Hendricks County

Hendricks County, Indiana — key demographics

Population size

• 2023 population estimate: 195,700
• 2020 Census: 174,788

Age

• Median age: 37.9 years
• Under 18: 26%
• 18 to 64: 60%
• 65 and over: 14%

Gender

• Female: 50.5%
• Male: 49.5%

Race and ethnicity

• White (non-Hispanic): 78%
• Black or African American: 7.7%
• Asian: 4.3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): 5.1%
• Two or more races: 3.0%
• Other races (including American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander): ~1.9%

Households and housing

• Households: ~72,000
• Persons per household: 2.78
• Family households: ~72% of all households
• Married-couple families: ~57% of all households
• Households with children under 18: ~36%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~78%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey; 2023 Population Estimates Program)

Hendricks County, IN email usage (estimates)

• Estimated users: 135,000–145,000 residents use email, driven by ~92% adoption among adults.
• Age distribution of email adoption:
  • 18–29: ~98%
  • 30–49: ~97%
  • 50–64: ~94%
  • 65+: ~85–90% This skews total usage slightly younger but remains high across all adult cohorts.
• Gender split: Approximately even among users (about 50% female, 50% male), reflecting the county’s balanced population and minimal gender gap in email adoption.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household internet subscription: roughly 90–94% (suburban county profile), with computer ownership near mid‑90s percent.
  • Smartphone ownership: ~90% of adults; 10–15% are smartphone‑only for home internet, supporting heavy mobile email access.
  • Multi‑device usage is common in working‑age households; seniors increasingly access email via tablets/smartphones.
• Local density/connectivity:
  • Suburban Indianapolis county with population density roughly 430–460 per square mile.
  • Strong fixed‑broadband competition (cable/fiber) and highest connectivity in Plainfield, Avon, and Brownsburg; more reliance on fixed wireless/legacy DSL in rural western townships.
  • Commuter patterns and business parks along the I‑70/I‑74 corridors support high daytime email activity and widespread Wi‑Fi availability.

Mobile phone usage in Hendricks County, Indiana: concise market view

Overview

• Hendricks County is a fast‑growing, higher‑income suburban county in the Indianapolis metro. Mobile adoption, device quality, and 5G usage are all above Indiana averages, with fewer coverage gaps than rural parts of the state and less reliance on mobile‑only broadband than the state overall.

User estimates and adoption

• Residents: roughly 200,000+ (2023 Census estimates). Adults (18+): about three‑quarters of residents.
• Adult smartphone users: approximately 140,000–155,000, reflecting suburban, higher‑income ownership levels in the low‑ to mid‑90% range among adults.
• Total mobile lines (including personal, employer‑provided, tablets/watches, and vehicle/IoT eSIMs): roughly 180,000–210,000 active subscriptions associated with county residents and businesses.
• 5G device penetration among smartphone users: approximately 75–85%, reflecting rapid upgrade cycles typical of suburban Indianapolis.
• Mobile‑only internet households: estimated 8–12% of households, below Indiana’s statewide share, due to strong fixed broadband availability and higher income allowing both home broadband and mobile.

Demographic and behavioral profile

• Age: High adoption across all adult groups; near‑saturation among 18–44, strong uptake among 45–64, and above‑state adoption among 65+ driven by income and family‑plan bundling.
• Income and plans: Median household incomes are materially above the Indiana average, supporting higher rates of postpaid family plans, premium devices (iPhone/flagship Android), and add‑on lines for wearables and tablets.
• Work patterns: Large logistics, health care, education, and professional services footprint. BYOD and employer‑provisioned lines are common; daytime network load concentrates near Plainfield logistics parks, Avon/Brownsburg retail corridors, and along interstate corridors.
• Usage: Heavy turn‑by‑turn navigation, mobile commerce, and high‑definition video streaming; hotspot tethering and Wi‑Fi calling are widely used given strong home and office Wi‑Fi.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Radio access
  • 4G LTE: Countywide coverage from all three national carriers across population centers and main travel corridors.
  • 5G NR: Mid‑band 5G is established across Avon, Brownsburg, Plainfield, Danville, and along I‑70, I‑74, and US‑36, with ongoing small‑cell infill in denser retail/commuter areas.
• Performance
  • As part of the Indianapolis market, median 5G download speeds are strong by Midwest standards (well into the triple‑digits Mbps depending on carrier and band), and Hendricks County sites reflect that, especially near highways and commercial zones.
• Capacity and densification
  • Macro sites follow interstate and state‑route corridors; infill small cells add capacity in retail and high‑traffic areas.
  • Public‑safety LTE (FirstNet) coverage is established, improving rural‑edge reliability and indoor penetration at civic facilities.
• Backhaul and fiber
  • Multiple fiber operators and cable incumbents provide dense backhaul along I‑70 and metro rings, enabling 5G capacity upgrades; gigabit class fixed service is common in subdivisions and business parks.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA)
  • 5G Home Internet from national carriers is broadly marketed and sees uptake at new subdivisions and fringe areas where cable upgrades lag, complementing (not replacing) wired broadband for many households.

How Hendricks County differs from Indiana overall

• Higher smartphone ownership and faster 5G device adoption than the state average, reflecting income and suburban upgrade cycles.
• Lower reliance on mobile‑only broadband; more households maintain both home broadband and mobile service.
• Greater share of postpaid family plans and add‑on device lines; lower prepaid share than the state average.
• Better median mobile speeds and fewer geographic dead zones than rural counties; remaining variability is mainly on the county’s western rural edges.
• Distinct daytime traffic patterns driven by logistics and retail hubs, increasing mid‑day capacity needs along I‑70/US‑40/US‑36 compared with more farm/manufacturing‑driven counties.
• Higher penetration of connected vehicles and wearables, aligned with newer vehicle mix and family plan bundling.

Key takeaways

• The county is a mature, 5G‑forward mobile market with high device quality, strong indoor and corridor coverage, and enterprise demand centered on logistics.
• Investment priority remains small‑cell infill, rural‑edge reliability, and backhaul expansion to stay ahead of growth and mid‑day traffic surges.
• Compared with statewide patterns, Hendricks County’s mobile users are more likely to be on premium postpaid plans with multiple lines per household, less likely to rely on mobile as their only internet, and more likely to use 5G capacity for video, navigation, and work connectivity.

Social media usage in Hendricks County, IN (2024 snapshot)

Method note: Where county-specific figures are unavailable, percentages are best-available modeled estimates built from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform adoption rates applied to Hendricks County’s adult age/gender mix (U.S. Census). These provide a reliable county-level picture consistent with suburban Midwestern patterns.

Overall reach

• Adults using at least one social platform (including YouTube): approximately 80–85% of adults
• Daily social users: roughly 60–65% of adults

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adult population)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~50%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33%
• LinkedIn: ~33%
• WhatsApp: ~29%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Reddit: ~21%
• Nextdoor: ~20%

Age profile (share using any social media; dominant platforms)

• 18–29: ~95%+ use social; heavy on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube
• 30–49: ~90%; Facebook and YouTube near-universal, Instagram strong; TikTok moderate
• 50–64: ~75–80%; Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest meaningful; LinkedIn moderate
• 65+: ~55–60%; Facebook and YouTube lead; Instagram/Pinterest smaller but present

Gender breakdown (patterns among active users)

• Overall adult gender split is roughly even; platform skews mirror national norms:
  • Female-skewed: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (Pinterest users are predominantly women)
  • Male-skewed: YouTube, Reddit, X (Twitter)
  • Near-even: LinkedIn, WhatsApp, TikTok (slight female skew), Snapchat (younger female skew)

Local behavioral trends

• Community-first usage: Strong reliance on Facebook Groups and Nextdoor for neighborhood news, HOA updates, school/sports info, yard/garage sales, and local recommendations (home services, healthcare, dining in Avon, Brownsburg, Plainfield, Danville).
• Video as default: YouTube is the primary channel for how-to, home improvement, fitness, automotive, and product research; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) drives discovery for local restaurants, events, and boutiques.
• Commerce and recommendations: Facebook Groups and Marketplace materially influence purchase decisions for home services, used goods, kids’ items, and seasonal services; Pinterest influences décor, DIY, and event planning.
• Family and life-stage content: Parenting, youth sports, schools, and church/community programming are high-engagement topics; Snapchat and Instagram dominate among teens/young adults, while Facebook leads among parents and 50+.
• Professional spillover: LinkedIn engagement is above average for a suburban commuter county with Indianapolis ties; useful for B2B, hiring, and local professional networking.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous; WhatsApp usage present for family/close circles and international ties; DMs increasingly drive customer service and lead capture for local businesses.
• Timing: Engagement spikes evenings (7–9 pm ET) and weekends (Sat–Sun mornings); weekday lunch hours also see meaningful activity for mobile scroll/video.

Practical implications

• For broad reach: Facebook + YouTube cover most adults; add Instagram for 18–44 and TikTok for under-35 discovery.
• For neighborhood trust and intent: Pair Facebook Groups with Nextdoor posts/ads; include clear locality (neighborhood names) and social proof.
• For creatives: Lead with short-form video and local faces/settings; use captions for sound-off viewing.
• For conversion: Combine organic community participation with lightweight paid boosts (Facebook/Instagram) and Google Business Profile updates; use Messenger/DM for fast replies.

Sources: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adult platform adoption); U.S. Census Bureau (Hendricks County demographics, latest available). Percentages shown are county-level estimates derived from these datasets.