Delaware County
Delaware County - Driving Statistics and Analysis
There are an estimated 488,997 private and commercial vehicles traversing the roads of Delaware County. This figure accounts for approximately 4.5% of all vehicles registered in the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
More than 71% of adult residents in Delaware County commute to work by themselves. Due to heavy traffic, nearly half of those commutes last for over 30 minutes - a statistic closely mirrored by most of the neighboring counties.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Delaware County
Motor vehicle fatalities in Delaware County statistically occur at a rate of 7 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: approximately 34 fatal crashes per year.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, (PennDOT), in 2021 there were 5,035 crashes in Delaware County: with 25 of them fatal. Approximately 27% of fatalities in Delaware County are caused by alcohol-impaired driving.
Auto Insurance Analysis
Nearly 490 thousand vehicles registered in Delaware County need insurance coverage: Property Damage and Bodily Injury Liability are required for all vehicles on the road. Depending on the type of vehicle and its use (commercial or private), the additional required insurance may be: Private Auto, Commercial Auto, Comprehensive Coverage, Non-owners car insurance, Commercial Transportation, Inland Marine, Gap, Ride-sharing, Short-term car insurance, and so on.
Even though Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, where bodily injury is paid by each insured’s own coverage, the Commonwealth allows drivers to opt out of the “no-fault” coverage under the “choice no-fault” stipulation. Additionally, due to Pennsylvania’s use of the modified comparative negligence laws, the amount of fault of each party in an accident determines the amount of damage that the insurer will cover.
The amount of vehicles on the roads of Delaware County keeps going up year after year, and even though the uninsured rate of drivers across Pennsylvania remains at around 7 percent, the sheer proximity of a large volume of vehicles on heavily congested roads indicates the need for Uninsured Motorist coverage. You can’t tell what kind of coverage everyone around you has, until you’ve had an accident with them.
To discuss your auto insurance needs and to find affordable car insurance in Delaware County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.
Delaware County - Housing Statistics and Analysis
The majority of homes in Pennsylvania are mostly (69%) owner-occupied. Similarly, Delaware County’s approximately 225,724 dwelling units are comprised of 69 percent homeowners and 31 percent renters. Among the neighbors, Chester County is more home-owner heavy, while Philadelphia County’s housing properties are split almost evenly between homeowner-occupied and rentals.
| COUNTY | Homeowners | Renters |
| Delaware County | 69% | 31% |
| Chester County | 75% | 25% |
| Montgomery County | 72% | 28% |
| Philadelphia County | 53% | 47% |
Commonwealth-wide, Pike County has the highest homeownership rate, with just 16% of homes for rent, while Philadelphia County is the state leader with the highest (47%) percentage of its real estate for rent.
Over 16% of housing units in Delaware County experience housing problems, overcrowding, poor plumbing, or issues with the kitchen. An estimated 15% of the residents spend more than 50% of their income on housing.
Housing Insurance Analysis
Close to 230 thousand housing units in Delaware County need insurance coverage. At a minimum, all owners of these properties should have Homeowners, Condo insurance, and/or Business property insurance (for multi-housing units), to protect the underlying financial investment from possible loss or damage.
With nearly 71 thousand housing units in Delaware County as rentals, landlords obtain Landlord Insurance, which covers the property itself and from the possible liability claims arising from the tenants and their guests.
Renters insurance in Delaware County: Tenants buy Renters Insurance coverage to protect their belongings from possible damage or loss while residing in a rented space. Average renters’ insurance is inexpensive and usually covers the tenant's property from theft and damages caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Most landlords in Delaware County will require Renters insurance as a condition of the lease.
Pennsylvania is one of the most flood-prone states across the nation, and more frequent flooding is expected to continue for decades to come.
All homeowners, landlords, and renters in the flood-prone areas of Delaware County should be aware of the local emergency procedures and maintain appropriate insurance coverage to protect their property. Discuss your needs with a professional.
For consultation and to get a quote on Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of insurance in Delaware 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.
Delaware County - Health Statistics and Analysis
In Delaware County, over 7% of adult residents under the age of 65 lack proper health insurance coverage, which is lower than the state average (≈8%). Montgomery County has the lowest uninsured rate among its neighbors, while Philadelphia County has the highest.
| COUNTY | Uninsured Adults |
| Delaware County | 7% |
| Chester County | 6% |
| Montgomery County | 5% |
| Philadelphia County | 11% |
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the highest uninsured adult rate is in Juniata County at nearly 12%, while the lowest rate is observed in Butler County (5%).
Around 17% of adults in Delaware County report problems with health. Nearly 1 in 4 of the Delaware County population do not participate in physical exercise activities. Over 32% of the Delaware County adult residents are considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more), which is almost at par with the Pennsylvania state average (≈33%). In its immediate area, Philadelphia County has the highest obesity rate (33%), while Chester County has the fewest number (29%) of adults considered obese.
In 2022, 111,164 Delaware County residents were enrolled in Medicare, with the following utilization:
| Delaware COUNTY - MEDICARE | Usage |
| Original Medicare | 65% |
| Medicare Advantage | 35% |
| Original Medicare Part A and Part B | 55% |
| Medicare Advantage and Other Health Plan Part A and Part B Beneficiaries | 35% |
| Medicare Part D (Medigap) | 47% |
| Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan | 31% |
In 2022, there were 13 health insurers in Delaware County, offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Exchange.
Health Insurance Analysis
Health insurance is the most important insurance coverage, and nearly 38 thousand adult residents in Delaware County lack this necessity.
Pennsylvania is among the states that allow the sale of multiple types of health insurance and supplemental health insurance. This makes it easier for Delaware County residents to obtain 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: To be able to afford health insurance, low-income residents of Delaware County are generally advised to apply for government health insurance subsidies, which can substantially lower the health insurance cost.
If you do not have pre-existing conditions, short-term health insurance may provide an alternative saving path. (* Some Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania health insurance professional with access to a variety of health insurance plans available to Delaware County residents. Offerings of health insurance coverage and its pricing may differ 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.
Delaware County - End of Life Statistics and Analysis
Average life expectancy for the residents of Delaware County is around 78 years old, which is comparable to the 78-year Pennsylvania state average. Among the neighboring counties, Chester County shows longer life spans, while Philadelphia County presents the shortest.
| COUNTY | Average Life Expectancy |
| Delaware County | 78.0 |
| Chester County | 81.2 |
| Montgomery County | 80.5 |
| Philadelphia County | 75.3 |
The longest average life expectancy in Pennsylvania is observed in Centre County, at over 82 years old, while the shortest average is seen in Fayette County, at under 75 years old.
In 2022, there were approximately 98,068 seniors (65 and older) residing in Delaware County.
Life Insurance Facts
In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
The age of the insured is a factor, among other things, in calculating life insurance premiums when the policy begins. The younger you are when you get it, the more you save in premiums over the course of the policy.
Over 17% of the adults in Delaware County are smokers, and this habit will likely affect the life insurance costs of more than 76,000 adults, who may have to pay up to 4 times more compared to non-smokers. A smoker’s life expectancy is deemed shorter, making them more of a risk than people who do not smoke.
Besides 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.
Delaware County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis
Funeral expense costs in and around Delaware County differ drastically. The average price of a funeral in Delaware County is around $9,300, which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average ($6,700) and by far the highest among all its immediate neighbors. The next most expensive average funeral is in Montgomery County (over $6,600), while Philadelphia County tends to be the most affordable ($6,100).
Statewide, Clinton County has the least burial cost averaging at $4,700, while Bucks County has the most expensive funeral average at $11,700 in Pennsylvania.
Life Insurance Analysis
With 46% of Americans dying with savings of less than $10,000, over 45 thousand Delaware County senior residents could be placing the unnecessary and frequently unbearable financial burden on family and friends. While grieving their loss, not only does the family need to plan the funeral, but quite frequently it also needs to pay for it too.
Besides the burial costs, the deceased frequently leave taxes and other debt behind 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 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, Final Expense (FE), and multiple Universal Life insurance policies.
Term Life Insurance and Final Expense (also known as Burial insurance) are the most frequently used life insurance policies to cover “final expenses” up to $50,000.
To find out more about life insurance options and to get life insurance quotes in Delaware County, speak with a knowledgeable Commonwealth-licensed and experienced life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison.
Delaware County - Business
Commercial insurance needs vary between each of the more than 14 thousand business establishments in Delaware County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for nearly 43% of all employment in the county in 2022 were:
Health Care & Social Assistance - 20.5%
Retail Trade - 11.1%
Educational Services - 10.9%
Commercial Insurance Analysis
Every business in Delaware County needs some type of insurance, based on what it does and the amount 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 Delaware 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 Delaware 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.
