Fayette County

Here are key demographics for Fayette County, Indiana. Figures are the latest available from the U.S. Census Bureau (primarily 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; population trend also uses 2023 Population Estimates). Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

• Population size

  • 2023 estimate: ~23.3k
  • 2020 Census: 23.4k

• Age

  • Median age: ~42–43 years
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 18–64: ~58%
  • 65 and over: ~20%

• Gender

  • Female: ~50–51%
  • Male: ~49–50%

• Race and ethnicity

  • White (non-Hispanic): ~92–93%
  • Black or African American: ~2–3%
  • Two or more races: ~3–4%
  • Asian: ~0–1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0–1%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%

• Households and housing

  • Households: ~9.5–9.8k
  • Average household size: ~2.4 persons
  • Family households: ~60–62% of households
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~70–72%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (county population, 2023).

Fayette County, Indiana snapshot (estimates)

• Population ~23,000; adults ~18,000.
• Adult email users: ~15,000–16,500 (≈85–92% of adults, aligning with Pew U.S. adoption rates).

Age mix of adult email users (approx.):

• 18–29: 2,400–2,700
• 30–49: 4,400–4,900
• 50–64: 4,200–4,600
• 65+: 3,600–4,200 Usage is high across ages but dips modestly among 65+.

Gender split

• County population ~51% female, 49% male; email adoption is similar by gender. Estimated users: ~7,700–8,400 female; ~7,300–8,100 male.

Digital access and trends

• Households with fixed broadband: roughly 72–78%; no internet subscription: ~12–18%.
• Smartphone-only internet access: ~10–14% of households; common among lower-income and younger adults.
• Public access: Fayette County Public Library (Connersville) provides free Wi‑Fi/computers; community Wi‑Fi hotspots supplement access.

Local density/connectivity

• Population density ~100–110 per sq. mile; over half of residents live in Connersville, where cable/DSL (and limited fiber) coverage is denser and speeds higher.
• Outlying rural townships show more coverage gaps and lower subscription rates, with some reliance on satellite or mobile broadband.

Notes: Figures synthesized from recent ACS “Computer and Internet Use” data for similar rural Indiana counties and Pew Research email adoption rates.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Fayette County, Indiana (2025)

Context

• Population: about 23,000; older, lower-income, and more rural than the Indiana average. Connersville is the population center; townships are sparsely populated.
• Implication: slightly lower overall smartphone ownership but higher reliance on mobile as the primary way to get online.

Estimated users

• Adults (18+): ~18,000.
• Any mobile phone users: 17,000–18,000 adults (roughly 93–97% of adults have a cellphone).
• Smartphone users: 15,000–16,000 adults (roughly 84–89% smartphone ownership; Indiana statewide is closer to ~90–92%).
• Mobile-only internet households (primarily smartphone hotspot or phone-only for home internet): 1,900–2,400 households, or ~20–25% of all households (notably higher than the statewide share, which is closer to mid-teens).
• Prepaid share of mobile lines: meaningfully higher than state average (driven by income mix); MVNO brands like Cricket, Metro, Straight Talk, and Boost have strong presence.

Demographic patterns (vs. state)

• Age: Seniors (65+) form a larger share locally; smartphone ownership among seniors lags the state by several points. Basic/feature phone use among older adults is more common than statewide.
• Income: Lower-income residents are more smartphone-dependent (phone as primary internet), and more likely to use prepaid and budget Android devices.
• Education: Lower educational attainment correlates with slightly lower smartphone ownership but higher mobile-only internet reliance.
• Race/ethnicity: County is predominantly White; racial gaps in ownership are smaller drivers here than age/income.
• Youth: Teen smartphone penetration is high (near statewide levels), but data plan sizes tend to be smaller; shared family plans and prepaid dominate.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Coverage
  • 4G LTE: Near-universal outdoor coverage along SR 1 and SR 44 and in/around Connersville; patchier in low-density fringes and wooded areas.
  • 5G low-band (all carriers): Broad population coverage, generally >85–90% of residents.
  • 5G mid-band (capacity 5G): Concentrated around Connersville and main corridors; coverage drops quickly outside town. mmWave is effectively absent.
• Carriers
  • Verizon and AT&T provide the most consistent rural reach; AT&T also supports FirstNet for public safety.
  • T-Mobile’s low-band blanket is present; its faster mid-band 5G is strongest in town and along primary roads.
  • Fixed-wireless home internet (5G) from T-Mobile and Verizon is available in and near Connersville and selectively in the townships; take-up is higher than the state average where cable/fiber are limited.
• Tower/site density
  • Rural density typical of eastern Indiana; most sites cluster near Connersville and along SR 1/SR 44. Expect fewer macro sites per square mile than state average; indoor coverage can be weak in metal-sided homes and larger buildings.
• Speeds (typical)
  • In-town mid-band 5G: roughly 100–300 Mbps down when available.
  • Countywide low-band 5G/LTE: often 10–60 Mbps down; uplink can be single digits in fringe areas.
  • Overall median mobile speeds trail the Indiana median due to fewer mid-band sectors and longer inter-site distances.
• Backhaul/fixed broadband context
  • Cable internet is available in most of Connersville; fiber is limited but expanding slowly; many outlying areas still depend on legacy DSL or satellite. This pushes higher reliance on mobile hotspots and 5G home internet than the state overall.

How Fayette County differs from Indiana overall

• Slightly lower smartphone ownership rate (by ~2–4 percentage points), driven by age and income.
• Higher smartphone-dependent and mobile-only home internet use (by ~5–10 percentage points).
• Larger prepaid/MVNO share; smaller share on premium postpaid unlimited plans.
• Lower median mobile speeds and fewer capacity 5G sectors outside the county seat.
• More variability in indoor coverage; device features like Wi‑Fi calling, C‑band support, and external antennas matter more.
• Above-average adoption of fixed-wireless (5G) home internet as an alternative to cable/fiber.

Planning notes

• For broad reliability countywide, AT&T and Verizon are safest; for fastest in-town speeds and value, T-Mobile/MVNOs are competitive.
• Community anchors (schools, clinics, public safety) benefit from verifying mid-band 5G/C‑band coverage maps and considering signal enhancement (repeaters) in metal or masonry buildings.
• As the Affordable Connectivity Program wind-down reduced home broadband discounts, expect continued or increased mobile-only internet dependence, especially in outlying townships.

Method in brief: Estimates triangulate recent ACS population/household data, Pew mobile ownership benchmarks adjusted for rural/age/income mix, and carrier/FCC coverage patterns typical for rural eastern Indiana. Figures are rounded ranges intended for planning; validate critical siting or procurement decisions with on-the-ground measurements and current carrier maps.

Social media usage snapshot — Fayette County, IN (2025 est.)

Topline user stats

• Population: ~23,000 (roughly 20,000 residents age 13+)
• Active social media users: ~15,000–16,000 (≈65–70% of total population; ≈80–85% of adults; ≈85–90% of teens)
• Gender among social users: ~52–55% female, ~45–48% male (county skews slightly female)

Age mix (share of local social media users)

• 13–17: ~7–9%
• 18–29: ~20–25%
• 30–49: ~32–38%
• 50–64: ~20–25%
• 65+: ~12–16%

Most-used platforms (estimated share of Fayette residents age 13+ using monthly)

• YouTube: ~70–75%
• Facebook: ~60–65%
• Instagram: ~35–40%
• TikTok: ~30–35%
• Snapchat: ~25–30% (≈40–55% for ages 13–29)
• Pinterest: ~20–25% (skews female)
• Reddit: ~12–15% (skews younger/male)
• X (Twitter): ~12–18% (skews younger/male)
• LinkedIn: ~10–15% (skews 25–49, professional roles)
• WhatsApp: ~10–12% (niche locally)
• Nextdoor: <5%

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the “town square”: school and youth sports updates, churches, local government, public safety, and Buy/Sell/Trade. Marketplace functions like local classifieds. Event posts and reminders outperform generic posts.
• Video-first consumption: Short vertical video (FB/IG Reels, TikTok) drives reach; YouTube used for how‑to, product research, and meeting replays.
• Timing: Peak checks 6–8am, lunch, and 7–10pm; strong Sunday–Monday evening engagement; Friday nights spike for high‑school sports content.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is the default for businesses/community; Snapchat dominates among teens/college‑age; WhatsApp remains niche.
• Path to purchase: Discovery on FB/IG/TikTok; action via FB Event RSVPs, Messenger, phone, or in‑store. Giveaways, coupons, and limited‑time offers lift response. Recommendations in local FB groups heavily influence decisions.
• Creative that works: Recognizable local faces, schools/kids, and seasonal moments (county fair, back‑to‑school, fall sports, holidays) beat polished corporate creative. Prompt replies in Messenger build trust.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are estimates extrapolated from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform adoption by age, adjusted for rural Midwest patterns, and Fayette County’s age/sex profile from recent ACS/Census data. For precise counts, use platform ad tools (e.g., Meta Ads Manager, TikTok, Snapchat) filtered to Fayette County for current reach.