Niagara County
Niagara County - Driving Statistics and Analysis
The roads of Niagara County are home to an estimated 125,878 personal and commercial vehicles. This figure constitutes roughly 1% of the total vehicles registered in the entire state of New York.
Nearly 86% of adult drivers in Niagara County commute to and from work unaccompanied, which is the highest percentage in New York state. Furthermore, 32% of those travels take more than half an hour each way to complete.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Niagara County
According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV-NY) and the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR), there were 15,814 collisions in Niagara County between 2018 and 2021, with 73 fatalities. Property damage occured in 72.66% of those crashes, while personal injury was sustained in 26.86% cases.
Motorcycles in Niagara County accounted for an average of 66 crashes annually: with personal injury as a result in 73.75% of cases and property damage in 18.83%.
Auto Insurance Analysis
Around 126 thousand registered vehicles in Niagara County need insurance coverage. No-Fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, and Property Damage and Bodily Injury Liability are state-mandated coverages for all vehicles for protection against damages during vehicular accidents. Depending on the type of vehicle and how it is used (commercial or private), additional insurances are available such as Private Auto, Commercial Auto, Comprehensive Coverage, Non-owners car insurance, Commercial Transportation, Inland Marine, Gap, Ride-sharing, Short-term car insurance, and so on.
New York is considered a no-fault state, which means your insurance pays for any bodily injuries you receive in an accident, whether it's your fault or not. You can also reclaim the difference of the treatment expenses from the liable party if it exceeds your coverage limits. Meanwhile, property damage is the responsibility of the at-fault party.
Year after year, the amount of vehicles on Niagara County's roads increases, and even though the uninsured rate of drivers across the state of New York remains under five percent, the mere proximity of a huge number of vehicles on severely congested highways indicates the need for Uninsured Motorist coverage. You never know how much insurance the vehicle next to you has.
If you have inquiries regarding your auto insurance and to find affordable car insurance in Niagara County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of New York.
Niagara County - Housing Statistics and Analysis
| COUNTY | Homeowners | Renters |
| Niagara County | 71% | 29% |
| Orleans County | 76% | 24% |
| Genesee County | 72% | 28% |
| Erie County | 65% | 35% |
Niagara County’s approximately 101,118 housing units primarily consist of homeowner-occupied properties at around 71%, versus 29% for renter-occupied homes. Compared with the neighbors, Orleans County has the most homeowners, while Erie County has the least. The average homeowner-occupied rate in the entire state of New York is roughly 54%.
Statewide, Hamilton County has the highest homeownership rate, with 87%, while the Bronx County is the state leader with the highest percentage of its real estate for rent (≈80%).
Nearly 13% of dwelling units in Niagara County experience housing difficulties like poor plumbing, overcrowding, or trouble with the kitchen. In 1 out of 8 homes, residents allocate more than half of their income to housing alone.
Housing Insurance Analysis
Approximately 101 thousand housing units in Niagara County need insurance coverage. All owners of these properties should have at least Homeowners, Condo Insurance, and/or Business Property Insurance (for apartment complexes), to safeguard the financial investment from the possibility of damages or loss.
With around 29 thousand housing units in Niagara County listed as rentals, Landlords obtain Landlord Insurance to safeguard the property from possible liability claims from the tenants and their guests.
Renters Insurance Niagara Falls: Tenants can purchase Renters Insurance coverage to protect their belongings from possible damages or theft. This average renters insurance is quite affordable and can protect the property from damages caused by fire, smoke, sewage backup damage, water, and vandalism. Landlords in Niagara County may mandate renters insurance as part of the lease.
For consultation regarding Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of insurance in Niagara County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of New York.
A New York P&C insurance agent:
Examines your needs and limitations
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
Lays out available options of coverage
Describes the effect of the different options once the insurance policy becomes active
Helps you with the process of application
Does not influence your cost of insurance. (agent’s service is usually paid by the insurer).
Niagara County - Health Statistics and Analysis
| COUNTY | Uninsured Adults |
| Niagara County | 5% |
| Orleans County | 6% |
| Genesee County | 5% |
| Erie County | 5% |
Around 5% of adult residents (65 years and under) in Niagara County do not have proper health insurance coverage. Niagara County’s uninsured rate is the lowest among its neighbors, tying Genesee County and Erie County. The highest in the region is in Orleans County, with 6%, closer to the New York state average of 8%.
Across New York, the highest uninsured adult rate is in Queens County, with 12%, while the lowest rate is seen in Saratoga County, at under 5%.
In Niagara County, nearly 18% of its population experience problems with their health. Furthermore, almost 28% of its residents fail to participate in physical exercise activities, which contributes to why 32% of the Niagara County population is considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more). Among its peer counties, the highest obesity rate is observed in Orleans County, with 37%, while the lowest is reported in Erie County, with nearly 30%. The average obesity rate in the state of New York is around 26%.
In 2022, there were 51,356 Niagara County residents enrolled in Medicare, with the following utilization:
| Niagara COUNTY - MEDICARE | Usage |
| Original Medicare | 33% |
| Medicare Advantage | 67% |
| Original Medicare Part A and Part B | 25% |
| Medicare Advantage and Other Health Plan Part A and Part B Beneficiaries | 67% |
| Medicare Part D | 24% |
| Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan | 59% |
In 2022, there were 12 health insurers in Niagara County, offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the New York State of Health marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis
Health insurance is the most important insurance coverage, and more than 6 thousand adult Niagara County residents do not have this necessity.
Although New York is one of the few states that prohibits the sale of various alternative health insurance options, Niagara County residents can still browse for their preferred plans on a state-run health care exchange. While Group or Individual ACA health insurance is the most common coverage for Niagara Falls residents, supplementary options can also be purchased. For example, Hospital Indemnity Insurance and Accident & Health insurance can help cover the out of pocket expenses such as deductibles, copay, and coinsurance, in case of emergency. Disability income insurance can help cover the lost income in case if a disability takes the insured out of the workforce.
Low-income health insurance: Low-income consumers are generally advised to apply for government subsidies if they cannot purchase health insurance due to unaffordability, as this will substantially lower the cost of insurance.
Discuss your health insurance needs with a knowledgeable state-licensed New York health insurance professional with access to a variety of health insurance plans available to Niagara County residents. Offerings of health insurance coverage and its pricing may differ between zip codes.
A New York 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.
Niagara County - End of Life Statistics and Analysis
| COUNTY | Average Life Expectancy |
| Niagara County | 78.1 |
| Orleans County | 77.6 |
| Genesee County | 78.1 |
| Erie County | 78.7 |
In Niagara County, the average life expectancy is around 78.1 years old. This figure is lower than the New York average of 81.4 years. Among its neighboring counties, Erie County has the longest average life span, while Orleans County has the shortest in the region.
Statewide, New York County has the highest average life expectancy at 85.2 years, while the shortest life span is seen in Chemung County, at under 77 years old.
In 2022 there were approximately 40,523 seniors (65 and older) residing in Niagara County.
Life Insurance Facts
In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
Life insurance premiums are based on the insured's age when the policy begins, among other factors. The younger you get it, the more you save in premiums throughout the policy.
Nearly 23% of residents in Niagara County are smokers. This habit will certainly raise the life insurance premiums of more than 38,000 individuals by up to 4 times compared to non-smokers. A smoker's life span is deemed 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 use as collateral for loans, or even used as a source of tax-free retirement income.
Niagara County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis
Funeral expenses vary drastically in and around Niagara County. The average cost of a funeral in the county is around $5,400. In the nearby area, Genesee County posts the most expensive funeral costs, averaging $6,200, while Erie County has the least expensive, not only among its neighbors but across the state of New York, with $4,900. Statewide, Suffolk County has the highest average funeral expense at $10,500, almost doubling the New York state average of $6,500.
Life Insurance Analysis
Nearly 46% of Americans die with a savings of less than $10,000. Because of this fact, around 19 thousand senior residents of Niagara County could be placing an unpleasant and unnecessary financial burden on their families and loved ones. Instead of mourning their loss, they’ll need to focus on finding ways to settle funeral costs.
(Note: If using life insurance as payment for the funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be “assignable”)In addition to burial expenses, the departed frequently leave behind unpaid taxes and other financial obligations for their loved ones to settle. Discuss your senior life insurance options with a licensed New York life insurance professional.
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 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.
The most commonly used life insurance for tax-free retirement funding is Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance.
To find out more about life insurance options and to get life insurance quotes in Niagara County, speak with a knowledgeable state-licensed and experienced life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison.
Niagara County - Business
Commercial insurance needs differ for each of the over 4 thousand business establishments in Niagara County. The largest job-creating sectors are:
Health Care & Social Assistance
Manufacturing
Retail Trade.
Commercial Insurance Analysis
Each of the businesses in Niagara 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:
Health insurance,
Life insurance,
Disability insurance,
Workers’ Compensation insurance, and
Unemployment insurance.
Medical malpractice coverage protects both patients and insured medical professionals, which is beneficial to health care workers.
Manufacturing businesses need insurance to protect the production facilities and the workers and get product liability coverage to protect the company itself if their product hurts someone or something.
At a minimum, Niagara County retail establishments typically get Property insurance, Business liability, Business income, and Workers’ compensation insurance.
To assess your business insurance needs in Niagara County and to get a commercial insurance quote, speak with a knowledgeable New York-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.
