Bulloch County

Key demographics: Bulloch County, Georgia

• Population

  • 2023 estimate: ~83,000
  • 2020 Census: 81,099

• Age

  • Median age: ~29
  • Under 18: ~19–20%
  • 65 and over: ~11–12%

• Gender

  • Female: ~49–50%
  • Male: ~50–51%

• Race and ethnicity (shares rounded)

  • White alone: ~62%
  • Black or African American alone: ~31%
  • Asian alone: ~2%
  • Two or more races: ~3%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~6–7% Note: Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity and overlaps with race categories.

• Households

  • Total households: ~30,000
  • Persons per household (avg): ~2.5–2.6
  • Family households: ~55–60% (avg family size ~3.1–3.2)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 (5-year) and 2020 Decennial Census. Estimates are rounded.

Bulloch County, GA — estimated email usage snapshot

• Estimated users: ~60,000–65,000 residents use email (roughly 85–90% of adults; teens add a few thousand more). County population ~83,000.
• Age distribution of email users (estimated):
  • 13–17: 6–8%
  • 18–24: 24–28% (boosted by Georgia Southern University presence)
  • 25–44: 30–33%
  • 45–64: 22–25%
  • 65+: 10–13%
• Gender split: roughly even (about 51% female, 49% male among users), mirroring the local population.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband adoption is broadly in line with Georgia overall (roughly low-to-mid 80% of households subscribe), with a noticeable share of smartphone‑only users in lower‑income households.
  • Statesboro and campus areas have strong cable/fiber coverage; rural tracts see slower speeds and fewer fixed-broadband options.
  • Reliance on public Wi‑Fi (library, schools, campus) remains important for some households; mobile networks cover most populated areas.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • About 673 square miles and ~120 people per sq. mile; residents are concentrated around Statesboro/GSU, where connectivity is best, with sparser, less‑served areas toward the county’s edges.

Bulloch County, GA mobile phone usage snapshot (focus on what differs from Georgia overall)

Context

• Population: roughly 82–85k residents, anchored by Statesboro and Georgia Southern University (GSU). The large 18–24 student cohort makes Bulloch younger and more transient than the state average, while the county’s outer tracts remain distinctly rural.

User estimates

• Unique mobile users: approximately 72–78k residents with an active mobile phone line.
• Smartphone users: about 65–73k (adult smartphone penetration is very high in town—driven by students—and lower in rural tracts).
• Total active SIMs/lines: 90–110k (multi-line users: student + work lines, tablets/hotspots, wearables).
• Mobile-only internet households: 20–25% (higher than the Georgia average of roughly mid‑teens), reflecting both student housing patterns and rural fixed-broadband gaps.
• Prepaid/MVNO share of lines: estimated 35–45% (above state average), popular with students and cost‑sensitive households.

Demographic patterns that shape usage (vs. state-level)

• Age: 18–24 share is much higher than the state average. Nearly universal smartphone ownership in this cohort, heavy video/social use, and strong iOS share on/around campus. Faster device upgrade cycles and higher data consumption per user than state average.
• Older/rural residents: Below-state-average smartphone adoption among the 65+ in outer tracts; more basic/voice‑centric usage and longer device replacement cycles.
• Income: Median household income trails state average; price sensitivity raises prepaid/MVNO usage and reliance on family plans. Mobile-only internet is used as a primary connection more often than statewide.
• Race/ethnicity: In line with national patterns, Black and Hispanic households in lower‑income or poorly served tracts show higher mobile-only reliance than county averages, driven by fixed-broadband availability and affordability.

Digital infrastructure (what stands out locally)

• Coverage pattern:
  • Statesboro and the GSU area have dense LTE and mid‑band 5G; performance is competitive with Georgia’s secondary metros but trails the Atlanta core.
  • Rural Bulloch has patchier 5G and more LTE fallback, with noticeable variability southeast and far west of Statesboro.
• 5G deployment mix:
  • T‑Mobile: strong mid‑band (2.5 GHz) “Ultra Capacity” 5G in/around Statesboro and along main corridors; coverage attenuates in the rural fringe.
  • AT&T: broad LTE, low‑band 5G, and Band 14 (FirstNet) coverage; mid‑band 5G improving around town and key roadways.
  • Verizon: C‑band nodes near town and major routes; otherwise low‑band 5G/LTE. mmWave is limited to targeted venues, unlike Atlanta where it’s far more common.
• Capacity hotspots: GSU campus, downtown Statesboro, Paulson Stadium/events, and retail corridors—requiring sector splits and small‑cell/DAS indoors more than typical for a rural county.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Robust backhaul along the I‑16/Savannah–Macon corridor and into Statesboro; campus connectivity (research/education networks) supports substantial Wi‑Fi offload.
  • Fixed broadband is a patchwork: cable and AT&T/fiber in town; rural FTTH from the local telephone cooperative in portions of the county; remaining pockets depend on legacy DSL, fixed wireless, or mobile hotspots—driving higher mobile-only rates than the state average.
• Emergency and coverage priorities: FirstNet presence and tower placements emphasize major highways (US‑301, GA‑67/24, US‑80) and the campus; outer tracts still show indoor coverage challenges.

How Bulloch differs most from Georgia overall

• Higher mobile dependence in two distinct groups: students (choice/behavior) and rural households (infrastructure/affordability). This yields above‑average mobile-only internet use and prepaid/MVNO adoption.
• More bimodal device landscape: very new, high‑end devices in student areas vs. older devices in rural/older populations; the state overall is more even.
• 5G experience is “good in town, inconsistent outside”: better than many rural GA counties but clearly behind Atlanta’s dense 5G (especially mmWave and indoor small cells).
• Events and semester rhythms drive atypical traffic spikes, influencing capacity planning more than in comparable‑population counties without a major university.

Implications

• Carriers: prioritize mid‑band 5G infill sites on the county fringe, indoor coverage at campus/arena/healthcare buildings, and added capacity during events/semesters. Prepaid and student‑friendly plans will over-index.
• Policymakers/ISPs: rural fiber builds and affordable fixed options can lower mobile‑only reliance; campus–community partnerships (public Wi‑Fi, neutral‑host indoor systems) can smooth peak loads and improve equity.

Notes on sources/methods

• Estimates reflect 2020–2023 Census/ACS patterns, FCC coverage data, and typical carrier buildouts in Georgia through 2024. Ranges are provided where precise local counts are not published.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot for Bulloch County, GA. County-level platform stats aren’t published directly; figures are estimates based on Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media usage, adjusted for Bulloch’s college-town age mix (Georgia Southern University) and ACS population patterns. Treat ranges as directional.

County snapshot

• Population context: ~80–85k residents; skew younger than U.S. average due to the university.
• Estimated social media users (13+): roughly 60k–66k (about 85–90% of 13+).
• Daily users: ~70–75% of social users.

Most-used platforms (Adults 18+, estimated users as % of adults; higher among 18–24 noted)

• YouTube: 80–85% (18–24: ~90%+)
• Facebook: 60–70% (strong across 25+; dominant for community news/groups)
• Instagram: 45–55% (18–34: ~60–70%)
• TikTok: 30–40% (18–34: ~55–65%)
• Snapchat: 25–35% (18–24: ~50–70%)
• Pinterest: 25–35% (skews female, home/DIY/food)
• X (Twitter): 15–25% (news/sports/local commentary)
• Reddit: 15–25% (skews male 18–34)
• LinkedIn: 20–25% (professionals, job seekers)
• Nextdoor: 10–20% (higher in subdivisions around Statesboro; low in rural tracts)

Age-group usage patterns

• Teens/college (13–24): Very heavy Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok; YouTube near-universal. Use DMs for organizing; follow campus orgs, local food/nightlife, deals; short-form video performs best.
• 25–34: Mix of Instagram/Facebook/TikTok; heavy Facebook Marketplace use; local housing/childcare/services searches; Reels/shorts favored.
• 35–54: Facebook and YouTube dominate; school info, HS sports, local government, church/community groups; shares and comments drive reach.
• 55+: Facebook and YouTube; community groups, local news, churches; longer posts and live streams do well.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Women: Over-index on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest. High engagement in buy-sell/yard-sale groups, school and church communities, local events. More frequent posting/story use.
• Men: Over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X. Heavier consumption of sports, gaming, automotive, tech, and local politics. More lurking; active in niche hobby groups.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: Facebook groups, Marketplace, and local event pages are central for information and commerce. Posts with recognizable places/people names perform best.
• Student pulse: Nightlife, dining, campus happenings, and housing drive spikes Thu–Sat evenings; Snapchat and Instagram Stories are key for last-minute plans.
• Short-form video: Reels/TikToks (6–20 sec) outperform static posts; campus/location tags and trending audio boost reach.
• Local news/weather: Outages, storms, road closures trigger rapid Facebook engagement and reshares.
• Posting windows: Lunchtime (12–1 pm) and evenings (7–10 pm) are best; student audiences respond late evening.
• Creator micro-influence: Student leaders/athletes/Greek-life accounts move the needle for 18–24.

Notes on methodology and sources

• Estimates blend Pew Research Center’s 2024 Social Media Use (national) with Bulloch’s younger age profile and typical college-town behavior; ACS county demographics inform age skew. Exact county-by-platform counts aren’t publicly reported.