Steuben County

Steuben County, New York – key demographics

Population size

• 93,584 (2020 Census, official count)

Age (ACS 2019–2023, 5-year)

• Median age: ~44.4 years
• Under 18: ~20.6%
• 18 to 64: ~58.7%
• 65 and over: ~20.7%

Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

• Female: ~50.3%
• Male: ~49.7%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023)

• White alone: ~91.3%
• Black or African American alone: ~2.3%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~0.3%
• Asian alone: ~1.3%
• Some other race alone: ~0.6%
• Two or more races: ~4.2%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2.6%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~89.4%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~37,700
• Average household size: ~2.32
• Family households: ~60.8% of households
• Married-couple families: ~46.2% of households
• One-person households: ~32.2%
• Households with children under 18: ~24.9%
• Households with someone age 65+: ~33.7%

Insights

• The county is aging (median age mid‑40s; roughly one in five residents are 65+).
• Population is predominantly non-Hispanic White with modest racial/ethnic diversity.
• Household structure skews toward smaller sizes, with about one-third living alone.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census (P.L. 94‑171) and American Community Survey 2019–2023 5‑year estimates (tables DP05, S0101, S1101). Estimates are survey-based and subject to margins of error.

• Population and density: ≈93,000 residents across ≈1,400 sq mi (≈66 people/sq mi), largely rural with small urban centers (e.g., Corning, Hornell, Bath).
• Estimated email users (13+): ≈74,000 residents (≈79% of total population; ≈91% of residents aged 13+).
• Age distribution of email users (counts; share of users):
  • 13–17: ≈4,500 (6%)
  • 18–34: ≈17,900 (24%)
  • 35–64: ≈33,200 (45%)
  • 65+: ≈18,200 (25%)
• Gender split among email users: ≈51% female (≈37,600) and ≈49% male (≈36,200); adoption differences by gender are minimal.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household broadband subscription is roughly four in five homes (≈80%), with about one in ten households mobile-only (≈11%).
  • High-speed cable/fiber is common in town/village cores; 100+ Mbps service is typical there, while hillier and remote areas still face gaps and lower speeds.
  • Fiber build-outs and state-backed rural broadband initiatives are expanding coverage; adoption lags among seniors and lower-income households.
  • Public libraries and community centers serve as important Wi‑Fi access points.
• Connectivity takeaway: Email usage is near-universal among working-age residents, but rural last‑mile constraints create a geographic divide in consistent, high-speed access.

Steuben County, NY — Mobile Phone Usage Summary

Scope and sources: Figures draw primarily from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018–2022 ACS (S2801: Computer and Internet Use) and commonly referenced network performance/coverage datasets (FCC mobile coverage maps, carrier disclosures, independent speed-test aggregators). County-level “households with a smartphone” and “type of internet subscription” are ACS estimates; comparisons are to New York State ACS.

Headline takeaways versus New York State

• Smartphone access is widespread but a few points lower than the state average.
• Reliance on cellular data as the only home internet connection is meaningfully higher than the state average.
• A larger share of households have no internet subscription at all, and 5G availability/performance is spottier outside population centers.
• These gaps are driven by older age structure, lower median income, and rural topography/infrastructure constraints.

User base and adoption

• Population base: ~93,000 residents; ~38,000 households.
• Households with a smartphone: ~89% in Steuben vs ~93% statewide. That equates to roughly 34,000–35,000 Steuben households with at least one smartphone.
• Households with a cellular data plan (mobile internet in the home): ~72–74% in Steuben vs ~79–80% statewide.
• Adult smartphone users (modeled): ~60,000–64,000 adults in Steuben (mid-80s percent adoption among adults), a few points below statewide adult adoption.

Access mode and reliance patterns

• Cellular data–only households (mobile plan but no cable/fiber/DSL/fixed wireless in the home): ~11–13% in Steuben vs ~7–8% statewide. This signals heavier mobile reliance for primary internet needs.
• Households with any internet subscription: ~82–84% in Steuben vs ~90–92% statewide.
• Households with no internet subscription: ~16–18% in Steuben vs ~8–10% statewide.

Demographic contrasts driving the differences

• Age: A larger share of older adults reduces overall smartphone adoption and increases “basic phone” retention compared with statewide patterns. Households headed by those 65+ are less likely to report a smartphone and more likely to lack any internet subscription than younger households.
• Income: Lower-income households are more likely to be mobile-only in Steuben than the statewide average. Budget constraints and limited fixed-broadband availability raise dependence on smartphones and prepaid plans.
• Geography: Rural settlement patterns and hilly terrain produce more coverage variability, reinforcing mobile-only behavior where fixed options are sparse or costly.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage:
  • 4G/LTE: Near-universal outdoor coverage from at least one national carrier along primary corridors (I-86/NY-17, US-15/I-99, NY-36, NY-54) and in population centers (Corning, Hornell, Bath), with dead zones in valleys and low-density areas.
  • 5G: Present but uneven. Low-band 5G blankets larger areas; mid-band 5G capacity is concentrated in and around towns and travel corridors. Countywide 5G depth lags the state’s metro-led footprint.
• Capacity and speeds: Typical median mobile download speeds in populated parts of Steuben trail statewide medians due to sparser site density and terrain. Expect a wider range (roughly 10–80 Mbps) versus higher and more consistent metro-state medians.
• Site density and backhaul: Fewer macro sites per square mile than downstate; microwave and legacy copper backhaul remain in some rural sectors, constraining peak throughput compared with fiber-fed urban cells.
• Emergency/first responder networks: AT&T’s FirstNet build-outs improved LTE coverage and resiliency on key corridors and around public-safety sites, but do not fully close indoor or deep-rural gaps.

What’s changing

• Gradual climb in smartphone and mobile-data adoption continues, but the county’s gap with statewide levels persists because fixed broadband upgrades arrive more slowly in rural areas.
• The end of the federal ACP subsidy in 2024 increases the likelihood of mobile-only reliance among low-income households, widening the county–state disparity in “any home internet” unless offset by local programs or new fixed-wireless/fiber builds.
• Carrier 5G upgrades (particularly mid-band) along major corridors will lift speeds in towns first; deep-rural areas will improve more slowly without new towers or fixed-wireless overlays.

Implications

• Service design: Mobile-first experiences (low data footprint, offline modes) are more critical in Steuben than statewide averages suggest.
• Public services and health: Higher mobile-only and no-internet shares warrant SMS-friendly and app-light outreach; telehealth should assume variable bandwidth and prefer audio-first with adaptive video.
• Economic development: Expanding mid-band 5G and fixed broadband (fiber or licensed fixed wireless) in rural tracts will directly reduce the county’s mobile-only and no-internet rates, narrowing the digital divide with the rest of New York.

Key statistics at a glance (Steuben County vs New York State; ACS 2018–2022)

• Households with a smartphone: ~89% vs ~93%
• Households with a cellular data plan: ~72–74% vs ~79–80%
• Cellular data–only households: ~11–13% vs ~7–8%
• Households with any internet subscription: ~82–84% vs ~90–92%
• Households with no internet: ~16–18% vs ~8–10%

Steuben County, NY social media snapshot (2025)

Population context

• Population: 93,584 (2020 Census). Rural/suburban mix anchored by Corning, Hornell, and Bath.
• All usage percentages below refer to adults (18+).

Most-used platforms (estimated adult reach in Steuben County)

• YouTube: 80–85% of adults
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 45–50%
• TikTok: 30–35%
• Pinterest: 30–35%
• Snapchat: 25–30%
• WhatsApp: 25–30%
• LinkedIn: 25–30% (concentrated around larger employers)
• X (Twitter): 20–25%
• Reddit: 20–25%
• Nextdoor: 15–20% Note: These are modeled local estimates based on 2024 Pew U.S. platform adoption applied to the county’s age/gender profile; platform shares in rural Upstate NY track closely with national rates, with Facebook slightly higher among older adults and LinkedIn slightly lower overall.

Age-pattern highlights

• 18–29: Near-universal YouTube; majorities on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok; Facebook remains common but secondary. High daily use of Instagram/Snapchat Stories and TikTok short video.
• 30–49: Broadest cross-platform use. Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram strong; TikTok moderate; LinkedIn meaningful among professionals; Messenger and WhatsApp for coordination.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube lead by a wide margin; Pinterest and Instagram are secondary; TikTok adoption growing but still minority.
• 65+: Facebook is the top network (roughly half of seniors); YouTube second (about six in ten). Limited Instagram/TikTok use; Facebook Groups central for news, church, civic, and family updates.

Gender breakdown (directional skews consistent with national data)

• Women: Over-index on Facebook, Instagram, and especially Pinterest; higher engagement with community groups, local events, schools, and Marketplace.
• Men: Over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X; higher consumption of news, sports, DIY/auto, and tech content.
• LinkedIn skews slightly male; Snapchat and TikTok are near-balanced among younger cohorts.

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community backbone: heavy use of Groups (schools, towns, volunteer fire/EMS, yard sale/buy-sell), local news, events, and Marketplace. High daily check-in behavior among 30+.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for how-to/DIY, home improvement, outdoor/recreation, farming, automotive; TikTok and Reels for entertainment and quick local updates.
• Messaging-centric habits: Facebook Messenger is universal across 30+; Snapchat dominates peer messaging among teens/20s; WhatsApp present among some professional and family networks.
• Shopping and discovery: Marketplace and local business pages drive purchases; Instagram used for food, boutiques, salons, breweries/wineries; Pinterest for home, crafts, recipes.
• Timing: Peaks early morning (commute/school), lunch, and 7–10 p.m.; weekend spikes around sports, events, and seasonal activities.
• Content style: Community-oriented, practical, and hyperlocal posts outperform polished ads; user-generated photos/video and timely service updates (weather/roads, closures, promotions) get the most engagement.

Sources and method

• U.S. Census Bureau (2020) for population baseline.
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024, for platform adoption by age/gender; local estimates derived by mapping those rates to Steuben County’s demographic structure.