Butler County

Butler County, Iowa – key demographics (latest Census/ACS estimates; rounded)

Population

• Total: 14,334 (2020 Census). Latest ACS (2019–2023): ~14.2k

Age

• Median age: ~45 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18–64: ~55%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White alone: ~95–96%
• Black or African American: ~0.4–0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2%
• Asian: ~0.2–0.3%
• Two or more races: ~2.5–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~6,000
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~59% (married-couple ~49%)
• Nonfamily households: ~41%
• Owner-occupied housing: ~80% (renters ~20%)

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

Butler County, IA email usage (estimates)

Population base: ~14,000 residents; ~11,000 adults (18+).

Estimated email users: 10.5–12.0k residents use email at least monthly (≈88–92% of adults; teens 13–17 add ~0.8k users).

Age mix of email users:

• 13–17: ~7%
• 18–34: ~20%
• 35–54: ~35%
• 55–64: ~18%
• 65+: ~20% Usage intensity is highest among 18–54; adoption among 65+ is widespread but somewhat less frequent.

Gender split among users: roughly even, ~50–51% female, ~49–50% male (mirrors county demographics).

Digital access/connection trends:

• Home broadband subscription is likely in the high-70s to mid-80s percent of households (in line with rural Iowa ACS patterns), with smartphone‑only internet in roughly 10–15% of households.
• Connectivity is strongest in towns (Allison, Parkersburg, Shell Rock, Clarksville, Greene, Aplington) with cable/fiber; DSL and fixed‑wireless remain common in outlying areas.
• Mobile LTE/5G covers most populated corridors; speeds and reliability drop on rural roads.
• Public Wi‑Fi via libraries/schools supplements home access.

Local density/context:

• Low rural density (~25 residents per square mile) raises last‑mile costs, producing a mix of fiber/cable in towns and wireless/DSL in the countryside.

Notes: Figures are modeled from 2020–2023 Census/ACS and national email adoption benchmarks.

Mobile phone usage in Butler County, Iowa — 2025 snapshot

Context size

• Population: roughly 14,000–15,000 residents; about 5,500–6,000 households.
• Older-than-state age profile and lower population density than Iowa overall.

User estimates

• Adult smartphone users: about 8,500–9,500 (roughly 80–85% of adults; slightly lower than Iowa’s ~85–90%).
• Total active mobile lines (phones, tablets, watches, hotspots, farm/IoT): about 12,000–15,000.
• 5G handset penetration among smartphone users: roughly 55–65% (below Iowa’s ~65–75%, reflecting older devices and slower upgrade cycles).
• Mobile-only/phone-dependent internet households: estimated 20–25% (above the state average, reflecting patchier wired broadband outside towns).
• Prepaid share: modestly higher than statewide (budget/MVNO lines more common).
• Enterprise/IoT lines: higher per capita than state average due to agriculture (bin sensors, fleet trackers, field equipment).

Demographic patterns (vs. Iowa)

• Age: 65+ adoption lags the state by several points; seniors more likely to keep LTE-only or basic devices.
• Income: more price-sensitive plans and Android skew than statewide; family plans and MVNOs (e.g., Cricket, Straight Talk, Visible) are common.
• Youth: near-universal smartphone access among teens, but daytime data use shifts toward nearby cities (school/commute to Waterloo–Cedar Falls/Waverly).
• Occupation: agriculture and manufacturing drive above-average use of rugged devices and M2M connections.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: Verizon, AT&T/FirstNet, T‑Mobile, and UScellular. UScellular retains a noticeably larger share here than statewide due to rural coverage depth.
• 4G LTE: generally good in and between towns (Parkersburg, Aplington, Shell Rock, Clarksville, Allison, Greene), with occasional dead zones in river bottoms and sparsely populated townships.
• 5G:
  • Low-band 5G (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon DSS): broad but variable performance; often 30–100 Mbps outside towns.
  • Mid-band 5G (especially T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz; pockets from AT&T/Verizon C‑band): mainly in/near towns and along primary corridors; 100–300+ Mbps where available.
• Fixed broadband interplay: fiber is present in some towns and along select rural routes (often via local telco/coop builds), but coverage is uneven; many farmsteads use LTE/5G fixed wireless or satellite as primary/backup service.
• Public safety: FirstNet adoption is visible among agencies; coverage improvements tend to follow AT&T macro upgrades on main corridors.

How Butler County differs from Iowa overall

• Lower smartphone and 5G device penetration, tied to older demographics and longer upgrade cycles.
• Higher reliance on mobile as primary home internet, due to uneven wired broadband outside municipal cores.
• UScellular retains meaningful market share locally, unlike its smaller statewide profile.
• More IoT/M2M lines per capita due to agriculture and small-fleet logistics.
• Slightly higher prepaid/MVNO usage and stronger Android skew from price sensitivity.
• Speed variability is greater: solid LTE and mid-band 5G in town; noticeable performance drops in exurban stretches and river valleys compared with statewide averages.

Notes and validation tips

• Treat figures as reasoned estimates based on rural Iowa usage patterns, ACS/FCC trends, and carrier build-outs through 2024. For planning, verify with: FCC National Broadband Map for fixed/5G availability, carrier native coverage maps and mid-band 5G layers, and local providers (telco/coop) for fiber footprints and current projects.

Here’s a concise, practical snapshot based on the best available public research (Pew Research 2023–2024) adjusted for rural communities and Butler County’s size/demographics. County-specific platform data isn’t published, so figures are estimates and shown as ranges.

County snapshot

• Population: ~14K; adults (18+): ~10.5–11.5K
• Connectivity: smartphone adoption ~85–90%; home broadband ~70–80%
• Social media penetration (any platform): adults ~80–85%; teens ~95%+

Most-used platforms (estimated share of residents who use the platform) Adults (18+)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• Pinterest: 28–35%
• TikTok: 22–28%
• Snapchat: 20–25%
• LinkedIn: 18–22%
• X/Twitter: 12–18%
• Reddit: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: 2–5%

Teens (13–17)

• YouTube: 90–95%
• Snapchat: 60–70%
• TikTok: 60–70%
• Instagram: 55–65%
• Discord: 25–35%
• Reddit: 20–30%
• Facebook: 20–30%
• X/Twitter: 15–25%

Age-group patterns (adults)

• 18–29: heavy on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; DMs > public posts; YouTube for music/how‑to.
• 30–49: Facebook for Groups/Marketplace/events; Instagram growing; YouTube for how‑to, product research; TikTok rising.
• 50–64: Facebook daily use; YouTube; Pinterest common; cautious but increasing TikTok viewing via shares/Reels.
• 65+: Facebook and Messenger dominate; YouTube for news/weather/how‑to; minimal use elsewhere.

Gender skews (adults; tendencies)

• Women: higher on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; moderate TikTok, Snapchat.
• Men: higher on YouTube, Reddit, X/Twitter; somewhat higher on LinkedIn; moderate Facebook/Instagram.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the local hub: town/community groups, school and youth sports updates, local news/obits, fundraisers, lost/found, and heavy Marketplace use.
• Short-form video works: locally relevant 15–30s clips (sports highlights, farm/rural life, events) perform best on Facebook Reels/TikTok; many watch with sound off—use captions.
• Messaging > commenting: residents often shift to Messenger/SMS/Snapchat to coordinate (appointments, buys/sells, volunteering).
• Trust and locality: posts from known local entities (schools, churches, first responders, small businesses) get strong engagement; photos with recognizable people/places outperform.
• Timing: peaks early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekend posts and live event coverage travel further.
• Seasonality: spikes around school sports seasons, county fair, severe-weather events, planting/harvest windows.
• Ads/targeting: best ROI from tight geofencing around main towns (e.g., Allison, Parkersburg, Aplington, Clarksville, Greene, Shell Rock, New Hartford); use Facebook/Instagram for reach, YouTube pre-roll for awareness, Snapchat/TikTok for 13–29.

Notes on data

• Estimates blend Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 social media use (with rural adjustments) and ACS county demographics. For exact local percentages, pair this with platform ad audience tools or a short community survey.