Westmoreland County

Westmoreland County - Driving Statistics and Analysis

Around 297,526 personal and commercial vehicles consider the roads of Westmoreland County their home. This figure is equal to about 3% of all cars registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

More than 8 in 10 adults in Westmoreland County travel to and from work by themselves. About 38% of these commutes last for more than 30 minutes.

Motor Vehicle Crashes in Westmoreland County

Statistically, vehicular fatalities in Westmoreland County happen at a rate of 10 per 100,000 automobiles on the road, resulting in roughly 30 fatal crashes yearly.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), there were 3,022 crashes in Westmoreland County in 2021; around 36 resulted in fatalities. Alcohol-impaired driving accounts for more than one-third of fatalities in Westmoreland County.

Auto Insurance Analysis

1. Nearly 300 thousand registered automobiles in Westmoreland County need insurance coverage. All vehicles are required by Pennsylvania law to obtain Property Damage and Bodily Injury Liability coverage. Required additional insurance depends on the type of vehicle and usage (commercial or private). Some of these are Commercial Auto, Private Auto, Comprehensive Coverage, Gap, Non-owners Car Insurance, Ride - sharing, Commercial Transportation, Inland Marine, Temporary Car Insurance, etc.

2. Even though Pennsylvania is a “no-fault” state where each insured's own coverage pays for bodily injury, the "choice no-fault" provision allows drivers to opt-out of "no-fault" coverage. Furthermore, Pennsylvania's modified comparative negligence law indicates 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 automobiles on Westmoreland County roads increases year after year, and while the uninsured percentage of drivers in Pennsylvania remains around 7%, the mere presence of a large volume of vehicles on congested roads emphasizes the need for Uninsured Motorist coverage. You never know how much coverage the car 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 Westmoreland County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.

Westmoreland County - Housing Statistics and Analysis

Approximately 171,879 housing units in Westmoreland County are inhabited by the owners (78%), as opposed to renters (22%), which is higher than the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s average split of 69%/31%. Among Westmoreland County’s neighbors, Somerset posts the highest homeownership rate, while the lowest in the region is seen in Allegheny County - where 36% of homes are rentals.

Across Pennsylvania, the highest homeownership rate is in Pike County, with 84% of homes, while Philadelphia County is the state leader with the highest percentage of its dwelling units for rent (47%).

In Westmoreland County, around 1 in 10 housing units experience housing problems like faulty plumbing, kitchen issues, or overcrowding. In about 9% of homes, residents allocate more than half of their income to housing alone.

Housing Insurance Analysis

1. Over 170 thousand dwelling units in Westmoreland County need insurance coverage. Owners of these properties should have Homeowners, Condo insurance, and/or Business property insurance (for multi-housing units) at a minimum to safeguard the underlying financial investment

2. In Westmoreland County, where roughly 38 thousand housing units are categorized as rentals, landlords purchase Landlord Insurance to safeguard the property from any liability claims filed by tenants and their guests.

3. Renters Insurance in Westmoreland County: Tenants purchase Renters Insurance to protect their properties from potential theft or damage while living in a rented space. Average renters' insurance is quite affordable and usually protects a tenant's belongings against theft and damages from fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Landlords may require renters insurance as part of the lease agreement in Westmoreland County.

For consultation and to get a quote on Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of insurance in Westmoreland 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.

Westmoreland County - Health Statistics and Analysis

About 6% of adults under the age of 65 in Westmoreland County do not have health insurance, which is lower than the average of the Commonwealth (8%). Compared to its neighboring counties, Indiana County has the highest uninsured adult rate, while Butler County, on the other hand, has the lowest rate in the region and throughout Pennsylvania.

With Butler County having the lowest rate of uninsured adults in the state of Pennsylvania, the highest rate, on the other hand, is located in Juniata County, with nearly 12%.

Approximately 17% of the people in Westmoreland County report health problems, which is partially due to the fact that 21% of the adults smoke, 2 in 5 do not get enough sleep, and it has the highest proportion of adults who drink too much alcohol (23%). A quarter of adult residents do not participate in physical exercise activities, which may explain why 36% of residents are considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more). Among Westmoreland County's neighbors, Fayette County and Somerset County have the highest obesity rates, both with nearly 39%, while Allegheny County has the lowest in the region, with around 29%.

In 2022, 96,093 residents of Westmoreland County were enrolled in Medicare, with the following utilization:

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

Health Insurance Analysis

1. Health Insurance is the most crucial insurance coverage, and over 19 thousand residents of Westmoreland County do not have this necessity.

2. Pennsylvania is one of the states that allow the sale of various types of health insurance and supplemental health insurance, which means Westmoreland County residents can conveniently purchase 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.

3. Low-income health insurance: Low-income residents of Westmoreland County who cannot purchase health insurance due to unaffordability are generally advised to apply for government health insurance subsidies, which can trim the cost of health insurance significantly.

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 Westmoreland 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.

Westmoreland County - End of Life Statistics and Analysis

The average lifespan of residents in Westmoreland County is around 77.6 years, which is almost at par with the Pennsylvania Commonwealth average of 78 years. Looking at the surrounding counties, Butler County has the longest average life expectancy in the region, while the shortest is reported in Fayette County.

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

In 2022, roughly 82,345 seniors (65 and older) were living in Westmoreland County.

Life Insurance Facts

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

2. Life insurance premiums are determined by how old the person is when the policy starts, among other factors. So, if you get it at a younger age, you'll save more on premiums over the course of the policy.

3. More than 1 in 5 adults in Westmoreland County smoke. This habit will certainly increase the cost of life insurance for almost 59 thousand adults, who may have to pay up to four times more compared to non-smokers. The lifespan 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 collateral for a loan, or even used as a source of tax-free retirement income.

Westmoreland County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis

The average cost of a funeral in Westmoreland County is around $6,600, which is close to the Pennsylvania State average of $6,700. Compared to its neighboring counties, Somerset County has the highest average funeral costs, at nearly $9,000, while Fayette County has the lowest, at $5,200.

Statewide, Bucks County reports the highest average funeral cost of $11,700, while the most cost-effective funeral is seen in Clinton County, at under $4,700.

Life Insurance Analysis

1. Around 46% of Americans die with less than $10,000 in savings. This means that nearly 38 thousand senior residents of Westmoreland County could be placing their families and loved ones in a difficult financial situation. In addition to planning and organizing the funeral while grieving, the family is sometimes responsible for the funeral costs.

2. The deceased may sometimes 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 Westmoreland County, consult with a knowledgeable state-licensed, experienced, and qualified life insurance professional who has access to several insurers and plan types for comparison.

Westmoreland County - Business

Each of the over 9 thousand business establishments in Westmoreland County has different commercial insurance needs. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for around 44% of all employment in the county in 2022 were:

• Health Care & Social Assistance - 15.9%

• Retail Trade - 13.9%

• Manufacturing - 13.7%

Commercial Insurance Analysis

1. Every business in Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland 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.

4. Manufacturing businesses need insurance to safeguard the production facilities and the workers, as well as get product liability coverage to protect the company itself if their product injures someone or something.

To assess your business insurance needs in Westmoreland 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.