Bedford County

Here are the latest concise demographics for Bedford County, Pennsylvania.

Population

• Total population: 47,577 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age

• Median age: ~47.7 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~23–24% (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 ACS 5-year, Table S0101)

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50% (Source: ACS 2019–2023, S0101)

Race and ethnicity

• White alone, not Hispanic: ~94%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~0.2%
• Asian alone: ~0.3%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~1–2% (Note: “Hispanic or Latino” is an ethnicity and overlaps with race categories.) (Source: ACS 2019–2023, DP05)

Households

• Total households: ~19,500
• Average household size: ~2.35
• Family households: ~66%
• Married-couple households: ~54%
• One-person households: ~28%
• Households with children under 18: ~24% (Source: ACS 2019–2023, S1101)

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (Tables DP05, S0101, S1101).

Bedford County, PA (population ~47k; ~46 people per sq. mile) is a rural market with high but slightly below-urban email adoption.

Estimated email users

• 33,000–36,000 residents use email at least monthly (roughly 85–90% of adults; a bit lower among seniors).

Age distribution of email use (share of each age group)

• 18–29: 97–99%
• 30–49: 95–98%
• 50–64: 90–94%
• 65+: 75–85% (lower in the most rural areas)

Gender split

• Approximately even: 49–51% male, 49–51% female among users; negligible usage gap by gender.

Digital access and trends

• Household broadband subscriptions estimated ~75–80% (below Pennsylvania’s statewide average, reflecting rural terrain and distance to infrastructure).
• 15–20% of residents are likely smartphone‑only internet users.
• Computer ownership ~75–85% of households; public libraries and schools supplement access via Wi‑Fi.
• Connectivity strongest in/around Bedford, Everett, and along US‑30/US‑220 corridors; patchier coverage in sparsely populated ridges and valleys.
• Ongoing state/federal rural broadband initiatives are improving availability and speeds.

Notes: Figures are estimates synthesized from U.S. Census/ACS population and broadband data, Pew Research on email/internet adoption by age and geography, and Pennsylvania broadband reporting.

Mobile phone usage in Bedford County, PA — 2025 snapshot

Big-picture differences versus Pennsylvania

• Adoption is high but not as universal as statewide: fewer adults own smartphones than the PA average, with a larger minority still using basic/feature phones.
• More residents rely on mobile data as their primary or fallback home internet because wired broadband is patchier than the state average.
• Carrier mix skews more toward Verizon and AT&T; T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G footprint is thinner outside towns, so its share is lower than statewide.
• Upgrade cycles are longer, prepaid/MVNO use is higher, and there is more sensitivity to price caps and data throttling.
• 5G is present but less often mid-band; many rural areas remain LTE- or low-band-5G-only, with frequent terrain-driven dead zones compared with flatter parts of the state.

User estimates for Bedford County Note: Estimates triangulate recent ACS population, typical rural adoption patterns, and statewide benchmarks; they are directional ranges.

• Population base: roughly 47,000 residents; about 36,000–38,000 adults.
• Adults who use a smartphone: about 27,000–30,000 (roughly 75–80% of adults), versus ~85% statewide.
• Adults using basic/feature phones or no mobile phone: about 7,000–9,000 (20–25%), higher than statewide.
• Households that are wireless-only for voice (no landline): roughly 55–65% of households locally versus a higher share statewide in metro areas; older age structure keeps landlines alive.
• Households that rely primarily on mobile data for home internet: approximately 12–18% locally, above the statewide average, reflecting gaps in affordable wired service.
• Plan types: prepaid/MVNO likely 30–40% of lines (above statewide) due to income and credit factors; postpaid family plans remain common among working-age households.
• Carrier share (qualitative): Verizon strongest, AT&T second, T-Mobile third; T-Mobile adoption is better in and near Bedford borough/Everett than in outlying valleys.

Demographic patterns shaping usage

• Age: Bedford skews older than Pennsylvania overall. Older adults are more likely to keep landlines, use basic phones, and to have data-capped plans; younger users show typical heavy smartphone dependence.
• Income and education: Lower median income and lower bachelor’s attainment than statewide correlate with higher prepaid usage, longer device replacement cycles (often 3–4 years), and more sharing of family plans.
• Work patterns: Agriculture, logistics, trades, and outdoor work increase reliance on voice/SMS and offline-capable apps; spotty coverage in valleys affects job-site communications.
• Digital equity: A higher share of smartphone-only users for school, job search, telehealth. The lapse of ACP subsidies has a more noticeable impact locally than in better-wired metro counties.

Digital infrastructure notes

• Coverage pattern: 4G LTE is solid along I‑76/PA Turnpike, U.S. 30, and around towns (Bedford, Everett, Saxton). Outside corridors, valleys and ridgelines create dead zones and “one-bar” pockets. This terrain effect is more pronounced than the statewide norm.
• 5G status:
  • Low-band 5G is fairly widespread but offers LTE-like performance in many rural areas.
  • Mid-band 5G (Verizon C-band, T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz) is concentrated near town centers and major highways; foothills and hollows often fall back to LTE.
  • Millimeter-wave small cells are rare outside specific venues; far less common than in PA’s metro counties.
• Backhaul: Many rural sites still depend on microwave backhaul; fiber-fed sites cluster near the Turnpike and boroughs. As new BEAD-funded fiber extends, mobile capacity should improve, but upgrades trail metro timelines.
• Tower density: Macro towers are sited on ridgelines with co-location across carriers; infill is limited, leaving coverage gaps between ridges. Small-cell deployments are minimal relative to urban Pennsylvania.
• Public safety: AT&T FirstNet Band 14 presence improves first-responder coverage along main corridors; the state P25 network complements but does not solve consumer dead zones.
• Fixed wireless: 4G/5G home internet options exist around towns and corridors; availability drops in remote valleys. This substitute is more important here than in well-served suburban counties.

What’s most different from the state level

• Adoption: 5–10 percentage points lower smartphone ownership; higher basic-phone retention.
• Access pattern: More residents using mobile as primary internet and for tethering due to limited wired choices.
• Network experience: Greater reliance on LTE and low-band 5G, with terrain-driven dead zones; mid-band 5G and small cells are less prevalent.
• Market behavior: Higher prepaid/MVNO share, longer device lifecycles, and stronger bias toward Verizon/AT&T for coverage.
• Equity and risk: Older, lower-income profile amplifies the impact of plan pricing, data caps, and subsidy changes on connectivity.

Below is a concise, best-available estimate for Bedford County, PA. Exact county-level social media figures aren’t published, so numbers use U.S./rural benchmarks (Pew Research Center 2023–2024) adjusted for the county’s older, rural profile and population (~47K; adult share ~38K).

Headline user stats (adults 18+)

• Estimated adult social media users: 26K–29K (roughly 68–76% of adults; rural usage is slightly below the U.S. average).
• Devices: >90% mobile-first consumption; desktop is secondary.

Age mix of users (share of adult users, est.)

• 18–29: 15–18%
• 30–49: 30–34%
• 50–64: 28–32%
• 65+: 20–24% Note: The county skews older than the U.S. average; the active-user pool still tilts slightly younger than the population because younger adults adopt more platforms.

Gender breakdown (est.)

• Slight female majority among active users: ~52–55% female, ~45–48% male.
• Drivers: Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; most other platforms are near parity.

Most-used platforms among Bedford County adults (share of adult social media users, est.)

• Facebook: 70–80%; daily use common. Groups and Marketplace are central.
• YouTube: 70–80%; heavy how-to, church services, outdoor/hobby viewing.
• Instagram: 30–40%; strongest under 40; Reels growing.
• TikTok: 20–30%; concentrated under 35; local trades/homesteading content does well.
• Snapchat: 15–25%; mainly teens/younger adults.
• Pinterest: 25–35% overall; 45–55% among women users.
• LinkedIn: 10–15%; healthcare, education, manufacturing pros.
• X (Twitter): 10–15%; news/sports niche.
• Nextdoor: <10%; limited rural coverage—Facebook Groups fill the gap.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger reaches most Facebook users; WhatsApp ~10–15%.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community and commerce: Facebook Groups/Marketplace drive local news, school sports, fundraisers, yard/estate/farm sales, service referrals. Event posts, weather alerts, and lost/found items get outsized engagement.
• Video-first habits: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) rising. Strong topics: hunting/fishing, auto/home repair, farming/homesteading, crafts, outdoors; church and school livestreams sustain weekly spikes.
• Trust and voice: Local faces and user-generated content outperform polished ads. Clear offers, testimonials, and familiar landmarks boost response. Overly “big-city” creative underperforms.
• Timing: Engagement peaks 6–9 pm on weekdays; Saturday mornings are solid. Weather and school calendars shape activity.
• Customer contact: Messenger DMs for appointments and quick questions are routine; SMS remains important for older adults.
• Youth split: Teens/young adults live on Snapchat/TikTok/Instagram Stories, post less on Facebook but still rely on FB for events and community info.
• Jobs and recruiting: Facebook Groups often outperform LinkedIn for local hiring; LinkedIn works for specialized roles.
• Tourism seasonality: Spikes around Bedford Fall Foliage, covered bridges, parks, and holiday markets; visitors check Facebook/Instagram for hours, menus, and parking.

Sources and method notes

• Population baseline: U.S. Census Bureau (approx. 47K residents; adult share ~80%).
• Usage benchmarks: Pew Research Center (2023–2024) platform penetration and rural/age/gender differentials; adjusted for Bedford County’s older, rural profile.
• Validate locally: Use Meta Ads Manager and Snapchat/TikTok/LinkedIn campaign tools set to Bedford County to read “potential reach” by age/gender; review analytics for popular local Pages/Groups and tourism/event accounts.