Northampton County

Northampton County, Pennsylvania — key demographics

Population size

• 312,951 (2020 Census)
• Continued modest growth since 2020 per Census Population Estimates; county remains just over 310,000 residents

Age (ACS 2019–2023)

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

Sex (ACS 2019–2023)

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and Hispanic/Latino origin (ACS 2019–2023; Hispanic is an ethnicity, any race)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~73–74%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~15–16%
• Black or African American: ~6%
• Asian: ~3%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• All other (including American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander): <1%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~122,000
• Average household size: ~2.6
• Family households: ~70% of households; married-couple families ~50% of all households
• Households with children under 18: ~29%
• Tenure: ~70–72% owner-occupied; ~28–30% renter-occupied

Key insights

• Aging profile: roughly 1 in 5 residents are 65+, with a median age around 42
• Increasing diversity: growth in Hispanic/Latino population and multiracial identification
• Predominantly owner-occupied housing and mid-sized households consistent with suburban counties

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (population count)
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2019–2023 5-year estimates (age, sex, race/ethnicity, households, tenure)
• U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (post-2020 population trend)

Northampton County, PA has about 314,000 residents (ACS 2023). Approximately 245,000 residents use email regularly—about 80% of all residents and roughly 92% of adults—based on national usage benchmarks.

Age distribution of email users (share of users):

• 18–29: ~20%
• 30–49: ~34%
• 50–64: ~25%
• 65+: ~21% Email adoption remains high among seniors, though modestly lower than younger groups.

Gender split among email users:

• Female ~51%
• Male ~49% Email usage rates are effectively equal by gender, mirroring the county’s population mix.

Digital access and trends:

• ~90% of households have a broadband subscription; ~93% have a computer (ACS).
• About 15% of households are smartphone-only for home internet, indicating mobile-dependent access for a notable minority.
• Smartphone and multidevice access underpin near-universal email use among working-age adults.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Population density is roughly 830 people per square mile.
• Cable and fiber (e.g., Xfinity/Comcast, Service Electric, Astound/RCN, and Verizon Fios in populated corridors) cover the Bethlehem–Easton–Nazareth area extensively; northern rural townships rely more on DSL/fixed wireless, where speeds and adoption are lower.

Mobile phone usage in Northampton County, Pennsylvania (2023–2024)

Topline user estimates

• Population: ~313,000; households: ~121,000.
• Adult population: ~240,000–245,000.
• Estimated smartphone users: ~220,000–230,000 adults (applying current U.S. smartphone ownership rates to the local age mix).
• Households with a cellular data plan: roughly low-80s percent; with any internet subscription: around 90%; with no internet subscription: just under 10%. County rates are modestly better than Pennsylvania overall (state internet subscription is lower and “no internet” is higher by a couple of percentage points).

Demographic breakdown of mobile reliance

• Age: Near-universal smartphone adoption among adults under 50; strong adoption among 50–64; materially higher adoption among 65+ than the statewide average, reflecting the county’s higher household incomes and heavy use of patient portals and telehealth in the Lehigh Valley.
• Income: Mobile-only (cellular data without a fixed broadband subscription) is concentrated in lower-income tracts in Easton, Bethlehem, and older boroughs; countywide, the share of cellular-data-only households is slightly below the state average because cable broadband coverage is extensive.
• Race/ethnicity: The county’s Hispanic share is higher than the state average, and these neighborhoods show above-average smartphone dependence for everyday connectivity, even as the county’s overall fixed broadband take-up remains strong.
• Urban–rural split: Suburban corridors (Bethlehem–Easton–Nazareth, Forks/Palmer) show denser 5G availability and higher multi-line family plans; the Slate Belt and northern townships have more signal variability and higher use of boosters and Wi‑Fi calling indoors.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Networks present: All three national carriers operate countywide with 4G LTE and 5G. Mid-band 5G is broadly available along I‑78/US‑22, PA‑33, and within the Bethlehem–Easton urbanized area; low-band 5G provides wider-area coverage into rural townships.
• Capacity focus: Recent build-outs have concentrated on the commuter corridors (I‑78, US‑22, PA‑33), warehouse/distribution zones, and downtown cores (Bethlehem and Easton), translating to higher median speeds and better peak-hour performance than much of non-metro Pennsylvania.
• Small cells and infill: Targeted small-cell deployments are present in downtowns and near campuses/venues to address capacity and old-masonry indoor penetration issues common to the valley’s historic building stock.
• Coverage gaps: Service is generally continuous across populated areas; localized weak spots persist along ridge/valley terrain near Blue Mountain and in sparsely populated northern tracts, with fewer such gaps than are typical in rural PA counties.
• Speeds: Independent testing in the Allentown–Bethlehem–Easton metro shows median mobile download performance around the 100 Mbps mark, typically 10–20% higher than Pennsylvania’s statewide median, driven by mid-band 5G utilization in the county’s core travel and commerce corridors.

How Northampton County differs from Pennsylvania overall

• Higher connectivity: A larger share of households has an internet subscription, and a smaller share has no subscription, than the state average.
• More 5G where people travel: Mid-band 5G density along commuting arteries is higher than typical for Pennsylvania outside major metros, lifting everyday speeds and capacity.
• Slightly less “cellular-only” overall: Because cable broadband is widely adopted, the county’s overall cellular-data-only household share is a bit lower than the state’s—though specific lower-income and linguistically diverse tracts exceed the state average for mobile dependence.
• Older adults are more connected: Smartphone adoption among residents 65+ runs higher than the statewide figure, aligned with higher incomes and strong local healthcare digitization.
• Fewer large dead zones: Terrain-related gaps exist but are less common and less severe than in many rural Pennsylvania counties.

Implications

• Carriers can prioritize additional mid-band 5G infill in the Slate Belt and northern townships to close remaining gaps while continuing small-cell densification in downtown cores.
• Public and nonprofit digital equity efforts should target mobile-reliant pockets in Easton and Bethlehem with subsidized plans and device support, even as fixed broadband uptake remains strong countywide.
• For businesses and public services, the county’s above-average mobile speeds and coverage consistency support mobile-first service delivery, field operations, and telehealth at levels more typical of larger metros than of the state average.

Northampton County, PA — social media snapshot (2024–2025)

Topline user stats

• Population: ≈315,000 residents (2023 Census est.); ≈246,000 adults (18+)
• Adults using at least one social platform: ≈72% of adults ≈177,000 (modeled from Pew Research Center national adoption)

Most‑used platforms among adults (share of adults; modeled local reach)

• YouTube: 83% ≈204,000
• Facebook: 68% ≈167,000
• Instagram: 50% ≈123,000
• Pinterest: 35% ≈86,000
• TikTok: 33% ≈81,000
• Snapchat: 30% ≈74,000
• LinkedIn: 30% ≈74,000
• X (Twitter): 22% ≈54,000
• WhatsApp: 21% ≈52,000
• Nextdoor: 19% ≈47,000 Note: Users are multi‑platform; totals overlap.

Age patterns (Pew national usage rates, locally indicative)

• 18–29: Very high on YouTube (95%), Instagram (75–80%), TikTok (60%+), Snapchat (60%+); Facebook used but not primary
• 30–49: YouTube (90%+) and Facebook (75%+) dominate; Instagram (50%) and TikTok (40%) secondary; LinkedIn notable for professionals
• 50–64: Facebook (70%+) and YouTube (80%+) lead; Instagram/TikTok lower but growing; Pinterest strong for home, food, DIY
• 65+: Facebook remains the anchor (~50%); YouTube near half; Nextdoor usage concentrated among homeowners

Gender breakdown

• County adult population skews slightly female (~51–52% female, ~48–49% male)
• Platform skews mirrored locally:
  • More women on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (Pinterest heavily female)
  • More men on YouTube, X, Reddit; slight male tilt on LinkedIn
  • Snapchat and TikTok lean younger with a slight female skew

Behavioral trends observed in similar suburban counties (and reflected locally)

• Community and info hubs: Facebook Groups and Nextdoor for township, school district, and neighborhood updates; high engagement on local issues, public safety, and municipal services
• Local commerce: Facebook Marketplace and buy/sell/trade groups widely used for autos, home goods, and seasonal items
• Video‑first consumption: Short‑form (Reels/TikTok) for restaurants, events, real estate highlights; YouTube for how‑to, local news recaps, and long‑form product research
• Events drive spikes: Weather alerts, school closings, and weekend events boost Facebook and local news page engagement; Instagram/TikTok see surges around festivals, sports, and dining
• Messaging as conversion layer: Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp used for appointment setting, customer service, and peer recommendations
• Timing: Weeknights (7–10 pm) and weekend mornings show peak activity; lunch hour bumps for Facebook/Instagram; TikTok/YouTube see late‑evening scrolls

Method and sources

• Local counts are modeled by applying Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult platform adoption rates to the 2023 Census adult population for Northampton County; figures rounded. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates), Pew Research Center (Social Media Use in 2024).