Barrow County

Barrow County, Georgia — key demographics

Population

• 83,505 (2020 Census)
• ~90,000 (2023 Census Bureau estimate; rounded)

Age

• Median age: ~37 years
• Under 18: ~25%
• 65 and over: ~13%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race/ethnicity (shares; ACS 2019–2023, rounded)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~61%
• Black/African American (non-Hispanic): ~15%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~14%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~4%
• Other: ~3%

Households (ACS 2019–2023, rounded)

• Total households: ~30,000
• Average household size: ~2.9
• Family households: ~74%
• Households with children under 18: ~39%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year; Vintage 2023 population estimates). Figures are rounded.

Barrow County, GA email usage (estimates)

• Population/context: ~90,000 residents; density roughly 540–560 people per sq. mile (fast‑growing exurban Atlanta county; seat: Winder).
• Estimated email users: ~60–65k adult users (based on ~75% adults and ~90%+ U.S. adult email adoption). Including teens, total users ≈65–70k.
• Age mix of email users:
  • 13–17: ~5–8%
  • 18–29: ~18–20%
  • 30–49: ~33–37%
  • 50–64: ~22–26%
  • 65+: ~12–16%
• Gender split of users: roughly even, ~50–51% female, ~49–50% male (reflects county population; negligible adoption gap by gender).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Households with broadband: approx. 85–90% (ACS-like county profiles).
  • Smartphone‑only internet households: ~10–15%.
  • Households without home internet: ~8–12% (higher in rural edges, lower in Winder/Auburn/Bethlehem).
  • Connectivity: Cable and DSL/fiber from major ISPs (e.g., Spectrum, AT&T; Kinetic in parts), expanding fiber in new subdivisions and along main corridors (I‑85/GA‑316).
  • Cellular: 4G/5G coverage is strong in population centers; libraries/schools provide public Wi‑Fi.

Notes: Figures are derived by applying national email adoption rates to Barrow’s demographics and typical ACS broadband patterns; use as directional estimates.

Barrow County, GA: mobile phone usage snapshot (with county-vs-state differences)

User estimates

• Total mobile phone users: approximately 78,000–86,000 residents.
  • Basis: Barrow’s population is likely in the low 90,000s in 2024–2025 (2020 Census baseline ~83.5k plus continued growth). Adults are ~74% of residents; adult smartphone ownership ~88–92% (Pew, US-level). Among minors, smartphone access is high for teens and moderate for younger children, yielding ~75–85% overall phone access among under-18s. Resulting blended penetration points to roughly 85–92% of residents using a mobile phone.
• Wireless-only (no landline) households: high, broadly in line with or slightly above Georgia’s average, reflecting national trends where the South leads in wireless-only adoption (CDC/NCHS).
• Smartphone-only internet users (no home broadband): likely around the high teens to low 20s percent of adults, with pockets above that in lower-income and Hispanic neighborhoods. This is slightly higher than the Georgia average in those tracts, but near parity countywide.

Demographic patterns shaping usage

• Age: Barrow skews toward young families compared with many rural Georgia counties. That means:
  • Very high smartphone penetration among parents and teens.
  • Slightly lower share of senior non-adopters than the state overall, lifting the county’s overall smartphone penetration.
• Race/ethnicity: Barrow has a relatively higher Hispanic share and a lower Black share than Georgia overall. This often correlates with:
  • Above-average reliance on mobile phones as the primary internet connection among Hispanic households.
  • High use of messaging apps, mobile payments, and social platforms for work and family communication.
• Income and housing: Rapid residential growth and a mix of renters/homeowners produce two distinct patterns:
  • New subdivisions near major corridors tend to have strong 5G and good in-home Wi‑Fi, so residents use phones heavily but not as their only connection.
  • Older or more rural pockets show higher smartphone-only dependence due to patchier wired broadband or cost constraints.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage footprint:
  • 5G mid-band coverage (AT&T/Verizon/T‑Mobile) is strong in and around population centers: Winder (county seat), Bethlehem, Statham, Auburn (Barrow side), and the Braselton fringe. This is earlier and denser than many rural Georgia counties because Barrow sits in the Atlanta market spillover.
  • Rural edges and low-density areas still fall back to LTE, with occasional indoor coverage challenges; fixed wireless (5G home internet) is an important option there.
• Capacity and performance:
  • Mid-band 5G upgrades (C-band and n41) along GA‑316/US‑29 corridors deliver notably higher median speeds than much of rural Georgia, especially during commuter peaks.
  • Event-driven congestion occurs around schools, parks, and Friday-night sports venues; small-cell or sector-split upgrades are the usual remedy.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • The GA‑316 corridor and commercial strips have robust fiber backhaul, supporting 5G densification and business connectivity.
  • Fiber-to-the-home is expanding but remains uneven outside newer subdivisions; cable broadband is common in town centers. Where fiber/cable are absent or costly, households lean on smartphones or 5G fixed wireless.
• Public connectivity:
  • Public Wi‑Fi is ample at schools, libraries, and municipal buildings, but fewer dense hotspots than inside the Atlanta core. This keeps mobile-data reliance higher during daytime hours for commuters and field workers.

How Barrow differs from Georgia overall

• Earlier and denser 5G deployment than many non-metro counties, thanks to proximity to the Atlanta market and GA‑316 corridor. Result: higher median mobile speeds and better 5G availability than the statewide rural average.
• Growth-driven mobile demand: Subscriber and data-traffic growth outpace the Georgia average, driven by new housing and commuting patterns.
• Demographic tilt toward young families and a comparatively larger Hispanic community increases mobile-first behaviors (messaging, video, payments) versus the state average, particularly in specific neighborhoods.
• Slightly fewer senior non-adopters than the statewide mix, nudging overall smartphone penetration a bit higher than Georgia’s average.
• Reliance on fixed wireless as a substitute for fiber/cable is more pronounced in Barrow’s outer tracts than in inner-metro counties, but less pronounced than in South and Southeast Georgia.

Notes and data confidence

• Figures above are modeled estimates based on the 2020 Census baseline, observed county growth, national/state smartphone adoption (Pew Research), wireless-only household trends (CDC/NCHS), and typical deployment patterns seen on the FCC National Broadband Map.

Social media in Barrow County, GA — snapshot (2025)

Overall user stats

• Monthly social media users: roughly 55,000–65,000 people (about 65–75% of residents), based on suburban Georgia adoption rates.
• Daily users: ~40,000–48,000 (45–55% of residents).
• Multi-platform behavior: typical user actively uses 3–4 platforms/month.

Age mix of users (share of local social users)

• 13–17: 7–9%
• 18–24: 10–12%
• 25–34: 18–20%
• 35–44: 20–22%
• 45–54: 17–18%
• 55–64: 13–15%
• 65+: 10–12%

Gender breakdown (share of local social users)

• Female: ~52–55%
• Male: ~45–48%
• Note: Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, X, Reddit.

Most-used platforms locally (estimated monthly reach among internet users)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–75% (Groups and Marketplace especially strong)
• Instagram: 45–50%
• Facebook Messenger: 60–65% (primary DM for many)
• TikTok: 35–40% overall; 70%+ among teens/younger adults
• Snapchat: 25–30% overall; 70–80% among teens
• Pinterest: 25–30% (home, crafts, recipes)
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• Nextdoor: 10–20% of households, varies by neighborhood density
• WhatsApp: 10–15% (higher among Hispanic/immigrant communities)

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Community-first usage: High engagement in Facebook Groups (yard sale, school PTO/athletics, youth sports, churches, HOA/neighborhoods). Local news/weather, school closures, traffic get sharp spikes.
• Marketplace culture: Strong buy/sell/trade activity; price sensitivity and meet-up convenience matter.
• Short-form video wins: TikTok/Reels for entertainment, local tips, restaurant highlights; 15–45s clips outperform longer local posts.
• YouTube utility: DIY, home repair, auto, lawn care, and sermon/event streams see steady viewing across ages.
• Posting/engagement peaks: Evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; weekday lunchtime secondary bump.
• Cross-posting norm: Many small businesses post to Instagram and auto-share to Facebook; boosted posts targeted within 10–20 miles perform well.
• Word-of-mouth at scale: Recommendation threads (“who do you recommend for…”) drive high-comment posts; responsiveness and visible reviews matter.
• Youth behavior: Teens prioritize Snapchat (messaging/stories) and TikTok; light public posting on Facebook; Instagram used for highlights.
• Older adults: Facebook for family, church, and local updates; Nextdoor usage higher in established subdivisions.
• Language/segment notes: Growing Hispanic audience engages on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp; bilingual posts improve reach and shares.

Notes on method

• Barrow County lacks granular public platform-by-platform stats; figures above are localized estimates derived from suburban Georgia/US usage benchmarks (Pew/industry), adjusted for Barrow’s family-heavy, commuter-suburban profile. For campaign planning, validate with platform ad tools (location = Barrow County) to refine audience counts.