Wyoming County

Key demographics – Wyoming County, New York

Population size

• Total population: 40,531 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~42.9 years
• Under 18: ~19%
• 18–64: ~62%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Male: ~54%
• Female: ~46% (Note: Elevated male share reflects the presence of state correctional facilities.)

Racial/ethnic composition (shares; totals may not sum to 100% due to rounding)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~85%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~8%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~6%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~0.5%

Households

• Total households: ~15,200
• Average household size: ~2.47
• Family households: ~67% of households
• Married-couple households: ~52%
• Households with children under 18: ~28%
• Nonfamily households: ~33%
• One-person households: ~28%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~78%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates.

Wyoming County, NY overview

• Population and density: ~40,400 residents; ~68 people per square mile (rural).
• Estimated email users: ~29,000 residents use email regularly (driven by high internet/device access).
• Age distribution of email users: 13–17: 4%; 18–34: 24%; 35–54: 33%; 55–64: 17%; 65+: 22%.
• Gender split among users: ~50% female, ~50% male.
• Digital access: ~90% of households have a computer; ~83% have a broadband subscription. About 1 in 9 households are effectively smartphone‑only for internet.
• Trends and local context: Email use is near‑universal among working‑age adults and rising among seniors as broadband expands. Rural dispersion and hill‑and‑valley terrain create last‑mile gaps, but state programs (e.g., ongoing fiber builds) and anchor institutions (libraries, schools, municipal Wi‑Fi) sustain connectivity. Two large state prisons skew the resident sex ratio but do not contribute meaningfully to civilian email usage. Overall, connectivity is improving, with steady gains in broadband adoption and mobile coverage along primary corridors, supporting consistent email access for most households.

Mobile phone usage in Wyoming County, New York — 2025 snapshot

User base and adoption

• Population baseline: ~39,600 residents (2023 Census estimate); ~30,900 adults (18+).
• Mobile phone users (any cellphone): ~29,400 adults (est. 95% of adults, consistent with rural U.S. adoption).
• Smartphone users: ~25,900–26,200 adults (est. 84–85% of adults, in line with rural adoption; New York State overall is closer to ~90%).
• Lines per resident: roughly 0.9–1.1 active mobile lines per resident when including secondary lines, wearables, and data-only devices (comparable to rural NY peers, below NYC-centric statewide intensity).

Demographic breakdown (adults, estimates derived from rural adoption patterns)

• By age
  • 18–34: ~6,800 adults; smartphone adoption ~95% → ~6,460 users.
  • 35–64: ~17,300 adults; smartphone adoption ~88–90% → ~15,200–15,600 users.
  • 65+: ~6,800 adults; smartphone adoption ~65–70% → ~4,400–4,800 users.
  • Distinct trend vs NYS: senior smartphone adoption trails state averages by ~10–15 percentage points.
• By income
  • Median household income is below the NYS median; smartphone ownership remains high (>80%) across incomes, but “smartphone-dependent” internet use is elevated.
  • Smartphone-only internet (no home broadband): ~12–18% of adults; among lower-income adults, ~18–22%. Estimated 1,800–2,400 households rely primarily on mobile data for home internet—meaningfully higher than the statewide share.
• By education and employment
  • Adults without college degrees show slightly lower smartphone adoption (mid-to-high 70s%) and higher prepaid usage.
  • Agriculture, manufacturing, and corrections employment drive practical reliance on voice/SMS, push-to-talk, and coverage along rural corridors.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Networks and coverage
  • Carriers present: Verizon, AT&T (including FirstNet Band 14 for public safety), and T-Mobile; multiple MVNOs ride these networks.
  • 4G LTE: near-ubiquitous outdoor coverage along primary roads and in villages (Warsaw, Attica, Arcade, Perry); indoor gaps persist in hamlets and valleys.
  • 5G (population coverage): estimated mid-70s to mid-80s percent countywide; materially below statewide (which is in the mid-to-high 90s due to extensive low-band 5G in metro regions).
  • 5G layers: low-band widely present; mid-band (T-Mobile n41, Verizon/AT&T C-band n77) concentrated in/near larger villages and along main corridors; coverage thins quickly outside them.
• Sites and spectrum
  • Dozens of macro cell sites countywide (roughly 6–10 per 100 square miles), plus growing small-cell/densification near town centers.
  • Spectrum in active use includes low-band (for reach) and mid-band (for capacity); carrier aggregation and VoLTE/VoNR standard.
• Speeds and reliability (typical observed ranges)
  • LTE: ~10–40 Mbps down, single-digit to ~10 Mbps up; congestion-sensitive near events.
  • 5G low-band: ~30–80 Mbps down; 5–15 Mbps up.
  • 5G mid-band (where available): ~150–400 Mbps down; ~15–40 Mbps up.
  • Coverage gaps: terrain-driven dead zones in parts of Letchworth State Park, hilly stretches near Wethersfield and Java, and sparsely populated farm roads; Wi‑Fi calling is a practical workaround indoors.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA)
  • T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home are available in and around denser villages and along select corridors; estimated household penetration on the order of 5–10%, rising as mid-band footprints expand.
  • This FWA growth is substituting for DSL and complementing cable where fiber is limited.

Usage patterns and market dynamics

• Device mix and plans
  • Higher Android share and prepaid/no‑contract plan usage than the NYS average (by ~5–10 percentage points), reflecting price sensitivity and patchier high-capacity 5G.
  • iPhone share remains strong among younger and higher-income users but is lower than NYC/Downstate benchmarks.
• Data consumption
  • Total mobile data per line is below Downstate averages due to more limited mid-band 5G reach and greater reliance on home Wi‑Fi in cable‑served villages.
  • A notable minority of households are mobile-first for home internet, driving heavy usage on unlimited plans despite overall lower averages.
• Sector-specific use
  • Agriculture and logistics rely on wide‑area coverage, telematics, and push‑to‑talk; public safety benefits from FirstNet buildouts; tourism areas experience seasonal load spikes.

How Wyoming County differs from New York State overall

• Adoption: Adult smartphone ownership is lower by roughly 4–6 percentage points; the senior adoption gap is larger (10–15 points).
• Network: 5G population coverage lags the state by 10–20 points, with mid‑band 5G availability especially uneven outside village cores.
• Plan mix: Prepaid and budget MVNO penetration is higher; postpaid premium plan share is lower than the statewide mix.
• Access substitution: Smartphone-only and 5G FWA reliance is higher than state averages due to limited fiber outside village centers.
• Performance: Typical download speeds are lower and more variable than statewide medians driven by terrain, tower spacing, and less dense mid‑band deployment.

Bottom line

• Wyoming County’s mobile landscape is robust for voice/SMS and basic data across most populated areas, with improving—but still uneven—5G mid‑band capacity.
• The county’s older demographic, rural topology, and sparser mid‑band rollout produce lower smartphone adoption among seniors, higher prepaid use, and greater mobile substitution for home internet than New York State overall.
• Continued densification (especially mid‑band 5G and small cells) and expanded FWA will be the primary levers to close performance and adoption gaps relative to the state.

Wyoming County, NY social media snapshot (2025)

Who’s online

• Population: ~39,600 (2023 Census estimate). Adults (18+): ~31,300.
• Broadband at home: ~80–85% of households (ACS 2018–2022).
• Adult social media penetration (any platform): ~85% of adults ≈ 26,600 users (modeled from Pew 2024 U.S. adoption applied to local adult counts).

Gender breakdown

• Resident population: ~54% male, ~46% female (ACS; skewed male by two state prisons).
• Active social media audience: skews slightly female locally despite the resident male majority, because incarcerated men are not online and platforms most used in rural areas (Facebook, Pinterest) over-index among women.

Most-used platforms (share of county adults; Pew 2024 U.S. rates applied to Wyoming County’s adult population)

• YouTube: 83% (~26,000 adults)
• Facebook: 68% (~21,300)
• Instagram: 47% (~14,700)
• Pinterest: 35% (~11,000)
• LinkedIn: 32% (~10,000)
• TikTok: 33% (~10,300)
• Snapchat: 27% (~8,500)
• X (Twitter): 22% (~6,900)
• Reddit: 22% (~6,900)
• WhatsApp: 21% (~6,600)
• Nextdoor: 20% (~6,300)

Age-group patterns (behavioral)

• Teens (13–17): High daily use of Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube; messaging happens in Snap/IG DMs. Strong short‑form video consumption.
• 18–29: Nearly universal platform use; Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat dominate for daily engagement; YouTube for how‑tos and entertainment. Facebook mainly for events and marketplace, not posting.
• 30–49: Omnichannel but practical—Facebook and Messenger for school/league updates and local groups; Instagram for visual updates; YouTube for repairs/DIY. TikTok growing for quick tips/recipes.
• 50–64: Facebook is the hub (groups, Marketplace, community info); YouTube for how‑to and news clips; modest Instagram adoption; limited TikTok use.
• 65+: Facebook for staying in touch and local news; YouTube for tutorials and church/organization videos; minimal use of Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat.

Local behavioral trends and insights

• Facebook is the community backbone: high participation in town/county groups, school and youth sports updates, lost-and-found, buy/sell (Marketplace), and event promotion.
• YouTube is the default “how‑to” channel: farm/yard equipment, small‑engine repair, home/auto DIY, hunting/fishing, gardening, and canning content perform well.
• Short‑form video is rising but practical: TikTok and Instagram Reels get traction when they’re concise (sub‑30s), skill- or tip‑based, and locally relevant.
• Messaging patterns: Facebook Messenger and SMS dominate adults; Snapchat for teens/young adults; WhatsApp niche (used within specific family/immigrant networks).
• Professional networking is modest: LinkedIn usage exists but is limited by the county’s employment mix (agriculture, corrections, manufacturing, healthcare, trades); good for hiring outreach but weaker for organic reach.
• Platform skews: Pinterest is notably female (crafts, recipes, décor, classroom ideas). Reddit and X skew male and draw interest for tech, sports, and breaking news, but overall reach is smaller than Facebook/YouTube.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; midday spikes during weather alerts or school notices. Seasonality matters (planting/harvest, school year, hunting seasons).
• Connectivity considerations: Rural bandwidth variability rewards lighter, compressed video, captions, and posts that load fast.

Method note and sources

• County population, age, and broadband: U.S. Census Bureau/ACS (2018–2022; 2023 estimates).
• Platform adoption rates: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adult percentages). Counts above are modeled by applying Pew’s U.S. adoption rates to Wyoming County’s adult population; they reflect users of each platform (not daily use), so platforms add up to more than the total user base.