Erie County
Erie County - Driving Statistics and Analysis
A total of approximately 229,670 private and commercial vehicles consider Erie County's roads their home. This figure represents around 2% of all the registered automobiles in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
In Erie County, over 79% of daily commuters travel by themselves to work, and around 1 in 5 of these trips take more than half an hour because of traffic congestion.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Erie County
Automobile fatalities in Erie County happen at a rate of 9 per 100,000 vehicles on the road; around 21 fatal collisions per year.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), there were 2,548 crashes in Erie County in 2021, with 21 of them fatal. Roughly 28% of fatalities in Erie County are attributed to alcohol-impaired driving.
Auto Insurance Analysis
Nearly 230 thousand registered vehicles in Erie County need insurance coverage. Property Damage and Bodily Injury Liability coverages are mandated 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, Non-owners car insurance, Commercial Auto, Comprehensive Coverage, Private Auto, Commercial Transportation, Inland Marine, Gap, Ride-sharing, Temporary car insurance, and so on.
Although Pennsylvania is a “no-fault” state where each insured's coverage pays for bodily injury, the "choice no-fault" stipulation allows drivers to opt out of the "no-fault" coverage. In addition, Pennsylvania’s use of the modified comparative negligence laws dictates that the amount of damage an insurer must pay is equivalent to the degree of fault of each party in an accident.
Year after year, the number of vehicles on the roads in Erie County increases. While the rate of uninsured drivers in Pennsylvania remains around 7%, the sheer volume of automobiles on busy highways indicates the need for Uninsured Motorist coverage. With the assumption of 7% uninsured, over 16 thousand vehicles in Erie County could be uninsured. You never know how much insurance coverage the vehicle in front of you has, until you’ve had an accident with them.
To evaluate your auto insurance requirements and to find affordable car insurance in Erie County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.
Erie County - Housing Statistics and Analysis
Around 122,337 residential units in Erie County are vastly dominated by owner-occupied dwellings (67%) versus renters (33%). Erie County’s rate for homes inhabited by the owners is lower than the Commonwealth’s average of 69% and the lowest among its neighbors, with Warren County having the highest percentage in the region, followed by Crawford County.
| COUNTY | Homeowners | Renters |
| Erie County | 67% | 33% |
| Crawford County | 73% | 27% |
| Warren County | 78% | 22% |
Across Pennsylvania, the highest owner-occupied rate is in Pike County, about 16% of housing units are rented, while Philadelphia County is the Commonwealth leader with the highest percentage of its dwelling units for rent (47%).
Approximately 1 in 7 homes in Erie County experience housing problems like poor plumbing, overcrowding, or issues in the kitchen. In around 13% of households, residents spend more than 50% of their income on housing.
Housing Insurance Analysis
Over 120 thousand housing units in Erie 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 about 40 thousand housing units in Erie County as rentals, Landlord Insurance is purchased by landlords to protect the property itself from possible liability claims arising from the tenants and their guests.
Renters Insurance Erie: Tenants acquire Renters Insurance to cover their belongings from potential loss or damage while residing in a leased dwelling. Typical renters' insurance is inexpensive and often protects the tenant's belongings against theft and damage from fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Landlords in Erie County 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 Erie County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed by the state of Pennsylvania.
A Pennsylvania 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.
Erie County - Health Statistics and Analysis
Similar to the statewide average, around 8% of residents under the age of 65 in Erie County lack health insurance. Among its immediate neighbors, Crawford County has the highest rate of uninsured adults, while Warren County reports the lowest in the region.
| COUNTY | Uninsured Adults |
| Erie County | 8% |
| Crawford County | 9% |
| Warren County | 7% |
Juniata County has the highest percentage of uninsured adults in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at nearly 12%, while Butler County has the lowest, at around 5%.
Nearly 19% of Erie County residents report problems with health, which is partly brought about by the fact that about 22% of the adult population is smokers. Furthermore, almost 14% of them have limited access to nutritious diets.
On top of this, over 27% of residents fail to participate in physical exercise activities, which contributes to the fact that 35% of the population is considered obese. (with a BMI of 30 or more). Among Erie County’s neighbors, Warren County posts the highest obesity rate, with over 36%, while Crawford County has the least, at 33%.
In 2022, 61,720 residents of Erie County were enrolled in Medicare, with the following utilization:
| Erie COUNTY - MEDICARE | Usage |
| Original Medicare | 43% |
| Medicare Advantage | 57% |
| Original Medicare Part A and Part B | 36% |
| Medicare Advantage and Other Health Plan Part A and Part B Beneficiaries | 57% |
| Medicare Part D (Medigap) | 31% |
| Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan | 53% |
In 2022, there were 13 health insurers in Erie 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 crucial insurance coverage, and over 19 thousand residents in Erie County do not have this necessity.
Pennsylvania is one of the states that permits the sale of various forms of health insurance and supplemental health insurance. This means that Erie County residents can conveniently choose the coverage that meets their specific needs easily. (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 Erie County residents who cannot afford health insurance due to high costs 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 Erie 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.
Erie County - End of Life Statistics and Analysis
Erie County has an average life expectancy of 77.6 years, almost identical to the average of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (78 years). Among Erie County's adjacent neighbors, Warren County has the longest average life expectancy, while Crawford County reports the shortest in the region.
| COUNTY | Average Life Expectancy |
| Erie County | 77.6 |
| Crawford County | 77.0 |
| Warren County | 78.5 |
In the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Centre County has the highest average life expectancy at over 82 years, while Fayette County has the lowest at less than 75 years.
In 2022, roughly 51,172 seniors (65 and older) were residing in Erie County.
Life Insurance Facts
In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
The cost of life insurance premiums depends on several factors, including the insured's age at the start of the policy. So, if you purchase it at a younger age, you will save more on premiums over the duration of the policy.
Nearly 22% of Erie County's adult residents smoke. As a result, life insurance premiums for more than 46 thousand residents can be up to four times higher compared to non-smokers. A smoker's life expectancy is deemed to be shorter, making them more of a risk than non-smokers.
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.
Erie County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis
The average cost of a funeral in Erie County is around $6,200, which is less than the Commonwealth average of $6,700. This price includes basic service fees, casket, embalming, transportation, viewing, and burial. Among Erie County's surrounding neighbors, Crawford County and Warren County have a lower average funeral cost, at $6,000 and $5,600, respectively.
Across Pennsylvania, Bucks County has the highest funeral cost, at $11,700, while the least expensive funeral is seen in Clinton County, at under $4,700.
Life Insurance Analysis
Around 46% of Americans die with less than $10,000 in savings. This means that nearly 24 thousand senior residents of Erie County could be placing their families and loved ones in a difficult financial situation. Aside from planning and organizing the funeral while grieving, the family may also be 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 Erie County, consult with a knowledgeable state-licensed, experienced, and qualified life insurance professional who has access to several insurers and plan types for comparison.
Erie County - Business
Commercial insurance needs differ between each of the over 6.8 thousand business establishments in Erie County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for nearly 50% of all employment in the county in 2022 were:
Health Care and Social Assistance - 22.6%
Manufacturing - 15.6%
Retail Trade - 12%
Commercial Insurance Analysis
Every business in Erie County needs insurance based on what it does and the number of people it employs. The coverage mainly falls into:
Commercial Property,
Business Liability, and
Employee Protection and Benefits.
Health care professionals in Erie County can benefit from Medical malpractice coverage, which protects both the patients and the insured medical professionals.
Manufacturing businesses need insurance to safeguard their production facilities and employees, as well as get product liability coverage to protect the company in the event that their product injures a third party.
Retail businesses in Erie 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 Erie 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.
