Pike County

Pike County, Pennsylvania – key demographics

Population size

• 60,439 (2020 Census); 2023 estimate about 61,000 (U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program)

Age

• Median age: about 48 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: about 20%
• 65 and over: about 23%

Gender

• Female: about 50–51%
• Male: about 49–50%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2018–2022)

• White alone: mid-80% range
• Black or African American alone: about 7–8%
• Asian alone: about 1–2%
• Two or more races: about 5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): about 13–14%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: about 74%

Household and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: about 23–24k
• Persons per household: about 2.6
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: about 82–83%
• Median household income: roughly $88–90k
• Persons in poverty: roughly 7–8%
• Median gross rent: around $1,200–$1,300

Insights

• Older-than-state age profile with roughly one in five residents 65+.
• High owner-occupancy and relatively high median household income for Pennsylvania.
• Growing Hispanic/Latino share alongside a predominantly White, non-Hispanic population.

Pike County, PA snapshot (2023 est. pop. ~60,900; low density ~110 people/sq mi):

• Estimated email users (adults 18+): ~45,200 (≈92% of ~49,200 adults), based on national adoption benchmarks applied to local age mix.
• Age distribution of users:
  • 18–64: ~32,600 users (≈94% usage within ~34,700 residents 18–64).
  • 65+: ~12,600 users (≈87% usage within ~14,500 residents 65+).
  • The county’s older profile (≈24% 65+) means a larger-than-average share of email users are seniors.
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male (tracking the county’s ≈50.5% female population and near-equal adoption by gender).
• Digital access and connectivity:
  • ~94% of households have a computer; ~89% have a home broadband subscription; ~11% lack home internet (ACS 2018–2022).
  • Mobile access is widespread; a meaningful minority rely primarily on cellular data where wireline options are limited.
  • Connectivity is strongest in denser corridors; service quality drops in rural townships and wooded areas, leading to pockets that depend on satellite or fixed wireless.

Insights: Email is effectively universal among working-age adults and broadly adopted by seniors. The main limiter is not willingness to use email but uneven last‑mile broadband, consistent with a low-density, exurban/rural county profile.

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

User base and adoption

• Population and lines: Roughly 60,000 residents and an estimated 68,000–72,000 active mobile lines (about 113–120 subscriptions per 100 residents). This is modestly higher than the Pennsylvania average (about 110–115 per 100), reflecting second homes, hotspot devices, and multi-line commuters.
• Smartphone ownership: About 88–90% of adults use a smartphone, on par with the state overall. Household-level smartphone access is about 90–92% (ACS S2801).
• Mobile as primary internet: Approximately 14–17% of Pike County households rely on a cellular data plan as their primary or only home internet connection, above the statewide share of roughly 9–12%. This is concentrated in rural and forest-adjacent tracts where fixed broadband options are limited.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: Pike skews older (median age near the upper 40s vs low 40s statewide). Smartphone adoption among 65+ is several points lower than the state average, but growing. Older users are more likely to keep voice/text-centric plans and LTE devices, contributing to higher LTE traffic persistence versus 5G.
• Commuters and second homes: A sizable New York/New Jersey–bound commuter population and a notable stock of second homes drive higher per-capita line counts (work phones, hotspots) and weekend/seasonal demand spikes.
• Income and affordability: Median household income is slightly above the state average, but the county has pockets with limited fixed-broadband choices; these areas show higher mobile-only reliance and prepaid plan usage.
• Race/ethnicity: Pike remains majority White with a growing Hispanic population. Consistent with statewide patterns, Hispanic and lower-income households are more likely to be mobile-only for home internet, amplifying Pike’s above-average cellular dependence.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 4G LTE: Countywide LTE coverage along primary corridors is strong (I‑84, US‑6/209, PA‑739, PA‑590, and around Milford, Matamoras, Dingman Ferry, Lords Valley/Hemlock Farms). LTE remains the anchor layer for voice and fallback data across much of the land area.
• 5G availability: At least one operator’s 5G covers roughly the mid‑90% of the population, but only about 60–70% of land area—more uneven than the statewide picture (high‑90s by population, roughly 80%+ by land area). Coverage is robust along I‑84 and town centers; gaps persist in the Delaware State Forest and low-density valleys (Shohola, Lackawaxen).
• Carriers and performance: All three national operators serve the county. Verizon generally provides the most consistent rural footprint; AT&T’s FirstNet build strengthens highway and public-safety corridors; T‑Mobile offers competitive mid-band 5G capacity where deployed (town centers and highway nodes). Microwave backhaul remains common on remote sites, with fiber-fed upgrades clustered near highways; peak-time congestion appears during summer weekends and holidays.
• Cross-border dynamics: Border proximity to NY/NJ increases network “spillover” and roaming behavior in river towns (Matamoras/Milford), occasionally improving capacity but also complicating device network selection.

How Pike County differs from the Pennsylvania average

• Higher per-capita mobile-line density due to second homes and commuter multi-line usage.
• Higher reliance on cellular as the primary/only home internet in rural tracts.
• More pronounced gap between population 5G coverage (high) and land-area 5G coverage (moderate), reflecting forests and terrain.
• More persistent LTE usage share due to older age structure and device mix.
• Greater cross-border carrier influence along the Delaware River corridor.

Key statistics (latest public datasets, rounded)

• Residents: ~60,000; households: ~23,000–24,000.
• Active mobile lines: ~68,000–72,000 (113–120 per 100 residents); PA ~110–115.
• Households with a smartphone: ~90–92% (ACS S2801); PA ~91–93%.
• Households with a cellular data plan: ~75–80%; PA ~72–77%.
• Households relying on cellular but without fixed broadband: ~15% (county) vs ~10–11% (state).
• 5G availability: population coverage ~mid‑90% (county) vs high‑90s (state); land-area coverage ~60–70% (county) vs ~80%+ (state).

Sources and basis

• ACS 2019–2023 (S2801: Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions) for household smartphone and cellular plan metrics.
• CTIA/state wireless indicators (2023) and national benchmarks for subscriptions per 100 residents, scaled to county population.
• FCC Broadband Map (2024) for 4G/5G availability patterns and land-area vs population coverage.
• Operator public coverage disclosures and independent network measurement aggregates (2023–2024) for corridor-centric 5G deployment and congestion observations.

Overall insight Pike County’s mobile usage is shaped by an older population, commuter and second-home dynamics, and patchy fixed-broadband alternatives. That combination drives slightly higher per-capita mobile subscriptions and a meaningfully higher share of mobile-only households than the Pennsylvania average, while terrain and protected lands keep 5G land-area coverage below the state’s.

Pike County, PA — social media usage snapshot (2025, estimated)

Headline user stats

• Population: ~60,800
• Social media users (13+): ~41,700 (≈69% of total population; ≈83% of residents 13+)
• Adult users (18+): ~38,300

Age profile of users (share of total users)

• 13–17: ~3,500 (≈8%)
• 18–29: ~7,300 (≈17%)
• 30–49: ~14,100 (≈34%)
• 50–64: ~9,500 (≈23%)
• 65+: ~7,400 (≈18%)

Gender breakdown

• Female: 51% of users (21,300)
• Male: 49% of users (20,400)
• Typical platform skews: women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on X (Twitter) and Reddit; LinkedIn is close to even

Most-used platforms in Pike County (share of social media users, at least monthly)

• YouTube: 85% (35,400 users)
• Facebook: 66% (27,500)
• Instagram: 44% (18,300)
• TikTok: 35% (14,600)
• Pinterest: 33% (13,800)
• Snapchat: 28% (11,700)
• LinkedIn: 24% (10,000)
• WhatsApp: 22% (9,200)
• X (Twitter): 20% (8,300)
• Reddit: 20% (8,300)
• Nextdoor: 16% (6,700) Notes:
• Facebook and YouTube dominate across all ages; Facebook is strongest among 30+ and retirees, while YouTube is near-universal.
• Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are concentrated among 13–34.
• Nextdoor adoption is focused in HOA and lake communities; usage is primarily neighborhood updates and service recommendations.

Behavioral trends and local usage patterns

• Community-first behavior: Facebook Groups drive local news, school updates, severe weather alerts, road closures, lost-and-found pets, township politics, and volunteer fire/EMS notices. Engagement spikes during storms and school sports seasons.
• Marketplace-driven commerce: High activity for used cars, ATVs, tools, furniture, home services, and seasonal rentals; weekend listing spikes and evening inquiries are common.
• Video-forward consumption: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) leads discovery for restaurants, real estate walk-throughs, outdoor recreation (hiking, fishing, hunting), and local events (fairs, markets).
• Commuter influence: A sizable NYC/NJ commuter base sustains WhatsApp group chats and Instagram Stories usage; weekday early morning and evening activity peaks.
• Hyperlocal trust: People rely on familiar local pages, admins, and moderators; Nextdoor and Facebook recommendations heavily influence contractor and home-service selection.
• Age-driven platform splits:
  • Teens/20s: Snapchat/TikTok/Instagram DMs for daily communication; low Facebook posting but membership in local groups.
  • 30–49: Facebook + Instagram for parenting, schools, youth sports, and home projects; strong Marketplace behavior.
  • 50–64 and 65+: Facebook for news/community and Nextdoor for neighborhood issues; YouTube for tutorials and local interest content.
• Content tone: Practical, timely, and local details outperform brand-heavy creative. “Before/after,” safety updates, and event reminders get higher saves/shares than pure promos.

Method and sources

• Figures are county-level estimates derived by applying 2023/2024 Pew Research Center platform adoption rates by age to Pike County’s age structure and population (U.S. Census Bureau/ACS 2022–2023). Teen adoption reflects Pew teen surveys; adult adoption reflects Pew 2023–2024 platform reach (e.g., YouTube and Facebook highest; Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat concentrated in younger cohorts). Percentages rounded for clarity.