Stafford County

Stafford County, Kansas — key demographics (most recent Census/ACS data)

Population size

• Total population: ~4,000 (2023 estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~46 years
• Under 18: ~22–23%
• 65 and over: ~25%

Gender

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone: ~89%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1%
• Asian alone: <1%
• Two or more races: ~5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~10–11%
• White alone, non-Hispanic: ~81%

Households

• Number of households: ~1,700–1,800
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~60% of households; average family size ~2.9
• Households with children under 18: ~25–27%
• One-person households: ~33–35%

Insights

• Small, aging population with roughly one in four residents 65+
• Predominantly White, with a meaningful Hispanic/Latino community (~1 in 10 residents)
• Household sizes are modest and a sizable share are one-person households

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates (2023) and American Community Survey 5-year estimates (most recent).

• Estimated email users: ~3,000 residents in Stafford County (about 90% of adults).
• Age pattern (shares of adults using email, consistent with national/rural norms): 18–29: ~93%; 30–49: ~95%; 50–64: ~92%; 65+: ~86%. This skews total use slightly toward middle-aged adults but shows strong uptake even among seniors.
• Gender split: effectively even (women ~93%, men ~91%), yielding no meaningful gender gap in email use.
• Digital access and devices: About 80–82% of households maintain a broadband subscription; ~90%+ have a computer or smartphone, so most residents have at least one path to email. Smartphone reliance is rising, with an estimated 15–20% of households being smartphone-only for home internet.
• Connectivity context: Stafford County is very sparsely populated (roughly 5 people per square mile across ~790+ square miles), which makes last‑mile fixed broadband more costly and patchy outside towns. Fixed wireless and satellite fill rural gaps; 4G mobile coverage is near‑ubiquitous, with expanding 5G along main corridors. Fiber is present in town centers and growing via incremental builds.
• Net insight: Despite rural constraints, high device access and near‑universal mobile coverage sustain robust email adoption, with usage dominated by working‑age adults and only modest attrition among older residents.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Stafford County, Kansas (2025 planning view)

Key differences vs Kansas overall

• Smartphone adoption is modestly lower than the state average because the county is older, more rural, and has lower median incomes, but reliance on mobile as the primary internet connection is higher due to sparser wired broadband.
• 5G is predominantly low-band coverage with limited mid-band capacity outside town centers, so real‑world speeds skew lower and more variable than the Kansas average.
• Prepaid and MVNO share is higher, and device upgrade cycles are longer, reflecting price sensitivity and older age structure.

User estimates

• Population and households: ~4.1K residents and ~1.8K households.
• Adult smartphone users: 3.0K–3.4K adults actively using smartphones (roughly 80–88% of adults), about 3–6 percentage points below the Kansas average.
• Basic/feature phone users: 250–400 adults (notably concentrated among 70+).
• Wireless‑only telephone households (no landline): 60–68% of households (≈1.1K–1.25K), a bit below the statewide share due to more landline retention among seniors.
• Smartphone‑only internet households (no home computer or fixed broadband): 17–22% (≈300–400 households), above the Kansas average (~13–15%), indicating heavier dependence on mobile data for primary connectivity.
• 5G device penetration among adult users: ~70–78% (slightly behind statewide by ~5–8 points), with many still on LTE devices in farm and edge‑coverage areas.

Demographic context shaping usage

• Age: The county’s 65+ share is materially higher than Kansas as a whole (about one‑quarter of residents vs ~17% statewide). This lowers overall smartphone adoption and increases the share of basic phones and shared family plans.
• Income: Median household income is lower than the Kansas median by roughly 15–20%, raising prepaid/MVNO uptake, multi‑line discount plans, and “smartphone‑only” internet reliance.
• Race/ethnicity: The county is majority non‑Hispanic White with a smaller but growing Hispanic population; younger bilingual households tend to have above‑average smartphone adoption and mobile data use, partly offsetting the county’s older profile.

Digital infrastructure points

• Carrier presence: AT&T (including FirstNet), Verizon, and T‑Mobile all serve the county; regional MVNOs ride these networks. Population coverage is high; land‑area coverage is moderate with notable weak spots in low‑lying and tree‑shelter belts and at section‑line setbacks from highways.
• Network generations and spectrum:
  • 4G LTE remains the baseline outside towns.
  • 5G low‑band (600/700/850 MHz) is the main 5G layer; it improves reach but not capacity.
  • Mid‑band 5G (e.g., 2.5 GHz for T‑Mobile; C‑band for Verizon/AT&T) appears primarily near town centers and along primary corridors; mmWave is not expected.
• Performance envelope (field‑realistic):
  • LTE/low‑band 5G: ~5–40 Mbps down, 2–10 Mbps up; higher latency and more variability at cell edges.
  • Mid‑band 5G pockets: ~100–300 Mbps down when near sites with good signal.
• Tower/site layout: Macro sites are co‑located along primary roads and near towns; spacing typical of rural Great Plains counties results in edge‑of‑cell conditions across cropland. External antennas/boosters are commonly used on farmsteads and in metal buildings.
• Backhaul: Mixed fiber and microwave. Fiber backhaul reaches towns and some highway sites; pure microwave persists on remote sectors, constraining peak capacity during busy periods.
• Fixed alternatives that influence mobile behavior: DSL is limited and aging; cable is scarce outside town limits; fiber is present in town cores or select buildouts; fixed wireless ISPs (often CBRS) and LEO satellite fill gaps. Where fiber is absent, households lean on mobile data, driving higher per‑subscriber usage than the state average.

Behavioral and market trends distinct from state-level

• Higher smartphone‑only internet dependence produces:
  • Heavier use of unlimited or high‑cap data plans and data optimization features.
  • More video streaming at lowered resolutions and off‑peak usage patterns.
• Plan mix skews toward prepaid/MVNO and multi‑line discounts; employer‑sponsored plans are less prevalent than in urban Kansas.
• Device replacement cycles run longer (older handsets present), which tempers 5G feature adoption and advanced network benefits.
• Seasonal spikes in mobile traffic occur during planting/harvest and local events; school‑year patterns also shape evening loads in towns.

Method notes (for interpretation)

• Estimates synthesize the county’s latest population/household profile with national rural and age‑specific smartphone adoption benchmarks (Pew Research), wireless‑only household trends (CDC/NHIS), and observed rural network deployment patterns (FCC reporting through 2023). Ranges reflect realistic planning bounds for 2024–2025.

Social media usage in Stafford County, Kansas (best-available 2023–2024 snapshot)

Important note on data: There is no platform-by-platform dataset published at the county level. Figures below pair U.S. Census/ACS rural context with Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 social media usage rates (and rural/age adjustments) to provide realistic, decision-ready estimates for a rural Kansas county of roughly 4,000 residents.

User stats (estimates grounded in national/rural data)

• Internet and devices:
  • Smartphone ownership (rural adults): ~80–85%
  • Household internet subscription (rural KS, ACS): mid–70s% of households
• Social media penetration:
  • Adults using at least one social platform: ~70–75% of adults
  • Teens (13–17) using at least one platform: ~90%+
• Age profile (typical of rural KS counties): older-leaning; a large 50+ segment drives strong Facebook use; younger cohorts drive Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok.

Most-used platforms (adults; estimated local share with national benchmark in parentheses)

• YouTube: ~70–78% of adults (US: ~83%)
• Facebook: ~60–68% (US: ~68%)
• Instagram: ~25–35% overall; 18–29: ~70%+ (US overall: ~47%)
• TikTok: ~20–30% overall; 18–29: ~55–65% (US overall: ~33%)
• Snapchat: ~18–25% overall; 18–29: ~55–65% (US overall: ~27%)
• Pinterest: ~25–35% (female-skewed) (US: ~35%)
• X/Twitter: ~10–15% (US: ~20%)
• LinkedIn: ~8–15% (lower in rural areas; US: ~30%)

Age-group patterns (Pew-based, applied locally)

• 13–17: Heavy YouTube (~90%+), TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram dominant; Facebook minimal for teens.
• 18–29: YouTube (90%+), Instagram (70%+), Snapchat (60%+), TikTok (60%±), Facebook (~60–70%).
• 30–49: YouTube high (80%±), Facebook strong (70%±), Instagram/TikTok mid-range (~30–45%).
• 50–64: Facebook (65–75%) and YouTube (70–80%) lead; Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat lower (~10–30%).
• 65+: Facebook (45–55%) and YouTube (55–65%) remain primary; other platforms minimal.

Gender breakdown (directional patterns)

• Women: Higher Facebook and Pinterest use; Instagram strong among younger women.
• Men: Higher YouTube and Reddit/X usage; Facebook still common.
• Overall gender gap for “any social media” is small; differences show up by platform preference.

Behavioral trends observed in rural Kansas communities (applicable to Stafford County)

• Community-first usage:
  • Facebook Groups and Pages for schools, churches, county/city government, emergency updates, local sports, and buy/sell/trade are central.
  • Facebook Messenger is widely used for coordination and quick outreach.
• Video orientation:
  • Short, vertical video (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) performs best for events, local businesses, and how-to/DIY content; longer how-to and ag-related videos do well on YouTube.
• Local information utility:
  • High engagement with weather alerts, road closures, power outages, school activities, high school sports, farm/ranch and commodity content, and local marketplace listings.
• Timing and cadence:
  • Peak engagement typically evenings and weekends; event-based spikes during school sports, fairs, community events, and severe-weather periods.
• Trust and source:
  • Higher trust in content from known local institutions and people; posts with identifiable local context (locations, faces, organizations) outperform generic content.
• Advertising and reach:
  • Facebook is the most efficient paid reach for adults 30+; Instagram and Snapchat/TikTok reach younger cohorts.
  • Geo-targeted boosts around towns, school districts, and event venues drive strong results.
• Cross-platform behavior:
  • Discovery on short-form video (Reels/TikTok) often leads to follow-up on Facebook Pages/Groups for details or deals; YouTube used for deeper research.
• Platform gaps:
  • X/Twitter usage is limited; LinkedIn engagement is modest and skewed to government, education, healthcare, and professional services.

What this means for strategy in Stafford County

• To reach adults 30+: Prioritize Facebook (Pages + Groups) and YouTube; use clear local cues and service/utility-oriented posts.
• To reach teens/young adults: Short-form video on Instagram Reels, Snapchat, and TikTok; emphasize school, sports, and local culture.
• For women-focused campaigns: Facebook + Pinterest; visual storytelling and practical tips perform well.
• For men-focused and DIY/ag content: YouTube first, supported by Facebook for distribution and discussion.

Sources for percentages: Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. platform usage (with rural/age adjustments), ACS/FCC indicators for rural internet access. County-level platform shares are modeled estimates consistent with rural Kansas patterns.