Cumberland County

Here are key demographics for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Figures are rounded estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau (2023 Population Estimates Program; 2023 ACS 1-year where available).

Population

• Total population: ~268,000 (2023 estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~41 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–64: ~61%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity

• White (non-Hispanic): ~79–80%
• Black or African American: ~5%
• Asian: ~6%
• Two or more races: ~5%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5%
• Other races (including American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander): ~1%

Households

• Total households: ~108,000
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~62% of households
• Homeownership rate: ~69%

Cumberland County, PA email usage (estimates)

• Users: ~210k–230k people use email (about 80–85% of residents; roughly 90–95% of adults).
• Age pattern (penetration → share of users):
  • 18–29: 95–98% → ~18–20%
  • 30–49: 95–97% → ~34–36%
  • 50–64: 90–95% → ~26–28%
  • 65+: 75–85% → ~18–22%
• Gender split: Roughly even; ~51% female, ~49% male (mirrors population).
• Digital access trends:
  • ~88–92% of households subscribe to home broadband; >95% have access to at least 25/3 Mbps, with remaining gaps in rural western/northern townships.
  • Smartphone‑only internet households: ~12–15%.
  • 4G/5G coverage is strong along the I‑81/US‑11 and I‑76 corridors; speeds and reliability dip in sparsely populated areas.
  • Public libraries, schools, and municipal buildings provide free Wi‑Fi in most boroughs; colleges (Shippensburg, Dickinson) bolster youth connectivity.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • County population ~270k; overall density roughly 450–480 people/sq mi, with highest density in the east/central suburbs (Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Carlisle) where cable/fiber options are common; lower density townships see more DSL/fixed‑wireless reliance.

Cumberland County, PA: mobile phone usage snapshot with county–state contrasts

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, 2024–2025)

• Population baseline: roughly 270,000 residents and ~105,000 households.
• Smartphone users: about 200,000–220,000 residents use a smartphone (roughly 88–92% of adults). This is at or slightly above the Pennsylvania average, reflecting higher incomes, strong suburbanization, and proximity to Harrisburg.
• Mobile-only internet households: about 10–12% rely primarily on mobile data for home internet, below the Pennsylvania average (~15–18%). Ready availability of cable broadband in the east/central suburbs reduces smartphone-only dependence.
• 5G device adoption: majority of active lines are 5G-capable (roughly 60–70%), marginally above the state average due to newer device cycles among suburban and professional users.
• Multi-line households: above state average, driven by family households in Mechanicsburg/Camp Hill/Lower Allen and higher rates of employer-paid lines among government, healthcare, logistics, and defense-affiliated workers.

Demographic patterns

• Age:
  • 18–34: near-universal smartphone usage and heavy app/data reliance, boosted by Dickinson College and Shippensburg University populations; higher-than-state streaming and campus-app usage.
  • 35–64: high ownership with strong use of navigation, productivity, and commerce apps tied to commuting along I‑81/US‑15; above-state rates of work-related mobile use.
  • 65+: adoption is relatively high for Pennsylvania (roughly mid-to-high 70s percent using smartphones), buoyed by healthcare portals, family connectivity, and local tech support resources; still lower usage intensity than younger cohorts.
• Income and education: County medians are above the state average, which correlates with:
  • Higher smartphone and tablet ownership per household.
  • Lower reliance on prepaid-only plans and on mobile-only home internet than statewide norms.
  • Faster upgrade cycles to 5G-capable devices.
• Urban–rural split (within county): The east/central suburban corridor (Camp Hill, Hampden, Lower Allen, Silver Spring, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle) shows near-saturated smartphone adoption and strong mobile data consumption. Western and southern townships near South Mountain and Michaux State Forest have lower adoption and weaker service, but the rural–suburban gap is smaller than the state’s overall rural–urban divide.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and capacity:
  • Dense 4G/5G coverage along I‑81, I‑76 (PA Turnpike), and US‑15, with macro sites and growing small-cell deployments in the Harrisburg–West Shore suburbs, Carlisle, and commercial corridors.
  • 5G:
    • Mid-band 5G is widely available in population centers and along major highways; low-band provides broader county coverage.
    • Capacity upgrades have kept pace with the county’s rapid population and traffic growth, so real-world speeds in suburbs often exceed statewide medians.
  • Notable weak spots: ridgelines, state forest areas (e.g., Cooke Township/Michaux), and some sparsely populated western townships where outdoor coverage can be inconsistent and indoor service limited.
• Public safety and institutions:
  • Strong FirstNet/public-safety LTE footprint along major corridors and near county facilities; the presence of the U.S. Army War College and regional healthcare hubs supports prioritized network investments.
• Backhaul and fixed networks (which shape mobile quality):
  • Cable broadband (e.g., Xfinity) is common across the suburban east/central county, supporting robust cellular backhaul and Wi‑Fi offload.
  • Fiber to the home/business is present but still spotty; newer developments and commercial zones see the most fiber. Legacy DSL persists in rural pockets.
  • 5G fixed wireless home internet is available in and around denser suburbs; adoption is growing but remains a minority option relative to cable.
• Community access:
  • Libraries, colleges, and municipal buildings provide reliable Wi‑Fi and device support; these assets are relatively more concentrated than in many rural PA counties, reducing dependency on mobile-only connectivity for homework and telehealth.

How Cumberland differs from Pennsylvania overall

• Higher smartphone and 5G device adoption, driven by growth, incomes, and commuter/workforce profiles.
• Lower share of mobile-only internet households due to strong cable availability and employer-supported home broadband among professionals.
• Better average mobile speeds and capacity in populated areas thanks to sustained densification along I‑81/US‑15; fewer large “dead zones” than seen across many rural PA counties, though small pockets remain in the west/south.
• Older-adult smartphone uptake is somewhat higher than statewide, narrowing the age-based digital gap.
• Enterprise/government/military presence elevates demand for secure, high-availability mobile connectivity, a stronger driver here than in many Pennsylvania counties.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are synthesized from recent national/state adoption rates (e.g., Pew), FCC broadband/coverage mapping patterns, ACS demographics, and known local geography/infrastructure. County-specific values are estimate ranges calibrated to Cumberland’s income, education, settlement patterns, and known coverage corridors versus rural gaps. For planning, validate with the latest FCC National Broadband Map, carrier coverage tools, and the most recent ACS county tables.

Below is a concise, locally grounded snapshot. Where county-specific data aren’t published, figures are estimated by applying recent U.S. adult usage rates (Pew Research Center, 2023–2024) to Cumberland County’s population profile.

At-a-glance

• Population: ≈269,000 residents
• Adults (18+): ≈210,000–215,000
• Estimated adult social media users: ≈150,000–180,000 (≈70–85% of adults)
• Household internet/smartphone access: high for a suburban PA county; usage patterns generally mirror national suburban norms

Age profile and usage

• County age mix (approximate): 18–29 ≈13–15%; 30–49 ≈26–28%; 50–64 ≈24–26%; 65+ ≈20–22%
• Likely social media adoption by age (mirrors national):
  • 18–29: very high adoption; heavy on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat
  • 30–49: high adoption; Facebook, Instagram, YouTube; LinkedIn notable among professionals
  • 50–64: solid adoption; Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest grows; Instagram/TikTok moderate
  • 65+: moderate adoption; Facebook leads; YouTube for tutorials/news; some Pinterest; lower Instagram/TikTok

Gender breakdown

• Population: ≈51% female, ≈49% male
• Overall social media use is roughly even by gender
• Platform skews (directional):
  • More female: Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram
  • More male: Reddit, X (Twitter), to a lesser extent YouTube and LinkedIn
  • Facebook: broadly balanced, slightly female-leaning in engagement

Most-used platforms (adult reach; apply to ≈210–215k adults for local estimates)

• YouTube: ≈80–85% of adults (local reach ≈170k–180k)
• Facebook: ≈65–70% (≈135k–150k)
• Instagram: ≈45–50% (≈95k–105k)
• TikTok: ≈30–35% (≈65k–75k)
• LinkedIn: ≈28–32% (≈60k–70k), concentrated in white-collar corridors (Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Carlisle)
• Snapchat: ≈25–30% (≈55k–65k), strongest among teens/20s
• Pinterest: ≈25–35% (≈55k–75k), strong among homeowners, DIY, décor
• X (Twitter): ≈20–25% (≈45k–55k)
• Reddit: ≈18–22% (≈40k–45k)
• Nextdoor: adoption varies by neighborhood; many suburbs show double-digit household penetration; used for hyperlocal updates and services

Behavioral trends observed/expected locally

• Facebook Groups are the hub for local life: township/borough groups, school PTOs, youth sports, community events, storm/traffic updates. Posts about schools, roads, and local businesses drive high comment activity.
• Event-centric spikes: Carlisle car shows, fairs, festivals, high school sports, and seasonal activities (farmers’ markets, fall events) lift reach across Facebook and Instagram.
• Visual discovery: Instagram and TikTok content around dining in Camp Hill/Mechanicsburg/Carlisle, fitness/outdoors (Appalachian Trail access, parks), and home projects perform well.
• Professional footprint: Notable LinkedIn engagement tied to defense, logistics, healthcare, and state-related roles; best performance during weekday business hours.
• Neighborhood utility: Nextdoor is used for recommendations, contractor referrals, lost/found, and safety—strong CTR for service providers with proximity cues.
• Video habits: YouTube is the default for tutorials, product research, and local news snippets; 50+ cohort leans heavily on YouTube + Facebook combo.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is prevalent; WhatsApp pockets exist but are smaller than national urban/coastal norms.
• Timing patterns: Engagement typically peaks early morning (commute window), lunch, and 7–10 pm; Sunday planning posts (events, dining, services) perform well.

Notes and method

• Percentages are U.S. adult usage rates (Pew 2023–2024) applied to Cumberland County’s adult population to estimate local reach; actual local rates can vary by town, campus presence (Dickinson, Shippensburg), and military community (Carlisle Barracks/Army War College).
• For precise targeting, validate with platform ad tools (reach estimates by ZIP/borough), local group membership counts, and first-party analytics.