Lehigh County

Lehigh County, Pennsylvania — Key demographics (latest official data available)

Population size

• 390,000 (approx.), July 1, 2023 estimate (up from 374,557 in the 2020 Census; roughly +7% vs. 2010)

Age

• Median age: about 39 years
• Under 18: about 22%
• 18–64: about 61%
• 65 and over: about 17%

Gender

• Female: about 51%
• Male: about 49%

Racial/ethnic composition (Hispanic is an ethnicity; shares are 2020 Census unless noted)

• Hispanic/Latino (any race): about 27%
• White, non-Hispanic: about 55%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: about 7%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: about 4%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: about 3%
• Other groups: remainder

Household data (ACS 2018–2022, 5-year)

• Households: about 145,000
• Average household size: about 2.6 persons
• Tenure: ~67% owner-occupied, ~33% renter-occupied
• Median household income: roughly $75,000 (2022 dollars)

Insights

• One of Pennsylvania’s more diverse counties, driven by a large and growing Hispanic population.
• Population growth has outpaced the state average since 2010, with a relatively younger median age than Pennsylvania overall.
• Housing is majority owner-occupied, but with a sizable renter segment centered in urban areas (e.g., Allentown).

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

Lehigh County, PA (adult 18+ focus; 2023–2024 estimates)

• Estimated email users: ~271,000 adults (about 92% of ~293,000 adults; total population ~375,000).
• Age distribution of email users (approximate counts):
  • 18–29: ~55,000
  • 30–49: ~96,000
  • 50–64: ~66,000
  • 65+: ~54,000
• Gender split: Near parity. With females ~51% of the population and similar adoption by gender, email users are roughly 138,000 female and 133,000 male.

Digital access and usage

• Household broadband subscription: ~90% of households have a broadband subscription; computer access in households is in the low-90% range.
• Smartphone-only internet households: roughly low-teens percentage, indicating robust mobile access alongside home broadband.
• Trend: Broadband adoption and speeds continue to rise, with email remaining a near-universal digital touchpoint across working-age adults and strong uptake among seniors.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Population density: roughly 1,080 residents per square mile (≈375k over ~347 sq. mi.).
• Connectivity is strongest in the Allentown–Whitehall–Emmaus corridor with extensive cable/fiber and 5G coverage; more rural northwestern townships show comparatively lower fiber availability but broad fixed broadband coverage.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

Snapshot and user estimates

• Population baseline: 374,557 (2020 Census). The county has continued to grow; recent estimates place it just under 400,000 residents. The age structure is younger than the state overall (median age ≈39 vs ≈42 statewide).
• Estimated smartphone users: 285,000–305,000 residents use smartphones on a regular basis. This is derived from a 90%+ adult smartphone ownership rate (Pew Research, 2023) applied to Lehigh’s adult population, plus near‑universal adoption among teens.
• 5G device penetration: Approximately 200,000–220,000 of those smartphone users carry 5G‑capable devices, reflecting the national installed‑base shift to 5G and strong local coverage in the Allentown–Whitehall–Salisbury corridor.
• Mobile-only internet households: Higher than the Pennsylvania average. Urban tracts in and around Allentown show notably more “smartphone‑dependent” households than suburban and rural parts of the county, consistent with ACS/NTIA patterns for younger, Hispanic, and lower‑income populations.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Younger profile than Pennsylvania: A lower share of seniors lifts overall smartphone penetration and app engagement compared with the state average.
• Ethnic diversity: Hispanic/Latino residents account for roughly a quarter of the county’s population—well above the Pennsylvania average. This correlates with higher reliance on mobile messaging (WhatsApp, Messenger), higher prepaid usage, and a modestly higher Android share than statewide averages.
• Work patterns: A large logistics/warehousing and light‑manufacturing base uses mobile for timekeeping, dispatch, and shift communication, driving strong daytime mobile traffic in industrial corridors.
• Education and campuses: Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, and Muhlenberg College add dense clusters of heavy mobile users, with campus Wi‑Fi offloading traffic but sustaining high app/video usage.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Macro coverage: Verizon, AT&T, and T‑Mobile provide near‑continuous LTE/5G across the urbanized core (Allentown, Whitehall, Emmaus, Salisbury), with dense mid‑band 5G along I‑78, US‑22, and PA‑309. This supports higher average speeds than many rural Pennsylvania counties.
• Rural fringes: Northwestern townships (e.g., Lynn, Lowhill, Washington, parts of North/Upper Whitehall) have spottier capacity and more handoff gaps, especially indoors and in valleys, relative to the county core.
• Densification: Downtown Allentown and major venues (e.g., the PPL Center area) feature small‑cell and rooftop deployments to handle event and corridor traffic.
• Backhaul and fiber presence: Multiple regional providers (e.g., Service Electric, Astound/RCN, and Verizon business fiber) give robust fiber backhaul options, enabling 5G upgrades and enterprise private networks.
• Private wireless in logistics: The county’s distribution centers increasingly use CBRS/private LTE for scanners, telematics, and yard operations—an adoption rate higher than the statewide norm because of the local industry mix.
• Public safety: AT&T FirstNet coverage and county 9‑1‑1 integration support resilient mobile communications for emergency services.

How Lehigh County differs from Pennsylvania overall

• Higher smartphone penetration and mobile dependence: A younger age structure and larger Hispanic population push smartphone adoption and mobile‑only internet rates above the statewide average.
• Better 5G availability where most people live and work: Lehigh’s urban/suburban footprint enjoys denser 5G mid‑band coverage than many Pennsylvania counties, translating to faster typical speeds and more reliable in‑building service in the core.
• More prepaid and Android skew: Demographics and income mix produce a modest shift toward prepaid plans and Android devices compared with statewide averages.
• Heavier workplace mobile usage: The logistics/manufacturing economy generates sustained daytime traffic and earlier adoption of private cellular/CBRS than is typical elsewhere in the state.
• Fewer persistent dead zones: While the northwestern rural edge has weak spots, the county overall experiences fewer no‑service areas than large rural parts of Pennsylvania.

Actionable implications

• Retail and service providers can expect strong returns from Spanish‑language mobile outreach, prepaid offerings, and Android‑first optimization.
• Networks should continue small‑cell and in‑building expansion in Allentown’s core and along US‑22/I‑78 to manage peak loads; targeted macro/capacity upgrades are warranted in the northwestern fringe.
• Enterprises in logistics corridors benefit from private LTE/CBRS for reliability and device management; backhaul is widely available to support these deployments.

Social media usage in Lehigh County, PA — short breakdown

Basis for numbers:

• Adult population (18+): ~290,000 (77.5% of 374,557; U.S. Census 2020).
• Platform percentages are Pew Research Center U.S. adult adoption (2024). Estimated local users are those rates applied to the county’s adult population; audiences overlap across platforms.

Most‑used platforms (adults)

• YouTube: 83% (~241k adults)
• Facebook: 68% (~197k)
• Instagram: 47% (~136k)
• Pinterest: 35% (~102k)
• TikTok: 33% (~96k)
• Snapchat: 30% (~87k)
• LinkedIn: 30% (~87k)
• X (Twitter): 22% (~64k)
• WhatsApp: 21% (~61k)
• Reddit: 19% (~55k)

Age patterns (adoption skews; Pew national rates indicative locally)

• 18–29: Near‑universal YouTube (95%); very high Instagram (78%), Snapchat (65%), TikTok (62%); Facebook ~70%.
• 30–49: Facebook (76%) and YouTube (91%) dominant; Instagram (49%); TikTok (39%); LinkedIn (~40%).
• 50–64: Facebook (73%) and YouTube (83%) lead; Pinterest (40%) meaningful; Instagram (29%) and TikTok (~24%) smaller.
• 65+: Facebook (58%) and YouTube (50%) anchor use; Instagram (13–15%) and TikTok (10%) limited but growing.

Gender breakdown

• Overall social audience mirrors county demographics: ~51% female, ~49% male (Census).
• Platform skews: Pinterest heavily female (75–80% of users); Instagram and Snapchat slightly female (55–60%); Reddit and X male‑skewed (~60–70%); YouTube slightly male; Facebook close to even.

Behavioral trends (local)

• Facebook is the community hub: neighborhood and school‑district groups (e.g., Parkland, Allentown, East Penn), municipal alerts, local news (e.g., WFMZ 69 News, The Morning Call). High engagement on weather, traffic, school closings, and public safety.
• Facebook Marketplace is widely used for resale and moving; activity spikes around summer and semester transitions.
• Strong bilingual/Spanish‑language activity reflecting a sizable Hispanic/Latino population (~26%): above‑average use of WhatsApp and Spanish‑language Facebook Groups for family/community coordination.
• Instagram and TikTok drive discovery for restaurants, local events, and small businesses; short‑form video/Reels perform best; UGC about festivals and high‑school sports travels well across platforms.
• LinkedIn is effective for healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and education employers common in the I‑78/I‑476 corridor; job postings, apprenticeships, and training content see strong engagement.
• Nextdoor usage is concentrated in suburban townships (e.g., South/Upper/Lower Macungie, Salisbury) for HOA issues, contractor recommendations, and safety updates.
• Typical peak engagement windows: weekday 7–9 a.m. (commute/news) and 7–10 p.m.; weekends mid‑morning to early afternoon for family/event content.

Notes

• Counts are estimates of adult users per platform; teens add substantial additional reach on TikTok and Snapchat.
• Percentages are platform adoption rates; usage frequency and ad reach will vary by content type and targeting.