Vermillion County

Vermillion County, Indiana — key demographics

Population size

• 2020 Census: 15,439
• 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimate: 15,269

Age

• Median age: 42.7 years
• Under 18: 22.4%
• 18–64: 58.0%
• 65 and over: 19.6%

Gender (sex)

• Female: 50.6%
• Male: 49.4%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS, race alone unless noted)

• White: 95.0%
• Black or African American: 1.0%
• American Indian & Alaska Native: 0.3%
• Asian: 0.2%
• Two or more races: 3.2%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 2.2%

Households and housing

• Total households: 6,315
• Average household size: 2.41
• Family households: 62.3% (married-couple families: 49.1%)
• Households with children under 18: 27.6%
• One-person households: 29.7% (65+ living alone: 12.5%)
• Occupied housing tenure: owner-occupied 77%, renter-occupied 23%

Insights

• Small, slowly declining population since 2020
• Older age structure than the state overall
• Predominantly White with modest racial/ethnic diversity
• Smaller household sizes and high owner-occupancy typical of rural counties

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census and 2019–2023 American Community Survey (5-year).

Vermillion County, IN snapshot

• Population ~15,400; ~6,400 households; density ~60 residents per square mile.
• Estimated email users: ~11,500 residents (≈75% of total population; ≈92–96% of connected adults).
• Age distribution of email users (share of all users): 13–17: ~6%, 18–29: ~17%, 30–49: ~31%, 50–64: ~25%, 65+: ~21%.
• Gender split among users: roughly even (≈50% female, 50% male), mirroring the population.

Digital access and trends

• Home broadband subscription estimated at ~75–80% of households; smartphone ownership ~85–90% of adults; ~10–15% of households are mobile‑only for internet.
• Email engagement is strongest among working‑age adults and students; lower among the oldest cohorts due to access and usability barriers.
• Connectivity is best in population centers (e.g., Clinton and other towns) with cable/fiber options; rural townships show more reliance on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite, which can depress frequent email use.
• Public institutions (schools, libraries, municipal buildings) provide important Wi‑Fi access that bridges gaps for lower‑income and remote residents.
• Ongoing fiber build‑outs along major corridors are improving speeds and reliability, but last‑mile coverage remains the main constraint in sparsely populated areas.

Mobile phone usage in Vermillion County, Indiana (2024 profile)

Executive snapshot

• Small, older, and more rural than Indiana overall, Vermillion County shows near-universal mobile adoption but distinctly higher reliance on mobile as the primary household internet, a larger prepaid footprint, and slower, more variable 5G performance outside town centers.

User estimates

• Population and households: ≈15.2k residents; ≈6.3k households.
• Mobile phone users (any mobile): ≈12.4k users (adults and teens combined).
• Smartphone users: ≈11.3k users.
• Wireless-only telephone households (no landline): ≈78% (≈4.9k households), a few points higher than the statewide rate.
• Mobile-broadband–only households (cellular data plan but no fixed home broadband): ≈17% (≈1.1k households), notably above the statewide share.

Demographic breakdown (ownership and dependence)

• Age
  • 18–34: ≈95% smartphone ownership; behavior aligned with state norms.
  • 35–64: ≈90% smartphone ownership; slightly below state by a few points.
  • 65+: ≈70% smartphone ownership; materially below state (mid-to-high 70s), reflecting the county’s older age profile and rural topology.
• Income
  • Lower-income households show higher smartphone-only internet dependence (≈25–30%) than the state average (≈15–20%), driven by limited fixed-broadband options outside Clinton and budget sensitivity.
• Plan type
  • Prepaid and value MVNO plans comprise an estimated ≈28% of lines, versus ≈22% statewide, reflecting price sensitivity and credit-screen avoidance.
• Device turnover
  • Average replacement cycle ≈3.5–3.8 years, longer than the state average (≈3.0–3.3), consistent with rural cost-conscious segments.

Usage patterns

• Data consumption: Typical smartphone cellular use ≈18–25 GB per month; a larger-than-average tail of heavy users hotspotting for home access. Mobile-only households and 5G fixed wireless subscribers drive peak usage.
• Voice/SMS: Higher persistence of traditional voice/SMS among seniors compared with state norms, though app-based messaging and video remain dominant among younger cohorts.
• Applications: Video streaming, social platforms, and mobile banking are widespread, but 4K/HD streaming on cellular is less consistent outside towns due to mid-band 5G gaps.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: All three national operators serve the county. LTE coverage is broad along population centers and corridors; 5G low-band covers towns and main roads, with mid-band 5G concentrated in and around Clinton and along US-63. mmWave is not a meaningful factor.
• Performance: In-town 5G speeds are solid; rural areas often fall back to low-band 5G/LTE with lower capacity and higher variability than state urban/suburban averages.
• Fixed broadband context: Cable and fiber are available in core Clinton neighborhoods, while outlying areas rely on DSL, fixed wireless ISPs, and increasingly 5G FWA or LEO satellite. This patchwork elevates mobile- and FWA-only household shares relative to Indiana overall.
• Public safety and resilience: FirstNet-capable coverage and band-14 buildouts are present on primary corridors; coverage in river valleys and wooded areas can be spotty between macro sites, yielding more dead zones than typical state conditions.
• Infrastructure density: Fewer macro towers per square mile than the state average; coverage relies on larger cell footprints, increasing edge-of-cell performance issues outside towns.

How Vermillion County differs from Indiana overall

• Higher dependence on mobile as primary internet: ≈17% of households vs ≈11% statewide.
• More wireless-only telephone households: ≈78% vs ≈74–76% statewide.
• Lower senior smartphone adoption: ≈70% vs mid-to-high 70s statewide.
• Larger prepaid/MVNO share: ≈28% vs ≈22%.
• Slower, more variable 5G off-corridor: Lower mid-band 5G penetration and fewer sectorized sites reduce speeds compared with state urban/suburban averages.
• Higher adoption of 5G fixed wireless for home broadband in fringe and rural areas.

Data notes

• Figures are 2024 estimates derived from U.S. Census (ACS) population/household counts, CDC/NCHS wireless-only telephone trends, Pew/NHIS smartphone ownership by age, FCC coverage inventories, and rural adoption differentials observed in Indiana. Estimates are calibrated to Vermillion County’s rural/age/income profile to highlight meaningful departures from state-level patterns.

Social media usage in Vermillion County, Indiana (2025 snapshot)

Population base

• Total residents: ~15,400
• Residents age 13+: ~13,000
• Social media users (13+): ~9,400 (≈72% penetration)

User composition

• By gender (share of users): ~52% female, ~48% male
• By age group (share of users):
  • 13–17: ~10%
  • 18–24: ~11%
  • 25–34: ~16%
  • 35–49: ~26%
  • 50–64: ~23%
  • 65+: ~14%

Most-used platforms among local social media users (13+)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~62%
• Instagram: ~38%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Pinterest: ~25%
• Snapchat: ~25%
• X (Twitter): ~19%
• LinkedIn: ~17%
• Reddit: ~13%

Behavioral trends

• Facebook as the community hub: Strong reliance on local Groups (news, school updates, events) and Marketplace for buy/sell; best organic reach for local businesses targeting 35+.
• Video-first consumption: Short-form video (TikTok/Reels/Shorts) is the fastest-growing content type; how‑to and local highlight reels overperform.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger dominates broadly; Snapchat is core for teens and 18–24; WhatsApp usage remains niche.
• Generational split:
  • Under 35: heavier on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat; more creator behavior and short-form video posting.
  • 35–64: Facebook-first for news, community info, and commerce; YouTube for tutorials and product research.
  • 65+: Facebook and YouTube usage is steady; lower adoption of TikTok/Instagram.
• Engagement cadences: Spikes around local events (weather alerts, school and high‑school sports, fairs); evening and early‑morning peaks; weekday mid‑day lulls.
• Commerce and discovery: Facebook Marketplace is the primary P2P channel; local businesses see stronger conversion with Facebook posts/ads for 35+, and TikTok/Instagram Reels for under‑35.
• Trust and verification: High reliance on hyperlocal pages/groups; users respond to posts with clear local ties (recognizable landmarks, school names) and are wary of generic ads or Marketplace scams.

Methodology note

• Figures are 2025 estimates derived from ACS population profiles for Vermillion County (2019–2023) and Pew Research Center U.S. platform adoption rates (2023–2024), adjusted for rural Midwest demographics and age mix. Percentages reflect share of local social media users age 13+ using each platform.