Clarion County

Key demographics – Clarion County, Pennsylvania

• Population

  • 2020 Census: 37,241
  • 2023 estimate: ~36,900

• Age

  • Median age: ~43
  • Under 18: ~19%
  • 65 and over: ~22%

• Sex

  • Female: ~49.5%
  • Male: ~50.5%

• Race/ethnicity

  • White alone, not Hispanic: ~93–94%
  • Black or African American: ~2%
  • Asian: ~0.5–0.6%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~1–2%

• Households (ACS 2018–2022)

  • Total households: ~14,500–15,000
  • Average household size: ~2.3–2.4
  • Family households: ~60–63%
  • Households with children under 18: ~24%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year; 2023 Population Estimates). Figures rounded.

Clarion County, PA (pop. ~37k, 2020) is highly email-active, though slightly below urban levels due to its rural profile.

Estimated email users: ~29–31k.

• Age distribution (share of users):
  • 13–17: ~7% (≈2k users; ~90% use email)
  • 18–64: ~70% (≈20–21k; ~92% use email)
  • 65+: ~23% (≈6–7k; ~80% use email)
• Gender split: roughly even; usage mirrors the county’s slight female majority.

Digital access trends:

• Home broadband subscription is likely 70–75% of households; availability at basic speeds is higher (85–90%), but performance and adoption lag in rural stretches.
• Smartphone dependence is meaningful: ~15–20% of adults are smartphone‑only for internet, which shifts routine email to mobile.
• University presence in Clarion boosts email intensity among young adults during the academic year.
• Public access points (libraries, campus, municipal Wi‑Fi) provide important backup connectivity.

Local density/connectivity:

• Population density ~60–65 people/sq. mile, with dispersed settlements and hilly terrain that create broadband and cellular dead zones outside towns.
• Best coverage and speeds cluster along main corridors (e.g., I‑80/US‑322); fiber and fixed‑wireless expansions are ongoing via state/federal rural broadband programs.

Mobile phone usage in Clarion County, PA — 2025 snapshot

Headline estimates (modeled)

• Population base: ~37–39k residents; ~29–31k adults.
• Mobile phone users: ~31–33k residents carry a mobile phone (about 83–87% of total population).
• Smartphone users: ~27–29k (roughly 88–92% of mobile users). Clarion trails statewide smartphone adoption by a few points.
• Multi-line/multi-SIM is uncommon; line-per-user ratios are closer to 1:1 than in metro Pennsylvania.

How Clarion differs from Pennsylvania overall

• Adoption/penetration: Overall mobile and smartphone penetration is modestly lower than the state average, reflecting an older age mix and lower incomes.
• Platform mix: Android share is higher (roughly 58–62% vs about parity statewide). iPhone share is lower than the Pennsylvania average.
• Plan types: Prepaid and MVNO usage is notably higher (≈30–35% of lines vs ≈20–25% statewide), driven by cost sensitivity and patchy multi-carrier coverage in rural areas.
• Connectivity reliance: A larger slice of households are mobile-only for home internet or rely on hotspots/FWA; fixed broadband gaps are more common than elsewhere in PA.
• Network experience: Average speeds are lower and more variable than state averages; LTE remains the day-to-day workhorse outside towns even where 5G is nominally available.
• Seasonality: Traffic spikes during the university calendar (PennWest Clarion) and along I‑80 are more pronounced than statewide norms.

Demographic patterns behind usage

• Age: Clarion has a higher share of 65+ residents than the PA average. Smartphone take-up in this group is lower (more basic/feature phones and simplified Android devices), which pulls down overall adoption.
• Students/young adults: The 18–24 cohort around the university has near-universal smartphone usage, heavy app/social/video use, and higher iOS share—creating sharp, localized demand near campus and town centers.
• Income and employment: Median household income is below the state median; users favor value plans, refurbished devices, and longer upgrade cycles. Blue-collar, healthcare, and service-sector workers show higher use of durable devices and offline-first apps/tools.
• Households: Family plans exist but single-line prepaid is comparatively common; multi-carrier households are rarer due to cost and the dominance of one “best” carrier in many locations.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carrier balance:
  • Verizon: Widest, most reliable rural coverage; generally the default in outlying townships.
  • AT&T: Solid in/near boroughs and along major routes; FirstNet presence benefits public safety. Rural gaps persist off-corridor.
  • T‑Mobile: Improving along I‑80 and in Clarion Borough; coverage drops faster outside population centers and valleys.
• 5G footprint:
  • Low-band 5G is broadly available on Verizon/AT&T (good reach, LTE-like speeds).
  • Mid-band 5G (Verizon C‑band n77; T‑Mobile n41) is concentrated near Clarion Borough, key town centers, and highway corridors. Outside these, LTE or low-band 5G dominates.
• Performance (typical ranges):
  • Town centers/near highway: 5G mid-band often 150–400+ Mbps down; LTE/low-band 5G 30–90 Mbps.
  • Rural hollows/forested areas: 5–20 Mbps common; upload can dip below 3–5 Mbps; signal boosters are widespread.
• Terrain effects: Ridge-and-valley topography and dense forest create dead zones, notably in and around state park and river corridors; indoor penetration is a recurring issue in older buildings.
• Fixed broadband interplay:
  • Cable is available mainly in boroughs (e.g., Clarion) via regional providers; DSL remains in pockets; many outlying areas lack high-capacity wired options.
  • 5G fixed wireless access (Verizon/T‑Mobile) is available near towns and along I‑80, with adoption higher than the PA average where cable/FTTH are absent.
  • Public Wi‑Fi is concentrated at the university, libraries, and municipal buildings; it’s a bigger part of daily connectivity than in metro counties.

Usage behaviors

• Voice and SMS use slightly above state averages (coverage variability, older demographics).
• Video streaming hours per user are lower outside town centers due to data constraints and slower links; downloads and offline viewing are common.
• eSIM and advanced features (Wi‑Fi calling configuration, 5G SA, device financing) see slower uptake than in metro PA.

Method note

• Figures are model-based estimates combining recent population data and national/rural mobile adoption benchmarks, adjusted for Clarion’s age, income, and infrastructure profile.

Below is a concise, locally tuned estimate based on Clarion County’s population profile plus recent Pew Research and U.S. Census/ACS benchmarks for rural areas. Where county-specific surveys don’t exist, figures are expressed as ranges.

Snapshot

• Population: ~36–38k; adults (18+): ~28–29k
• Households with broadband: ~83–87%; smartphone ownership: ~85–90%
• Active social media users: ~20–23k residents (about 55–62% of total; 70–78% of adults)

Most‑used platforms (adult reach; estimated)

• YouTube: 70–80% of adults (≈20–22k)
• Facebook: 60–70% (≈17–20k) — dominant among 30+
• Instagram: 30–40% (≈9–12k)
• TikTok: 25–35% (≈7–10k)
• Snapchat: 25–35% (≈7–10k; concentrated 13–24)
• Pinterest: 20–25% (≈6–7k; strong among women, DIY/crafts)
• X/Twitter: 10–15% (≈3–4k; news, sports)
• Reddit: 10–15% (≈3–4k; skew male, younger)
• LinkedIn: 12–18% (≈3–5k; commuters/professionals) Note: Nextdoor presence is limited in many rural ZIPs; uptake likely low.

Age mix and adoption

• 13–17: ~90–95% on social; heavy Snapchat/TikTok, near‑universal YouTube
• 18–24: ~95–99%; Snapchat/TikTok/Instagram lead; YouTube universal; Facebook light
• 25–34: ~85–90%; Facebook + Instagram core; TikTok rising; YouTube strong
• 35–54: ~75–85%; Facebook dominant; YouTube strong; Instagram mid
• 55–64: ~65–75%; Facebook and YouTube lead; limited Instagram/TikTok
• 65+: ~45–55%; Facebook first; YouTube second; others minimal

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Overall users: ~52% women / 48% men
• By platform: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest skew female; YouTube and Reddit skew male; Snapchat skews female among younger users

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first usage: High engagement in local Facebook Groups (buy/sell/trade, yard sales, lost & found pets, school closings, volunteer fire/EMS updates).
• Local news and weather: Facebook and YouTube are primary distribution for local outlets and severe-weather alerts; school district pages see spikes during storms and closures.
• Events and seasons: Spikes around Clarion’s Autumn Leaf Festival, county fairs, high school sports, hunting/fishing seasons, graduation, and back‑to‑school.
• Shopping and services: Facebook Marketplace is heavily used for vehicles, tools, furniture; service providers (contractors, salons, auto) get DMs via Facebook/Instagram. Offers and limited‑time deals perform well.
• Content formats: Short vertical video and photo carousels outperform text; “before/after,” how‑tos, and locally recognizable faces/landmarks drive shares.
• Timing: Evenings (7–10 pm) and weekend mornings see strongest activity; weekday lunch (11:30–1) is a secondary window.
• Word‑of‑mouth dynamics: Recommendations in local groups and UGC testimonials strongly influence decisions; polite, quick replies via Messenger help conversion.
• Youth/student pocket: The university presence creates a concentrated 18–24 cohort using Snapchat/TikTok heavily for coordination, nightlife, and local food spots.

How these numbers were derived

• Clarion County population and age structure from recent ACS/Census estimates; adoption rates from 2023–2024 Pew Research Center (with rural adjustments) applied to the local population. Treat as planning ranges, not exact counts from a county survey.