comScore has released demographic information relating to iPhone owners that reveals that while 43% of iPhone owners earn in excess of $100,000 (64,000) annually, the strongest growth in users is coming from those earning less than the median household income, particularly since the launch of the iPhone 3G. According to a new comScore report, All about iPhone, iPhone adoption since June 2008 rose 48% among those earning between $25,000 and $50,000 per year and by 46% among those earning between $25,000 and $75,000. These growth rates are three times that of those earning more than $100,000 per year. Overall, iPhone penetration grew by 21 %.
As an additional household budget item, a $200 device plus at least $70 per month for phone service seems a bit extravagant for those with lower disposable income, says report Author and  Senior comScore Analyst, Jen Wu. However, one actually realizes cost savings when the device is used in lieu of multiple digital devices and services, transforming the iPhone from a luxury item to a practical communication and entertainment tool. 
While the number of consumers in the $25,000 to $50,000 income demographic declined marginally from June to August 2008, their ranks among Smartphone owners and mobile content users grew, in most cases above the rate of the overall market. According to comScore Mobile, the number of people earning between $25,000  and $50,000 accessing news and information via their mobile browser grew by 5% since June, while the market overall grew by 3%. comScore also reported a 7% growth in mobile email usage and 5% growth in mobile music consumption among those earning between $25,000 and $50,000 per year.
These data indicate that lower-income mobile subscribers are increasingly turning to their mobile devices to access the Internet, email and their music collections, says Mark Donovan, a Senior Analyst at comScore. Smartphones, and the iPhone in particular, are appealing to a new demographic and satisfying demand for a single device for communication and entertainment, even as consumers weather the economy by cutting back on gadgets.
More details on the demographics and usage patterns of iPhone users and related industry trends in the U.S. are available in the comScore report, which is available to download here.