Page County

Page County, Iowa — key demographics

Population size

• 14,581 (2023 estimate, U.S. Census Bureau)
• 15,211 (2020 Census)
• Trend: down roughly 8% since 2010 (15,932), indicating gradual population decline

Age

• Median age: ~44 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18 to 64: ~54%
• 65 and over: ~24%
• Insight: Larger senior share than U.S. overall, signaling an aging population

Gender

• Female: ~50.4%
• Male: ~49.6%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White alone: ~92%
• Black or African American alone: ~1.5%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~0.4%
• Asian alone: ~0.6%
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.1%
• Two or more races: ~5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~5–6%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~88–89%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~6,400
• Average household size: ~2.28
• Family households: ~59% of households
• Married-couple families: ~47% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~41%
• Households with children under 18: ~25%
• Average family size: ~2.9

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

Page County, IA email usage (modeled from U.S. Census/ACS and Pew research)

• Population baseline: ~15,200 residents (2020 Census); population density ≈28 people per sq. mile.
• Estimated email users (age 13+): ~11,100 residents.
• Age distribution of email users (approx. counts):
  • 13–17: 6% (~660)
  • 18–34: 23% (~2,550)
  • 35–64: 53% (~5,880)
  • 65+: 18% (~2,000)
• Gender split among email users: 49% male (5,440) and 51% female (5,660). Email adoption shows negligible gender gap.
• Digital access and trends:
  • ~80% of households have a broadband subscription; ~85% have some form of internet. About 12–15% are smartphone‑only connections.
  • Email adoption is near‑universal among working‑age adults (≈90%+) and rising among seniors (≈80%+), driven by healthcare portals, e‑government, and banking.
  • Connectivity is strongest in town centers (gigabit‑capable service common); many farms and low‑density areas rely on fixed wireless/DSL, which constrains speeds and reliability.
  • Ongoing state/federal investments (e.g., BEAD) are expanding fiber and 100/20 Mbps coverage into rural tracts.

Insight: With a small, older‑leaning population and moderate broadband penetration, Page County likely has ~11k active email users, dominated by 35–64 adults, with growing senior adoption and a notable mobile‑only segment.

Mobile phone usage in Page County, Iowa — 2024 snapshot

Headline estimates

• Residents: 15,211 (2020 Census). Adults (18+): ≈12,160
• Mobile phone users (incl. teens 12–17): ≈12,620 (≈83% of total population)
• Adult mobile phone users (18+): ≈11,640 (≈96% of adults)
• Smartphone users (incl. teens 12–17): ≈11,310 (≈74% of total population)
• Adult smartphone users (18+): ≈10,350 (≈85% of adults)
• Adults in wireless‑only households (no landline): ≈8,270 (≈68% of adults)
• Households relying on cellular data as their only home internet: ≈780 of ≈6,500 households (≈12%)

How these figures were derived

• Age mix is based on the county’s rural profile: ≈20% under 18, 18% ages 18–34, 38% ages 35–64, 24% ages 65+. Smartphone and mobile ownership rates align to recent national and rural benchmarks (Pew Research and NHIS), adjusted slightly downward for rural seniors and upward for teens.
  • 18–34: ≈98% have a mobile phone, ≈95% have a smartphone
  • 35–64: ≈97% mobile phone, ≈90% smartphone
  • 65+: ≈92% mobile phone, ≈70% smartphone
  • Teens 12–17: ≈97% mobile phone, ≈95% smartphone

Demographic breakdown of usage

• By age (users, rounded)
  • 12–17: ≈980 with a mobile phone; ≈960 with a smartphone
  • 18–34: ≈2,680 with a mobile phone; ≈2,600 with a smartphone
  • 35–64: ≈5,600 with a mobile phone; ≈5,200 with a smartphone
  • 65+: ≈3,360 with a mobile phone; ≈2,550 with a smartphone
• Seniors are the key drag on smartphone penetration. Adult smartphone adoption in Page County (≈85%) trails the Iowa statewide rate (≈88–90%) primarily because about 30% of seniors still use feature phones or no mobile device.
• Teens are highly connected. Near‑universal smartphone access among 12–17-year-olds offsets some of the senior gap, but overall county smartphone penetration remains a few points below the state.
• Mobile‑only households are more common than statewide. An estimated 12% of households rely solely on cellular data for home internet (vs roughly 8–10% statewide), reflecting patchier fixed‑broadband options in the most rural tracts.
• Wireless‑only voice is mainstream. Roughly two‑thirds of adults live in households without a landline, similar to national norms but slightly below Iowa’s urban counties.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T (including FirstNet Band 14), Verizon, and T‑Mobile operate countywide, with roaming and MVNOs widely available.
• 4G LTE: Near‑universal outdoor coverage across towns and primary roads; intermittent weak spots persist in low‑lying or fringe farm areas, producing occasional indoor coverage gaps in older, metal‑roofed homes and outbuildings.
• 5G availability
  • Low‑band 5G: At least one carrier covers roughly 90–95% of the population outdoors; practical indoor 5G is spottier in farmsteads.
  • Mid‑band 5G (capacity 5G): Available in and around Clarinda, Shenandoah, and along main corridors (US‑71, US‑59, IA‑2/48), reaching an estimated 60–75% of residents. This is meaningfully below Iowa’s statewide mid‑band 5G reach (≈80–85%), translating to lower median 5G speeds outside towns.
• Site density and backhaul
  • Macro sites are relatively sparse for the county’s 535 square miles, with a practical density of roughly one macro site per 15–20 square miles, yielding strong highway coverage but thinner indoor service between towns.
  • Most upgraded sites are on fiber backhaul along major corridors; some remote sectors still rely on microwave, which can constrain peak capacity during busy hours.
• Performance norms
  • Typical LTE downlink speeds range 10–40 Mbps outside towns, rising to 50–100+ Mbps in town centers; mid‑band 5G pockets often deliver 150–300 Mbps. These figures trail Iowa’s metro counties where mid‑band 5G is more pervasive.

Trends that differ from Iowa statewide

• Lower smartphone penetration: Adult smartphone adoption is about 3–5 percentage points below the state average, driven by an older age structure and slower upgrade cycles among rural seniors.
• More mobile‑only internet reliance: Cellular‑only home internet usage is a few points higher than the state average, indicating residents substitute mobile data where fiber/coax is weak or unaffordable.
• Slower 5G capacity rollout: Mid‑band 5G covers a smaller share of residents than statewide, reducing average 5G speeds and consistency outside the two main towns.
• Device turnover and plan mix: Longer device replacement cycles and higher sensitivity to plan price caps lead to greater persistence of LTE‑only devices and budget MVNO plans than in Iowa’s urban counties.
• Coverage quality gap: While outdoor 4G/5G coverage is broad, indoor reliability off the main corridors lags state urban standards, reinforcing the county’s dependence on Wi‑Fi calling and external antennas in some farmsteads.

Methodological notes

• Population and household counts reference the 2020 Census and standard Iowa household sizes to size the market.
• Adoption rates and wireless‑only household shares apply recent Pew Research Center and CDC/NHIS patterns, adjusted for rural demographics typical of southwest Iowa.
• 5G/LTE availability reflects 2024 carrier disclosures and FCC mapping patterns for rural Iowa counties with similar density, translated to Page County’s road and town layout.

These estimates provide a practical, decision‑grade view of Page County’s mobile market: nearly all adults use mobile phones, about 85% use smartphones, seniors remain the main adoption gap, and mid‑band 5G capacity is present but not yet at statewide levels, which keeps performance and indoor reliability below Iowa’s urban norm and pushes a larger minority of households toward mobile‑only internet solutions.

Page County, IA — social media usage snapshot (2025)

How many people are using social media

• Population (2023 est.): ~15,200; adults (18+): ~11,900.
• Adults using major social platforms (modeled): ~8,000–9,000.
• Modeled platform penetration among adults (share of 18+, with estimated user counts):
  • YouTube: 83% (~9,900)
  • Facebook: 71% (~8,400)
  • Instagram: 40% (~4,800)
  • Pinterest: 37% (~4,400)
  • TikTok: 28% (~3,300)
  • LinkedIn: 27% (~3,200)
  • WhatsApp: 26% (~3,100)
  • Snapchat: 23% (~2,700)
  • X (Twitter): 20% (~2,400)
  • Reddit: 20% (~2,400)
  • Nextdoor: 12% (~1,400)

Age patterns (adults)

• 18–29: Heavy on YouTube (95%), Instagram (76%), TikTok (62%), Snapchat (68%); Facebook ~70%.
• 30–49: YouTube (90%) and Facebook (75%) dominate; Instagram (50%), TikTok (39%) moderate.
• 50–64: Facebook (70%+) and YouTube (80%+) lead; Instagram (29%), TikTok (18–24%) lower.
• 65+: Facebook (55–60%) and YouTube (60%) are primary; minimal Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat.

Gender skews (who’s more likely to use)

• More women: Pinterest (~75–80% female), Facebook (slight female tilt), Instagram (slight female tilt), TikTok (slight female tilt), Snapchat (slight female tilt).
• More men: Reddit (65–70% male), X/Twitter (60–65% male), YouTube (55% male), LinkedIn (55–60% male).

Most-used platforms locally

• Clear leaders: YouTube (83%) and Facebook (71%).
• Secondary tier: Instagram (40%) and Pinterest (37%).
• Niche/younger: TikTok (28%) and Snapchat (23%).
• Professional/news niches: LinkedIn (27%), X (20%), Reddit (20%).
• Hyperlocal: Nextdoor (12%), concentrated in town neighborhoods.

Behavioral trends observed in rural Midwestern counties of similar size (applied to Page County)

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, schools, high school sports, civic updates, churches, buy/sell (Marketplace), and event coordination via Groups.
• Video-first discovery: YouTube for DIY, ag/land management, home projects, local music and church services; short-form cross-posts (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) for reach.
• Commerce is practical and local: Facebook Marketplace outperforms classifieds; Instagram used by small businesses for promos and stories; limited direct sales via TikTok/Shop.
• Event promotion cadence: Most engagement 48–72 hours pre-event; best times early evening (6–9 pm) and weekend mornings.
• Generational split: Under 35s discover via Instagram/TikTok and message via Snapchat/Instagram DMs; 35+ relies on Facebook posts, Groups, and Messenger.
• Trust flows through known entities: Posts from schools, county/city agencies, libraries, churches, and local media see higher engagement and share-through than brands.
• Ads that work: Simple creative with place names, clear value, phone/location callouts; geo-targeting to Clarinda, Shenandoah, and nearby ZIPs improves ROI.
• Platform volatility: X and Reddit have small but vocal audiences (sports, state politics, tech); not primary channels for broad local reach.

Method notes and sources

• Counts and percentages are modeled for Page County adults (18+) by applying Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform adoption rates, with conservative rural adjustments (lower adoption for youth-skewing and professional platforms; slightly higher for Facebook; neutral for YouTube). Population base from U.S. Census Bureau 2023 estimates. Figures rounded to the nearest hundred users and whole percentages for clarity.