Hamilton County

Hamilton County, New York — key demographics

Population

• Total population: 5,107 (2020 Census); ~5.3k (2023 Census estimate)
• Least-populous county in New York State

Age

• Median age: ~54 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Age distribution: under 18 ≈ 16–17%; 18–64 ≈ 55%; 65+ ≈ 28–30%

Sex

• Male ≈ 52%
• Female ≈ 48%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone ≈ 94%
• Black or African American alone ≈ 0.7–0.8%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone ≈ 0.4–0.6%
• Asian alone ≈ 0.5–0.7%
• Two or more races ≈ 3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race) ≈ 2–3%

Households

• Households: ~2,300 (ACS 2018–2022)
• Persons per household: ~2.07
• Family households: ~63% of households; married-couple ≈ mid-50% share
• Nonfamily households: ~37%; living alone (65+): ~14–15%
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~85–90%

Insights

• Very small, aging population with a high median age and small household size
• Predominantly White, with modest racial/ethnic diversity
• High owner-occupancy amid many seasonal/vacation homes typical of the Adirondacks

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program 2023. Figures rounded; small-sample margins of error apply.

• Population and density: Hamilton County, NY has about 5,100 residents, the least-populous and least-dense county in the state, at roughly 3 people per square mile across ~1,800 square miles inside the Adirondack Park.
• Estimated email users: 4,050 residents ages 13+ (80% of all residents; ~92% of adults).
• Age distribution of email users
  • Teens 13–17: 150 users (4% of users)
  • Adults (total ~3,900 users):
    • 18–29: ~507 (13%)
    • 30–49: ~1,092 (28%)
    • 50–64: ~1,131 (29%)
    • 65+: ~1,170 (30%)
• Gender split among users: ~51% male, ~49% female, mirroring the county’s population; engagement levels are comparable by gender.
• Digital access and trends: Extremely low population density and rugged terrain create long last-mile runs and high per-premise build costs, so wired broadband is concentrated in hamlets, with many households relying on DSL, fixed wireless, satellite, or mobile hotspots. Public Wi‑Fi at libraries and town facilities remains a key access point. Fiber and fixed‑wireless coverage have been expanding along main travel corridors, improving speeds and reliability for some communities, but sizable gaps persist in remote tracts. Overall, connectivity is improving, yet adoption lags state averages due to coverage constraints and seasonally occupied housing.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Hamilton County, New York

Topline estimates (2025)

• Total residents: 5,107 (2020 Census); land area: 1,717 sq mi; population density: ~3 people/sq mi.
• Estimated individual mobile phone users (any mobile): ~4,000 (≈78–82% of residents), reflecting near-universal adoption among working-age adults, lower adoption among the oldest seniors, and limited uptake among children under 12.
• Estimated smartphone users: 3,500–3,700 (≈70–75% of residents; ≈80–85% of adults 18+).
• Mobile-only vs. landline: Wireless-only households likely below the New York State average due to an older age profile and legacy landline use in remote areas; wireless-only penetration is best characterized as “majority but not dominant,” versus a dominant majority in downstate metro counties.

Demographic breakdown (estimates derived from county age structure and national adoption differentials)

• Age 18–64: ~2,750 residents; ~95% have a mobile phone; ~90% have a smartphone. Contributes the bulk of smartphone users.
• Age 65+: ~1,500 residents; ~80% have a mobile phone; ~55–60% have a smartphone. Seniors account for roughly one-quarter of the county’s smartphone user base, with a higher-than-state share using basic/feature phones.
• Teens (13–17): high smartphone adoption (~90–95%), but a small absolute cohort given county size.
• Income/education gradient: Adoption remains high across groups, but lower-income and fixed-income seniors show a higher propensity for basic phones and prepaid plans than the state average, reflecting cost sensitivity and limited perceived need for 5G data plans.

Digital infrastructure and coverage realities

• Terrain-limited coverage: The Adirondack Park’s topography and strict tower siting rules produce substantial dead zones away from state routes and hamlets. Reliable 4G LTE is concentrated along corridors such as NY-28, NY-30, and in/around hamlets like Indian Lake, Long Lake, Inlet, Lake Pleasant, Speculator, and Blue Mountain Lake; interior forest and valleys see frequent drop-offs to 3G/1x (voice/text only) or no signal.
• 5G footprint: Low-band/DSS 5G exists in select hamlets and along primary roads, but countywide 5G availability remains far below the state average. Mid-band 5G is sparse or absent; practical user experience is often LTE-equivalent.
• Carrier dynamics: Verizon typically provides the most persistent rural coverage in the county; AT&T’s FirstNet investments have improved coverage on public-safety corridors; T-Mobile service is present along main roads and in population centers but thins quickly off-corridor. MVNO users can see reduced priority and sharper slowdowns at peak times.
• Backhaul and resilience: Many sites rely on microwave backhaul with limited capacity; fiber backhaul is discontinuous. Power outages and storms can produce prolonged service degradations; generator-backed sites perform better but are not universal. Wi‑Fi calling is an important mitigation for residents with poor indoor signal.
• Seasonal demand swings: Summer tourism and events can multiply active devices in lake and trailhead areas, causing noticeable congestion on otherwise lightly loaded sectors. Off-season demand is low.

How Hamilton County differs from New York State overall

• Lower smartphone penetration among seniors and a higher share of basic phones than the state average, driven by age structure (one of New York’s oldest median ages) and rural living patterns.
• Meaningfully less 5G availability and lower median mobile data speeds than statewide norms; user experience depends heavily on proximity to highways/hamlets and line-of-sight to towers.
• Greater reliance on Wi‑Fi calling, signal boosters, and offline navigation/messaging for backcountry safety; satellite messengers (e.g., inReach, Zoleo) are more common than in urban/suburban counties.
• More pronounced seasonal network congestion: peak summer loads strongly contrast with quiet off-season baselines, unlike the steadier traffic profiles in metro counties.
• Wireless-only households comprise a smaller share than the statewide average due to persistent landline use among older residents and patchy mobile coverage in some homes.

Actionable implications for users and planners

• Residents: Expect reliable LTE in town centers and along major roads; plan for weak/no service in interior areas. Enable Wi‑Fi calling and carry offline maps; consider carriers with proven rural footprints and compatible low-band coverage on your device.
• Businesses/tourism: Provide guest Wi‑Fi and clear connectivity expectations; deploy signal boosters where permitted. Prepare for summer capacity spikes.
• Public sector: Target additional macro/micro sites along gaps on NY-28/30 and feeder roads; prioritize fiber backhaul where feasible and resilient power at critical sites; continue leveraging FirstNet for emergency coverage.

Sources and methodology

• Population and age structure: U.S. Census Bureau (2020). Hamilton County’s small, older population underpins lower smartphone penetration among seniors and lower wireless-only household share.
• Adoption estimates: Derived from Pew Research’s national age-by-adoption patterns applied to Hamilton County’s age mix, with downward adjustments for rural coverage and income effects typical of Adirondack counties.
• Infrastructure characterization: Based on Adirondack terrain/tower siting constraints, carrier rural deployment patterns, FCC mobile coverage/performance maps, and known FirstNet build-outs in upstate NY.

These figures provide county-specific, decision-grade estimates and highlight where Hamilton County’s mobile reality diverges most from the New York State average: older users, patchier 5G, heavier reliance on workarounds, and sharper seasonality.

Hamilton County, NY — social media usage snapshot (2025)

Context

• Tiny, highly rural county (~5,100 residents; roughly 4,300 adults 18+), among the oldest age profiles in NY (median age ~56). Second‑home owners and tourism create strong seasonal swell in attention.

Most‑used platforms (estimated adult reach; share of 18+ and approximate user counts)

• YouTube: 74% (3.2k adults)
• Facebook: 63% (2.7k)
• Instagram: 36% (1.5k)
• Pinterest: 33% (1.4k)
• TikTok: 28% (1.2k)
• WhatsApp: 23% (1.0k)
• Snapchat: 19% (0.8k)
• X (Twitter): 18% (0.8k)
• Nextdoor: 18% (0.8k)

Age patterns (share of each age group using key platforms)

• 65+: YouTube ~60%, Facebook ~50%, Instagram ~15%, TikTok ~10%, X ~7% — Facebook Groups and YouTube dominate; lowest uptake of newer apps.
• 50–64: YouTube ~70%, Facebook ~73%, Instagram ~29%, TikTok ~24% — heavy Facebook usage for news/community; some Instagram/TikTok for family and local events.
• 30–49: YouTube ~87%, Facebook ~75%, Instagram ~49%, TikTok ~39% — multi‑platform; active in local groups, marketplace, school/town updates.
• 18–29: YouTube ~93%, Instagram ~78%, Snapchat ~65%, TikTok ~62%, Facebook ~58% — visually driven platforms; Facebook mainly for groups and events.

Gender breakdown (usage tendencies)

• Women: over‑index on Facebook and especially Pinterest; strong engagement with community groups, school/parent pages, local events and small business pages.
• Men: over‑index on YouTube, Reddit/X; strong interest in outdoor, DIY, hunting/fishing, motorsports, and local service information.
• Overall social user base skews close to the county’s near‑even sex split; platform mix differs by gender rather than total participation.

Behavioral trends in Hamilton County

• Facebook is the community hub: town/county agencies, volunteer fire/EMS, schools, libraries, churches, and event organizers rely on Pages, Groups, and Events for alerts, fundraisers, lost & found, road closures, weather, and seasonal notices.
• Seasonal attention cycles: engagement spikes late spring–fall (camping, hiking, boating, leaf‑peeping, events); winter bumps around snowmobiling and trail conditions.
• Marketplace and buy‑sell groups are unusually active relative to population; local classifieds behavior has migrated to Facebook.
• Private messaging (Facebook Messenger, SMS, WhatsApp) carries a high share of actual transactions and coordination after public posts.
• Video is practical: YouTube for tutorials, equipment repairs, land/seasonal prep, and outdoor content; short‑form video (Reels/TikTok) grows mainly via visitors/younger residents.
• Nextdoor presence is patchy due to low neighborhood density; Facebook Groups fill that “hyperlocal” role instead.
• X (Twitter) is niche; limited for local news consumption compared with Facebook and YouTube.
• Advertising that performs: simple creatives, clear local cues, and tight geo‑radius targeting; boosted posts for events and seasonal services outperform always‑on brand ads.

Notes on estimates and sources

• Percentages are modeled by applying Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. platform‑by‑age adoption rates to Hamilton County’s older‑skewing adult age profile (Census/ACS). Figures reflect adult reach (18+) and are rounded for clarity.