Custer County

Here are key demographics for Custer County, Nebraska.

Population

• 10,545 (2020 Census)

Age (ACS 2019–2023)

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 65 and over: ~24%

Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

• Male: ~50.5%
• Female: ~49.5%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White alone: ~95%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5%
• Two or more races: ~2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.6%
• Black or African American: ~0.3%
• Asian: ~0.4%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~4,550
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~63% of households
• Married-couple households: ~51%
• Households with children under 18: ~27%
• Average family size: ~2.9

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Custer County, NE snapshot

• Population: 10.5k; very low density (4 people per sq. mile). County seat: Broken Bow.

Estimated email users

• 7,500–8,500 residents (about 70–80% of the population), based on rural Nebraska/U.S. adoption benchmarks.

Age mix of email users (approx.)

• 13–24: 12–15% (heavy mobile use; email secondary to messaging)
• 25–44: 25–30% (highest daily use for work, services, shopping)
• 45–64: 30–35% (high adoption; billing, healthcare, government)
• 65+: 20–25% (growing use; slightly lower frequency)

Gender split

• Roughly even (about 49–51% each); no consistent gender gap in email use.

Digital access and trends

• Home internet: majority have broadband, but adoption lags urban areas; outside towns many rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. Fiber is concentrated in towns and along main corridors, with gradual rural build‑outs via state/federal programs.
• Smartphone‑only households are common for rural areas (roughly 15–20%), boosting mobile email reliance.
• Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools) and employer networks supplement access; speeds and reliability drop in remote farm/ranch areas due to long distances from infrastructure.

Below is a practical, evidence‑based snapshot of mobile phone usage in Custer County, Nebraska, with estimates calibrated from national/state benchmarks (Pew Research, CDC/NHIS), rural vs. urban differentials, and the county’s demographics and infrastructure profile. Where county‑level measurements don’t exist, ranges are provided and the key drivers are noted.

Headline estimates (people and households)

• Population context: Custer County has roughly 10–11 thousand residents spread over a very large, rural area. The population skews older than the Nebraska average.
• People with a mobile phone (any kind): about 8.5k–9.5k individuals (roughly 75–85% of residents), reflecting near‑universal adult ownership but lower ownership among older adults and younger children.
• Smartphone users: about 7.0k–8.0k individuals (roughly 65–75% of residents). This is likely several points lower than Nebraska’s statewide rate due to age, income, and rural coverage factors.
• Wireless‑only households (no landline): roughly 55–65% of households, likely a bit below Nebraska’s statewide share (often near ~65–70%) given the county’s older age profile and the persistence of landlines among seniors.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Age: The older‑than‑state average age lowers smartphone adoption and app‑centric use. Expect higher incidence of basic/flip phones among seniors and more frequent voice/SMS use relative to data‑heavy apps.
• Household composition: Younger families and working‑age adults are predominantly smartphone‑centric and wireless‑only; multigenerational and senior households more often maintain a landline.
• Income and education: Slightly lower median income and education rates than state averages are associated with more price‑sensitive plans, slower device replacement cycles, and a modestly higher share of LTE‑only devices.
• Work patterns: Agriculture and outdoor work increase demand for reliable voice coverage, rugged devices, Wi‑Fi calling at home, and vehicle/indoor boosters to handle metal buildings and long distances.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what’s on the ground)

• Carriers and network types:
  • National carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T‑Mobile) provide countywide LTE coverage along primary corridors; 5G is present mainly in and around towns and along highways.
  • A regional carrier (Viaero Wireless) has notable presence in central and western Nebraska and is often competitive in rural pockets; coverage can be strong in and around Broken Bow and nearby communities.
• 5G specifics:
  • Low‑band 5G from AT&T and Verizon offers broad reach but modest speeds; good for coverage, not capacity.
  • T‑Mobile’s mid‑band 5G (where deployed) brings higher speeds in and near towns; coverage thins in the most rural parts of the county.
  • Net effect: 5G availability is improving but is patchier than in urban Nebraska; many users effectively rely on LTE outside town centers.
• Tower density and terrain:
  • Sparse site spacing typical of the Sandhills/central Nebraska means longer inter‑site distances than state urban areas; valleys and river bottoms can create shadow zones.
  • Best coverage follows US‑183 and primary state highways and concentrates around Broken Bow, Sargent, Callaway, Arnold, Ansley, and Merna.
• Backhaul and capacity:
  • Fiber backhaul into town centers (from regional fiber providers common in rural Nebraska) underpins better performance in population clusters.
  • Outside towns, sites may rely more on long fiber laterals or microwave, which constrains capacity compared with metro Nebraska.
• Indoor experience:
  • Metal‑roof ag buildings and large lots reduce indoor signal quality. Consumer boosters and Wi‑Fi calling are used more heavily than in cities to stabilize voice and data indoors.

How Custer County differs from Nebraska statewide

• Adoption and devices:
  • Slightly lower smartphone penetration and a higher share of basic/flip phones due to older demographics.
  • Slightly lower wireless‑only household rate than the state average (more landline retention among seniors).
• Network experience:
  • More reliance on low‑band spectrum and LTE outside towns; fewer mid‑band 5G options than in Omaha/Lincoln/Grand Island/Kearney.
  • Lower average speeds and more variability (town vs. countryside) than state urban corridors.
  • Higher practical need for signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling.
• Carrier mix:
  • Regional carrier presence (e.g., Viaero) is more salient than in metro Nebraska; some national‑carrier users may still encounter roaming pockets or reduced performance off main roads.
• Usage patterns:
  • Heavier emphasis on reliable voice/SMS and coverage footprint for work across large areas; data use per line can be lower than urban Nebraska but spikes during local events and in town centers.
• Affordability dynamics:
  • With rural incomes and the end of federal ACP subsidies, budget‑oriented plans and slower device refresh cycles are likely more common than statewide averages.

Method notes and uncertainty

• These estimates triangulate from: national/state smartphone ownership (Pew, 2021–2023), wireless‑only household shares (CDC/NHIS), rural‑urban adoption gaps, and the county’s age/income profile from ACS trends. Exact county‑level mobile usage stats are not directly published, so figures are provided as ranges with the main drivers explained.
• Local conditions can vary within the county (town centers vs. ranchland). For planning, validate assumptions with carrier coverage maps, FCC broadband/tower data, and on‑site speed tests in target locations.

Below is a concise, decision-ready snapshot. Figures are estimates derived from Pew Research (2023–2024), ACS/demographics, and rural-Nebraska usage patterns; exact, county-specific panel data aren’t published, so treat as directional.

Snapshot (Custer County, NE)

• Population: ~10.5k
• Estimated social media users (age 13+): ~6.2k–6.7k people (≈60–64% of total pop.)
• Adult penetration (18+): ~70–73% use at least one platform
• Teen penetration (13–17): ~90%

Most-used platforms (share of social media users in the county)

• YouTube: ~75–80%
• Facebook: ~70–75% (Groups/Marketplace especially strong)
• Facebook Messenger: ~60–65%
• Instagram: ~35–40%
• Snapchat: ~30–35% (concentrated under 30)
• TikTok: ~28–33% (skews younger, strong short-form video)
• Pinterest: ~25–30% (primarily women)
• X/Twitter: ~12–18% (niche: weather/sports/news)
• Reddit/LinkedIn/WhatsApp: ~8–15% each (small but present, skew male/professional/immigrant ties respectively)
• Nextdoor/Discord: minimal footprint

Age-group patterns (platform penetration within each cohort)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube ~95%; Snapchat 85–90%; TikTok 80–85%; Instagram ~70%; Facebook ~20–30%
• Young adults (18–29): YouTube ~90%; Instagram ~80%; Snapchat 65–70%; TikTok 60–65%; Facebook 55–60%
• Adults (30–49): Facebook ~80%; YouTube ~85%; Instagram ~50%; TikTok 35–40%; Snapchat 30–35%
• Older adults (50–64): Facebook ~75%; YouTube ~70%; Instagram ~30%; TikTok 20–25%
• Seniors (65+): Facebook 60–65%; YouTube 55–60%; Instagram 15–20%

Gender breakdown (share of users by platform; county overall is roughly even by sex)

• Overall social users: ~51–53% women, ~47–49% men
• Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest skew female (Facebook users ≈55–60% women; Pinterest ≈70–80% women)
• YouTube, X/Twitter, Reddit skew male (≈55–70% men, depending on platform)

Behavioral trends to know

• Local-first info: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups/Pages for school updates, high school sports, church news, obituaries, county emergency alerts, road/weather conditions.
• Marketplace culture: Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell/trade groups drive peer-to-peer commerce (farm/ranch equipment, vehicles, household goods).
• Event-driven spikes: County fair, sports seasons, storms, and harvest/planting drive sharp engagement, especially video and live updates.
• Video preference: Short, vertical clips perform best on Facebook, Instagram Reels, and TikTok; how-to/repair and ag-market commentary do well on YouTube.
• Trust and tone: Content featuring recognizable local people/places outperforms polished corporate creative; plain-language posts and timely replies build credibility.
• Timing: Evenings (7–9 p.m.) and early mornings see the most activity; midday dips during fieldwork. Winter months skew higher online.
• Messaging for coordination: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are primary for quick coordination; group chats common among teams, boosters, and families.
• Platform limits: X/Twitter used mainly for severe weather, Husker/high school sports, and news; LinkedIn is niche (education/healthcare/finance); Nextdoor presence is minimal.

Method note

• Estimates reflect rural demographics (older median age, slightly lower broadband adoption) applied to Pew platform rates, with adjustments for known rural usage patterns in Nebraska. If you have access to local page/group insights or ISP penetration figures, we can refine these numbers further.