Lancaster County
Lancaster County - Driving Statistics and Analysis
Lancaster County residents have approximately 471,900 private and commercial vehicles that represent 4.3% of all Pennsylvania-registered vehicles.
About 77% of these vehicles are used for daily commutes with only the driver in the vehicle, and almost a third of these commuters spend more than 30 minutes on the road due to traffic congestion.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Lancaster County
Traffic-related deaths in Lancaster County take place at a rate of 10 for every 100,000 vehicles on the road: roughly 47 fatal crashes per year.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, (PennDOT), in 2021 there were 5,627 crashes in Lancaster County: with 73 of them fatal. Approximately 21% of traffic-incident fatalities in Lancaster County are brought about by drunk drivers.
Auto Insurance Analysis
Close to half a million vehicles registered in Lancaster 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: Comprehensive Coverage, Gap, Commercial Auto, Non-owners car insurance, Commercial Transportation, 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 total number of vehicles on the roads of Lancaster County keeps increasing annually, and despite the uninsured rate of drivers across Pennsylvania remaining at around 7 percent. You can’t tell what kind of coverage everyone around you has, until you’ve had an accident with them. Hence, the need for Uninsured Motorist coverage.
To discuss your auto insurance needs and to find affordable car insurance in Lancaster County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.
Lancaster County - Housing Statistics and Analysis
In Pennsylvania, around 69% of housing properties are inhabited by the owners themselves, and the same can be said for Lancaster County’s estimated 217,257 housing unit market. In its region, Chester County and York County both have the highest owner-occupied rates, while Dauphin County has the most percentage of rental units.
| COUNTY | Homeowners | Renters |
| Lancaster County | 69% | 31% |
| Lebanon County | 71% | 29% |
| Berks County | 71% | 29% |
| Chester County | 75% | 25% |
| Dauphin County | 63% | 37% |
| York County | 75% | 25% |
Statewide, Pike County has the highest homeownership rate, with just 16% of homes for rent, while Philadelphia County is the leader in Pennsylvania with the highest percentage of its real estate for rent (49%).
About 15% of residential properties in Lancaster County experience housing issues, overcrowding, poor plumbing, or substandard kitchen conditions. In 1 out of 10 homes, residents spend more than 50% of their income on housing expenses.
Housing Insurance Analysis
Over 200 thousand housing units in Lancaster 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 roughly 67 thousand housing units in Lancaster 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 Lancaster 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. Some landlords in Lancaster County may require Renters insurance as a condition of the lease.
For consultation and to get a quote on Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of insurance in Lancaster 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.
Lancaster County - Health Statistics and Analysis
Approximately 11% of Lancaster County adults do not have proper health insurance coverage, which is 3 percentage points higher than the Pennsylvania Commonwealthstate average of 8%. Lancaster County has the highest uninsured rate within its immediate area. Among the neighbors, Lebanon County has the second-highest figure, while Chester County has the lowest uninsured rate, followed by York County.
| COUNTY | Uninsured Adults |
| Lancaster County | 11% |
| Lebanon County | 9% |
| Berks County | 8% |
| Chester County | 6% |
| Dauphin County | 9% |
| York County | 7% |
While the highest uninsured adult rate in the state of Pennsylvania is in Juniata County (≈12%), the lowest rate is observed in Butler County, at around 5% of the adult residents.
Close to 19% of adults in Lancaster County report problems with health, which is partially due to the fact that 1 in 5 of them smoke, 18% drink too much alcohol, and 5% have limited access to healthy foods.
On top of these, 26% of the Lancaster County population do not exercise regularly, which contributes to its 31% adult obesity rate (BMI of 30 or more) — lower than Pennsylvania’s average of 33%. Dauphin County’s 35% obesity rate is the highest in the region.
In 2022, 115,747 Lancaster County residents were enrolled in Medicare, with the following utilization:
| LANCASTER COUNTY - MEDICARE | Usage |
| Original Medicare | 53% |
| Medicare Advantage | 47% |
| Original Medicare Part A and Part B | 46% |
| Medicare Advantage and Other Health Plan Part A and Part B Beneficiaries | 47% |
| Medicare Part D (Medigap) | 83% |
| Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan | 43% |
In 2022, there were 13 health insurers in Lancaster County, offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Exchange.
Health Insurance Analysis
Over 70 thousand Lancaster County adults do not have proper health insurance coverage which is the most important type of coverage.
Pennsylvania is among the states that allow the sale of multiple types of health insurance and supplemental health insurance. This makes it easier for Lancaster 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: Due to financial constraints, some Lancaster County residents may not be able to afford health insurance. These low-income residents could, however, apply for government subsidies to make the costs of health insurance more affordable.
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 Lancaster 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.
Lancaster County - End of Life Statistics and Analysis
The average Pennsylvanian has an expected life span of 78 years — a couple of years shorter than a Lancaster County resident, with their 80-year-old average. Looking at the peer counties, Chester County has the longest life expectancy, even longer than the state average, while Dauphin County has the shortest.
| COUNTY | Average Life Expectancy |
| Lancaster County | 80 |
| Lebanon County | 78.4 |
| Berks County | 79 |
| Chester County | 81.2 |
| Dauphin County | 78.2 |
| York County | 78.6 |
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 104,000 seniors (65 and older) residing in Lancaster County.
Life Insurance Facts
In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
Life insurance premiums are calculated based on different factors, but none is more significant than age of the insured, which is directly proportional to the premium rate. The greater the age, the greater the cost of life insurance.
Over 20% of the adults in Lancaster County smoke, which means over 84 thousand Lancaster County adults will have life insurance policies that are up to 4 times more expensive than non-smokers’. A smoker is more susceptible to developing fatal diseases that can cause premature deaths, and this makes a smoker more of a risk than people who don’t smoke.
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.
Lancaster County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis
Lancaster County funeral homes charge around $7,400 for a traditional funeral, which is more expensive than the Pennsylvania state average of $6,700. Within Lancaster County’s immediate area, Berks County has the most expensive average cost at $8,200, while the most affordable is observed in Chester County at $6,200.
Across the Commonwealth, Clinton County has the least expensive funerals averaging more or less $4,700, while Bucks County’s average is the most expensive in Pennsylvania.
Life Insurance Analysis
Since 46% of Americans depart with savings of less than $10,000, over 47 thousand Lancaster County senior residents could possibly be placing a difficult financial situation on their families and friends. The bereaved may have to juggle mourning, planning, and paying for the funeral.
Besides the burial costs, the departed frequently leave unpaid taxes and unsettled debts behind for the family to deal with. 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 Lancaster County, speak with a knowledgeable state-licensed and experienced life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison.
Lancaster County - Business
Lancaster County is home to over 14 thousand business establishments each with its own commercial insurance needs. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for around 44% of all employment in the county in 2022 were:
Health Care and Social Assistance - 16.8%
Manufacturing - 15.3%
Retail Trade - 12.2%
Commercial Insurance Analysis
Every business in Lancaster 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.
Manufacturing businesses usually require insurance coverage for:
Production facilities and property
Employees’ health and safety
Product liability coverage protects the manufacturer itself if their product hurts the consumer and a claim or a lawsuit is filed against the company
- Retail businesses in Lancaster 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 Lancaster 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.
