Located in the Big Bend, the area between the panhandle and peninsular Florida, Jefferson County touches both the Gulf Coastline and the Georgia-Florida state line. This county is among the least populated in the state, with only 14,105 residents as of 2018, according to the US Census Bureau.
Living in Jefferson
Most of the county consists of sparsely populated farmland, as almost 13,000 residents, roughly 90% of the population, live in Monticello, the county seat and part of the Tallahassee metropolitan area. The next largest town is Lamont, which only has about 1,400 residents.
There are numerous historical sites and buildings throughout the county, including Native American burial sites, the Perkins Opera House, and the Monticello Old Jail Museum, as well as numerous forts that were built in the 1800s, including Camp Carter, Fort Aucilla, and Fort Roger Jones.
The median home value in Jefferson County is $170,617. That value is relatively expensive considering that the median household income is $48,173, which is about 80% of the national median.
Home Insurance Premiums in Jefferson County
Home insurance premiums in Florida in Jefferson County are also relatively high for the area, which is likely caused by the limited area in the county that is close to the Gulf coastline, while the rest of the county is much further inland. As you can see in the chart below, having homes that are built to withstand a certain amount of stress from tropical storms tend to have lower premiums.
For homeowners in Jefferson County with pre-2001 homes, having wind mitigation features like storm shutters can save them as much as $500, on average.
Average Homeowners Premiums in Jefferson County
| Construction Type | Home Value | Average Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2001 (No Wind Mitigation) | $150,000 | $1,707.78 |
| Pre-2001 (With Wind Mitigation) | $150,000 | $1,178.41 |
| New Construction | $300,000 | $1,929.67 |
| Overall Average | $1,605.28 |
From the data provided by Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation, the overall average for homeowners insurance for this county is $1,605. Another way that homeowners in Jefferson County can save on their homeowners insurance premiums is to compare as many quotes as they can between insurance companies that operate in the area. The gap between the county-wide average and lowest company averages in Jefferson County is quite significant compared to other areas in Florida.
For example, for new construction homes worth $300,000, Jefferson County homeowners can potentially save close to $1,000 on their home insurance premiums if they get a policy with Stillwater. Of course, you’re not guaranteed a specific price point for insurance no matter what the average is, but this list gives you a great starting point for your comparison shopping.
For $150,000 homes built before 2001 without wind mitigation, the average premium is $1,1708.
Check out the companies below for cheaper rates:
- Stillwater – $1,094
- Security First – $1,157
- St. Johns – $1,258
- Citizens – $1,290
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $150,000, Pre-2001 Construction Without Wind Mitigation Rate in Jefferson County
| Company | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Stillwater | $1,094 |
| Security First | $1,157 |
| St. Johns | $1,258 |
| Citizens | $1,290 |
| First Protective | $1,315 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $1,332 |
| Southern Fidelity | $1,418 |
| Florida Farm Bureau | $1,436 |
| Tower Hill Select | $1,462 |
| First Community | $1,508 |
| Florida Peninsula | $1,524 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $1,566 |
| FedNat | $1,602 |
| People's Trust | $1,633 |
| American Integrity | $1,654 |
| American Traditions | $1,665 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $1,688 |
| Family Security | $1,736 |
| ASI | $1,791 |
| Southern Oak | $1,837 |
| Universal | $2,068 |
| Florida Family | $2,127 |
| Auto Club of Florida | $2,145 |
| Castle Key | $2,207 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,468 |
| State Farm Florida | $2,547 |
| Universal | $2,582 |
| Average | $1,707.78 |
For $150,000 homes built before 2001 with wind mitigation, the average premium is $1,178.
Check out the companies below for cheaper rates:
- First Protective – $661
- St. Johns – $741
- Florida Farm – $759
- Stillwater – $779
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $150,000, Pre-2001 Construction With Wind Mitigation Rate in Jefferson County
| Company | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| First Protective | $661 |
| St. Johns | $741 |
| Florida Farm Bureau | $759 |
| Stillwater | $779 |
| Citizens | $841 |
| FedNat | $877 |
| Universal | $945 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $945 |
| Tower Hill Select | $1,011 |
| Southern Fidelity | $1,026 |
| Security First | $1,059 |
| People's Trust | $1,075 |
| Florida Peninsula | $1,105 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $1,114 |
| Southern Oak | $1,202 |
| First Community | $1,231 |
| American Traditions | $1,231 |
| Family Security | $1,251 |
| American Integrity | $1,261 |
| Florida Family | $1,273 |
| ASI | $1,308 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $1,323 |
| Universal | $1,332 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,664 |
| Castle Key | $1,737 |
| Auto Club of Florida | $1,839 |
| State Farm Florida | $2,227 |
| Average | $1,178.41 |
For $300,000 homes with new construction, the average premium is $1,930.
Check out the companies below for cheaper rates:
- Stillwater – $995
- St. Johns – $1,185
- First Protective – $1,250
- Florida Farm – $1,313
List of Companies & Rates for Home Valued at $300,000, New Construction in Jefferson County
| Company | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Stillwater | $995 |
| St. Johns | $1,185 |
| First Protective | $1,250 |
| Florida Farm Bureau | $1,313 |
| Security First | $1,352 |
| Tower Hill Select | $1,581 |
| Southern Oak | $1,605 |
| People's Trust | $1,646 |
| American Traditions | $1,688 |
| FedNat | $1,702 |
| Citizens | $1,712 |
| Tower Hill Prime | $1,768 |
| Florida Peninsula | $1,796 |
| American Integrity | $1,806 |
| Universal | $1,845 |
| Family Security | $1,845 |
| First Community | $1,886 |
| Tower Hill Preferred | $1,952 |
| Southern Fidelity | $2,020 |
| ASI | $2,104 |
| Universal | $2,307 |
| Florida Family | $2,334 |
| Tower Hill Signature | $2,363 |
| Auto Club of Florida | $2,416 |
| Castle Key | $2,520 |
| Liberty Mutual | $3,377 |
| State Farm Florida | $3,733 |
| Average | $1,929.67 |
Flood Insurance in Jefferson
You’ll also need to find a separate flood insurance policy to financially protect your home from flooding damage due to tropical storms, which isn’t covered under standard home insurance policies and is all too common in Jefferson County. Fortunately, finding the most affordable price is much simpler when it comes to flood insurance.
First Protective, among other regional companies, underwrites price-controlled flood insurance policies that the federal government provides to homeowners living in areas at risk for flooding.
This is done through the National Flood Insurance Program, but you’ll need to keep in mind that these policies do have a cap. Coverage for NFIP policies is limited to $250,000, so you may need additional private flood insurance if your home ends up being worth more than that amount.
