ESSEX COUNTY
Health Statistics and Analysis - Essex County
| NEIGHBORING COUNTY | Uninsured Adults |
| Essex County | 15% |
| Bergen County | 10% |
| Hudson County | 16% |
| Morris County | 6% |
| Passaic County | 17% |
| Union County | 16% |
On average, 11% of New Jersey’s adult population do not have proper health insurance coverage. In Essex County, the rate is higher - at 15%. Among its peers, this is the third-highest figure, closely following behind Hudson County and Union County. Among the immediate neighbors, the highest uninsured ratio is in Passaic County - which is also the highest in the state. Meanwhile, Morris County has the most properly insured - matching Hunterdon County for the position of the least uninsured in New Jersey.
At least 4 health insurance companies offer affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance to the residents of Essex County, on and off the state-operated New Jersey’s official health insurance marketplace.
Health Problems
Around 21% of adults in Essex County experience health problems:
| Health Factors | % of Population |
| Adults who smoke | 16% |
| Higher than average alcohol consumption | 17% |
| Lack sufficient sleep | 41% |
Furthermore, an estimated 30% of Essex County residents do not engage in physical exercises, and this habit contributes to its adult obesity rate (with a BMI of 30 or more) of 30%.
Essex County’s adult obesity rate is higher than the statewide average:
| NEIGHBORING COUNTY | Obesity Rate |
| Essex County | 30% |
| Bergen County | 22% |
| Hudson County | 24% |
| Morris County | 25% |
| Passaic County | 31% |
| Union County | 28% |
| State Average | 26% |
Medicare
In 2022, 119,955 residents in Essex County were enrolled in Medicare.
Essex County Medicare Utilization:
| MEDICARE PLAN TYPE | % of Eligible Users |
| Original Medicare | 54% |
| Medicare Advantage | 46% |
| Original Medicare Part A and Part B | 41% |
| Medicare Advantage and Other Health Plan Part A and Part B Beneficiaries | 46% |
| Medicare Part D (Medigap) | 77% |
| Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan | 80% |
| Source: Data.CMS.gov | |
Health Insurance Analysis
Vehicle Statistics and Analysis - Essex County
There are an estimated 572,678 registered motor vehicles in Essex County. These vehicles make up over 9% of all the automobiles registered in New Jersey.
Roughly 3 out of 5 of Essex County’s adult population commute to their workplaces alone and nearly half of them spend at least one hour a day in the driver’s seat.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Essex County
In Essex County, motor vehicle fatalities statistically take place at a rate of 6 per 100,000 vehicles on the road. Around 16% of driving deaths in Essex County are attributable to alcohol-impaired driving.
According to data from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), there were 20,071 crashes reported in Essex County in 2020. Per the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), 39 of those crashes were fatal, causing 45 deaths.
Essex County - Auto Insurance Analysis
| More than 570 thousand vehicles registered in Essex County need insurance coverage
Auto Insurance Required in Essex County |
|
| Liability Coverage | Pays damages for causing the accident |
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | Pays your and your passenger's medical expenses |
| Uninsured Motorist Coverage | Protects the insured in an accident with uninsured or underinsured vehicle |
Residential Property Statistics and Analysis - Essex County
| NEIGHBORING COUNTY | Homeowners | Renters |
| Essex County | 44% | 56% |
| Bergen County | 65% | 35% |
| Hudson County | 32% | 68% |
| Morris County | 74% | 26% |
| Passaic County | 52% | 48% |
| Union County | 59% | 41% |
| State Average | 64% | 36% |
The majority of Essex County’s estimated 322,956 residential properties are rental units (56%), and the remaining 44% are occupied by their owners. Unlike their peers, both Essex County and Hudson County have housing market distributions that are the opposite to the majority of the state, where there are a higher proportion of homeowners than renters. Hudson County particularly records the most rental units (≈68%) not just in the region but across all of New Jersey as well. In the immediate area, the highest homeownership rate is found in Morris County.
Statewide, the leader in terms of owner-occupied homes is Hunterdon County (≈84%).
About 3 in 10 dwelling units in Essex County have housing problems, including substandard plumbing, kitchen issues, and overcrowding. In 24% of homes, residents allocate over 50% of their income to housing. This figure is the highest across the state.
Essex County Housing Insurance Analysis
| More than 320 thousand housing units in Essex County need insurance coverage: | ||
| ≈ 142,000 Homeowner
Occupied Dwellings |
HOMEOWNERS Insurance | All owners of residential properties should at least have property insurance to protect the underlying financial investment from possible loss or damage. |
| CONDO Insurance | ||
| COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Insurance (for multi-unit properties) | ||
| MANUFACTURED HOME Insurance | ||
| ≈ 181,000 Rental Units | LANDLORDS Insurance | Landlords purchase insurance which covers their property and themselves from liability claims that may possibly arise from the tenants and their guests.
If you rent out your home, basic homeowners insurance is not enough. |
| RENTERS Insurance in Newark | Tenants get renters insurance coverage to protect their belongings from possible damage or loss while living in a rented space. Average renters’ insurance is affordable and usually covers the tenant's property from theft and damages caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism.
Most landlords in Essex County add Renters insurance to the condition of the lease. |
|
Commerce and Insurance in Essex County
| Largest Job-Creating Sectors in Essex County |
| Health Care and Social Assistance |
| Retail Trade |
| Educational Services |
There are nearly 19 thousand business establishments in Essex County and they have varying commercial insurance needs.
Commercial Insurance Analysis
End of Life Statistics and Analysis - Essex County
| NEIGHBORING COUNTY | Average Life Expectancy |
| Essex County | 78.0 |
| Bergen County | 82.1 |
| Hudson County | 80.5 |
| Morris County | 81.8 |
| Passaic County | 78.9 |
| Union County | 79.8 |
At 78 years, Essex County residents have an average life expectancy that is close to the statewide average of 79.5 years. However, compared to its neighbors, this number is the lowest. The longest average expected life span is in Bergen County, whose statistic is comparable to the longest average life expectancy across the state — 82.3 years, which is observed in Hunterdon County.
The shortest statewide average is observed in Salem County at 74 years.
In 2022, there were approximately 114,000 senior residents (65 and older) in Essex County.
Life Insurance Facts
Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis in Essex County
On average, Essex County residents spend around $7,500 on funeral expenses, which is higher than New Jersey’s $6,900 average. Compared to its neighboring counties, this amount is also the highest. The least costly funerals are held in Passaic County ($5,800), followed by Hudson County at $6,100.
Across the state, the most expensive funeral expenses take place in Cape May County, where residents spend an average of $8,300. Funeral homes in Salem County offer the most affordable funeral price at $5,300.
Life Insurance Analysis
Most Common Life Insurance in Essex County
| Typical Use | Life Insurance Policy Type |
| Burial Insurance
(Death Benefit of up to $50,000) |
Term Life |
| Final Expense Insurance | |
| Death benefit of over $50,000 - $500,000 at the lowest cost | Term Life |
| Lifelong protection, Retirement Planning, Living Benefits, Cash Value accumulation, Tax-free access to CV, and Death Benefit | Indexed Universal Life (IUL) |
