Waushara County

Waushara County, Wisconsin — key demographics

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates)

Population size

• Total population: 24,520 (2020 Census)
• ACS estimate: ~24.5K (2018–2022)

Age

• Median age: ~48 years
• Under 18: ~19–20%
• 18 to 64: ~54–55%
• 65 and over: ~26%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race/ethnicity (ACS, shares sum to ~100%)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~86%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~0.6%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~0.7%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~0.4%
• Other, non-Hispanic: ~0.6%

Households and families

• Households: ~10.7K
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Families: ~6.6K; average family size: ~2.8
• Married-couple families: ~55%
• Households with children under 18: ~22%
• One-person households: ~30% (about half of these age 65+)
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80%

Insights

• Small, rural county with an older age profile (median age near 48 and about one-quarter 65+)
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White, with a notable Hispanic/Latino community near 1 in 10 residents
• Smaller household sizes and high owner-occupancy consistent with rural/retirement patterns

Waushara County, Wisconsin is sparsely populated (≈24,600 residents; ~39 residents per square mile), which shapes connectivity and email adoption.

Estimated email users: ~19,000 residents (≈77% of the population) use email at least monthly; among adults, usage is ≈85–90%.

Age distribution (population): ~19% under 18, ~16% ages 18–34, ~24% ages 35–54, ~16% ages 55–64, ~25% ages 65+. Email adoption tracks national patterns: ≈90%+ among ages 18–54, ≈80–85% for 55–64, and ≈70–78% for 65+.

Gender split: Overall population is roughly even; email users are also near parity (about 49% male, 51% female), with slightly more female users due to the county’s older age profile.

Digital access trends:

• ~89–91% of households have a computer.
• ~78–80% of households have a broadband subscription.
• ~7–9% are smartphone‑only for home internet.
• ~12–14% report no home internet service. Fixed broadband in served areas commonly delivers 100–200 Mbps; fiber is expanding but remains patchy in rural townships. 4G LTE covers most of the county; 5G is present in larger towns and along major corridors. Low density and dispersed lakeside/seasonal housing increase last‑mile costs, contributing to uneven high‑speed coverage.

Mobile phone usage in Waushara County, Wisconsin — 2024 snapshot

Key differences vs Wisconsin overall

• Lower adult smartphone penetration: about 82% in Waushara vs roughly 88–90% statewide.
• Higher share of basic-phone users (non‑smartphones): about 13% of adults vs roughly 6–8% statewide.
• Greater reliance on mobile data in lieu of home broadband, reflecting lower fixed‑broadband availability and an older, more rural population.
• 5G coverage is present along I‑39 and in/around larger villages, but mid‑band 5G capacity is sparser than in metro Wisconsin; service relies more on low‑band spectrum for reach than on mid‑band for speed.

User estimates (modeled for 2024)

• Population base: ~24,200 residents; ~19,360 adults (18+).
• Any mobile phone (smartphone or basic phone): ~18,450 adult users (≈95% of adults).
• Smartphone users: ~15,920 adult users (≈82% of adults).
• Basic‑phone (non‑smartphone) users: ~2,530 adults (≈13%).
• Household context: ~10,500 households; an estimated 22–25% are mobile‑only for home internet (no fixed broadband, rely on cellular data plans), versus ~15–18% statewide.

Demographic breakdown (how age and income shape usage)

• Age-driven adoption (adults, modeled from age‑specific adoption rates applied to Waushara’s older age profile):
  • 18–29: 2,520 adults; ~96% smartphone adoption (2,420 users).
  • 30–49: 4,840 adults; ~97% smartphone adoption (4,690 users).
  • 50–64: 6,780 adults; ~83% smartphone adoption (5,620 users).
  • 65+: 5,230 adults; ~61% smartphone adoption (3,190 users); ~90% have any mobile phone when including basic phones.
• Income and access:
  • Below-median income households (Waushara’s median income trails the state) show materially higher mobile‑only internet reliance, driven by patchy fixed‑broadband availability and cost sensitivity.
  • Among seniors and lower‑income residents, basic‑phone ownership is meaningfully higher than the state average, reducing overall smartphone penetration.

Digital infrastructure

• Networks present: Verizon, AT&T (including FirstNet Band 14 for public safety), T‑Mobile, and UScellular all operate in the county.
• Coverage pattern:
  • 4G LTE: near‑universal along primary corridors and population centers.
  • 5G: generally available in and around Wautoma, Plainfield, Coloma, Redgranite, Wild Rose, and along I‑39 and WI‑21; coverage thins in lake/forest areas and at township edges.
• Spectrum and performance:
  • Rural service leans on low‑band spectrum (e.g., 600/700/850 MHz) for reach, which supports broad coverage but lower peak speeds and indoor capacity than urban mid‑band (e.g., 2.5 GHz, C‑band).
  • Mid‑band 5G capacity is less prevalent than in metro Wisconsin, so average 5G speeds and indoor performance trail state urban benchmarks.
• Fixed broadband context affecting mobile use:
  • Fiber-to-the-home is expanding from grant‑funded builds but remains limited outside town centers; cable/DSL coverage is uneven. This elevates the share of households that rely primarily or entirely on cellular data.
  • Seasonal homes and wooded, glacial terrain introduce additional propagation challenges and localized dead zones.

What’s driving Waushara’s divergence from the state

• Older age structure depresses smartphone adoption and boosts basic‑phone use.
• Rural settlement and terrain constrain tower density and mid‑band 5G reach, reducing capacity compared with urban counties.
• Lower and more variable fixed‑broadband availability increases mobile‑only reliance, especially among seniors and cost‑sensitive households.

Notes on data and method

• Population and household counts reflect recent Census/ACS estimates for Waushara County; age‑specific smartphone and “any cellphone” uptake modeled from current national survey benchmarks (e.g., Pew Research) applied to the county’s age profile. Mobile‑only household share derives from ACS internet‑subscription patterns in rural Wisconsin counties adjusted to Waushara’s demographics and infrastructure footprint. Digital‑infrastructure points synthesize FCC mobile‑coverage filings, carrier buildouts, and rural spectrum characteristics. Figures are rounded for clarity.

Waushara County, WI social media snapshot (modeled estimates)

How this was built

• Population baseline: ~24,400 residents (U.S. Census 2023 estimate). Age structure taken from ACS 5-year profiles; Waushara skews older than the U.S. average.
• Adoption rates: Age-specific social media usage from Pew Research Center (2024 adults; 2023 teens) applied to Waushara’s age mix to localize estimates. Figures are rounded and express share of residents age 13+ unless noted.

Headline user stats

• Residents age 13+: ~21,200
• Estimated social media users (any platform): ~17,000 (≈80% of 13+; ≈70% of total population)
• Gender split among users: ≈52% women, 48% men (older age profile modestly raises the female share)

Users by age group (share of all social media users)

• 13–17: ~1.4k (≈8%)
• 18–29: ~2.6k (≈15%)
• 30–49: ~4.9k (≈29%)
• 50–64: ~4.3k (≈26%)
• 65+: ~3.8k (≈22%)

Most-used platforms in Waushara (share of residents age 13+)

• YouTube: ~81%
• Facebook: ~63%
• Instagram: ~39%
• TikTok: ~31%
• Snapchat: ~25%
• X (Twitter): ~20%
• Reddit: ~16% Notes: Facebook and YouTube dominate due to the county’s older-skewing age mix; Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat concentrate in <50 cohorts.

Gender nuances

• Women over-index on Facebook and Instagram; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X. Net effect in Waushara: Facebook’s audience is slightly more female; YouTube slightly more male. Overall gender gap in “any social media” use is small.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first usage: High reliance on Facebook Groups and Pages for local news, school/municipal updates, events, and Marketplace buying/selling. This is amplified in rural counties with older demographics.
• Video how-to and lifestyle: YouTube is the default for DIY, home, outdoor, hunting/fishing, small-engine and farm/equipment content; strong cross-age appeal.
• Youth communication: Snapchat and Instagram function as daily messaging hubs for teens/young adults; TikTok is the primary short-video entertainment and trend driver.
• Local commerce: Small businesses prioritize Facebook presence and boosted posts; event promotion and seasonal tourism (lake/recreation traffic) raise geo-targeted reach in summer.
• Device and daypart: Predominantly mobile. Engagement peaks evenings (after 6 pm) and weekends; school-year schedules create after-school spikes for teen-heavy platforms.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Population Estimates; American Community Survey 5-year profiles (county age structure).
• Pew Research Center: Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adults) and Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023 (U.S. teens). Figures localized by applying Pew age-specific adoption to Waushara’s age mix.