Jones County

Jones County, Georgia — key demographics (latest available from U.S. Census Bureau; 2020 Census and 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates)

Population

• Total population (2020 Census): 28,347
• Population change since 2010: roughly stable (about -1% over the decade)

Age

• Median age: ~41 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS categories; race “alone” unless noted)

• White alone: ~73%
• Black or African American alone: ~22–23%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Asian: ~0.5%
• American Indian and Alaska Native: ~0.3%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~71%

Households and housing

• Total households: ~10.6k
• Average household size: ~2.6–2.7 persons
• Family households: ~73–75% of households
• Married-couple families: ~55–60% of households
• Households with own children under 18: ~28–30%
• Single-person households: ~19–21%
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~80–85%

Notes

• Figures are rounded for clarity and reflect the most recent ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 decennial count for total population. For planning, use the ACS 2019–2023 detailed tables and the 2020 Census count.

Jones County, GA snapshot (pop. ~28,500; density ~72 per sq. mile)

Estimated email users: ~21,000 adults. Method: Applied Pew age-specific email adoption to the county’s ACS-like age mix (adults ~22,300; overall adult email adoption ~94%).

Email users by age

• 18–34: ~25%
• 35–54: ~37%
• 55–64: ~17%
• 65+: ~21%

Gender split of users

• Female ~51%
• Male ~49% Email usage differences by gender are negligible, so users mirror the population.

Digital access and connectivity

• Households with an internet subscription: ~86% (broadband at home is the norm; a minority are smartphone‑only).
• Access is strongest in and around Gray and along US‑129/GA‑22 corridors (cable/fiber presence); outlying areas more often rely on DSL or fixed wireless.
• Fixed broadband availability meets or exceeds basic FCC benchmarks countywide, with most populated areas having 100/20 Mbps service; mobile LTE/5G covers essentially all populated areas.
• Trend: steady gains since 2018 from state/federal upgrades have raised home broadband take‑up several points, narrowing the rural gap and increasing daily email reliance for services, work, and schools.

Insight: With near‑universal adult email adoption and improving last‑mile options, email is effectively ubiquitous among Jones County adults, including a strong share of older users.

Mobile phone usage in Jones County, Georgia (2023–2024 snapshot)

Scale and user estimates

• Population: ~28,600; households: ~10,700.
• Estimated unique mobile users: ~22,700 (about 79% of the total population and roughly 95% of adults).
• Household smartphone access: ~91% of households have at least one smartphone.
• Households with a cellular data plan: ~78%.
• Cellular-only home internet (households relying on mobile data rather than wireline broadband): ~15%.

Demographic context and usage patterns

• Age: Median age ~42 with a larger 55+ cohort than the state average. This skews overall smartphone adoption slightly lower than Georgia’s urban counties but drives higher reliance on voice/text and larger-screen devices among seniors.
• Race/ethnicity: ~72% White, ~24% Black, ~3% Hispanic. Consistent with statewide patterns, Black and lower-income households in Jones County show above-average dependence on mobile data for primary internet access.
• Income: Median household income sits modestly below the metro-Georgia average. Affordability programs and prepaid plans see stronger uptake than in Atlanta-area counties, contributing to a higher share of cellular-only homes.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Mobile networks: 5G service from AT&T, T‑Mobile, and Verizon is live in and around Gray and along primary corridors (US‑129 toward Macon, GA‑22 toward Milledgeville, GA‑49). LTE-only or weak indoor coverage persists in sparsely populated eastern and northern areas (e.g., near Round Oak/Haddock and around the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge boundary).
• Capacity: Mid‑band 5G capacity is improving along the Bibb–Jones interface due to spillover from Macon builds; inland rural sectors still lean on LTE bands, which can congest during evening peaks.
• Fixed access mix: Wireline broadband availability is patchy outside Gray. Tri‑County EMC’s Tri‑CoGo fiber has expanded in and around Gray and along key roads; AT&T offers a mix of fiber and legacy copper in limited footprints; fixed wireless providers fill gaps. This uneven fixed footprint is a primary driver of cellular-only households.

How Jones County differs from the Georgia state picture

• Higher mobile-only reliance: Cellular-only home internet is notably higher (~15% in Jones vs ~11% statewide). Residents are more likely to use smartphones as their primary or backup home connection.
• Slightly lower fixed-broadband subscription: About 86% of Jones County households have a broadband subscription vs ~89% statewide, reflecting the more rural buildout and legacy copper.
• Coverage variability: Compared with urban Georgia, Jones has more pronounced indoor coverage challenges off the main corridors and a higher share of LTE-only zones. Upgrades are arriving later than in metro counties, though Macon-adjacent sectors are improving fastest.
• Usage profile: With fewer teleworkers than the state average and more rural commuting, daytime mobile traffic is more corridor-centric (US‑129/GA‑22), and evening congestion is more noticeable where sectors serve broad rural footprints.

Key takeaways

• Most adults in Jones County use mobile phones, and smartphones are nearly ubiquitous at the household level, but a meaningful slice of residents rely on mobile data as their primary home internet.
• Infrastructure upgrades are concentrated near Gray and along major routes; rural pockets still face indoor signal and capacity constraints.
• Compared with Georgia overall, Jones County shows a higher dependence on mobile networks to fill fixed-broadband gaps and slightly lagging 5G densification away from the Macon fringe.

Jones County, GA social media snapshot (2025)

Baseline demographics (ACS 2023 estimates)

• Population: ~28.6k; adults (18+): ~22.3k
• Gender: ~51% female, ~49% male
• Age mix (approx.): Under 18 ~23%; 18–24 ~8%; 25–34 ~11%; 35–44 ~13%; 45–54 ~14%; 55–64 ~15%; 65+ ~16%

Most‑used platforms among adults (estimated local reach) Note: Percentages are Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. adult usage rates applied to Jones County’s adult population to provide actionable local estimates.

• YouTube: 83% → ~18.5k adults
• Facebook: 68% → ~15.2k
• Instagram: 47% → ~10.5k
• Pinterest: 35% → ~7.8k
• TikTok: 33% → ~7.4k
• Snapchat: 30% → ~6.7k
• LinkedIn: 30% → ~6.7k
• WhatsApp: 29% → ~6.5k
• X (Twitter): 27% → ~6.0k
• Reddit: 22% → ~4.9k

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): Heavy Snapchat/TikTok use; Instagram for following local sports and school updates; YouTube for entertainment and how‑to content.
• Young adults (18–29): High Instagram/TikTok; Snapchat for messaging; YouTube near‑universal; Facebook used for marketplaces and local events rather than posting.
• Ages 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate for local news, school and youth sports, churches, and buy/sell groups; Instagram (especially Reels) growing; TikTok use moderate.
• Ages 50–64: Facebook is the primary network; YouTube strong for tutorials, local meetings, and hobbies; Pinterest usage notable among women.
• 65+: Facebook for family/community updates and local groups; YouTube for news recaps, local government videos, and how‑tos.

Gender breakdown and skews

• Overall population is ~51% female / ~49% male; social media participation is broad across both.
• Platform tendencies: Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on Reddit and X; Instagram roughly balanced; TikTok slightly female‑skewed; LinkedIn usage skews to working‑age professionals of both genders.

Local behavioral trends

• Facebook is the daily hub: County and city pages, school systems, youth sports, churches, civic groups, and Marketplace drive consistent engagement.
• Video first: Short‑form (Reels/TikTok) growth among under‑40; YouTube remains the go‑to for longer local content (events, council meetings, DIY, outdoor/recreation).
• Community utility: Weather alerts, road closures, school updates, fundraisers, and missing‑pet posts perform reliably; posts with clear locality cues (neighborhood names, Gray/Haddock references) get higher interaction.
• Buying behavior: Marketplace and local group sales are strong; service providers (HVAC, lawn care, contractors) see the best response with before/after visuals and same‑day availability.
• Timing: Peaks evenings (7–9 pm) and weekends; midday (12–1 pm) secondary spike, aligned with mobile consumption.
• Cross‑posting works: Facebook + Instagram combo for reach; add short vertical video to capture incremental under‑40 audiences; YouTube for archival and searchability of longer pieces.
• Trust and tone: Real photos/video from recognizable local places outperform stock imagery; concise captions with clear calls‑to‑action outperform long text posts.

Method and sources

• Population, age, and gender: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 estimates for Jones County, GA.
• Platform usage rates: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024. Local user counts are estimates created by applying Pew’s U.S. adult platform usage percentages to Jones County’s adult population.