Livingston County

Livingston County, New York — key demographics

Population

• 61,718 (2023 population estimate)
• 61,834 (2020 Census; down from 65,393 in 2010)

Age

• Median age: ~41 years
• Under 18: ~19.5%
• 65 and over: ~18.8%

Gender

• Female: ~49.3%
• Male: ~50.7%

Race/ethnicity (ACS; Hispanic is any race)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~88.0%
• Black/African American, non-Hispanic: ~3.1%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~1.1%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2.9%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~0.5%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: ~0.1%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~4.4%

Households and housing

• Households: ~24,800
• Average household size: ~2.45
• Family households: ~62%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~73–75%
• Median household income: ~$66k–$68k
• Poverty rate: ~12–13%

Insights

• Population has modestly declined since 2010.
• Age structure is slightly older than the U.S. overall, with nearly one in five residents 65+.
• The county is predominantly White non-Hispanic, with small but present Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian populations.
• Household profile skews toward owner-occupied, family households with moderate incomes.

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

Livingston County, NY — email usage snapshot

• Estimated email users: ~48,500 residents. Based on near‑universal email use among internet users and applying national age‑by‑adoption benchmarks to local demographics.
• Age distribution of email users (est. share of users):
  • 13–24: 17% (boosted by SUNY Geneseo’s student population)
  • 25–44: 27%
  • 45–64: 36%
  • 65+: 20%
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male, mirroring the county’s population.
• Digital access and device trends:
  • Household broadband subscription is high for a rural county (upper‑80s percent), with most households reporting a computer/smartphone; smartphone‑only internet access ~12–15% of households.
  • Older adults (65+) show slightly lower email adoption than prime‑age adults but remain majority users.
  • Mobile coverage is strong along the I‑390 corridor and in larger villages (Geneseo, Avon); more rural southern towns see greater reliance on fixed wireless/DSL and smartphone data.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population ≈61,600; density ≈98 people per square mile across ~630 square miles.
  • The I‑390/US‑20/NY‑5 corridor concentrates population, institutions, and higher‑speed fixed broadband; outlying areas have sparser infrastructure, influencing email access via mobile more than wireline.

Overall: email use is widespread (~4 in 5 residents), with the heaviest engagement among ages 25–64 and near parity by gender.

Mobile phone usage in Livingston County, New York (2024 snapshot)

Core size and user estimates

• Population: ≈62,000; households: ≈24,000 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2018–2022).
• Adult smartphone users: ≈44,000 (assumes ≈49,000 adults and county-level smartphone adoption in the high 80s to ~90%, consistent with ACS and Pew).
• Household smartphone access: ≈88–90% of households report having a smartphone (ACS S2801 proxy).
• Households relying on cellular data as their primary internet: ≈8–10% (ACS S2801 “cellular data plan only” proxy).
• Households with no internet subscription: ≈12–14% (ACS S2801), higher than the statewide share.
• Wireless-only telephone households (no landline): county is likely below the New York State rate (state ≈70%+ as of 2023 CDC/NTIA estimates), reflecting an older age mix and rural pockets where landlines persist.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: A larger 65+ share than the state slightly depresses smartphone adoption and data-plan take-up among seniors, though usage is rising (national 65+ smartphone ownership now ~75%+). Younger clusters in Geneseo/Avon (SUNY Geneseo ≈4,500–5,000 students) push smartphone and unlimited-plan usage well above the county average in those census tracts.
• Income: Median household income below the NYS median correlates with higher prepaid and MVNO plan usage and a higher share of cellular-only households, especially in outlying towns where wireline broadband is weaker.
• Geography: Rural western/southwestern towns (e.g., Ossian, Nunda, Portage, West Sparta) show more LTE-only coverage and greater reliance on SMS/voice and Wi‑Fi calling, while the I‑390 corridor and larger villages have stronger 5G availability and higher data consumption.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Networks present: Verizon, AT&T (including FirstNet capability), and T‑Mobile serve the county; MVNOs ride these networks widely.
• Coverage pattern: Near‑universal LTE coverage in populated areas; 5G covers most population centers and the I‑390 corridor (Geneseo, Avon, Dansville, Mount Morris) with mid‑band 5G concentrated around towns and main roads. Terrain-driven gaps persist in valley/gorge areas (e.g., around Letchworth State Park) and some low‑density western hills.
• Capacity/backhaul: Town centers and highway-adjacent macro sites are typically fiber‑fed (cable/fiber backhaul via regional providers), supporting mid‑band 5G where deployed; more remote sites rely on older sectors and longer inter-site distances, constraining peak speeds and indoor penetration.
• Public/anchor connectivity: SUNY Geneseo and county schools/libraries provide high-capacity Wi‑Fi that backstops mobile use, particularly for students and lower‑income residents in villages.
• Emergency reliability: LTE fallback is common during 5G congestion or weather events; residents frequently use Wi‑Fi calling indoors in fringe areas.

How Livingston County differs from New York State

• Slightly lower smartphone and mobile-broadband adoption: County household smartphone access (≈88–90%) trails NYS by a few points (state typically ≈91–93%). Cellular‑only home internet is more common in the county (≈8–10%) than statewide (≈6–8%).
• Higher unconnected share: Households with no internet subscription run a few points higher in Livingston (≈12–14%) than New York State overall (≈9–11%), reflecting rural last‑mile gaps and affordability constraints.
• Coverage quality is more uneven: 5G is present but less uniformly mid‑band than in downstate metros; LTE remains the workhorse outside towns. Indoor coverage gaps and dead zones are more frequent than the statewide norm.
• Carrier mix skews toward coverage-first choices: Verizon and AT&T tend to hold a larger share than in urban NYS counties due to rural reach; T‑Mobile’s mid‑band footprint is strongest along I‑390 and in villages rather than county‑wide.
• Usage profile: Older age structure and rural work patterns mean heavier reliance on voice/SMS and Wi‑Fi calling, with high-intensity app/data usage concentrated in student and commuter hubs.

Key takeaways

• Expect roughly 44,000 adult smartphone users county‑wide, with overall mobile reliance elevated but constrained by patchy 5G depth outside town centers.
• The county lags the state by a few percentage points on smartphone ownership, mobile‑broadband take‑up, and overall connectivity, primarily due to age mix, income, and rural topography.
• Infrastructure investment that extends fiber backhaul and adds mid‑band 5G sectors beyond the I‑390 corridor would narrow the performance and adoption gap with statewide norms.

Sources and methods

• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022, table S2801 (household device and internet subscription indicators) and population/households.
• Pew Research Center (2023) for national smartphone ownership by age to scale adult user counts.
• FCC mobile coverage maps and carrier public coverage disclosures (2024) for network availability patterns.

Livingston County, NY – social media usage snapshot (2024)

At a glance

• Connectivity baseline: household broadband subscription ~86% (ACS 2023). Smartphone access is high, enabling near-universal mobile social use.
• Adult social media adoption: ~74% of adults use at least one “social network” (Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok/X/LinkedIn/Pinterest/Nextdoor). Including YouTube, total social/video platform use rises to ~84%.

Most-used platforms (share of adults; modeled local estimates)

• YouTube: 81%
• Facebook: 64%
• Instagram: 41%
• Pinterest: 33%
• TikTok: 28%
• Snapchat: 25%
• LinkedIn: 22%
• X (Twitter): 19%
• Reddit: 18%
• Nextdoor: 11%

Age profile (how residents use platforms)

• 18–24: Near-universal YouTube; Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok dominate daily social time; Facebook used for local events, campus/community groups (SUNY Geneseo influence).
• 25–34: Facebook for groups/Marketplace; Instagram and TikTok for short video and creators; YouTube for tutorials/entertainment.
• 35–49: Facebook is primary (groups, school updates, sports); YouTube strong; Instagram moderate; LinkedIn used for professional networking; Pinterest popular for projects.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube lead; Pinterest moderate; Instagram/TikTok lower but rising, especially for reels/shorts.
• 65+: Facebook first, YouTube second; limited Instagram/TikTok; some Nextdoor usage in villages.

Gender breakdown

• Overall user mix: ~52% women, 48% men among active social users (reflecting both population and usage patterns).
• Platform tilts: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok skew female; Reddit and X skew male; YouTube is near parity.

Local behavioral trends

• Community coordination happens on Facebook: town/hamlet groups (buy-sell-trade, school athletics, fire/EMS, local government and road updates) and Marketplace are high-traffic hubs.
• Event discovery: Facebook Events and Instagram Stories drive attendance for county fair, festivals, and Letchworth State Park activities; sharing spikes around fall foliage.
• Short-form video growth: TikTok and Instagram Reels see steady uptake for campus life (Geneseo), sports highlights, restaurant promos, and outdoor content (gorge, trails).
• News and weather: Peak spikes on Facebook during storms, closings, and road incidents; local media post to Facebook first, then cross-post.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger and Instagram DMs are primary for small-business inquiries; Snapchat is common among students/younger adults.
• Engagement timing: Highest activity weekday evenings (6–9 pm) and Saturday mornings (9–11 am); pronounced second-screening during major sports (e.g., Bills games).
• Civic discourse: Increased commenting and sharing in weeks before town/school board votes and budget hearings; local issues outperform national topics in group engagement.
• Commerce: Strong use of Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell groups for vehicles, furniture, farm equipment; Pinterest supports home/DIY planning; Nextdoor used in denser villages (Avon, Geneseo, Dansville) but trails Facebook groups.

Method and notes

• Figures are 2024 county-level estimates built by applying Pew Research Center platform-by-age adoption rates to Livingston County’s age structure and broadband access (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023). Percentages reflect share of adults unless noted.