Burke County

Which data vintage would you like?

• 2020 Decennial Census (official counts; good for total pop and race/ethnicity, limited for age/households), or
• ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates (most recent for age, sex, and household characteristics; includes margins of error)?

Also, for “household data,” do you want just number of households and average household size, or also family vs. nonfamily share, homeownership rate, and median household income?

Burke County, GA email usage (estimates)

• Estimated users: ~15,000–17,000 adult email users. Basis: ~25k residents, ~75% adults, with ~80–90% of adults using email.
• Age distribution of users:
  • 18–34: ~25–30%
  • 35–64: ~50–60%
  • 65+: ~15–20% (still high but lower than younger groups)
• Gender split among users: roughly even; slight female majority (~51–53%) aligns with local demographics.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband subscription likely around 70–75% of households; an additional ~10–15% are smartphone‑only internet users.
  • Email access is increasingly mobile-first; many residents check email primarily via smartphones.
  • The lapse of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program in 2024 may reduce subscriptions among lower‑income households.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Low population density (~30 people per sq. mile across ~800+ sq. miles) makes last‑mile service costly; coverage is strongest in and around Waynesboro and along major corridors (e.g., US‑25).
  • Fixed broadband is solid in town centers; rural areas still rely on older DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. 4G/5G covers most populated areas, with dead zones in wooded/farmland pockets.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from ACS/FCC/Pew trends and typical rural-Georgia patterns; local conditions may vary.

Below is a concise, decision‑oriented snapshot of mobile phone usage in Burke County, Georgia, with estimates and the main ways local patterns diverge from statewide norms. Figures are derived from 2020–2023 Census/ACS population and demographics, paired with recent national/rural smartphone adoption research (e.g., Pew) and FCC coverage trends. Treat numbers as informed estimates; county‑specific mobile adoption is not directly measured.

Headline differences vs Georgia overall

• Adoption: High, but a bit below the state average due to rurality, lower incomes, and older age mix.
• Reliance: More residents rely on mobile as their primary or only home internet connection than the Georgia average.
• Plans/devices: Higher share of prepaid plans and Android devices; slower device upgrade cycles and 5G uptake.
• Coverage/quality: 4G is widespread; 5G exists but is more spotty and skewed to low‑band and selective mid‑band near Waynesboro/major corridors, so median speeds and indoor coverage trail big‑metro Georgia.
• Fixed wireless: Faster growth of 5G fixed‑wireless home internet (where available) as an alternative to limited wireline options.

User estimates

• Population base: ~24–25k residents; ~18.5–19k adults.
• Smartphone users: ~16k–18k total (adult adoption roughly in the low‑to‑mid 80% range typical of rural areas, plus most teens).
• Feature‑phone/limited users: ~1–2k, concentrated among 65+ and very low‑income residents.
• Mobile‑only home internet: Approximately 10–18% of households likely rely on cellular data plans or mobile hotspots as their primary home internet (higher than the state average), with another meaningful slice using mobile as a backup.
• Prepaid share: Likely 30–40% of personal lines (above Georgia’s urban/suburban mix), reflecting price sensitivity and credit constraints.
• Platform mix: Skews Android relative to the state overall; iOS share is lower outside Waynesboro and major employment hubs.

Demographic drivers (Burke vs Georgia)

• Race/ethnicity: Burke has a higher share of Black residents than the state average. Research shows comparable or higher smartphone dependency among Black adults, which, combined with fewer wireline options, increases mobile‑only use in Burke.
• Age: A somewhat higher share of older adults depresses overall smartphone adoption and 5G handset penetration.
• Income/education: Median income and bachelor’s attainment are below statewide levels, correlating with:
  • Higher prepaid and family/discount plan usage
  • Slower handset replacement (fewer 5G‑capable devices in circulation)
  • Greater smartphone‑only internet behavior (using phones for school, work, and telehealth)

Digital infrastructure notes (what’s on the ground)

• 4G/LTE: Broad outdoor coverage from AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile along US‑25 and around Waynesboro; indoor coverage varies in dispersed rural areas and in low‑lying or heavily wooded zones.
• 5G:
  • Availability: Present in and around population centers and along main corridors; patchier in the far rural parts of the county.
  • Spectrum mix: More low‑band 5G (good reach, modest speeds); mid‑band (e.g., 2.5 GHz or C‑band) appears in pockets, so median 5G speeds lag metro Georgia.
• Capacity: Fewer macro sites per square mile than urban counties; capacity upgrades tend to follow highways, schools, healthcare sites, and large employers. This produces uneven peak‑hour performance outside Waynesboro.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): 5G home internet offers a new option in and near town centers; coverage is address‑specific and less consistent in outlying areas, but uptake is rising where wireline is slow or absent.
• Wireline context: DSL/legacy cable remains common outside town; fiber exists but is not yet universal. This shortfall pushes higher mobile‑only and FWA adoption relative to the state.
• Public Wi‑Fi: Sparser footprint than metro counties (fewer libraries/retail clusters), reinforcing mobile data dependence for everyday tasks.

Behavioral trends that differ from state‑level

• Higher smartphone dependence for essential services (school portals, benefits, job search, telehealth) due to limited home broadband.
• Heavier use of unlimited or high‑cap prepaid plans; careful data management (video quality throttling, off‑peak use, Wi‑Fi when available).
• Slower migration to 5G‑only features and apps because of device mix and patchier mid‑band coverage.
• Greater sensitivity to network reliability for commuting and agriculture/field work along major corridors; performance off‑corridor is a more frequent pain point than in most Georgia counties.

What would tighten the estimates

• Current ACS S2801 county results (home internet by technology), FCC Broadband Map address‑level availability, carrier 5G/FWA address checks, and any local school/health system mobility programs.

Below is a concise, practical snapshot of social media usage in Burke County, GA. Because county-level surveys are rarely published, figures are modeled from Pew Research (2023–2024 U.S. platform adoption), DataReportal U.S. benchmarks, and ACS demographics, adjusted for a rural Georgia profile. Treat as directional estimates.

Overview

• Estimated social media reach (residents 13+ using social at least monthly): 72–78% of residents 13+.
• Device reality: overwhelmingly mobile-first; Facebook and YouTube dominate for news, community, and how‑to content.

Most-used platforms (estimated monthly reach among residents 13+)

• Facebook: 65–72%
• YouTube: 70–78%
• Instagram: 38–46%
• TikTok: 35–42%
• Snapchat: 22–30%
• Pinterest: 24–30%
• WhatsApp: 10–15%
• X (Twitter): 10–14%
• Reddit: 9–12%
• Nextdoor: 5–8%

User makeup (share of active social media users)

• Gender: Female ~53–56%; Male ~44–47% (Pinterest, Facebook skew slightly female; YouTube skews slightly male).
• Age distribution:
  • 13–17: 10–13%
  • 18–29: 17–22%
  • 30–49: 32–36% (largest cohort; heavy Facebook/YouTube use, growing Instagram/TikTok)
  • 50–64: 22–26%
  • 65+: 15–18%

Platform-by-age tendencies (who’s using what most)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube 90%+; TikTok 70–75%; Snapchat 60–65%; Instagram 55–60%; Facebook ~25–30%.
• Young adults (18–29): YouTube ~90%+; Instagram 70–75%; TikTok 60–65%; Snapchat 55–60%; Facebook 55–60%.
• Adults (30–49): Facebook 78–82%; YouTube ~90%; Instagram 55–60%; TikTok 40–45%; Pinterest 35–40%.
• 50–64: Facebook 78–85%; YouTube 80–85%; Instagram 30–35%; TikTok 25–30%; Pinterest 30–35%.
• 65+: Facebook 65–70%; YouTube 55–60%; Instagram 15–20%; TikTok 10–15%.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub:
  • Heavy use of Groups for churches, schools, high school sports, civic updates, and buy/sell/yard‑sale communities.
  • Marketplace is a top driver of local commerce discovery.
  • Local news and weather updates spread fastest via Groups and reshares.
• Video rules across ages:
  • YouTube for how‑to, equipment repair, hunting/fishing, agriculture, sermons/livestreams.
  • Short‑form (Reels/TikTok) drives discovery for food, events, boutiques, salons, and trades.
• Messaging habits:
  • Facebook Messenger is default; SMS still strong. WhatsApp usage present but lower than metro GA.
• Timing patterns (typical engagement peaks):
  • Weekdays: 6–8 am (before work/school) and 7–10 pm.
  • Weekends: late morning and Sunday afternoon.
• Content that performs:
  • Faces and local people; school, church, and sports highlights; giveaways and seasonal promos; practical tips (home, farm, outdoors); event reels and short clips.
• Ad responsiveness:
  • Strong response to local value props (limited‑time deals, community tie‑ins).
  • Geo‑targeting around Waynesboro and school/church/event venues works well.
  • Retargeting and boosting into relevant Groups can disproportionately increase reach.

Notes and confidence

• Figures are modeled for a rural Georgia county from national/state patterns; exact local percentages can vary by a few points.
• For precise counts, validate with platform ad managers (geofenced to Burke County) and leading local Facebook Groups’ membership/engagement stats.