Monroe County

I can provide this accurately using the latest U.S. Census Bureau releases (2020 Decennial Census; 2023 Population Estimates; 2018–2022 or 2019–2023 American Community Survey for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and households). I don’t have live data access in this session. If you authorize external data retrieval, I will return the exact, up-to-date Monroe County, PA figures (population size; age structure; sex; detailed race/ethnicity; number of households; average household size; family vs. nonfamily share) sourced directly from the Census Bureau in the next message.

• Estimated users: 135,000 email users in Monroe County out of ~171,000 residents (79% of total; ~94% of adults).
• Age distribution of users (approximate counts; share of users):
  • 18–29: ~22,000 (16%)
  • 30–49: ~45,000 (33%)
  • 50–64: ~32,000 (24%)
  • 65+: ~28,000 (21%)
  • Teens 13–17: ~9,000 (7%)
• Gender split: ~52% female, ~48% male among email users (mirrors county’s slight female majority; women adopt email marginally more than men nationally).
• Digital access and devices:
  • ~93% of households have a computer.
  • ~89% of households subscribe to broadband.
  • ~16% are smartphone‑only internet households, indicating some reliance on mobile email.
  • Older adults (65+) show high but lower adoption than younger groups, shaping support and outreach needs.
• Connectivity and density facts:
  • Population density ≈ 277 residents per square mile.
  • Fixed broadband coverage is widespread: ~95% have access to ≥25/3 Mbps and ~90% to ≥100/20 Mbps; gigabit cable common in borough centers.
  • Best connectivity and highest email engagement align with the I‑80/US‑209 corridor (Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg/Tannersville); more gaps persist in sparsely populated, forested townships.

Mobile phone usage in Monroe County, Pennsylvania (2024–2025 snapshot)

Population and user estimates

• Population: approximately 170,000 residents; about 62,000 households (ACS 2023 estimates).
• Estimated smartphone users: about 122,000 residents, or roughly 72% of the total population.
  • Adults 18–29: ~22,800 users (≈96% of that age group).
  • Adults 30–49: ~42,700 users (≈93%).
  • Adults 50–64: ~28,200 users (≈83%).
  • Adults 65+: ~18,700 users (≈61%).
  • Teens 13–17: ~9,400 users (≈95% of teens).
• Household adoption: about 90% of households have at least one smartphone; roughly 18% (≈11,000 households) are smartphone‑ or cellular‑only for home internet (higher than the Pennsylvania average, which is closer to the mid‑teens).

Demographic profile and how it shapes usage

• Median age is early‑40s; the county skews older than the state in total share of 50+ residents but has a relatively large 30–49 cohort of working families.
• Racial/ethnic mix (ACS pattern for Monroe): approximately 60–65% non‑Hispanic White, 10–13% Black, 18–22% Hispanic/Latino, 2–4% Asian, remainder multiracial/other. The county is more diverse than the Pennsylvania average.
• Commuting and mobility: a notably high share of residents commute to New Jersey and New York; out‑of‑state commuting is around one in seven workers, materially above the statewide rate. Longer commutes and cross‑border travel increase mobile data dependence and multi‑carrier household strategies for coverage redundancy.
• Income and device dependence: pockets of lower fixed‑broadband availability and cost sensitivity in rural townships contribute to a higher rate of smartphone‑only internet use than the state average; older residents are less likely to own smartphones than prime‑age adults, mirroring national patterns.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 4G LTE is effectively universal in populated corridors; all three national carriers show near‑complete LTE coverage along I‑80, I‑380, US‑209, and PA‑33, with service concentrating around Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg, Tannersville, Mount Pocono, and Swiftwater.
• 5G availability:
  • Low‑band 5G: broadly available countywide from all three carriers.
  • Mid‑band 5G (capacity 5G): widely available in and around Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg, Tannersville (ski/waterpark/resort area), Mount Pocono, and along I‑80/I‑380; more limited in northern and western townships and in/near state gamelands and low‑lying valleys where terrain and zoning constrain sites.
• Capacity and seasonality: the county’s resort/tourism economy (Pocono Raceway at Long Pond, ski areas, waterparks, outlet retail) produces predictable weekend and holiday traffic spikes that exceed typical rural Pennsylvania patterns, prompting operators to add small cells, sector splits, and event‑driven temporary capacity (COWs) more frequently than in comparable counties.
• Backhaul and fiber: major cable/fiber backbones in the Poconos (e.g., PenTeleData/Blue Ridge) support dense backhaul along I‑80 and population centers, enabling mid‑band 5G upgrades; more remote townships rely on longer microwave or fiber laterals, which slows 5G capacity rollouts relative to corridors.
• Public safety: countywide Text‑to‑911 is available; wireless E911 location (Phase II/NG911) is in place via Pennsylvania’s ESInet, improving mobile caller location accuracy.

How Monroe County’s trends differ from statewide patterns

• Higher mobile dependence: a larger share of smartphone‑only or cellular‑only households than the Pennsylvania average, driven by rural gaps and cost considerations.
• Cross‑border mobility: substantially more out‑of‑state commuting (NJ/NY) than the state average leads to heavier daytime usage near highway corridors and a stronger emphasis on carrier reliability across state lines.
• Seasonal surges: tourism and event‑driven peaks are more pronounced than in most PA counties, creating recurring capacity hot spots that influence where carriers prioritize mid‑band 5G and small‑cell deployments.
• Coverage geography: terrain‑driven dead zones persist in parts of the northern/western townships and gamelands despite otherwise strong corridor coverage; this rural variability is sharper than the statewide average.
• Adoption by age: overall adult smartphone adoption is high and broadly in line with Pennsylvania, but the county’s older‑adult share tempers total‑population penetration; at the same time, younger families and commuters lift usage intensity and mobile data consumption above the state norm in populated corridors.

Key takeaways

• About 122,000 Monroe County residents use smartphones, with very high adoption among 18–49 and teens, and lower—but growing—adoption among 65+.
• The county shows above‑average smartphone‑only household reliance and stronger corridor‑focused 5G capacity than many rural Pennsylvania counties, reflecting its commuter and tourism profile.
• Carriers concentrate mid‑band 5G and capacity upgrades along I‑80/I‑380 and resort/retail hubs; terrain still limits uniform coverage in sparsely populated areas, which is the primary remaining infrastructure gap.

Monroe County, PA: social media usage snapshot (2024–2025)

Population baseline

• Total population: ≈171,000 (U.S. Census Bureau 2023 estimates)
• Adults (18+): ≈134,000
• Sex: ≈51% female, 49% male

Most-used platforms (estimated adult reach in Monroe County) Note: Estimates apply Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult usage rates to Monroe County’s adult population.

• YouTube: ~83% of adults ≈111,000 users
• Facebook: ~68% ≈91,000
• Instagram: ~47% ≈63,000
• Pinterest: ~35% ≈47,000
• TikTok: ~33% ≈44,000
• LinkedIn: ~30% ≈40,000
• Snapchat: ~30% ≈40,000
• X (Twitter): ~22% ≈29,000
• Reddit: ~22% ≈29,000
• WhatsApp: ~21% ≈28,000

Age-group patterns (behavioral)

• 18–29: Heavy daily use of Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; YouTube is near-universal for entertainment, creators, and how‑tos. Facebook is used but not central.
• 30–49: Broadest multi‑platform mix; Facebook and YouTube anchor daily habits, Instagram strong; TikTok rising for short‑form discovery (food, travel, local services).
• 50–64: Facebook is the primary social network; YouTube widely used for news, DIY, product research; moderate Instagram, limited TikTok/Snapchat.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube dominate; other platforms have niche uptake.

Gender breakdown (behavioral)

• Facebook: slightly more women than men engage and post; Groups are key for community info.
• Instagram: relatively balanced; women engage more with Stories/Reels around lifestyle, food, and events.
• TikTok: slight female tilt; strong interest in local dining, attractions, and seasonal Poconos content.
• Pinterest: strongly female‑skewed; high intent content (home, crafts, wedding/events, travel planning).
• Reddit and X: skew male; news, sports, gaming, tech, local issues threads.

Local behavioral trends and use cases

• Facebook Groups act as the community hub (events, school notices, yard sales, road closures, lost & found, local services). Boosted posts and Events reliably reach residents 30+.
• Short‑form video (Instagram Reels, TikTok) increasingly drives decisions on dining, weekend activities, and outdoor experiences; seasonal spikes around leaf‑peeping, skiing, and summer tourism.
• YouTube is the research backbone across ages for DIY/home projects, auto care, gear reviews, and “things to do in the Poconos”; Shorts expands younger reach.
• Messaging layers matter: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous; WhatsApp usage is meaningful among transplants and multicultural households for family and group coordination.
• Nextdoor and neighborhood Facebook Groups facilitate hyperlocal recommendations (contractors, childcare, pet services) and HOA communications.

Key takeaways for reach and targeting

• Best single‑channel reach to adults: Facebook and YouTube; pair them for coverage across 30–64 and seniors.
• Growth and under‑40 engagement: Instagram + TikTok (Reels-first creative, vertical video, UGC).
• Consider Pinterest for high‑intent planning (home, wedding, travel) and LinkedIn for professional/healthcare recruiting and B2B.
• Creative that highlights local scenery, seasonal activities, and practical “how‑to” content consistently outperforms generic brand messaging.

Sources and method

• U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Monroe County, Pennsylvania (2023 population and sex composition).
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adult platform usage rates). Local platform figures are estimated by applying Pew’s national adult usage percentages to Monroe County’s adult population.