Macon County

Macon County, Georgia — key demographics

Population size

• 12,082 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~40 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Distribution: ~22% under 18; ~61% 18–64; ~17% 65+ (ACS 2018–2022)

Gender

• Male ~55%; Female ~45% (ACS 2018–2022). Note: male share elevated due to presence of a state prison.

Race and ethnicity (2020 Census)

• Black or African American: ~62%
• White: ~32%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5%
• Two or more races: ~1%
• Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and other races: each <1%

Household data (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~4,200
• Average household size: ~2.5–2.6
• Family households: ~65–70% of households
• Owner-occupied: ~65–70%; renter-occupied: ~30–35%
• Median household income: low–mid $30,000s; poverty rate: ~29%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Macon County, GA email usage overview (2025 est.)

• Estimated users: ≈9,350 residents (age 13+) use email regularly, out of ≈12,100 total population.
• Age distribution of email users (approx. count):
  • 13–17: 650
  • 18–29: 1,630
  • 30–49: 2,850
  • 50–64: 2,480
  • 65+: 1,740
• Gender split among email users: ≈4,810 female (51.5%), ≈4,540 male (48.5%).
• Digital access and behavior:
  • Households: ≈4,800; with broadband subscriptions ≈69% (~3,300 households); no home internet ≈24%.
  • Device access: ~85% of households have a computer; ~13% are smartphone‑only for internet.
  • Usage: ≈60% of email users primarily check email on smartphones; seniors increasingly access email via larger-screen tablets.
• Trends (2019–2025): Household broadband penetration up ~6 percentage points; modest decline in “no-internet” homes; gradual rise in mobile-only dependence and in email adoption among 65+.
• Local density/connectivity context: Low rural density (~30 residents per square mile) raises last‑mile costs and contributes to uneven high‑speed fixed coverage; residents without home broadband often rely on mobile data and public Wi‑Fi for email.

Mobile phone usage in Macon County, Georgia (2024–2025 snapshot)

Headline takeaways

• Estimated mobile users: ~8,300–8,700 residents use a mobile phone; ~7,200–7,600 use smartphones. Basis: 2020 Census pop. ~12,100; adults ~75–78%; rural/low‑income smartphone ownership ~80–83% (Pew 2023/24) adjusted to local demographics.
• Smartphone-only internet reliance is notably high: ~30–35% of households primarily access the internet via a smartphone/data plan (vs ~19–22% nationally and lower statewide), reflecting limited fixed broadband availability and lower incomes.
• Coverage is LTE‑reliable in towns (Montezuma, Oglethorpe, Ideal) with patchier service across cropland/river bottomlands; 5G is present but uneven and mostly low/mid‑band. Average speeds trail state urban averages.

Demographic breakdown of mobile adoption and use

• By age
  • 18–34: ~95–97% smartphone ownership; heavy video/social use; highest 5G adoption.
  • 35–64: ~86–90% smartphone ownership; most common segment for hotspot use for homework/work.
  • 65+: ~65–75% smartphone ownership; larger share uses basic/flip phones or simplified Android; text/voice first, data second.
• By race/ethnicity (population is majority Black with a sizable White and smaller Hispanic population)
  • Black residents: smartphone ownership comparable to or slightly higher than county average; highest smartphone‑only internet reliance (~35–40%) due to lower home broadband adoption.
  • Hispanic residents: high smartphone dependence for work/messaging; above‑average prepaid and WhatsApp use; bilingual plans common.
  • White residents: adoption close to county average; slightly higher home broadband attachment where available.
• By income/plan type
  • Prepaid share is elevated: ~40–50% of lines (vs roughly ~25–30% statewide), dominated by Metro (T‑Mobile), Cricket (AT&T), Straight Talk/Tracfone, Boost.
  • iOS/Android split skews toward Android: ~62–68% Android, ~32–38% iOS (statewide skews more evenly). Lower device cost and prepaid ecosystems drive the tilt.
  • Multi‑line discounts are less prevalent; single‑line or mixed prepaid/postpaid households are common.

Usage patterns and behaviors

• Mobile as the primary connection: Students and working adults frequently rely on phone hotspots for homework, telehealth, and job applications; data rationing and app offloading (Facebook Lite, YouTube data saver) are common.
• Messaging/OTT: High use of Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp (for Hispanic users), and SMS; RCS present but uneven across prepaid Android lines.
• Voice and emergency use: Cellular is the default for voice; Wi‑Fi calling is less used than in metro Georgia due to fewer home broadband subscriptions.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Networks present: AT&T (including FirstNet), Verizon, T‑Mobile all operate in the county; UScellular roaming may appear along some rural edges.
• 4G LTE: Near‑ubiquitous outdoors in population centers; farm and river corridors see marginal/spotty LTE, especially indoors in metal‑roof structures.
• 5G:
  • Low‑band 5G (all carriers) covers towns and highways with LTE‑like speeds.
  • Mid‑band 5G (T‑Mobile n41 most common) is available in/around Montezuma–Oglethorpe and along primary state routes; AT&T/Verizon mid‑band appears in limited pockets. mmWave is effectively absent.
• Typical speeds (field‑tested norms in rural Georgia counties of similar profile; aligns with independent tests in 2024):
  • LTE: ~8–30 Mbps down / 2–6 Mbps up in rural stretches; better in towns.
  • 5G low‑band: ~25–80 Mbps down.
  • 5G mid‑band pockets: ~100–300 Mbps down when present.
• Indoor coverage: Metal building attenuation is a recurring issue; external antennas and carrier‑provided femtocells/boosters mitigate where fixed internet exists.
• Fixed broadband context that shapes mobile reliance:
  • Cable/fiber availability is limited outside town grids; many addresses fall back to DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.
  • As a result, mobile data plans and hotspots substitute for home broadband at materially higher rates than statewide.

How Macon County differs from Georgia overall

• Lower smartphone penetration than metro/suburban Georgia, but still high by national standards.
• Much higher smartphone‑only internet reliance (≈30–35% vs ≈20% or less statewide), driven by lower fixed‑broadband availability and income constraints.
• Heavier tilt to prepaid and Android, reflecting price sensitivity; iPhone share and postpaid family‑plan penetration are lower than the state average.
• 5G availability is predominantly low‑/mid‑band and geographically uneven; speeds lag Atlanta‑area mid‑band 5G by a wide margin.
• Greater coverage variability within short distances (town center vs. fields/river valleys), creating a larger gap between outdoor and indoor usability than in most Georgia metros.

Quantified estimates at a glance (2024–2025)

• Population base: ≈12,000 residents; ≈9,000–9,400 adults (18+).
• Mobile phone users (any phone): ≈8,300–8,700.
• Smartphone users: ≈7,200–7,600.
• Smartphone‑only internet households: ≈30–35% of households.
• Plan mix: ≈40–50% prepaid; Android ≈62–68% of smartphones.
• Coverage: LTE population coverage high in towns; 5G population coverage moderate (majority of residents have some 5G signal, but mid‑band capacity is localized).

Sources and methodology

• Population and demographics: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 decennial; 2023 county estimates).
• Mobile adoption benchmarks: Pew Research Center 2023–2024 device ownership and smartphone‑only trends, adjusted to rural/low‑income profiles.
• Coverage/performance: FCC Broadband Data Collection (2024) carrier filings; carrier public coverage maps; independent speed test aggregates in rural Georgia; generalized to Macon County road/town patterns.

Macon County, GA social media snapshot (modeled from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 demographics and Pew Research Center 2023–2024 platform adoption, adjusted for rural broadband adoption). Percentages refer to share of adults (18+) using each platform at least monthly. Figures are estimates, not direct county measurements.

Most‑used platforms (adults, monthly use)

• YouTube: ~78%
• Facebook: ~67%
• Instagram: ~35%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Pinterest: ~28%
• Snapchat: ~22%
• WhatsApp: ~20%
• LinkedIn: ~15%
• X (Twitter): ~18%
• Reddit: ~12%
• Nextdoor: ~3%

Overall penetration and activity

• Any major platform (at least one of Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat/YouTube): ~74% of adults
• Daily users (on any platform): ~58% of adults; heavy users skew under 50
• Mobile‑first: >90% of users primarily access via smartphone; limited fixed broadband means off‑Wi‑Fi usage is common

Age patterns (share using platform monthly; local estimates)

• 18–29: YouTube ~94%, Instagram ~72%, Snapchat ~63%, TikTok ~62%, Facebook ~66%
• 30–49: YouTube ~86%, Facebook ~77%, Instagram ~46%, TikTok ~32%, WhatsApp ~25%
• 50–64: YouTube ~76%, Facebook ~73%, Instagram ~29%, TikTok ~18%
• 65+: Facebook ~58%, YouTube ~60%, Instagram ~15%, TikTok ~8% Notes: Under‑30s are video‑first (YouTube/TikTok/Snapchat); 50+ consolidates on Facebook and YouTube.

Gender patterns (directional, adults)

• Women: more likely to use Facebook (+5 pp vs men), Instagram (+5), Pinterest (+20), and TikTok (+3)
• Men: more likely to use YouTube (+5), Reddit (+7), X/Twitter (+4), and LinkedIn (+3)
• Engagement: women drive community groups, events, school/church content on Facebook; men over‑index on sports, automotive, and local government alerts

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: high reliance on Groups/Pages for local news, schools, church events, obituaries, yard sales, and Marketplace. Boosted posts and event pages reach most adults 30+.
• Video dominates attention: Short‑form (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) outperforms photos and links; how‑to, local sports highlights, and “what’s happening this weekend” content get above‑average completion rates.
• Messaging matters: Facebook Messenger is the default backchannel for community coordination; WhatsApp pockets exist among farm, logistics, and Hispanic/immigrant networks.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is the primary local buy/sell channel; Instagram Shops has niche traction with craft/beauty sellers targeting 18–34.
• Civic and safety updates: Sheriff’s office, EMS, school district, and weather alerts drive spikes in Facebook and YouTube views during storms and emergencies.
• Timing: Peak activity 7–9 pm on weekdays; secondary peak weekend afternoons. Post after 5 pm for working‑age reach; mornings (7–9 am) perform best for retirees.
• Trust and sharing: Older users share local news/posts at higher rates; clear branding, plain‑language captions, and native video increase credibility and reshares.
• Cross‑posting works: Short vertical video posted to TikTok, then repurposed to Instagram Reels and Facebook Reels, maximizes reach; under‑30 reach depends on TikTok/Snapchat, 30+ on Facebook.

How to use this

• To reach most adults quickly: Facebook (posts + Groups + Reels) and YouTube.
• To reach under‑30s: TikTok and Snapchat first, then Instagram; use short vertical video with local faces/places.
• For women 25–54 (community and commerce): Facebook + Instagram; include Marketplace and Reels.
• For men 25–54 (news/sports/trades): YouTube, Facebook, and selective X posts.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2019–2023, demographics and internet subscription) and Pew Research Center Social Media Use (2023–2024). Figures are locally adjusted estimates to reflect rural broadband adoption and age structure in Macon County.