Lehigh County

Lehigh County - Driving Statistics and Analysis

Lehigh County's roadways are home to about 320,879 personal and commercial vehicles. This number represents around 3% of all automobiles registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Nearly 8 out of 10 adult residents in Lehigh County commute to and from work individually. Due to traffic congestion, around 30% of these trips exceed more than half an hour.

Motor Vehicle Crashes in Lehigh County

Vehicular fatalities in Lehigh County happen at a rate of 8 per 100,000 vehicles on the road; approximately 26 fatal crashes each year.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), there were 4,855 crashes in Lehigh County in 2021: roughly 30 of them resulted in deaths. Alcohol-impaired driving is responsible for around 26% of fatalities in Lehigh County.

Auto Insurance Analysis

1. In Lehigh County, more than 320 thousand registered vehicles need insurance coverage: Property Damage and Bodily Injury Liability are required by law for all automobiles, and driving without them is prohibited. Depending on the type of automobiles and usage (commercial or private), the additional required insurance may be Comprehensive Coverage, Commercial Auto, Private Auto, Commercial Transportation, Non-owners Car Insurance, Gap, Inland Marine, Ride - sharing, Temporary Car Insurance, and so on.

2. Although Pennsylvania is a "no-fault" state where physical injury is covered by its own insurance, the "choice no-fault" stipulation allows drivers to opt out of "no-fault" coverage. In addition, Pennsylvania's modified comparative negligence law dictates that the amount of damage an insurer must pay is proportional to the degree of fault of each party in an accident.

3. The number of cars on Lehigh County roads increases each year, and while the uninsured percentage of drivers in Pennsylvania remains around 7%, the mere presence of a significant number of automobiles on congested roads emphasizes the need for Uninsured Motorist coverage. You won't know what kind of coverage everyone around you has until you get into an accident with them.

To evaluate your auto insurance requirements and to find affordable car insurance in Lehigh County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.

Lehigh County - Housing Statistics and Analysis

Most of the 148,432 dwelling units in Lehigh County are inhabited by the owners (65%), as opposed to renters (35%). Lehigh County’s owner-occupied rate is close to the Pennsylvania State average (69%) and is the lowest among its neighboring counties, with Bucks County having the highest rate in the region, followed by Schuylkill County and Carbon County.

Statewide, the highest homeownership rate is in Pike County, with 84% of homes, while Philadelphia County is the Commonwealth leader with the highest percentage of its real estate for rent (47%).

In Lehigh County, about 16% of housing units experience housing problems like bad plumbing, overcrowding, or kitchen issues. In 1 in 7 homes, residents spend more than half of their income on housing alone.

Housing Insurance Analysis

1. Nearly 150 thousand housing units in Lehigh County need insurance coverage. All the owners of these properties should have at least Homeowners, Condo insurance, and/or Business property insurance (for multi-housing units) in order to protect the underlying financial investment from possible loss or damage.

2. With almost 52 thousand housing units classified as rentals in Lehigh County, landlords obtain Landlord Insurance to protect the property from potential liability claims that can come from the renters and their guests.

3. Renters Insurance Allentown: Tenants purchase Renters Insurance to protect their properties from potential theft or damage while residing in a leased dwelling. Standard renters' insurance is inexpensive and usually protects a tenant's belongings against theft and damage from fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Landlords in Lehigh 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 Lehigh 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.

Lehigh County - Health Statistics and Analysis

Approximately 9% of adults in Lehigh County under the age of 65 are uninsured, which is higher than the Commonwealth’s average (8%) and the highest among neighboring counties. Meanwhile, Montgomery County has the lowest uninsured rate in the region, followed by Bucks County.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the highest uninsured adult rate is in Juniata County, with nearly 12%, while the lowest rate is observed in Butler County, at around 5% of the adult residents.

Roughly 1 in 5 residents of Lehigh County report health issues. Furthermore, around 28% of its population do not engage in physical exercise activities, contributing to 37% of the residents being considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more). Lehigh County’s obesity rate is the highest among its immediate neighbors, with Montgomery County having the lowest obesity rate, at nearly 30%.

In 2022, 76,785 residents of Lehigh County were enrolled in Medicare, with the following utilization:

In 2022, there were 13 health insurers in Lehigh County, offering inexpensive and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Exchange.

Health Insurance Analysis

1. The most crucial insurance coverage is health insurance, and over 30 thousand residents of Lehigh County do not have this necessity.

2. Pennsylvania is one of the states that supports the sale of multiple types of health insurance and supplemental health insurance. This makes it convenient for Lehigh 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.

3. Low-income health insurance: If health insurance is not being purchased due to its high price, low-income residents of Lehigh County are generally advised to apply for government health insurance subsidies, which can significantly reduce health insurance costs.

4. Short - term health insurance may provide an alternative saving path if you do not have pre-existing conditions. (* 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 Lehigh 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.

Lehigh County - End of Life Statistics and Analysis

The average lifespan of residents in Lehigh County is 79 years, which is one year higher than the Pennsylvania State average of 78 years. Looking at its neighboring counties, Montgomery County has the longest average life expectancy, while the shortest is in Schuylkill County.

Statewide, the longest average life expectancy is reported in Centre County, at over 82 years, while the shortest average is seen in Fayette County, at under 75 years old.

In 2022, roughly 64,715 seniors (65 and older) were living in Lehigh County.

Life Insurance Facts

1. In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.

2. The cost of life insurance premiums is partly based on the age of the insured when the policy kicks in. Therefore, if you acquire it at a younger age, the more you'll save in premiums over the duration of the policy.

3. Nearly 18% of adults in Lehigh County are smokers. This habit may affect the cost of life insurance for almost 52 thousand adults, who may have to pay up to four times more, compared to non-smokers. The life expectancy of a smoker is considered lower, placing them at a higher risk than non-smokers.

4. Aside from the death benefit, Cash Value life insurance can be used for Living Benefits while the insured is still alive, as a source of tax-free retirement income, or as collateral for a loan.

Lehigh County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis

The average cost of a funeral in Lehigh County is around $6,300, which is less than the Pennsylvania State average of $6,700. Compared to its neighboring counties, Bucks County has the highest average funeral costs in the region and across Pennsylvania, at $11,700, while Carbon County has the lowest, at under $5,000.

With Bucks County having the highest average funeral cost in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Clinton County, on the other hand, posts the lowest, at $4,700.

Life Insurance Analysis

1. Nearly 46% of Americans pass away with no more than $10,000 in savings, which means nearly 30 thousand senior residents of Lehigh County could be placing their family and loved ones in a difficult financial situation. Not only does the family have to plan and organize the funeral while they are grieving, but they are more often responsible for paying for it.

2. The deceased may also leave taxes and other debts for the family to take care of, aside from the burial cost. Discuss your senior life insurance options with a licensed Pennsylvania life insurance professional.

3. Indexed Universal Life (IUL) is the most preferred life insurance policy to use for its living benefits and retirement financing.

4. 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).

5. 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 Lehigh County, consult with a knowledgeable state-licensed, experienced, and qualified life insurance professional who has access to several insurers and plan types for comparison.

Lehigh County - Business

Commercial insurance is different between each of the nearly 9 thousand business establishments in Lehigh County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for around 43% of all employment in the county in 2022 were:

• Health Care & Social Assistance - 23.5%

• Retail Trade - 10%

• Transportation and Warehousing - 9.8%

Commercial Insurance Analysis

1. Every business in Lehigh 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.

2. Health care professionals can benefit from Medical malpractice coverage, which protects both the patients and the insured medical professionals.

3. Retail businesses in Lehigh County are primarily insured against customer liabilities that come from using the retail location or by interacting with the product and to protect the property, inventory, and staff.

To assess your business insurance needs in Lehigh 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.