Fayette County

Key demographics for Fayette County, Pennsylvania

Source and vintage: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates). Figures rounded.

Population

• 130,441 (2020 Census)
• ~127,000 (2019–2023 ACS estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years
• Under 18: ~19%
• 18–64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS; race alone unless noted; Hispanic can be of any race)

• White: ~90%
• Black or African American: ~6–7%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Asian: ~0.4%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.0%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2%
• White, not Hispanic: ~88%

Households (ACS)

• Total households: ~55,000
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Homeownership rate: ~74%
• Median household income: ~$54,000
• Persons in poverty: ~16%

Fayette County, PA snapshot (approx.)

• Population/density: ~128,000 residents; ~160 people per sq. mile (largely rural).
• Estimated email users: 90,000–100,000 residents (≈85–95% of adults; ≈70–78% of total population), applying national email adoption to local age mix.
• Age mix among email users (approx. share of users):
  • 13–17: 6–8%
  • 18–29: 14–17%
  • 30–49: 30–34%
  • 50–64: 25–29%
  • 65+: 18–22%
• Gender split: ~51% female, 49% male (mirrors county demographics; usage differences by gender are minimal).

Digital access and connectivity trends:

• 80–85% of households report an internet subscription; 10–15% have no home internet.
• 65–75% subscribe to fixed broadband; 10–15% are smartphone‑only.
• Rural topography produces pockets of limited fixed‑line options; service is strongest in town centers and along main travel corridors.
• Public libraries/community centers provide essential Wi‑Fi and device access.
• Affordability remains a friction point following the 2024 pause in ACP benefits; state/federal broadband programs (e.g., BEAD) are funding incremental build‑outs.

Notes: Estimates combine recent ACS household internet metrics with Pew Research email/internet adoption by age to reflect Fayette’s older-than-average population.

Below is a planning-grade summary based on county demographics, rural geography, and typical adoption patterns in Western Pennsylvania.

High-level

• Context: Fayette County is a smaller, older, and more rural county in Southwestern PA (~125k–130k residents). Income and educational attainment are below the state average, and terrain (ridges/valleys) complicates radio propagation.
• Bottom line: Mobile adoption is broad but trails Pennsylvania overall; reliance on cellular for home internet is meaningfully higher than the statewide rate, and 5G coverage/speeds are spottier outside the main corridors.

User estimates

• Smartphone users: roughly 75,000–95,000 adult smartphone users countywide. This reflects near-universal adoption among working-age adults but a pronounced lag among seniors compared with the state average.
• Mobile-only internet households: about 8–12% of households rely primarily on a cellular data plan for home internet (vs ~5–7% statewide). This is driven by patchy wired broadband outside towns and affordability constraints.
• Prepaid share: higher than state average by an estimated 3–6 percentage points, reflecting cost sensitivity and credit constraints.
• Mobile-dependent small businesses: a noticeable share of sole proprietors and very small firms use smartphones/hotspots as their primary connectivity, especially outside Uniontown/Connellsville.

Demographic breakdown (directional differences vs Pennsylvania)

• Age: 65+ adoption lags the state by several points; basic phones and shared family plans remain more common. Working-age (25–54) adoption is near state norms.
• Income: Lower-income households show higher smartphone reliance and higher mobile-only home internet use than the state average.
• Education: Households without a bachelor’s degree show above-average dependence on mobile data plans compared to PA overall.
• Geography within the county:
  • Strongest adoption and 5G availability in/around Uniontown, Connellsville, and along US‑119/PA‑51.
  • Weaker coverage and more dead zones in the Laurel Highlands, state park areas, and scattered hollows.
• Device mix/upgrade cycle: Slightly older device fleet; Android share above state average; longer replacement cycles.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage: 4G LTE is broadly available along towns/corridors; mid-band 5G is present but discontinuous outside the main routes. Terrain causes shadowing and sector congestion in valleys.
• Backhaul: Fiber backbones trace major road and utility rights-of-way; some sites still rely on microwave backhaul, which can constrain peak capacity.
• Carriers: All three national carriers are present; AT&T/Verizon tend to have the broadest rural footprint; T‑Mobile’s mid-band 5G is strongest near population centers and along primary corridors.
• Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T) builds have improved coverage for EMS/fire along key routes, but wilderness/recreation areas still experience gaps.
• Alternatives: Fixed wireless access (4G/5G home internet) is gaining traction where cable/DSL is limited; satellite (e.g., Starlink) fills remote pockets but at higher cost.
• Community access: Libraries, schools, and some municipal sites provide Wi‑Fi and device support that materially supplements connectivity for low-income residents and students.

How Fayette County differs from Pennsylvania overall

• Adoption level: Overall smartphone adoption is a bit lower (driven by age/income mix), and device upgrade cycles are longer.
• Reliance on mobile for home internet: Noticeably higher than the statewide average. More households use phone-based hotspots or cellular plans as their primary connection.
• Coverage quality: More dead zones and capacity constraints off the main corridors; 5G buildout is slower and less contiguous.
• Usage patterns: Heavier emphasis on voice/text and lower median monthly data consumption; prepaid and budget plans are more common.
• Digital divide: A larger share of households without any home broadband service; mobile acts as the “safety net” connection more often than in the state overall.

Trends to watch (2024–2026)

• Mid-band 5G infill along secondary roads to reduce dead zones; modest but steady improvements rather than rapid catch-up to state averages.
• Growth of fixed wireless home internet as a practical substitute for DSL, especially near existing 5G sectors.
• Public safety and transportation corridors prioritized for new sites and sector upgrades; recreational areas remain challenging.
• Continued efforts by schools/libraries to mitigate student/homework gaps with loaner hotspots and Wi‑Fi expansion.

Below is a planning-oriented snapshot using the best available benchmarks (Pew Research national platform usage, 2023–2024) adjusted for Fayette County’s older/rural profile. Treat figures as estimates, not official counts.

County snapshot and user base

• Population: ~125k residents
• Estimated social media users (age 13+): ~75k–85k
• Adult social adoption: ~70–75% of adults; teen adoption (13–17): ~90–95%

Age mix of users (share of total users)

• 13–17: ~9–11%
• 18–29: ~18–22%
• 30–49: ~30–33%
• 50–64: ~25–28%
• 65+: ~18–22%

Gender breakdown (users)

• Women: ~54–56%
• Men: ~44–46% Notes: Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on Reddit, X (Twitter), YouTube.

Most-used platforms among adults (estimated % of adults who use each)

• YouTube: ~75–80%
• Facebook: ~70–75% (highest daily use; strong among 35+)
• Instagram: ~35–45% (skews under 45, women)
• Pinterest: ~28–35% (skews women, 25–54)
• TikTok: ~25–32% (heaviest 13–29)
• Snapchat: ~20–28% (heaviest 13–29)
• X (Twitter): ~15–20% (more male, news/sports)
• LinkedIn: ~12–18% (lower in rural labor mix)
• Reddit: ~10–15% (more male, 18–34)
• Nextdoor: ~5–10% (neighborhood pockets; less universal than suburbs)

Teens (13–17) platform tendencies

• Near-universal YouTube; heavy Snapchat and TikTok; Instagram strong; Facebook relatively low for primary posting (still used for events/family).

Behavioral trends to expect in Fayette County

• Facebook is the community hub: local groups, school/municipal pages, fire/EMS updates, yard-sale/Marketplace. Comment threads drive reach; crisis/weather posts spike engagement.
• Video keeps winning: short vertical video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) for quick reach; YouTube for how‑to, local sports, church services, and longer community content.
• Messaging first: Facebook Messenger for most adults; Snapchat for teens/20s. WhatsApp modest but growing for family ties outside the county.
• Local commerce: Facebook/Instagram for small-business promos, events, and Marketplace; giveaways and limited-time offers perform well.
• Timing patterns: Peaks 6–9 pm; older users also active mid‑day. Weekend mornings do well for event posts.
• Trust signals matter: Pages run by known local entities (schools, volunteer fire departments, county agencies) get higher credibility than anonymous community pages.
• Ads and targeting: Geo-targeted Facebook/Instagram deliver the most efficient local reach; YouTube pre‑roll works for broad awareness; TikTok ads best for under‑35; LinkedIn niche (healthcare, education, public sector recruitment).
• Access realities: Mobile-first consumption; some broadband gaps—optimize for fast-loading, vertical video, clear CTAs, phone/map links.

Method note: Percentages are inferred from national surveys and adjusted for Fayette County’s older age structure and rural media habits; use for planning and compare with your page insights/ad platform reach for local calibration.