Iron County

Iron County, Utah — Key Demographics

Population

• 57,289 (2020 Decennial Census)
• +24% vs. 2010 (46,163)

Age

• Median age: 29.6 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Age distribution: Under 18: 27%; 18–24: 18%; 25–44: 28%; 45–64: 16%; 65+: 12%

Gender

• Male: 50.2%
• Female: 49.8% (ACS 2019–2023)

Race and Ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White, non-Hispanic: 82%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): 11%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 2%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: 1%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 1%

Households and Housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~19,900
• Average household size: 2.96
• Family households: 67% (married-couple families: ~53%)
• Households with children under 18: ~34%
• Owner-occupied: ~66%; renter-occupied: ~34%

Insights

• Younger-than-national age structure and elevated 18–24 share reflect the local university presence.
• Household size and owner-occupancy rates are higher than U.S. averages, though renter share is sizable for a college community.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Iron County, UT email usage snapshot (2023)

• Estimated users: ~46,000. Method: ≈93% of adults plus most teens (13–17) use email in line with U.S. adoption patterns.
• Gender split: 51% male (23,500 users), 49% female (22,500).
• Age distribution of users:
  • 13–17: 9% (4,100)
  • 18–34: 32% (14,700)
  • 35–54: 30% (13,800)
  • 55–64: 14% (6,400)
  • 65+: 15% (6,900)
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: ~89%.
  • Household computer/smart device access: ~94%.
  • Mobile-only internet households: ~10–12% (email frequently accessed via smartphones).
  • Adoption gains are strongest among 55+ for healthcare, government, and banking communications; younger cohorts are near-saturated.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population ≈63,000; density ≈19 people per square mile.
  • ~75–80% of residents live in the Cedar City–Enoch corridor along I‑15, where cable and fiber are most available; outlying ranching and mountain areas rely more on fixed wireless and satellite, correlating with lower subscription rates.

Figures are county-level estimates derived from recent population counts and national/regional internet and email adoption benchmarks.

Iron County, Utah: mobile phone usage snapshot and how it differs from the state

Headline estimates (2024)

• Active mobile phone users: 45,000–50,000 residents (roughly 80–85% of total population), of which an estimated 42,000–47,000 are smartphone users. These figures reflect county growth since the 2020 Census (57,289 residents) and standard adoption rates in Utah and the rural West.
• Lines per 100 residents (all SIMs, including tablets/IoT): approximately 110–130, consistent with U.S. norms but with a higher share of prepaid and secondary lines tied to student and seasonal users.

How Iron County differs from statewide patterns

• More student-driven usage: With Southern Utah University centered in Cedar City, the 18–24 cohort is materially larger than the Utah average. This drives nearly universal smartphone ownership in that group, heavier on-campus data use, and above-average adoption of budget/prepaid plans.
• Higher reliance on wireless for home internet: Smartphone-only internet households are notably higher than statewide—estimated 19–23% in Iron County vs 13–16% across Utah—because of student renters and rural households outside the I‑15 corridor.
• Slightly lower fixed-broadband subscription: 80–85% of households in Iron County subscribe to home broadband vs 88–92% statewide, reflecting patchier last-mile options in outlying areas.
• More coverage variability: Along I‑15 (Cedar City–Enoch–Parowan), 4G/5G service density is comparable to the Wasatch Front, but terrain and distance cause sharper drop-offs in the mountains (Cedar Mountain/Brian Head, Parowan Canyon) and the county’s west desert—contrast with Utah’s urban counties where 5G mid-band layers are more continuous.
• Higher prepaid share: Prepaid and value MVNO lines are estimated at 26–30% of consumer lines in the county vs roughly 18–22% statewide, tied to a younger mix, more renters, and lower median household income than the Utah average.

Demographic breakdown and usage implications

• Age
  • 18–24: Larger share than statewide; smartphone penetration ~98–100%, heavy app/social/video use, frequent plan churn around academic terms.
  • 25–44: Strong postpaid adoption for family plans; growing use of 5G home internet where fiber/cable are absent.
  • 65+: Slightly higher rural share; smartphone ownership is improving but remains below younger cohorts (roughly mid‑70s to low‑80s percent), with more basic/low-cost plans and larger reliance on voice/SMS and telehealth portals.
• Income and housing
  • Median household income trails the Utah average, reinforcing demand for prepaid/MVNO plans and ACP-successor discount offers; multi-tenant student housing correlates with smartphone-only and hotspot use.
• Race/ethnicity and language
  • Hispanic/Latino residents comprise roughly 10–12% of the county (below Utah’s statewide share). Spanish-language support matters in retail and outreach but is a smaller driver of network mix than in many Wasatch Front communities.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Radio access
  • 4G LTE is broadly available across the Cedar City–Enoch urbanized area and the full I‑15 corridor; 5G coverage is established in and around Cedar City/Enoch and along I‑15, with mid-band layers concentrated near population centers and low-band extending into rural tracts.
  • Known weak/variable areas include higher-elevation recreation zones (Cedar Breaks/Brian Head), canyons (e.g., Parowan Canyon), and sparsely populated western basins where carriers rely on distant macro sites.
• Backhaul and fiber
  • The I‑15 corridor carries multiple regional and long-haul fiber routes that anchor carrier macro cells and enterprise sites in Cedar City. Outside the corridor, backhaul often transitions to microwave or longer fiber laterals, which constrains dense small-cell builds typical of the Wasatch Front.
• Home internet interplay
  • Fixed wireless (5G and WISP) plays a larger role than statewide averages in outlying neighborhoods and unincorporated areas. Fiber and cable footprints are strongest within Cedar City/Enoch; beyond those cores, availability drops and waitlists are more common.
• Public safety and resiliency
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) and carrier priority services are present on the I‑15 spine and key municipal sites, but incident response in high terrain still faces signal and backhaul limitations during storms and wildfires—an operational constraint less common in Utah’s dense urban counties.

What this means for planners and providers

• Capacity should prioritize campus-adjacent sectors, multifamily corridors, and I‑15 travel peaks; seasonal boosts are advisable during university events and the summer tourism window for Cedar Breaks/Brian Head.
• Prepaid/MVNO distribution, multilingual support, and flexible month-to-month plans will over-index compared to state averages.
• Expanding mid-band 5G and fixed wireless home internet beyond the Cedar City core will directly reduce the county’s smartphone-only household gap with the state.
• Coverage investments should target canyon mouths, mountain recreation nodes, and the west desert rim to narrow the urban–rural service differential that is less pronounced in Utah’s populous counties.

Sources and methods

• Estimates synthesized from U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial; recent Vintage population estimates), American Community Survey S2801 (device and subscription patterns), FCC Mobile and Fixed Broadband maps, Pew Research Center smartphone adoption benchmarks, and carrier public 5G deployment disclosures (2022–2024). County figures are presented as best-available 2024 estimates calibrated to Iron County’s demographic profile and settlement pattern.

Social media usage in Iron County, Utah — 2025 snapshot

Scope and method

• Figures are locally adjusted estimates for Iron County based on the latest Pew Research Center “Social Media Use” (2024), U.S. Census/ACS demographics for Iron County and Utah (2023), and Utah’s younger-than-average age profile. County-level platform counts are not publicly reported; percentages reflect adult reach.

Overall penetration and user base

• Adult social media penetration: 85–90% of adults
• Adult population baseline: roughly 44–48k adults
• Estimated adult social media users: 38–43k

Most-used platforms (adult reach; locally adjusted)

• YouTube: 84–88%
• Facebook: 66–72%
• Instagram: 50–55%
• TikTok: 38–42%
• Snapchat: 36–40%
• Pinterest: 34–40% (skews female)
• WhatsApp: 25–30%
• LinkedIn: 25–30%
• X (Twitter): 20–24%
• Reddit: 20–22%
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (primarily homeowners in Cedar City/Enoch)

Age-group patterns (adult usage tendencies)

• 18–24: Very high YouTube (90%+); Snapchat 75–85%; Instagram 65–75%; TikTok 60–70%; Facebook typically under 50%
• 25–34: YouTube ~90%; Instagram 65–70%; Facebook 60–65%; TikTok 45–55%
• 35–54: Facebook 70–78%; YouTube 85%+; Instagram 45–55%; TikTok 25–35%; Pinterest 40–50% among women
• 55+: Facebook 70–75%; YouTube 70–80%; Instagram 25–35%; TikTok 10–20%

Gender breakdown (share of each gender using the platform)

• Women: Facebook ~72–75%; Instagram ~55–60%; Pinterest ~45–55%; TikTok ~38–42%
• Men: YouTube ~90%; Facebook ~62–65%; Reddit ~28–32%; X ~24–28%; LinkedIn ~30–35%

Behavioral trends observed locally

• Facebook remains the community hub: heavy use of Groups (neighborhoods, buy/sell, youth sports, events), Marketplace, and local news alerts. High comment activity on civic and school content.
• Short-form video is the engagement driver: Instagram Reels and TikTok dominate discovery for dining, local events, outdoor recreation, and campus life; creators cross-post Highlights/Reels to Facebook for broader, older reach.
• Student-driven messaging: Snapchat is a default among SUU-age users for daily communication, event coordination, and stories; ephemeral content outperforms static posts with this cohort.
• YouTube serves practical and hobby content: how-to, fitness, outdoor gear/recreation planning, and local business explainers; longer watch time and search-driven discovery.
• Visual planning among women: Pinterest usage for home projects, weddings, holidays, and meal planning; strong seasonal spikes.
• Neighborhood and safety chatter: Nextdoor usage is concentrated among homeowners for lost/found, contractor referrals, and public-safety notices; limited rural footprint.
• Content themes that perform best: community involvement, family-friendly tone, local faces/employee spotlights, behind-the-scenes, timely event reminders, and practical value (guides, tips, deals). Authenticity and locality outrank high production value.
• Advertising implications:
  • Broad reach/frequency: Facebook + Instagram
  • 18–34 reach and creator partnerships: TikTok + Instagram
  • Upper-funnel and evergreen search: YouTube
  • Home/lifestyle targeting (women 25–44): Pinterest
  • Professional/relocation targeting: LinkedIn (niche but efficient)

Notes on seasonality and timing

• Engagement rises around school calendars, festivals, sports, and holiday periods; outdoor recreation content peaks spring–fall.
• Evenings and weekend mornings generally outperform for community-oriented posts; short-form video can perform throughout the day with algorithmic distribution.

Key sources underpinning estimates

• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform reach and age/gender skews)
• U.S. Census Bureau/ACS (2023) for Iron County and Utah age structure and population
• Utah’s consistently younger median age relative to U.S., which elevates Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok adoption compared with national adult averages