Lackawanna County

Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania — key demographics

Population size

• 2023 population estimate: ~219,000
• 2020 Census: ~216,000
• 2010 Census: ~214,000
• Change: modest growth since 2010 and 2020

Age

• Median age: ~42–43 years
• Under 18: ~19–20%
• 18–64: ~60%
• 65 and over: ~20–21%

Gender

• Female: ~51–52%
• Male: ~48–49%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White, non-Hispanic: ~80–82%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9–10%
• Black or African American: ~3–4%
• Asian: ~1.5–2%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3–4%
• Other (non-Hispanic): ~0.5–1%

Households and housing

• Households: ~92,000
• Persons per household: ~2.3
• Family households: ~57–58% of households
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~66–67% (renters ~33–34%)
• Households with children under 18: ~25–26%

Insights

• Older-than-average age profile with about one in five residents age 65+.
• Small female majority.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White, with a growing Hispanic population concentrated in urban areas (e.g., Scranton).
• Household structure is largely small-to-medium, with about two-thirds owner-occupied homes.

Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census PL 94-171; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates: DP02/DP05; Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2023). Figures rounded for clarity.

Email usage in Lackawanna County, PA

• Population and density: ≈218,000 residents; ≈470 people per sq. mile.
• Estimated email users: ≈150,000 residents use email regularly (est., derived from ACS internet-access rates and national email-usage benchmarks).
• Age mix of email users: 13–17: 4%; 18–34: 24%; 35–54: 34%; 55–64: 17%; 65+: 21%.
• Gender split of users: Female 52%, Male 48% (mirrors county population; usage rates are similar by gender).
• Digital access trends:
  • Households with a computer: ~92%.
  • Households with broadband: ~88%; about 7% are cellular-only.
  • Fixed broadband availability: roughly 98% can access 25/3 Mbps and ~95% can access 100/20 Mbps; fiber is concentrated in Scranton/Dunmore, with DSL or satellite filling gaps in some northern townships.
• Local connectivity insights: The Scranton urban core, colleges, and libraries provide dense Wi‑Fi coverage and cable/fiber options, supporting near-ubiquitous email among working-age adults. Rural fringes show slightly lower subscription and higher smartphone dependence, which shifts a meaningful minority toward mobile-first email behavior. Seniors participate widely but at lower rates than younger cohorts.

Mobile phone usage in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania — 2025 snapshot

Headline takeaways versus Pennsylvania

• Smartphone access is slightly lower than the Pennsylvania average, and reliance on cellular data as a primary home connection is slightly higher.
• Age and income drive larger gaps than the state overall; older and lower‑income households in Lackawanna are more likely to be mobile‑only and less likely to have fixed broadband.
• 5G coverage is widespread in the Scranton–Dunmore–Taylor corridor, but capacity and signal quality drop faster outside the I‑81/US‑6 spine than in Pennsylvania’s major metros, producing a more pronounced urban–rural performance divide.

User estimates

• Residents using smartphones: roughly 150,000–165,000 people, reflecting near‑universal adoption among adults under 50, high adoption among 50–64, and lower adoption among 65+.
• Households with a smartphone: about 80,000–85,000 households.
• Households relying primarily on a cellular data plan for home internet (“cellular‑only”): about 12,000–14,000, a higher share than the statewide average.
• Prepaid users constitute a larger slice of the market than in Pennsylvania’s largest metros, reflecting price sensitivity and a sizable student/younger worker segment in Scranton.

Demographic breakdown (directional differences vs state)

• Age:
  • 18–34: Near‑universal smartphone ownership and heavy mobile‑first behavior, similar to state averages.
  • 35–64: High smartphone ownership; slightly higher use of unlimited and family plans than state average due to multi‑line cost management.
  • 65+: Noticeably lower smartphone adoption than the state average and higher flip/feature‑phone retention; seniors more likely to be cellular‑only for home access when on fixed incomes.
• Income:
  • < $25k: Lower fixed‑broadband adoption and higher dependence on smartphones and hotspotting than statewide; prepaid and MVNO plans over‑indexed.
  • $25k–$75k: Mixed, with many “mobile‑first” households using mobile as a backup to cable/fiber; slightly more price‑shopping and plan switching than statewide.

  • $75k: Similar to state averages; multi‑device plans common, with 5G usage tied to work‑from‑home and commuting patterns.

• Race/ethnicity:
  • The county’s population is more White and older than the state average; observed device and plan disparities track more with age and income than with race or ethnicity, resulting in smaller racial gaps in smartphone access than in Pennsylvania’s large urban counties.
• Education and students:
  • University and college presence in Scranton elevates 5G handset penetration and app‑centric usage near campuses, but this is a localized effect rather than countywide.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks:
  • 4G LTE: Countywide baseline coverage from all three national carriers along primary corridors (I‑81, I‑84, I‑380, US‑6, US‑11).
  • 5G:
    • Low‑band 5G covers most populated areas.
    • Mid‑band 5G (T‑Mobile n41; Verizon/AT&T C‑band) is strongest in Scranton, Dunmore, and along I‑81; speeds degrade more quickly in outlying townships compared with Pennsylvania’s large metros.
  • FirstNet (AT&T) supports public safety across core corridors and municipal centers.
• Capacity and performance patterns:
  • Peak‑time congestion is more sensitive to local events (school hours, hospital shifts, arena events) than to all‑day commuter pressure, unlike Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
  • Terrain effects (valleys and ridgelines north and west of Scranton) cause sporadic dead spots and indoor penetration issues; residents report greater reliance on Wi‑Fi calling in these areas than statewide.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Fiber backhaul is robust in municipal cores and business parks; outside those zones, microwave or legacy backhaul still appears in use, contributing to uneven 5G performance relative to state urban benchmarks.
• Affordability and programs:
  • The sunset of ACP in 2024 increased the share of mobile‑only households and plan downgrades; this shift is more noticeable in Lackawanna than in Pennsylvania overall due to the county’s income and age profile.

How Lackawanna’s trends differ most from the state

• Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration and higher cellular‑only home internet reliance than the Pennsylvania average.
• A sharper urban–rural performance drop‑off: 5G speeds and reliability fall off faster outside the Scranton core than in larger state metros.
• Higher prevalence of prepaid/MVNO plans and mobile‑first behavior among lower‑income and senior households.
• Digital inclusion hinges more on affordability and terrain‑driven coverage quality than on device availability, whereas in large Pennsylvania metros it is more tightly tied to neighborhood‑level income disparities.

Notes on sources and methodology

• Figures are derived from the latest publicly available U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Computer and Internet Use tables (household smartphone and cellular‑only indicators), Pew Research adoption benchmarks for age cohorts, and federal coverage filings (FCC broadband/mobile deployment maps) as of 2024, synthesized to produce county‑level estimates and state comparisons. Rounded ranges are shown to reflect year‑to‑year revision and survey error.

Social media usage in Lackawanna County, PA — concise snapshot (2024–2025)

Top platforms by reach among adults (best-available benchmarks)

• YouTube: 83% of U.S. adults use it (Pew Research Center, 2024). Expect similarly high reach locally.
• Facebook: 68%. Given Lackawanna’s older-leaning age mix, local reach typically trends slightly higher than the U.S. average.
• Instagram: 47%.
• Pinterest: 35%.
• TikTok: 33%.
• WhatsApp: 29%.
• Snapchat: 27%.
• LinkedIn: ~30%.
• X (Twitter): 22%.
• Reddit: 22%.

Overall penetration and usage frequency

• Any social media: About 8 in 10 adults use at least one platform (Pew national benchmark is ~82%). Locally, usage is widespread across households with broadband and smartphones.
• Daily use: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok account for the majority of daily social media time; Facebook Groups/Pages and YouTube viewing dominate habitual use in the county.

Age-group profile (local pattern aligned to national behavior, adjusted for an older median age)

• 18–29: Near-universal YouTube; Instagram and TikTok are primary; Snapchat is strong for messaging and stories. Facebook is secondary but still used for local events and marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook and Instagram lead; YouTube remains ubiquitous; TikTok adoption is solid and growing; Messenger widely used for group coordination (schools, sports).
• 50–64: Facebook is the default network; YouTube for news, DIY, and entertainment; Pinterest popular, especially for home, crafts, and recipes. TikTok usage present but lower than younger cohorts.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube dominate; limited adoption of TikTok/Snapchat; higher reliance on local news pages and community groups.

Gender breakdown (directional patterns consistent with U.S. norms)

• Women: Over-index on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest; high engagement with Facebook Groups (schools, neighborhoods, events) and Facebook Marketplace.
• Men: Over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X; strong engagement with sports, technology, and local governance topics.

Behavioral trends in Lackawanna County

• Community-first engagement: High activity in Facebook Groups tied to neighborhoods, schools, high school sports, churches, and municipal services. Local events (festivals, parades, fundraisers) see strong interest and sharing.
• Local news intensity: Consistent consumption and sharing from regional outlets (e.g., WNEP, Times-Tribune). Weather alerts, road closures, school updates, and public safety posts drive spikes.
• Short-form video growth: Reels/TikTok used by local restaurants, small retailers, salons, and creators to showcase offerings; cross-posting from Instagram to Facebook is common for reach.
• Marketplace and micro-commerce: Heavy use of Facebook Marketplace for vehicles, furniture, tools, and rentals; service providers (contractors, lawn care, pet services) rely on Facebook Pages + Groups.
• Higher-ed and healthcare influence: University of Scranton, Marywood, and healthcare systems buoy Instagram/TikTok among 18–29 and support LinkedIn usage for recruiting and professional networking.
• Peak usage windows: After-work and evening (5–9 pm) for posting and engagement; weekend mornings for events; weather-related surges during storms and snow days.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default for community coordination; WhatsApp use is present but below national average given the county’s relatively small foreign-born population.

Data notes

• Platform percentages are drawn from Pew Research Center’s 2024 national adult benchmarks; county-specific platform shares are not officially published. Given Lackawanna’s slightly older age profile, Facebook typically over-indexes by a few points while TikTok/Snapchat under-index slightly relative to national averages.