Cobb County

Cobb County, Georgia — key demographics (U.S. Census/ACS)

Population

• Total: 766,149 (2020 Census). ACS 2018–2022 estimate ≈ 766k.

Age

• Median age: ~37.4 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18–64: ~62%
• 65 and over: ~14%

Gender

• Female: ~51.5%
• Male: ~48.5%

Race/ethnicity (mutually exclusive; Hispanic can be any race)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~50%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~29%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~14%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~6%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%
• Other (incl. AIAN, NHPI, some other race, non-Hispanic): ~1%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~286k
• Average household size: ~2.6
• Family households: ~66% (nonfamily ~34%)
• Owner-occupied: ~66%; renter-occupied: ~34%
• Households with children <18: ~31%
• One-person households: ~27%

Summary of email usage in Cobb County, GA (estimates)

• Estimated users: ~520,000–560,000 adult residents use email. Basis: ~770k total population, ~75% adults, and ~90–95% adult email adoption (Pew-style national rates).
• Age distribution (share using email):
  • 18–29: ~95%+
  • 30–49: ~95%+
  • 50–64: ~90–95%
  • 65+: ~80–90%
• Gender split: Nearly even. Cobb’s population is slightly more female; email adoption shows minimal gender differences.
• Digital access trends:
  • High smartphone and mobile email use; growing reliance on phones among lower-income users.
  • Roughly 9 in 10 households report an internet subscription (ACS-style measures), with higher rates in northern/eastern suburbs and lower pockets in parts of south/west Cobb.
  • Cable and fiber widely available from major ISPs; remote/hybrid work since 2020 sustains heavy email usage.
  • Public libraries and county facilities offer free Wi‑Fi and computer access, supporting residents without home broadband.
• Local density/connectivity facts: Population density ≈2,200–2,300 people per square mile; strong connectivity along I‑75/I‑285 corridors; broad 5G coverage from national carriers.

Notes: Figures are modeled from census/ACS-style counts and national tech adoption rates; local survey data may vary.

Below is a concise, planning-ready snapshot of mobile phone usage in Cobb County, GA, with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns. Figures are estimates synthesized from recent ACS household internet indicators, Pew mobile adoption, and carrier deployments in the Atlanta metro through 2024; use as directional, not absolute.

High-level overview

• Cobb is a populous, high-income, highly urban/suburban county in metro Atlanta. That profile generally drives slightly higher smartphone penetration, faster 5G availability, and lower “mobile-only” dependence than Georgia overall.

User estimates (people with a personal mobile phone)

• Population base: roughly 760–780k residents.
• Adult mobile users: about 540k–580k (most adults have a smartphone; near-universal among under-50s).
• Including teens 13–17: roughly 590k–640k total mobile users.
• Households that rely on mobile data only (no fixed broadband): about 10–13% in Cobb vs roughly 15–20% statewide.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age
  • 18–49: near-universal smartphone ownership; high 5G device mix.
  • 50–64: very high ownership; above GA average due to income/education.
  • 65+: ownership materially higher than GA overall but still the main adoption gap; more basic plans and larger displays/assistive settings.
• Income
  • Higher-income majority reduces prepaid reliance and “smartphone-only” internet use compared with GA as a whole.
  • Lower-income pockets (south/southwest Cobb, some older multifamily areas) still show mobile-first behavior and MVNO/prepaid use, but the gap is narrower than statewide.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Cobb’s diversity mirrors metro Atlanta. Digital gaps by race/ethnicity persist (especially in smartphone-only reliance), but they are smaller than state averages thanks to better fixed broadband availability and dense cellular networks.
• Work/education patterns
  • Above-average white-collar and remote/hybrid work increase daytime residential mobile data use and in-building coverage needs.
  • Student smartphone access is high; schools and libraries provide Wi‑Fi offload that moderates cellular dependence.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and capacity
  • All three national carriers operate dense LTE and 5G in Cobb; mid-band 5G (n41/n77) is widely available, delivering typical downlink in the 150–400 Mbps range in core corridors (Cumberland/The Battery, Town Center/Kennesaw, Smyrna, Marietta).
  • Event hotspots (Truist Park/The Battery) use small cells/DAS; carriers deploy COWs during peak events to manage surges.
  • Terrain/green-space gaps: slower service and occasional dead zones around Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and some river/creek corridors; northwest/west Cobb exurban edges see more low-band 5G/LTE fallback.
• Backhaul and fiber
  • Robust metro fiber from multiple providers (e.g., AT&T, Comcast Business, Lumen, Zayo) underpins dense small-cell/5G sites along I‑75, I‑285, US‑41, Cobb Pkwy, East‑West Connector.
  • High fixed-broadband availability (cable and expanding fiber) enables Wi‑Fi offload and reduces smartphone-only reliance.
• Public safety and critical comms
  • FirstNet presence and ongoing NG911 upgrades typical of metro counties; strong indoor coverage demands at public facilities drive DAS deployments.

How Cobb differs from Georgia overall (key trends)

• Higher adoption: Slightly higher smartphone ownership across most age groups, notably among 50+.
• Less mobile-only dependence: Lower share of households relying solely on cellular data, thanks to better fixed broadband access and affordability.
• Faster, denser 5G: Earlier and broader mid-band 5G rollout than most GA counties; higher typical speeds and more small-cell density, especially near major venues and commercial nodes.
• Different congestion profile: More event-driven and commuter-corridor congestion than the state average; carriers have invested in venue DAS and small cells to mitigate this.
• Narrower digital gaps: Racial, income, and age-based disparities in device/connection quality exist but are smaller than statewide.
• Enterprise mix: A larger share of employer-provided or business-managed lines and stronger in-building systems in offices/retail than in many GA counties.

Practical implications

• Planning and equity: Target digital inclusion to senior and lower-income clusters; focus on device training and affordable fixed-broadband sign-ups to further reduce smartphone-only dependence.
• Network engineering: Prioritize capacity and indoor coverage around event venues, logistics/warehouse districts, and growing residential pockets in west/northwest Cobb; maintain macro coverage resilience around parklands and waterways.
• Public services: Continue NG911 and FirstNet integrations and expand public Wi‑Fi in libraries/parks to support offload and accessibility.

Here’s a concise, locally grounded snapshot. Where county-level figures aren’t published, I extrapolate from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform adoption rates applied to Cobb’s ~600k adults (out of ~770k residents). Treat these as directional estimates.

Baseline

• Population: ~770,000 residents; ~600,000 adults (18+).
• Devices/connection: High broadband/smartphone penetration for a suburban, higher‑income county; social use is effectively mainstream across all adult age groups.

Most‑used platforms among adults (est. Cobb counts from U.S. adoption rates)

• YouTube: ~83% → ~498k adults
• Facebook: ~68% → ~408k
• Instagram: ~47% → ~282k
• TikTok: ~33% → ~198k
• Pinterest: ~35% → ~210k
• LinkedIn: ~30% → ~180k
• WhatsApp: ~29% → ~174k
• Snapchat: ~27% → ~162k
• X (Twitter): ~22% → ~132k
• Reddit: ~22% → ~132k
• Nextdoor: ~19% → ~114k Note: Percentages reflect U.S. adult usage; local rank order typically similar in suburban counties like Cobb.

Age patterns (who uses what)

• 18–29: Very high YouTube; Instagram and Snapchat are core; TikTok is heavy. Facebook lags but still used for groups/events.
• 30–49: Broad, multi‑platform use. Facebook and YouTube near‑universal; Instagram growing; TikTok/LinkedIn used meaningfully.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok smaller but rising; Nextdoor/Pinterest notable.
• 65+: Facebook first; YouTube second; Nextdoor and Pinterest used for community and hobbies; Instagram/TikTok relatively low.
• Teens (13–17, outside “adult” counts): YouTube and TikTok lead; Snapchat strong; Instagram central for visual/social identity.

Gender breakdown (patterns, not strict totals)

• County split ~51% women / 49% men; overall social use mirrors this.
• Platform skews: Pinterest and Nextdoor skew female; LinkedIn and Reddit skew male; Instagram/TikTok slightly female; Facebook relatively balanced.

Behavioral trends in Cobb County

• Neighborhood/community: Facebook Groups and Nextdoor are go‑tos for HOAs, school/PTA updates, lost/found, local issues.
• Family life and schools: High engagement around Cobb County School District calendars, sports, and activities; spikes during weather or closure events.
• Local commerce: Heavy use of Facebook Marketplace and neighborhood recommendations for services (home, childcare, pets). Instagram Reels/TikTok drive discovery for restaurants (e.g., The Battery/Truist Park area), fitness, salons.
• Professional cluster: Strong LinkedIn usage among commuters/professionals tied to Cumberland/Galleria and Atlanta tech/healthcare corridors.
• Creator/short‑form video: Reels and TikTok perform best for food, events, and “things to do” content; YouTube for how‑tos and local guides.
• Messaging/community languages: WhatsApp is common among immigrant and Spanish‑speaking communities; cross‑posting to Facebook is typical.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (7–9 pm) and midday (12–1 pm); weekend mornings are good for community/marketplace posts.
• Civic/public safety: County government, police, and parks content sees rapid shares during weather alerts, closures, and major events.

Method note

• Estimates use Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. platform adoption applied to Cobb’s adult population (ACS-based). Local platform shares typically track U.S. patterns in suburban counties, but micro‑differences can occur by city (Marietta, Smyrna, Kennesaw, etc.).