Webster County

Webster County, Missouri — key demographics (latest U.S. Census Bureau data; ACS 2019–2023 5-year unless noted)

Population

• Total population: ~40,600
• 2020 Census count: 39,085

Age

• Median age: ~38 years
• Under 5: ~6–7%
• Under 18: ~27%
• 65 and over: ~16%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone, non-Hispanic: ~92–93%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3%
• Black or African American alone (non-Hispanic): ~0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone (non-Hispanic): ~0.5–0.7%
• Asian alone (non-Hispanic): ~0.3–0.5%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1% (Note: percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.)

Households

• Number of households: ~14,600–14,800
• Average household size: ~2.7–2.8
• Family households: ~77% of households
• Married-couple families: ~63% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~35–37%
• Nonfamily households: ~23%

Insights

• The county is predominantly non-Hispanic White with small but growing diversity.
• Age structure skews family-oriented (larger household size, higher share under 18) with a moderate senior share.
• Steady growth since 2020 from roughly 39k to about 41k residents.

Webster County, MO email usage (2023–2024 estimates derived from ACS/FCC rural-Missouri benchmarks)

• Estimated email users: 29,000–31,000 residents (about 70–75% of the population).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: 6–8%
  • 18–34: 25–28%
  • 35–64: 45–50%
  • 65+: 17–20%
• Gender split: ~49% male, ~51% female among users; usage gap by gender is negligible (<2 percentage points).
• Digital access:
  • Household broadband subscription: ~80–83% (up ~6–8 points since 2019).
  • Households with a computer: ~88–92%.
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~10–12%.
  • No home internet: ~15–18%, concentrated in the most rural tracts.
• Local density/connectivity:
  • Population ~41,000 over ~590 sq mi; density ~69 people/sq mi, predominantly rural.
  • Fastest fixed broadband and new fiber builds cluster along the I‑44 and MO‑60 corridors (Marshfield, Rogersville, Seymour, Fordland), with more reliance on fixed wireless/DSL or satellite in outlying areas.
  • Public libraries and schools provide important free Wi‑Fi access points supporting residents without home subscriptions.

Overall, email adoption is near-universal among connected adults, with lower uptake primarily tied to rural broadband gaps and older age cohorts.

Mobile phone usage in Webster County, Missouri — summary and state-level contrasts

Baseline and user estimates (2024, best available public-data-based estimates using ACS S2801, FCC mobile coverage, and statewide benchmarks)

• Population: ~41,000; households: ~14,500; adults (18+): ~31,000
• Adults with any mobile phone: ~96% (≈29,800 people), slightly below Missouri’s ~97–98%
• Smartphone users: ~84–86% of adults (≈26,000–26,700), 2–4 percentage points below the state
• Basic/feature phone only: ~10–12% (≈3,100–3,700), above the state by ~3–5 points
• Household internet via cellular data only (no fixed service): ~21–23% (≈3,000–3,300 households), higher than Missouri’s ~16–18%
• Households with any cellular data plan (alongside or instead of fixed): ~71–74% (≈10,300–10,700), a bit below the state’s ~74–77%

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns (contrasts with statewide)

• Age
  • 18–34: smartphone ownership ~93–96% (near state levels); mobile-only internet ~22–25% (+3–5 points vs state), driven by renters and commuters
  • 35–64: smartphone ~86–89% (slightly under state); mobile-only ~19–22% (+3–4 points)
  • 65+: smartphone ~60–65% (−8–12 points vs state); basic phones more common; mobile-only ~13–17% (+2–4 points) often due to limited fixed options outside towns
• Income/education
  • Lower-income households show higher mobile substitution: mobile-only internet ~27–32% (+5–8 points vs state)
  • Prepaid lines account for an estimated ~30–35% of active lines (+5–8 points), reflecting cost control and variable coverage experiences
• Geography within the county
  • Marshfield/Rogersville corridors: near-state smartphone adoption and plan diversity; heavier 5G use
  • Eastern/southern rural townships: more basic phones, signal boosters, and Wi‑Fi calling; mobile-only internet substitutes for scarce fixed broadband

Performance and network experience

• Coverage
  • 4G LTE population coverage: ~97–99% (in line with state) but land-area coverage is patchier off main roads
  • 5G population coverage: ~80–90% (−5–10 points vs state), concentrated along I‑44, Marshfield, Rogersville, and other town centers
  • 5G land-area coverage: ~40–50% (well below statewide), with notable dead zones in low-lying and heavily timbered areas
• Speeds and reliability
  • Typical median mobile download: ~40–55 Mbps in the county vs ~70–90 Mbps statewide; uploads ~6–10 Mbps vs ~10–15 Mbps statewide
  • Practical user experience: mid-band 5G (where available) delivers 120–250 Mbps; low-band 5G/LTE in rural stretches often 10–40 Mbps with greater variability indoors
• Usage patterns
  • Higher reliance on in-vehicle connectivity along I‑44 for commuters to the Springfield metro
  • More frequent use of signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling in metal-roof homes and outbuildings than statewide averages

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Macro sites and tower density: fewer sites per square mile than the state average; upgrades cluster along I‑44, Marshfield, and near schools/health facilities
• 5G buildout: mid-band 5G has been prioritized along the interstate and town centers; low-band fills wider rural areas but with modest capacity
• Fixed–mobile interplay: in pockets with limited cable/fiber, households lean on mobile hotspots or fixed wireless (4G/5G) for home broadband, pushing up mobile-only rates
• Public safety: FirstNet (Band 14) presence improves emergency coverage around major corridors and municipal facilities, but not all rural gaps are closed
• Backhaul: microwave and limited fiber backhaul constrain peak capacity at some rural sites, contributing to lower median speeds and higher congestion than state averages

Trends that differ most from Missouri overall

• Higher mobile-only internet reliance (+3–6 percentage points), especially among lower-income and younger households outside cable footprints
• Slightly lower smartphone penetration (−2–4 points), with a corresponding uptick in basic phones among seniors and in remote areas
• Lower median speeds (roughly 30–40% below statewide medians) and greater indoor coverage variability away from the I‑44 corridor
• Higher share of prepaid plans (+5–8 points), reflecting price sensitivity and coverage testing behavior
• Greater dependence on boosters/Wi‑Fi calling and fixed wireless as substitutes for scarce wired options

Actionable implications

• Carriers: capacity upgrades on rural sites (mid-band 5G plus fiber backhaul) would materially raise county medians; targeted in‑building solutions for public venues would narrow the indoor gap
• Public sector: prioritizing middle-mile fiber and open-access backhaul to outlying towers would reduce congestion and improve reliability; mapping and addressing valley dead zones would improve parity with state performance
• Community/consumers: where fixed fiber/cable is unavailable, pairing mid-band 5G home internet with external antennas/boosters can markedly improve service quality compared with handheld-only LTE in fringe areas

All figures are the most recent defensible estimates for 2023–2024 based on ACS computer/internet indicators, FCC mobile coverage filings, and typical rural performance differentials observed in Missouri.

Webster County, MO social media snapshot (2024)

Headline user stats

• Population baseline (2023 est.): ≈40–41K residents
• Residents 13+: ≈35K
• Social media users (13+): ≈30–31K (≈87% penetration)

Age mix of social media users (share of users)

• 13–17: 9%
• 18–29: 19%
• 30–44: 28%
• 45–64: 27%
• 65+: 17%

Gender breakdown of users

• Women: ≈52%
• Men: ≈48%

Most‑used platforms in the county (share of residents 13+ who use each platform)

• YouTube: ≈80%
• Facebook: ≈73%
• Facebook Messenger: ≈58%
• Instagram: ≈39%
• TikTok: ≈34%
• Pinterest: ≈30%
• Snapchat: ≈29%
• X (Twitter): ≈14%
• Reddit: ≈12%
• LinkedIn: ≈10%
• Nextdoor: ≈7%

Behavioral trends and patterns

• Facebook is the community hub: school updates, church and civic notices, local news reposts, high‑engagement Groups (yard sale/buy‑sell‑trade, youth sports, events).
• Short‑form video is rising fast: TikTok and Instagram Reels drive discovery for under‑35; Facebook Reels increasingly reaches 35–64.
• Marketplace matters: strong local commerce behavior (used goods, farm/ranch equipment, vehicles); DMs and Messenger are primary contact channels.
• Visual, local, and timely wins: posts with named local places, faces, and real‑time info (weather advisories, closures, road conditions) outperform generic content.
• Evening and early‑morning peaks: highest activity around 6–9 a.m. and 7–10 p.m.; weekend late mornings also strong.
• Platform skews
  • Under 30: heavy Snapchat/TikTok/Instagram; Facebook used for groups/events rather than posting.
  • 30–44: multi‑platform; Facebook for groups/marketplace, Instagram for reels/stories, YouTube for how‑tos and kids’ content.
  • 45–64: Facebook dominant; YouTube for tutorials/news; Pinterest common among women.
  • 65+: Facebook and YouTube lead; simpler, text‑plus‑photo updates preferred.
• Content tone: practical, community‑oriented, family‑friendly; overtly salesy posts underperform unless tied to local deals, limited‑time offers, or event tie‑ins.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are modeled local estimates using the county’s age structure (U.S. Census Bureau) combined with 2024 U.S. social‑platform adoption rates by age and rural/suburban profile (e.g., Pew Research Center). Percentages reflect overlapping usage across platforms.