Decatur County

Here are the latest high-level demographics for Decatur County, Indiana.

Population

• Total: 26,472 (2020 Census); ~26.6–26.7k (2023 Census estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~39–40 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~25%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Sex

• Female: ~50.3%
• Male: ~49.7%

Race and Hispanic origin (shares; ACS/Census)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~92–94%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2–3%
• Black, non-Hispanic: ~0.5–1%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~0.5–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~0.1–0.3%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~10.2–10.4k
• Persons per household: ~2.6
• Family households: ~68% of households (married-couple ~50–55%)
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–77%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; Population Estimates Program (2023); American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Decatur County, IN snapshot (estimates)

• Email users: ~19,000–22,000 residents. Basis: population ~28,000; ~21,000 adults; U.S. adult email adoption ≈90%+ (Pew). Teens add a small share.
• Age mix of email users (approximate share of users):
  • 13–17: 4–6%
  • 18–34: 23–28%
  • 35–54: 32–36%
  • 55–64: 13–16%
  • 65+: 18–22%
• Gender split: roughly even (≈49% male, 51% female), with negligible difference in email adoption by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household internet subscription likely ~80–85%; ~10–15% are mobile‑only; ~5–10% remain offline. Rural households show lower fixed‑broadband adoption than in‑town homes.
  • Fiber and fixed‑wireless availability have expanded in recent years via Indiana’s Next Level Connections and federal rural broadband programs; highest speeds cluster near Greensburg and along major corridors.
  • Smartphone ownership is widespread, making email access common even where fixed service lags.

Local density/connectivity context

• Population density is low (about 70–80 people per square mile), so last‑mile buildout costs are higher outside Greensburg.
• I‑74 and state highways provide stronger cellular corridors; some outlying farm areas experience inconsistent coverage.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from Census/ACS demographics and national/Indiana tech‑adoption benchmarks; treat as directional, not official counts.

Here’s a county‑level snapshot of mobile phone use in Decatur County, Indiana, with estimates and infrastructure notes, emphasizing what looks different from statewide patterns.

Quick scale

• Population base to size estimates: roughly 27–28k residents; about 21–22k adults (18+). One small urban center (Greensburg) with largely rural surroundings and the I‑74 corridor.

Estimated users and adoption

• Adult cellphone ownership: approximately 93–96% of adults, or about 19.5–21k people. This is a touch lower than Indiana’s metro‑heavy average but in line with rural U.S. rates.
• Adult smartphone ownership: approximately 80–85% of adults, or about 17–18.5k users. That trails likely statewide adoption by a few points, driven mostly by 65+ and lower‑income households.
• Teens (13–17): roughly 1.7–1.9k; smartphone adoption likely 90–95% (about 1.6–1.8k users).
• Total smartphone users (13+): on the order of 19–20k people in the county.
• Mobile‑only internet reliance: meaningfully higher than the Indiana average. Expect a notably larger share of households using smartphones/hotspots in place of home broadband outside Greensburg and off the I‑74 spine.

Demographic patterns (what stands out locally)

• Age: The county skews older than the state’s metro counties. Smartphone adoption among 65+ likely in the 60–70% range (a few points below state average), pulling down the overall rate.
• Income/education: Median income and bachelor’s‑degree attainment run below state average, which typically correlates with more Android devices, slower upgrade cycles, and greater use of prepaid/MVNO plans; Decatur likely follows that rural pattern more than Indiana overall.
• Race/ethnicity: The population is predominantly non‑Hispanic White, with a small but growing Hispanic community. Language‑support needs are modest but present (bilingual plans/support can matter for a subset of households).
• Work context: A larger share of manufacturing and agriculture than the state average. Expect slightly higher penetration of work‑issued lines/IoT SIMs (e.g., at Honda Manufacturing in Greensburg) and ag telemetry on LTE.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage pattern: Strongest along I‑74 and in/near Greensburg; more variable in low‑lying and wooded areas. Tower density is lower than state average outside the corridor.
• 5G: Mid‑band 5G is present in/near Greensburg and along I‑74, but LTE remains the dominant experience in outlying areas. That contrasts with metro Indiana, where mid‑band 5G is now common.
• Backhaul: Fiber backhaul is concentrated along highway and town routes; microwave backhaul still appears in rural sectors, which can cap capacity during peaks.
• Fixed broadband interplay: Cable and fiber are available in parts of Greensburg; outside town, options skew to DSL, fixed wireless, or recent fiber builds from co‑ops/grant projects. Where fixed options are thin, households rely more on mobile data and hotspots—more so than the state average.
• Emergency and public‑safety networks: First responder coverage (e.g., FirstNet) has improved along main routes; indoor coverage can still be challenging in older buildings and hollows.

How Decatur County differs from Indiana statewide

• Slightly lower smartphone adoption overall, driven by older and lower‑income households.
• Higher reliance on mobile service for primary home internet, especially beyond Greensburg.
• Slower, patchier 5G uptake off the highway corridor; more LTE‑only zones than in metro counties.
• Likely higher share of prepaid/MVNO plans and longer device replacement cycles.
• More cellular IoT/M2M lines per capita tied to agriculture and manufacturing than in urban counties.

What to watch next

• Ongoing fiber and fixed‑wireless builds from state grant programs and rural cooperatives that can reduce mobile‑only dependence.
• Expansion of mid‑band 5G beyond I‑74 that could lift mobile speeds and capacity in the townships.
• Affordability program changes (post‑ACP) that may shift users toward prepaid/MVNO or shared family plans.

Sources and method (for transparency)

• Baselines: U.S. Census/ACS for population and age structure; county known to be largely rural with Greensburg as the hub.
• Adoption rates: Pew Research Center (cellphone/smartphone ownership by age, rural vs. urban); applied to Decatur’s age mix to size local ranges.
• Infrastructure: FCC National Broadband Map and carrier buildout patterns in rural Indiana; Indiana Next Level Connections and rural co‑op fiber trends.
• The figures above are estimates anchored to these benchmarks and the county’s geography and industry mix; a local survey or carrier MRIN data would refine them.

Below is a concise, locality‑aware snapshot. Note: County‑level platform stats aren’t published; figures are modeled from Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. usage rates, adjusted for a rural Midwestern county with ~27K residents, plus local demographic patterns. Treat as directional.

Headline user stats (modeled)

• Population: ≈27,000; 13+ population ≈21,000.
• Social media users (13+): ≈18,000–19,500 (≈85–90% of 13+; ≈66–72% of total population).
• Adult social users (18+): ≈16,500–17,700.

Age mix and platform tendencies

• 13–17: ~6–7% of users; near‑universal use. Heavy on TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; light Facebook posting (but many have accounts).
• 18–24: ~10–12%; TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat dominant; YouTube daily; Facebook mostly for events/groups.
• 25–34: ~16–18%; Instagram/TikTok for discovery; Facebook + Marketplace for local buying/selling; YouTube for how‑tos.
• 35–54: ~34–38%; Facebook is the hub (Groups, Marketplace, school/youth sports, churches). YouTube high; Pinterest strong among women.
• 55+: ~28–32%; Facebook and YouTube lead; gradual TikTok/Instagram growth via Reels/Shorts; Messenger commonly used.

Gender breakdown (modeled)

• Users: ≈52% women, 48% men.
• Women over‑index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, local Groups/Marketplace.
• Men over‑index on YouTube, X (Twitter), Reddit; still heavy Facebook use for local info.

Most‑used platforms in Decatur County (adult reach, monthly; modeled)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–75% (Groups/Marketplace very active)
• Instagram: 38–45%
• TikTok: 28–35%
• Snapchat: 25–30% (60–75% among 13–24)
• Pinterest: 28–35% overall; 45–55% of adult women
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 15–20% (higher among college‑educated/professionals)
• Reddit: 12–18%
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (Facebook Groups fill most “neighborhood” use cases)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook as the community backbone: School updates, church and youth sports, local news, lost/found pets, road closures, festivals. Marketplace is a top local commerce channel (autos, tools, farm/home goods).
• Short‑form video surge: Facebook Reels, Instagram Reels, TikTok drive discovery; vertical, 6–30 seconds with captions performs best. YouTube Shorts growing, while longer YouTube remains key for how‑to, repairs, DIY, ag/mechanical content.
• Messaging > comments: Many residents DM via Messenger/Instagram/Snap for quotes, appointments, and inventory checks.
• Local trust hierarchy: Official pages (city/county, sheriff, schools), local paper/radio, and well‑known community admins carry outsized credibility and reach.
• Timing patterns: Peaks 7–9 pm ET on weeknights; lunchtime scroll (12–1 pm); Sat mornings strong for Marketplace; Sun early evening good for events.
• Devices and access: Mobile‑first viewing; some rural coverage gaps—optimize for fast loads, captions, and clear text overlays.
• Purchase drivers: Limited‑time offers, clear prices, pickups within 10–20 miles, and visuals of actual inventory. Service categories that perform: auto, HVAC, home improvement, ag/farm supply, dining.

Practical targeting cheatsheet

• Teens/young adults: TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram; creator‑style short video; music trends.
• Parents 25–44: Facebook + Instagram; Reels; school/sports tie‑ins; Marketplace placements.
• 45–64: Facebook Groups/Pages; local news tie‑ins; YouTube pre‑roll for how‑to and product demos.
• 65+: Facebook (simple creative, large text), boosted local announcements; Messenger for responses.