Benton County

Benton County, Missouri — key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau; ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates unless noted; rounded)

• Population: ~19,400
• Age:
  • Median age: ~52
  • Under 18: ~17%
  • 18–64: ~54%
  • 65 and over: ~29%
• Gender: ~49.5% female, ~50.5% male
• Race/ethnicity (Hispanic is of any race):
  • White: ~94%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ~3%
  • Two or more races: ~3–4%
  • Black or African American: ~0.5%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.7%
  • Asian: ~0.3%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~8,800
  • Average household size: ~2.2
  • Family households: ~60–61% of households
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80–82%

Note: Figures are rounded; for exact counts or a different data vintage (e.g., 2020 Census), say the word and I’ll provide them.

Benton County, MO overview (estimates)

• Population base: about 20,000 residents; low rural density (~27–30 people/sq mi).
• Estimated email users: 14,000–16,000 residents, based on adult adoption near 90% and high teen usage.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–24: ~15–18%
  • 25–44: ~28–32%
  • 45–64: ~28–32%
  • 65+: ~20–25% (older share is sizable; usage slightly lower but still widespread)
• Gender split among users: roughly even (about 49–51% each; slight female majority consistent with local demographics).
• Digital access trends:
  • Household internet subscription likely ~73–80%; smartphone-only access common (about 15–22% of households).
  • Daily email checking is the norm for most adults; seniors skew more toward weekly use.
  • Access gaps persist outside towns; many rely on mobile data and public Wi‑Fi (libraries and community centers in Warsaw, Lincoln, and Cole Camp).
• Local connectivity notes:
  • Better wired options (cable/fiber) in town centers; DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite prevalent in rural areas.
  • Cell coverage strongest along US‑65 and MO‑7; patchier around Truman Lake coves and wooded hollows.

Notes: Figures are inferred from U.S. Census/ACS rural patterns, Pew email adoption, and typical Missouri rural broadband metrics.

Below is a best-available snapshot of mobile phone usage in Benton County, Missouri, with approximate user estimates derived from Census/ACS population baselines, Pew Research device-adoption patterns (adjusted for rural/age mix), and FCC/state broadband indicators. Figures are presented as ranges to reflect uncertainty and recent market shifts.

Quick baseline

• Population: roughly 19–20k residents; about 15–16k adults (18+).
• Context: Rural, older-skewing, lake/tourism economy; dispersed settlement outside Warsaw, Lincoln, and Cole Camp.

User estimates (adults)

• Smartphone users: ~11.5k–13k (roughly 75–85% adoption). Missouri statewide adult adoption is closer to ~85–90%, so Benton is likely below the state average.
• Any mobile phone (smartphone or basic): ~14k–15.5k (about 90–98%); statewide is also very high, but Benton likely has a slightly higher share of basic/feature-phone users.
• Mobile-only home internet reliance: roughly 15–25% of households (vs ~10–15% statewide). Rural coverage gaps and limited affordable wireline options push more Benton households to rely on cellular plans or hotspots for home connectivity.

Demographic breakdown (drivers of the differences)

• Age:
  • 65+ share is materially higher than Missouri’s average (county near 27–30% vs state ~17–18%). Smartphone adoption among 65+ is likely around 55–65% locally (vs closer to 65–70% statewide), pulling down overall county adoption.
  • Younger adults (18–34) are near-universal smartphone users (~95%+), but they are a smaller share of the county than statewide, limiting their effect on the average.
• Income and affordability:
  • Lower median incomes and the end of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in 2024 likely increased plan downgrades and prepaid uptake. Benton’s prepaid share is likely higher than the state average, and the county probably had above-average ACP participation per capita.
• Education and device mix:
  • Lower bachelor’s attainment than state averages correlates with slightly lower smartphone adoption and higher mobile-only reliance. Households without a computer at home are more likely to use smartphones as the primary internet device.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • The county is less diverse than the state overall; device ownership differences here appear to be driven more by age, income, and geography than by race/ethnicity.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage pattern:
  • 4G LTE is common along US-65 and state routes and in towns; gaps persist in wooded, hilly, and lakeshore areas and on rural roads. Indoor coverage can be inconsistent in low-band-only or fringe signal areas.
  • 5G is present but is mostly low-band for broad coverage; mid-band 5G capacity is more limited than in Missouri’s metros, so peak speeds can lag state averages.
• Capacity and seasonality:
  • Tourism around Truman Lake/Lake of the Ozarks creates sharp weekend/seasonal spikes that can overwhelm rural sectors, especially where sites depend on microwave backhaul—more common in rural counties than in metros.
• Wireline backstop:
  • Town centers have cable or fiber pockets, but large rural areas still depend on older DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. This uneven wireline picture is a key reason Benton’s mobile-only household share is higher than the state’s.
• New investment outlook:
  • BEAD/ARPA-era builds and carrier 5G upgrades are expected to improve capacity through 2026–2027, but benefits will concentrate first along main corridors and population clusters.

How Benton County differs most from Missouri overall

• Lower overall smartphone adoption due to an older age structure and affordability constraints.
• Higher dependence on mobile-only internet for home connectivity.
• More pronounced coverage gaps and lower mid-band 5G capacity outside towns; bigger seasonal congestion swings.
• Higher prevalence of prepaid plans and plan downgrades post-ACP.
• Greater variability in indoor service reliability, especially in fringe areas.

Method notes and sources

• Population/demographics: U.S. Census/ACS (2020–2023).
• Device adoption benchmarks: Pew Research Center U.S. smartphone ownership (adjusted for rural/age mix).
• Coverage/infrastructure: FCC Broadband Map, statewide broadband reports, national carrier public coverage disclosures (2024–2025).
• Figures are estimates intended for planning context; local carrier drive tests, tower inventories, and address-level broadband availability will refine these numbers.

Below is a concise, locally tuned snapshot. Figures are estimates modeled from recent U.S. social-media surveys (e.g., Pew), adjusted to Benton County’s older/rural profile and population size. Treat as directional with a ±5–10% margin.

Headline user stats (Benton County, MO)

• Estimated social media users (age 13+): 11,000–13,000 (about 68–75% of residents 13+)
• Daily users: ~7,500–9,000 (roughly 45–55% of residents 13+)
• Access note: Broadband/mobile coverage is patchy; smartphone-first use is common outside town centers

Age mix of users (share of local social users)

• 13–17: 8%
• 18–24: 9%
• 25–34: 14%
• 35–49: 24%
• 50–64: 28%
• 65+: 17%

Gender breakdown (of local social users)

• Women: ~53%
• Men: ~47% Notes: Women over-index on Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit.

Most-used platforms locally (share of residents 13+ who use each)

• Facebook: 60–65% (dominant hub; especially 35+)
• YouTube: 60–68% (DIY, fishing/boating, home repair)
• Instagram: 25–30% (younger adults; cross-posted Reels)
• TikTok: 22–28% (growing across 18–44, strong among women)
• Pinterest: 22–28% (recipes, crafts, home, gardening; mostly women)
• Snapchat: 16–22% (teens and 18–24)
• X/Twitter: 8–12% (news/sports niche)
• Reddit: 8–12% (younger males; interest/DIY forums)
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (neighborhood chatter where available)
• LinkedIn: 7–10% (limited; white-collar pockets)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community backbone: Groups and Pages for schools, churches, youth sports, county services, fairs, lake/boating and severe-weather updates. Marketplace is heavily used for local buy/sell (boats, trailers, farm/ranch gear, furniture).
• Short video has surged: TikTok and Instagram Reels for quick recipes, crafts, DIY, fishing tips; many creators cross-post to Facebook for reach.
• Communication flows through Facebook Messenger; group chats organize events, teams, churches. SMS still common; WhatsApp is niche.
• Younger residents (13–24) live on Snapchat and TikTok; they check Facebook mostly for community info relayed by family or coaches.
• Older residents (50+) are highly active on Facebook, sharing local news, events, obits, and fundraisers. Video content performs best even with this group.
• Content that works: locally relevant photos/video, lost-and-found pets, weather impacts, school closures, lake conditions, event reminders, “what’s open” posts. External links underperform vs native posts.
• Timing: Peaks before work (6–8am), lunch (12–1pm), and evenings (7–9pm). Weekend mornings are strong during yard-sale season (spring–fall).
• Trust dynamics: Posts from known local people/orgs outperform ads. Word-of-mouth and admin-moderated Groups help correct rumors; scam awareness (giveaways, marketplace) is a recurring topic.
• Seasonality: Summer lake traffic spikes engagement for marinas, lodging, festivals, and outdoor activities; winter slows and shifts to home projects and community fundraisers.

Method note

• Estimates are derived by blending national platform usage by age with Benton County’s older age structure and rural broadband profile. Figures reflect multi-platform use (percentages won’t sum to 100%).