Tama County

Tama County, Iowa — key demographics (latest available)

Population size

• 2023 population estimate: 16,900–17,000 (U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program)
• 2020 Census: 17,135

Age

• Median age: ~41.5 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Male: ~50.5%
• Female: ~49.5%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023; mutually exclusive where noted)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~76%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~13%
• American Indian and Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~7% (elevated due to the Meskwaki Settlement)
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~1–2%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~1%
• Two or more races/other (non-Hispanic): ~3%

Households and housing

• Total households: ~7,000
• Average household size: ~2.45
• Family households: ~62% of households; married-couple families ~48%
• One-person households: ~28–30%
• Homeownership rate: ~74%
• Median household income: ~$63,000–$65,000
• Poverty rate: ~11–12%

Insights

• Older age profile than the U.S. overall, with about one in five residents 65+.
• Racial/ethnic diversity is shaped by a comparatively large Native American population and a sizable Hispanic community.
• High homeownership and small household sizes typical of rural Iowa counties.

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

Tama County, Iowa snapshot (2020 pop. 17,135; ~24 residents/sq. mile):

• Estimated email users: ~12,200 residents use email regularly (≈88–90% of adults), based on rural internet adoption and near‑universal email use among internet users.
• Age distribution of email users (approx.): 18–34: 25% (3,050); 35–64: 55% (6,700); 65+: 20% (~2,450). Adoption is highest for 18–64 (≈92–96%) and lower for 65+ (≈75–85%), so seniors are somewhat underrepresented among users.
• Gender split: roughly even; males ~51% and females ~49% of users, mirroring the county’s population structure and minimal gender gaps in email adoption.

Digital access and trends:

• About 81% of households have a broadband subscription; ~90% have some form of internet/computer access. Smartphone‑only connectivity is roughly 8–10%, higher in lower‑density areas and among lower‑income households.
• Access is strongest in and around Tama/Toledo; farms and the Meskwaki Settlement’s rural edges see more reliance on wireless and satellite.
• Household broadband subscription rates have risen several percentage points since the mid‑2010s, with fiber/co‑op expansions improving speeds, though rural last‑mile gaps persist.

Bottom line: Email is effectively a standard communication tool for most adults in Tama County, with modest shortfalls among older and remote households tied to connectivity constraints.

Mobile phone usage in Tama County, Iowa — 2024 snapshot

Overall market size and adoption

• Population and households: ~16,900 residents; ~6,800 households (ACS 2023).
• Adult base: ~13,200 adults.
• Smartphone users: ~11,500 adults (≈87% adult adoption), modestly below Iowa’s statewide ~90%.
• Any mobile phone (smartphone or feature phone): ~12,500 adults (≈95%).
• Feature‑phone–only users: ~1,000 adults (higher share than state, reflecting older age mix).
• Human‑held mobile lines: ~15,800 active lines (includes multi‑line users and teens).

Demographic breakdown (usage patterns)

• Age:
  • 18–34: ~97% smartphone adoption (near state norm).
  • 35–64: ~90% (slightly under state).
  • 65+: ~72% (notably under Iowa’s ~79%), consistent with Tama’s older age profile (≈21% 65+ vs ~18% statewide).
• Income:
  • Households < $35k: smartphone adoption ~84%; mobile‑only home internet reliance ~34% (above state).
  • Middle/high income: adoption ~92–96%; lower mobile‑only reliance.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Native American households (Meskwaki Settlement): smartphone adoption 85%, but mobile‑only internet reliance ~29% (infrastructure gaps elevate cellular dependence); this group is a much larger share of the county (6%) than Iowa overall (~0.5%).
  • Hispanic/Latino households (~9% of county): smartphone adoption ~93%; mobile‑only reliance ~27% (above state).
• Plan type:
  • Prepaid users ≈24% of mobile lines (above Iowa’s ~18%), tied to lower incomes, credit constraints, and coverage‑testing behavior.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Networks present: AT&T (incl. FirstNet), Verizon, T‑Mobile, and UScellular (notable rural footprint).
• 5G availability:
  • Population coverage: ≈88% in Tama County vs ~96% statewide.
  • Mid‑band 5G (capacity layer): ≈55% of residents covered (primarily along US‑30 and in/around Tama–Toledo, Traer, Dysart, Gladbrook), versus ~75% statewide; low‑band 5G/LTE covers most remaining populated areas.
• Typical performance (user‑experienced):
  • Mid‑band 5G (T‑Mobile; pockets on AT&T/Verizon): ~150–300 Mbps down when available.
  • Low‑band 5G/LTE (AT&T/Verizon/UScellular): ~10–60 Mbps down; capacity constrained in fringe areas.
• Coverage characteristics:
  • Strongest along US‑30 and US‑63 corridors and within towns.
  • Noticeable weak/variable signal in low‑lying and timbered areas near the Iowa River and in sparsely populated sections away from highways.
  • mmWave 5G is effectively absent (unlike select urban Iowa blocks).
• Fixed wireless access (FWA) for home internet:
  • T‑Mobile and Verizon 5G FWA serviceable to roughly 75–85% of households; adoption ~8–12% of households, higher than the state average due to limited wireline competition in outlying areas.

How Tama County differs from Iowa overall

• Slightly lower smartphone adoption driven by a larger 65+ population and lower median income.
• Higher share of mobile‑only home internet households (~21% vs ~16% statewide), reflecting rurality and affordability considerations.
• Greater reliance on prepaid plans and on UScellular as a primary/secondary carrier, unlike urban Iowa where the Big 3 dominate.
• 5G availability is broad but mid‑band 5G capacity coverage lags the state; performance is more corridor‑centric with wider rural variability.
• The Meskwaki Settlement materially shapes county‑level digital patterns: above‑average mobile‑only reliance and more pronounced coverage sensitivity compared with state averages.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are 2024 county‑level estimates synthesized from the latest American Community Survey (ACS), FCC mobile coverage datasets, state public safety (FirstNet) footprints, and national mobile adoption research (Pew/industry), adjusted for Tama County’s age, income, and rural profile. These provide decision‑grade orders of magnitude and directionally accurate comparisons to Iowa averages.

Tama County, IA social media snapshot (2025)

Baseline

• Population ≈17,000; adults (18+) ≈13,300
• Method: Estimates apply current U.S. adult usage rates (Pew Research Center, 2024) to Tama County’s adult population and rural profile; figures rounded for clarity

Overall reach

• ≈84% of adults use at least one social platform ≈11,200 adults

Most‑used platforms (adult penetration; estimated adult users)

• YouTube: 83% ≈11,000
• Facebook: 68% ≈9,000
• Instagram: 47% ≈6,300
• Pinterest: 35% ≈4,700
• TikTok: 33% ≈4,400
• LinkedIn: 30% ≈4,000
• Snapchat: 27% ≈3,600
• WhatsApp: 24% ≈3,200
• X (Twitter): 22% ≈2,900
• Reddit: 22% ≈2,900

Age patterns (adult residents)

• 18–29: ≈99% use at least one platform; heaviest on YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; Facebook primarily for events and groups
• 30–49: ≈93% use; YouTube and Facebook dominate; Instagram/TikTok for entertainment and local highlights; Messenger/Snapchat for private chats
• 50–64: ≈82% use; Facebook and YouTube lead; growing but still modest Instagram/TikTok adoption
• 65+: ≈62% use; Facebook (for family, church, community) and YouTube (news/how‑to) are primary

Gender breakdown

• Overall user base is roughly even by gender (≈50/50)
• Platform skews:
  • More women: Pinterest (women ≈2–3x more likely than men), Instagram and Snapchat slightly female‑skewed, Facebook near parity but with strong engagement from women 30+
  • More men: Reddit and X (Twitter) skew male; YouTube near parity; LinkedIn near parity to slight male skew

Behavioral trends (what people actually do)

• Community and commerce: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups/Pages for town news, school and sports updates, church/club notices, and buy‑sell (Marketplace)
• Video‑first consumption: YouTube for how‑to/repairs, product research, local sports recaps; short‑form clips via Reels/TikTok perform best when under 60–90 seconds
• Private sharing > public posting: Messenger and Snapchat are key for day‑to‑day communication, planning, and local word‑of‑mouth
• Event discovery and RSVPs: Facebook Events are the default for festivals, fundraisers, athletics, and municipal announcements
• Local trust signals: Posts from recognizable local institutions (schools, county/city offices, first responders, utilities) earn outsized engagement and shares
• Rural connectivity realities: Shorter videos, compressed images, and clear captions improve completion and sharing where bandwidth is inconsistent
• Shopping and jobs: Marketplace and local Facebook Groups drive secondhand sales and frontline hiring; LinkedIn used by managers/professionals, but reach is smaller than Facebook
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (6–10 pm) and weekends; weather events and high‑school sports nights create noticeable spikes

Notes and sources

• Sources: Pew Research Center (2024) U.S. adult social media usage by platform and age; U.S. Census Bureau (2020/2023) for Tama County population and age mix
• Figures are county‑level estimates derived from national/rural benchmarks; platform penetrations reflect adults and are the most reliable, comparable metrics across geographies