Eau Claire County

Eau Claire County, Wisconsin — key demographics

Population

• 2020 Census: 105,710
• 2023 estimate: roughly 108,000 (U.S. Census Population Estimates Program)

Age

• Median age: ~35–36 years
• Age distribution (ACS 2019–2023, approx.):
  • Under 18: ~19%
  • 18–24: ~16%
  • 25–44: ~27%
  • 45–64: ~22%
  • 65 and over: ~16%

Sex

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023, approximate; Hispanic is any race)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~86%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~5–6%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~1–2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~0.5–1%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3–4%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~3–4%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~45,000–46,000
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~56% of households
• Married-couple households: ~44% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~25–27%
• Nonfamily households: ~44%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~62–64%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 (5-year); Population Estimates Program (2023). Figures are estimates and rounded.

Eau Claire County, WI email usage (estimates)

• Estimated users: 80,000–90,000 residents use email regularly (roughly 75–85% of the 106k county population; based on ACS internet access and Pew email adoption among internet users).
• Age adoption (share within each age group using email):
  • 13–17: ~80–90%
  • 18–29: ~95–99% (boosted by UW–Eau Claire student population)
  • 30–49: ~95–98%
  • 50–64: ~90–95%
  • 65+: ~80–88%
• Gender split: Approximately even; county population is near 50/50 and email adoption shows minimal gender difference.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: ~85–90% (in line with or slightly above Wisconsin averages).
  • Smartphone-only internet households: roughly 12–16%.
  • Computer access in households: ~90%+.
  • Coverage gaps remain in rural townships; urban core (Eau Claire–Altoona along I‑94) has stronger fixed broadband options, with fiber/cable most common.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density roughly 160–175 people per square mile, with a majority living in the Eau Claire–Altoona urban area.
  • University presence and healthcare/education employers support high connectivity among working-age adults.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from ACS/Wisconsin broadband data and Pew Research adoption patterns applied to county demographics.

Here’s a concise, planning-oriented snapshot of mobile phone usage in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns. Figures are best-available estimates as of 2023–2024, derived from ACS computer/internet tables, Pew smartphone adoption by age, FCC/PSC-WI coverage resources, and carrier 5G deployments.

User estimates

• Population base: ~110,000 residents. Adults (18+) ~86,000; households ~48,000.
• Smartphone users
  • Adults: ~75,000–80,000 (about 87–92% of adults), skewed higher than the Wisconsin average due to a larger 18–29 cohort (UW–Eau Claire and nearby campuses).
  • Teens (13–17): ~6,000 with smartphones, bringing total smartphone users 13+ to roughly 81,000–86,000.
• Households with smartphones: ~90–92% (about 43,000–44,000 households), slightly above the state average.
• Mobile-only internet households (rely on a cellular data plan, no wireline broadband): ~10–12% of households in Eau Claire County vs roughly high single digits statewide. This reflects a mix of student renters and rural fringes without good wireline options.

Demographic breakdown (how Eau Claire differs from Wisconsin overall)

• Younger skew and student effect
  • 18–29 share is notably higher than the state average, lifting smartphone penetration and app-centric usage (social/video, mobile banking, ride-share/gig work).
  • Higher likelihood of prepaid or bring‑your‑own‑device plans among students and young renters than Wisconsin overall.
• Seniors
  • 65+ smartphone adoption is rising but remains below younger cohorts (roughly mid‑60% range). Eau Claire’s slightly younger age profile means a smaller share of low-adoption seniors compared with the state, lifting the county’s overall penetration.
• Income and tenure
  • Renters and lower-income households in the city core show above-average reliance on cellular-only internet, higher than the state average, due to affordability/convenience and adequate 5G coverage in town.
• Urban–rural split
  • City/near‑suburb residents (Eau Claire, Altoona) experience near-metro‑level 5G and are less constrained by coverage than rural residents; rural townships on the county edges show more LTE‑only zones and occasional signal/indoor coverage challenges.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Carrier presence
  • All four major networks operate locally: AT&T (including FirstNet Band 14), Verizon (C‑band in core areas), T‑Mobile (mid‑band n41 widely in/around the city), and UScellular (notable in rural periphery).
• 5G footprint and speeds
  • Eau Claire/Altoona corridor and along I‑94/US‑53 have strong 5G mid‑band; typical median download speeds in the urban core are higher than Wisconsin’s rural median and usually competitive with statewide medians, but below the peak speeds seen in Milwaukee/Madison.
  • Rural edges of the county: more LTE reliance, lower capacity, and greater variability indoors and in low-lying or wooded areas.
• Tower siting and backhaul
  • Macro sites cluster along I‑94, US‑53, WI‑93, and around the city; new/upgraded sites in the metro core are enabled for mid‑band 5G. Backhaul quality is generally solid in town (supporting higher 5G capacity) and thinner toward agricultural/forest areas.
• Public safety and resiliency
  • FirstNet coverage is established in population centers and along major corridors, with prioritized service for responders—coverage depth exceeds typical consumer AT&T coverage in certain spots.
• Interaction with wireline broadband
  • Charter Spectrum is the dominant urban/suburban wireline option; where cable or fiber is absent (rural fringes), households are more inclined to lean on cellular for primary internet—driving the county’s higher mobile-only share vs the state average.

Key trends that differ from the Wisconsin average

• Higher overall smartphone penetration, driven by a larger 18–29 population and student renters.
• Significantly higher share of mobile-only internet households, especially among renters and in rural edges lacking robust wireline.
• Better 5G mid‑band availability and median speeds within the urban core than typical Wisconsin small/mid‑sized counties, though still below Milwaukee/Madison peaks.
• More pronounced urban–rural performance gap within the county: excellent in the city/transport corridors, noticeably weaker at the periphery—creating a wider internal disparity than is visible in heavily urbanized counties.

Data notes and confidence

• Smartphone user counts are modeled by applying Pew age-specific adoption rates to an ACS-style local age distribution; household smartphone and cellular-only internet shares are benchmarked to ACS S2801 patterns and adjusted for Eau Claire’s younger/renter mix.
• Coverage and performance insights reflect FCC/PSC-WI maps and observed carrier mid‑band 5G rollouts as of 2023–2024. For site-level planning, validate with current carrier maps, PSC-WI broadband map layers, and drive-test data.

Below is a concise, local-first snapshot using Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform adoption rates, adjusted to Eau Claire County’s age mix (university tilt) and typical Midwestern usage patterns. Treat figures as informed estimates; county-level platform surveys aren’t publicly published.

At-a-glance user stats

• Adult reach: ~80–85% of adults use at least one social platform. With ~80% of residents 18+, that implies most adults in Eau Claire County are on social media; teen use is even higher.
• Skew: Slightly younger than the U.S. average due to UW–Eau Claire, lifting Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok a bit above national norms.

Age groups (typical patterns locally)

• 13–17: Very high daily use; YouTube ≈ universal; Snapchat/TikTok dominant; Instagram common; Facebook minimal.
• 18–29 (college/early career): Near-universal YouTube; heavy Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; moderate X (Twitter)/Reddit; Facebook used but not primary.
• 30–49: YouTube and Facebook dominate; Instagram steady; TikTok growing; Messenger, Instagram DMs for comms.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube lead; Pinterest notable (especially women); LinkedIn for professionals; Instagram moderate.
• 65+: Facebook first, YouTube second; Nextdoor present in some neighborhoods; lower Instagram/TikTok.

Gender tendencies (mirroring national skews)

• Women: Higher likelihood of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; strong use of Facebook Groups/Marketplace; TikTok engagement steady.
• Men: Higher likelihood of Reddit, X (Twitter), YouTube; slightly higher LinkedIn.

Most-used platforms (adult penetration; county estimates derived from Pew 2024 U.S. rates)

• YouTube: ≈ 83–88% (very broad across ages; strong among students and DIY/how-to viewers)
• Facebook: ≈ 65–72% (top for 30+; Groups/Marketplace drive stickiness)
• Instagram: ≈ 48–55% (boosted by student population; strong Stories/Reels use)
• Pinterest: ≈ 32–38% (skews female; home, recipes, classroom ideas)
• TikTok: ≈ 34–40% (elevated by 18–29 cohort; entertainment, local food/nightlife)
• LinkedIn: ≈ 28–33% (healthcare, education, and manufacturing pros)
• Snapchat: ≈ 32–40% (very high among 13–29; messaging-first behavior)
• X (Twitter): ≈ 20–25% (news, sports, civic chatter; smaller but active)
• Reddit: ≈ 20–25% (tech, gaming, niche local threads; male-skewed)
• WhatsApp: ≈ 15–22% (lower than national unless among international students/immigrants)
• Nextdoor: ≈ 12–18% (neighborhood/homeowner pockets in Eau Claire/Altoona)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community and commerce: Facebook Groups and Marketplace are the hubs for local events, yard sales, lost-and-found, small-business promos, and city/county updates. Local news outlets stream/live-post on Facebook and YouTube.
• Student-driven content: Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok dominate for campus life, nightlife, apartment hunting, and bar/restaurant specials; DMs (Snap/IG/Messenger) are primary communication channels.
• Video-first shift: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) outperforms static posts; how-to and local event recaps perform on YouTube.
• Reviews and discovery: Google/Maps and Facebook reviews overshadow Yelp; “near me” searches funnel to IG profiles and FB pages.
• Posting vs. lurking: Majority consume/scroll; posting spikes around weather events, festivals, school sports, and civic issues.
• Timing: Evenings and weekends see the highest engagement; weather alerts drive sharp surges in Facebook/YouTube live views.
• Civic and neighborhood: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups facilitate hyperlocal problem-solving (plowing, road closures, school notes); participation is strongest among homeowners 35+.

Notes on method and sources

• Sources: Pew Research Center “Social Media Use in 2024” (U.S. adoption by platform/age/gender); U.S. Census/ACS for Eau Claire County demographics; local context from typical university-county patterns.
• Percentages shown are county estimates by applying national adoption rates to Eau Claire’s age mix (college tilt), rounded to ranges. For exact local numbers, a county survey or platform ad-reach data pull would be required.