Hardin County

Hardin County, Iowa — key demographics

Population size

• 16.7k residents (2023 Population Estimates Program). 2020 Census: 16,878.

Age

• Median age: about 43 years (ACS 2019–2023).
• Under 18: ~21%.
• 65 and over: ~22%. Insight: Older age profile than the U.S. overall.

Gender

• Female: ~50%.
• Male: ~50%.

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~92%.
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~5–6%.
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2%.
• Black/African American, non-Hispanic: ~1%.
• Asian, non-Hispanic: <1%.
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: <1%.

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~7,100.
• Average household size: ~2.3 persons.
• Family households: ~59% of households; average family size ~2.9.
• Households with children under 18: ~25%.
• Owner-occupied housing: ~76% of occupied units.
• Total housing units: ~8,000; vacancy roughly ~12%. Insight: High owner-occupancy and smaller household sizes typical of rural Iowa counties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Population Estimates Program; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year; 2020 Decennial Census.

Hardin County, IA snapshot (2024)

• Population and density: ~16,900 residents across ~570 sq mi (≈30 people per sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ~13,100 residents use email regularly.
• Age distribution of email users (approximate counts):
  • Under 18: ~900 (≈7%)
  • 18–34: ~3,000 (≈23%)
  • 35–54: ~4,300 (≈33%)
  • 55–64: ~1,900 (≈14%)
  • 65+: ~3,000 (≈23%)
• Gender split among email users: 51% female (6,700), 49% male (6,400).

Digital access and trends

• Households: 7,300; with a broadband subscription: ~84% (6,100); with a computer: 91% (6,650) (ACS-based).
• Adoption trend: Broadband subscription has risen steadily since 2018, with most town households (Iowa Falls, Eldora) on 100+ Mbps-capable service; take-up is lower in sparsely populated tracts.
• Mobile access: Majority of residents have smartphones; a single-digit share of households are mobile‑only, which constrains heavy email attachments and multi-account use.
• Connectivity context: Low population density increases last‑mile costs, but county libraries and schools provide free high-speed Wi‑Fi that supports email access for students and lower-income residents.

Method note: Counts reflect Hardin County’s age structure and ACS digital-access rates, applying near‑universal email use among connected adults and lower adoption among minors and the oldest residents.

Mobile phone usage in Hardin County, IA — 2024 snapshot

Key takeaways that differ from the Iowa statewide picture

• Slightly fewer adults own smartphones than the state average, reflecting the county’s older age structure and rural mix.
• A higher share of households rely primarily on cellular data/hotspots for home internet, driven by patchier fixed-broadband options outside town centers.
• Prepaid plans and basic handsets are used more often than statewide, indicating more price-sensitive segments and coverage-driven device choices.

Modeled user estimates (adults 18+)

• Any mobile phone: 12.4k–13.2k users (≈92–96% of adults), slightly below Iowa’s ≈95–97%.
• Smartphone users: 11.3k–12.0k (≈84–88% of adults), vs Iowa ≈88–92%.
• Smartphone-only internet households: ≈10–13% of households, vs Iowa ≈7–9%.
• Prepaid share of mobile lines: ≈23–28%, vs Iowa ≈17–21%.

Demographic breakdown (ownership and usage patterns)

• Age
  • 18–34: smartphone ownership ≈95–97%; heavy app, video, and social usage similar to state norms.
  • 35–64: ≈88–92% smartphone ownership; more work-related and navigation use, moderate hotspot use for backup connectivity.
  • 65+: ≈65–72% smartphone ownership and ≈90–93% mobile phone (any) ownership; greater reliance on voice/SMS, simpler devices, and medical/telehealth apps when broadband is available.
• Income and plan type
  • Low- to moderate-income households more often use prepaid and shared/family plans; higher incidence of smartphone-only internet to avoid separate home broadband bills.
• Geography within the county
  • Town centers (e.g., Iowa Falls, Eldora) show higher 5G usage and app adoption; farm and ex-urban areas show more LTE-only reliance, signal boosters, and hotspot use for home connectivity.
• Device mix
  • Slightly higher presence of budget Android devices than the state average; iOS share trails Iowa’s urban counties.

Digital infrastructure points

• Coverage and technology
  • 4G LTE: near-universal coverage across populated areas; signal variability persists in some low-lying rural stretches and fringe farmsteads.
  • 5G: present in and around major towns and along primary travel corridors; coverage becomes spotty with distance from towns. Mid-band 5G capacity is common in town centers; low-band 5G and LTE dominate rural areas.
• Performance
  • Typical town speeds: 5G ≈100–300 Mbps down (mid-band); LTE ≈15–50 Mbps.
  • Typical rural speeds: LTE ≈5–25 Mbps; 5G low-band ≈25–80 Mbps where available. Peak-time slowdowns are more pronounced than statewide because of fewer sectorized sites per capita.
• Fixed broadband interplay
  • Fiber and cable are available in town cores; outside them, DSL legacy plant and fixed wireless access remain common. This drives higher-than-average reliance on mobile hotspots as a primary or backup connection.
• Redundancy and resilience
  • Fewer macro sites per square mile than metro Iowa; storm-related outages can constrain single-carrier dependability, prompting some residents and businesses to maintain dual-SIM or cross-carrier hotspots.

Trends versus Iowa

• Adoption gap: Hardin County’s adult smartphone penetration trails the state by roughly 3–5 percentage points.
• Access mode: Smartphone-only/home-hotspot households exceed the state share by roughly 2–4 points.
• Network experience: Average rural throughput is lower and more variable than the state average; town-center 5G is competitive with state averages.
• Plan economics: Higher prepaid and budget device usage indicates greater price sensitivity and coverage-driven choices than in urban Iowa.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are 2024 modeled estimates synthesized from recent ACS/NTIA household tech-adoption patterns, rural vs. urban deltas observed in Iowa counties, FCC coverage filings, and national survey data (e.g., Pew) adjusted for Hardin County’s age, income, and rural composition. Ranges reflect uncertainty inherent in county-level estimation.

Social media usage in Hardin County, Iowa (2025 snapshot)

Baseline

• Population: ~16,700 residents; ~13,300 adults 18+ (U.S. Census Bureau 2023 estimates)
• Method: Platform reach percentages are based on the latest Pew Research Center U.S. figures with rural adjustments applied to Hardin County’s adult population. Counts reflect adults and can overlap because people use multiple platforms.

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adults using each; estimated local counts)

• YouTube: 81% (~10,800)
• Facebook: 70% (~9,300)
• Instagram: 38% (~5,100)
• Pinterest: 34% (~4,500)
• TikTok: 30% (~4,000)
• Snapchat: 25% (~3,300)
• LinkedIn: 26% (~3,500)
• X (Twitter): 20% (~2,700)
• WhatsApp: 19% (~2,500)
• Reddit: 18% (~2,400)
• Nextdoor: 10% (~1,300)

Age-group patterns (adoption tendencies in rural U.S., applied locally)

• 18–29: Very high overall social use (>90%). Heavy on YouTube (95%), Instagram (75–80%), Snapchat (60–70%), TikTok (60%); Facebook solid but secondary (~65–70%).
• 30–49: Broad multi-platform use (85%). Facebook (75–80%) and YouTube (90%) lead; Instagram (45–50%) and TikTok (35–40%) meaningful; Snapchat (25–30%).
• 50–64: Moderate use (70%). Facebook (70+%) and YouTube (80+%) dominate; Instagram (25–30%), TikTok (20%), Snapchat (10–15%).
• 65+: Selective use (45–50%). Facebook (50%) and YouTube (60%) lead; limited Instagram (10–15%), TikTok (10%), Snapchat (5%).

Gender breakdown (platform skews seen nationally, applied locally)

• Women: Higher on Facebook (by 8–10 points vs men), Instagram (by ~5 points), TikTok (by ~3 points), and especially Pinterest (49% of women vs ~17% of men).
• Men: Higher on YouTube (by 5–7 points), Reddit (25% men vs ~10% women), X/Twitter (by ~3–5 points), and slightly higher on LinkedIn.

Behavioral trends in Hardin County

• Facebook is the community hub: school sports and activities, churches, county fair, civic and emergency updates, buy/sell/Marketplace, farm and small-business groups. Groups and Messenger drive much of the daily engagement.
• YouTube is the go-to for practical content: equipment maintenance, DIY, home and acreage improvements, and local government or school board recordings where available.
• Younger residents split time across Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok; Stories/Reels/shorts outperform static posts. Cross-posting the same short video to Reels and TikTok materially improves reach.
• Pinterest is strong among women for home, crafts, recipes, weddings, and seasonal projects; it performs well for retail, décor, and event-driven pins.
• X/Twitter and Reddit are niche: X skews toward sports, state politics, and breaking news; Reddit toward hobby, tech, gaming, and agriculture subreddits.
• Nextdoor penetration remains low relative to suburbs; neighborhood coordination more often lives in Facebook Groups.
• Peak engagement windows: early morning (commute/school), lunch hour, and 7–9 p.m. Evenings and weekends drive the best event and retail responses; weather events and school announcements create sharp, localized spikes.
• Local commerce: Boosted Facebook posts with clear offers (price, availability, phone number) convert well; Marketplace listings move vehicles, equipment, and furniture. Job postings in local groups outperform formal career sites for hourly and skilled-trades roles.
• Trust dynamics: Community-run Facebook Groups with active moderation garner high trust; posts from recognizable local institutions (schools, county, city, churches) see above-average click-through and share rates.

Key takeaways

• Most-used platforms: YouTube and Facebook dominate reach; Instagram and Pinterest are the next tier; TikTok and Snapchat are critical for under-35 audiences.
• Plan content by cohort: Reels/shorts for 18–34; Facebook posts, Groups, and events for 35+; YouTube how-tos for all ages.
• For local results: Prioritize Facebook Groups, Events, and Marketplace; use short-form video cross-posting (Reels/TikTok) for awareness; use YouTube for durable how-to and explainer content.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 vintage estimates); Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 and Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023. Figures shown for Hardin County are derived by applying Pew’s U.S. platform adoption rates, with rural adjustments, to the county’s adult population.