expense among Dauphin County’s immediate neighbors is relatively higher, with Cumberland County posting an average of $10,500 and Lebanon County with about $7,600 in funeral expenses.
Across Pennsylvania, Bucks County has the highest funeral cost, at $11,700, while the most cost-effective funeral is seen in Clinton County, at under $4,700.
Around 46% of Americans die with less than $10,000 in savings. This means that over 23 thousand senior residents of Dauphin County could be placing their families and loved ones in a difficult financial situation. Besides planning and organizing the funeral while grieving, the family is frequently also responsible for the funeral costs.
Aside from the burial cost, the deceased may sometimes leave taxes and other debts for the family to take care of. Discuss your senior life insurance options with a licensed Pennsylvania life insurance professional.
Indexed Universal Life (IUL) is the most preferred life insurance policy to use for its living benefits and retirement financing.
The most frequently used life insurance policies to cover “final expenses” up to $50,000 are: Term Life Insurance and Final Expense (also known as Burial insurance).
The most frequently 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, Final Expense (FE), and multiple Universal Life insurance policies.
To learn more about life insurance alternatives and to get life insurance quotes in Dauphin County, consult with a knowledgeable state-licensed, experienced, and qualified life insurance professional who has access to several insurers and plan types for comparison.
Commercial insurance needs differ between each of the over 7.5 thousand business establishments in Dauphin County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for nearly 40% of all employment in the county in 2022 were:
Health Care and Social Assistance - 19.2%
Public Administration - 12.5%
Retail Trade - 7.8%
Every business in Dauphin County needs insurance based on what it does and the number of people it employs. The coverage mostly falls into:
Commercial Property,
Business Liability, and
Employee Protection and Benefits.
Health care professionals can benefit from Medical malpractice coverage, which protects both the patients and the insured medical professionals.
Retail businesses in Dauphin County are primarily insured against customer liabilities that come from using the retail location or by interacting with the products, and to protect the property, inventory, and the staff.
To assess your business insurance needs in Dauphin County and to get a commercial insurance quote, speak with a knowledgeable Pennsylvania-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and premium finance options. Always try to compare at least 2 or 3 options before deciding on the coverage.