Dougherty County

Dougherty County, Georgia — key demographics (latest available U.S. Census data)

Population size

• Total population (2023 estimate): ~82,800

Age

• Median age: ~36.8 years
• Under 18: ~24–25%
• 65 and over: ~16–17%

Gender

• Female: ~53%
• Male: ~47%

Racial/ethnic composition

• Black or African American (alone): ~69–70%
• White (alone): ~25%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~4%
• Asian (alone): ~1%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, other: <1% combined (Note: race “alone” and Hispanic/Latino are from different concepts and are not mutually exclusive.)

Household data

• Number of households: ~32,000–33,000
• Average household size: ~2.5–2.6 persons
• Family households: ~60–65% of households
• Housing tenure: ~50% owner-occupied, ~50% renter-occupied
• Housing units: ~38,000–39,000; vacancy rate ~16%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S0101, DP02, DP04) and Population Estimates/QuickFacts for Dougherty County, GA.

Here’s a practical estimate for Dougherty County (Albany), GA:

• Estimated email users: 55,000–60,000 residents. Basis: county population ~84–86k; ~75% are adults; 85–92% of adults use email (Pew-like U.S. norms).
• Age distribution of email use (share using email):
  • 18–34: 95–99%
  • 35–54: 90–95%
  • 55–64: 80–90%
  • 65+: 70–80% Result: heaviest usage among 18–54; seniors lag but majority still use email.
• Gender split: roughly mirrors population (about 53–55% female, 45–47% male among users); usage rates are similar by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: roughly 70–80% (ACS-like county range for similar Georgia counties).
  • Smartphone-only internet: ~20–25%, indicating many residents check email primarily on mobile.
  • Computer access: ~80–90% of households have a computer; mobile is closing gaps for lower-income users.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Urban core around Albany with moderate county density (~250 people/sq. mi.) supports robust cable and mobile coverage.
  • Multiple providers (e.g., cable, telco, and 5G from major carriers) cover main corridors; public Wi‑Fi available via libraries, schools, and Albany State University.

Notes: Figures are estimates synthesized from ACS-style broadband data and Pew internet/email adoption benchmarks.

Dougherty County, GA — Mobile phone usage summary (2025)

How to read this: County-level mobile data aren’t published in one place, so figures below are estimates triangulated from Census ACS (population, internet subscription), Pew (device adoption by income/age), FCC mobile coverage maps, and statewide benchmarks—then adjusted for Dougherty County’s demographics, income, and urban/rural mix. Ranges reflect uncertainty.

Headline estimates

• Population and households: ~84,000 people; ~32,000 households; ~64,000 adults (18+).
• Mobile phone users (any cell phone): 57,000–60,000 adults (about 90–93% of adults).
• Smartphone users: 51,000–56,000 adults (about 80–87% of adults).
• Mobile-only home internet households (rely on a cellular data plan with no fixed broadband): 6,000–8,000 households (roughly 18–25%), notably higher than Georgia overall.
• Prepaid share of mobile lines: materially higher than the statewide mix (directionally 5–15 percentage points higher than GA), driven by income mix and carrier retail presence.

Demographic breakdown (directional)

• Age
  • 13–34: Near-universal smartphone access; heavy app- and video-centric usage; high dependence on unlimited data plans.
  • 35–64: High smartphone penetration (mid-80s%); work and family communications dominate; moderate data usage.
  • 65+: Smartphone adoption lower than state average; notable minority still on basic/feature phones; higher use of large-screen devices when available via Wi‑Fi.
• Income and education
  • Median household income trails Georgia’s; home fixed-broadband subscription rates are 8–12 points lower than the state. This pushes higher reliance on smartphones as the primary internet device and on mobile hotspotting for homework and streaming.
  • Larger share on prepaid and value MVNOs (Cricket, Metro by T‑Mobile, Boost, Straight Talk), and on discount sub‑brand plans from major carriers.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Majority-Black population with lower fixed-broadband adoption than white households (consistent with national patterns), resulting in higher mobile-only internet reliance than the statewide average.
• Device/OS mix
  • Installed base skews more Android than the Georgia average (cost sensitivity, prepaid channel mix). iOS share grows among younger cohorts but remains below metro-Atlanta norms.

Digital infrastructure and service environment

• Mobile network coverage
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile) provide countywide LTE; 5G coverage is strongest in and around Albany, with LTE fallback toward the county edges and in lower-density pockets.
  • Mid-band 5G (T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz, Verizon/AT&T C‑band) is present in the urban core; capacity and indoor performance drop outside those zones.
  • Typical observed speeds: solid in-city 5G (tens to low hundreds of Mbps); more variability and lower indoor speeds in outlying areas that rely on LTE or low-band 5G.
• Backhaul and sites
  • Most macro sites along US‑19/US‑82 corridors and in Albany are on fiber backhaul; some peripheral sites may use microwave, which can constrain peak capacity.
• Fixed broadband context (shapes mobile reliance)
  • Cable broadband (DOCSIS) is widely available in Albany; AT&T fiber has a footprint but is not universal; DSL remains in some fringes. Overall fixed-broadband adoption is meaningfully below the state average, sustaining higher smartphone-as-primary-internet use.
  • The lapse of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in 2024–2025 likely increased churn from fixed broadband to mobile-only and to prepaid mobile plans.
• Community/anchor connectivity
  • Schools, libraries, and city facilities provide important Wi‑Fi offload. Students and lower-income households disproportionately depend on these “anchor” networks for high‑bandwidth tasks.

How Dougherty County differs from Georgia overall

• Higher mobile-only internet reliance
  • A substantially larger share of households depend on cellular data in lieu of home broadband than the state average, reflecting affordability and availability gaps.
• More prepaid and value-MVNO usage
  • Prepaid penetration is higher than Georgia’s overall mix, with strong presence of Cricket, Metro, Boost, and Tracfone brands.
• Device mix skews more Android
  • Cost-sensitive segments tilt the installed base toward Android relative to metro/state averages, where iOS share is higher.
• Network experience more variable outside the urban core
  • Albany proper sees decent 5G capacity, but there are more LTE-only and low-band 5G areas at the county edge, so median speeds and indoor coverage are below large-metro Georgia norms.
• Greater dependence on smartphones for core internet needs
  • Because fixed-broadband adoption lags the state, residents more often use smartphones for homework, telehealth, job search, and streaming—usage that metro households more commonly shift to home Wi‑Fi.

Method notes and caveats

• Counts are estimates derived by applying national/state adoption rates by age/income to local population and household structure from recent ACS releases, then adjusting for Dougherty County’s lower fixed-broadband subscription levels and higher poverty rate relative to Georgia.
• Carrier coverage and 5G availability are inferred from FCC maps and operator disclosures current through 2024–2025; precise tower counts and exact speed medians can vary by location and time of day.

Here’s a concise, insight-focused snapshot for Dougherty County (Albany), GA. Figures are estimates derived by applying recent Pew Research Center U.S. social-media usage rates to the county’s population profile, with local adjustments for age, urban/rural mix, and industry.

Headline user stats

• Population: ~84–86K; adults ~64–66K.
• Estimated adults using at least one social platform: ~52K–56K (≈80–85% of adults).
• Mobile-first behavior is strong; Facebook and YouTube anchor daily use.

Most-used platforms (estimated share of adults using each at least monthly)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 63–70%
• Instagram: 40–45%
• TikTok: 28–35%
• Snapchat: 24–30%
• Pinterest: 28–35% (skews female)
• X (Twitter): 15–20% (news/sports-heavy)
• LinkedIn: 18–22% (slightly below U.S. avg., given local industry mix)
• WhatsApp: 12–18% (likely below U.S. avg. due to smaller foreign-born population)
• Nextdoor: 10–15% (neighborhood and public-safety use)
• Reddit/Discord: 12–18% each (younger, tech/gaming skew)

Age-group patterns (who’s active where)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube ~95%; TikTok and Snapchat ~60–75%; Instagram ~60–70%; Facebook <30%.
• 18–29 (incl. Albany State University): YouTube ~95%; Instagram ~70%; TikTok/Snapchat ~55–65%; Facebook ~50–55% (Groups/Marketplace).
• 30–49: Facebook ~70–80%; YouTube ~85%; Instagram ~50–60%; TikTok ~35–45%; Pinterest strong among women; LinkedIn ~20–25%.
• 50–64: Facebook ~75–80%; YouTube ~70–80%; Instagram ~30–40%; TikTok ~20–25%.
• 65+: Facebook ~65–75%; YouTube ~55–65%; light Instagram/TikTok; modest Nextdoor.

Gender breakdown (tendencies)

• Overall user base likely ~55% female (county is majority female).
• Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; drive local Groups, events, and Marketplace.
• Men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X; sports, DIY, local government/policy chatter.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: churches, schools, youth sports, city/county updates, buy/sell/trade. Groups and Marketplace have outsized reach.
• Local news via social: high engagement with WALB News 10, The Albany Herald, public-safety pages during severe weather and breaking news.
• Short-form video is rising: TikTok + Instagram Reels for local businesses, festivals, and food spots; cross-posting is common.
• Peak activity times: evenings (7–10 pm) and lunch hours; Sunday afternoons for faith/community content.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger and GroupMe widely used; WhatsApp pockets exist but smaller than national average.
• Younger users favor Snapchat/TikTok DMs and stories over public posting; Facebook mainly for practical coordination.
• Advertising tip:
  • Facebook/Instagram for 25–54 (especially women) and event-driven conversions.
  • TikTok/Snapchat for 13–29 awareness.
  • YouTube pre-roll for broad reach (men 25–44 and families).
  • Nextdoor for neighborhood services and public notices.

Notes on method/sources

• Percentages are localized estimates based on Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. social media use, adjusted to Dougherty County’s age/urban profile; county-level, platform-specific public data are limited.
• Population baselines and age/gender mix drawn from recent U.S. Census/ACS profiles for Dougherty County.