Cambria County

Which data vintage would you like me to use?

• Latest available (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for demographics/households + 2023 Population Estimates for total population), or
• 2020 Decennial Census counts

I’ll provide population size, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and household metrics accordingly.

Cambria County, PA snapshot (≈133k residents; ~190 people per sq. mile)

Estimated email users: 85–95k adults. Method: adult population × rural internet-use rate (90%) × email use among internet users (92%).

Age distribution of local email users (approximate, reflecting an older-than-average county):

• 18–34: 20–25%
• 35–54: 30–35%
• 55–64: 15–20%
• 65+: 25–30%

Gender split: roughly even, about 51% female / 49% male among users (mirrors population).

Digital access trends:

• Household broadband subscriptions are broadly in the mid‑80% range; smartphone‑only internet access is growing, especially among lower‑income households around Johnstown.
• Connectivity is strongest in and around Johnstown and along the US‑22/US‑219 corridors; rural hills and valleys see more reliance on fixed‑wireless/satellite and lower speeds.
• Public libraries and schools offer free Wi‑Fi and computer access that supplement home connectivity.
• Overall internet and email adoption remain high across ages, with slightly lower daily use among the oldest residents.

Notes: Figures are estimates blending U.S./rural adoption rates with Cambria’s demographics; precise, county‑specific email usage is not directly reported by public datasets.

Mobile phone usage in Cambria County, PA — summary and how it differs from statewide patterns

Key ways Cambria County diverges from Pennsylvania overall

• Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration, driven by an older age profile and lower median income than the state.
• Higher reliance on “smartphone-only” internet (households that use cellular data without a fixed home broadband plan).
• More uneven performance outside boroughs and Johnstown, with pockets of weak signal in valleys/hollows; residents are more coverage-sensitive in carrier choice (leaning Verizon/AT&T outside town centers, with T-Mobile stronger in and around Johnstown).
• Lower fixed-broadband adoption pushes higher mobile data dependence for everyday tasks (banking, school portals, telehealth), especially among lower-income and younger renters.

User estimates (2024–2025, rounded ranges; based on ACS 5-year patterns, Pew Research smartphone adoption, FCC coverage data, and county demographics)

• Population base: ~131–133k residents; ~103–106k adults (18+).
• Adult smartphone users: ~86k–92k (about 82–87% of adults), vs PA ~88–91%.
• Households: ~56k–58k total.
  • Households with at least one smartphone: ~48k–52k (about 85–90%), slightly below PA.
  • “Smartphone-only” households (cellular data, no fixed home broadband): ~9k–11k (about 16–20%), higher than PA’s ~13–15%.
  • Households with no internet subscription of any kind: ~15–18% (vs PA ~10–12%).

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age
  • 18–34: Near-saturation smartphone ownership (~95%+), on par with PA; heavy app/social/video use.
  • 35–64: High ownership (~88–92%), slightly below PA; more bring-your-own-device reliance for work in small businesses.
  • 65+: Lower ownership (65–72%) than PA (75–80%); larger share use basic plans or rely on family plans; telehealth and messaging are growing but hindered by device turnover and training needs.
• Income and education
  • Under $35k household income: Smartphone ownership is common but plans are more data-capped; higher prepaid share and higher smartphone-only internet reliance than state average.
  • Households without a college degree show slightly lower smartphone adoption and lower ownership of multiple devices, increasing dependence on a single shared phone.
• Urban/rural split within the county
  • Johnstown/boroughs: Better 5G and cable availability; higher data speeds and app usage.
  • Outlying townships: More LTE-only zones, budget plans, and coverage-driven carrier choices; text/SMS remains crucial for reach.
• Disability and senior households (above state share): More accessibility needs (larger fonts, voice assist, Wi‑Fi calling), and somewhat lower adoption without targeted support.

Digital infrastructure and carrier environment

• Coverage and technology mix
  • 5G mid-band is present in and around Johnstown and along major corridors (US‑22/219/56), providing 100–400 Mbps where available; elsewhere, low-band 5G or 4G LTE is the norm.
  • Terrain-induced gaps persist in valleys and ridge shadows; residents commonly report dead zones off main roads and in some hollows.
• Carriers
  • Verizon and AT&T tend to have the most reliable rural coverage; T‑Mobile has made noticeable gains in and near Johnstown with mid-band 5G, but rural coverage still varies by valley.
  • FirstNet (AT&T) presence improves public-safety coverage; spillover can benefit nearby consumer users.
• Capacity and performance
  • Peak-time slowdowns are more common on LTE-only sectors outside boroughs; 5G capacity notably improves in-town experience.
  • Wi‑Fi calling is widely used to offset weak indoor signal in older buildings.
• Backhaul and fixed broadband context
  • Cable broadband and some fiber are concentrated in Johnstown and denser boroughs; DSL and fixed wireless serve many rural areas.
  • Lower fixed-broadband adoption elevates smartphone-only use, especially among renters and lower-income households.
• Public access
  • Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings serve as important Wi‑Fi hubs; E‑Rate–supported networks and community Wi‑Fi are key complements for capped cellular plans.

Implications and trends to watch

• Outreach and services: SMS remains essential for countywide reach; rich media works best in town centers and on Wi‑Fi.
• Prepaid and budget plans: Higher local prevalence than statewide; programs that minimize data usage (lite apps, offline modes) see better uptake.
• Coverage improvements: New small cells and additional mid-band 5G along corridors could narrow the gap with PA averages; terrain will keep some pockets challenging without targeted builds or neutral-host solutions.
• Digital equity: Device training and subsidized plans/hotspots for seniors and low-income households can materially shift adoption, more so here than at the state level.

Note on methodology

• Figures are synthesized from American Community Survey “Computer and Internet Use” (S2801, county-level 5-year), Pew Research smartphone adoption benchmarks, FCC mobile coverage filings, and county demographics. Values are expressed as realistic ranges to reflect data lags and local variability.

Cambria County, PA social media snapshot (2025, estimates)

How many people

• Population: ~133,500 (2020 Census). Adults 18+: ~108,000.
• Adults using at least one major platform (incl. YouTube): ~84% ≈ 90,000.

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adults; approx. users)

• YouTube: 83% (90k)
• Facebook: 68% (73k)
• Instagram: 47% (51k)
• TikTok: 33% (36k)
• Pinterest: 31% (34k)
• Snapchat: 30% (32k)
• LinkedIn: 25–28% (27–30k; concentrated among white-collar workers)
• X (Twitter): 22% (24k) Note: Percentages reflect recent U.S. adoption rates (Pew Research) applied to Cambria’s adult population; local figures will vary.

Age groups (usage patterns; national rates applied locally)

• Teens (13–17): Very high TikTok and Snapchat; Instagram strong; YouTube near-universal; Facebook minimal.
• 18–29: YouTube ~95%, Instagram ~78%, Snapchat ~65%, Facebook ~67%, TikTok ~62%.
• 30–49: YouTube ~92%, Facebook ~79%, Instagram ~59%, TikTok ~39%, Snapchat ~30%.
• 50–64: Facebook ~73%, YouTube ~70%, Instagram ~30%, TikTok ~21%.
• 65+: Facebook ~50%, YouTube ~49%, Instagram ~15%, TikTok ~10%.

Gender breakdown (estimated)

• Share of local social media users: ~53–55% female, ~45–47% male (women slightly more likely to use social platforms).
• Platform skews: Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest skew female; YouTube/X/Reddit skew male; TikTok roughly even, slightly female.

Behavioral trends in Cambria County

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups and Marketplace for local news, services, garage sales, rentals, and school/municipal updates.
• Video-first consumption: short-form Reels/Shorts/TikToks perform best; live streams for high school sports, church services, and local events get outsized engagement.
• Trust flows through local institutions: school districts, volunteer fire companies, churches, and local media pages drive high reach and shares.
• Older audience = reliable commenters/sharers: 50+ users dominate Facebook conversations; 18–34s engage more via stories/DMs and video, post less.
• Event discovery: Facebook Events remains primary for fairs, festivals, fundraisers; cross-posting into community groups boosts turnout.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is a top channel for used goods; small businesses lean on boosted posts and local ZIP targeting over sophisticated ad funnels.
• News/weather spikes: severe weather, road closures, and public safety alerts create peak engagement windows.
• Platform footprint: Nextdoor’s presence is limited; Facebook groups effectively fill the neighborhood role. LinkedIn usage is modest, centered on healthcare, education, and government/admin roles.

Method notes

• Numbers are modeled by applying recent Pew Research Center U.S. platform adoption rates to Cambria County’s adult population (2020 Census/ACS). Treat as directional, not a local survey.