Monroe County

Monroe County, Indiana — Key demographics

Population size

• 139,718 (2020 Census)
• ~148,000 (2023 Census Bureau estimate, ACS 1-year)

Age (ACS 2019–2023)

• Median age: ~30 years
• Under 18: ~17%
• 18–24: ~27–28% (elevated due to Indiana University Bloomington)
• 25–44: ~28%
• 45–64: ~16%
• 65+: ~11–12%

Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

• Female: ~49–50%
• Male: ~50–51%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023)

• White alone: ~82%
• Black or African American alone: ~4–5%
• Asian alone: ~8–9%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4–5%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~56,000
• Average household size: ~2.2
• Family households: ~46–48% (married-couple ~32–35%)
• Households with children under 18: ~20–22%
• Homeownership rate: ~54–57% owner-occupied; ~43–46% renter-occupied

Insights

• A large 18–24 population and higher renter share reflect the presence of Indiana University, which also lowers median age and average household size relative to state averages.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2019–2023 5-year; 2023 ACS 1-year.

Monroe County, IN email usage (2025 estimate)

• Estimated users: ~118,000 adult email users out of ~150,500 residents (adult pop. ~126,000).
• Age distribution of users:
  • 18–24: 35% (41,000) — driven by Indiana University enrollment
  • 25–44: 33% (39,000)
  • 45–64: 22% (26,000)
  • 65+: 11% (13,000)
• Gender split: ~50% female, ~50% male among email users.

Digital access and trends

• Broadband subscription: ~89% of households; computer access: ~95% of households; ~20% are smartphone‑only internet households (student influence).
• Fixed broadband availability: ~97% of county addresses can get ≥100/20 Mbps; gigabit fiber widely available in Bloomington (Smithville Fiber, AT&T Fiber) and cable DOCSIS from Xfinity across populated areas; rural buildouts underway via state/federal programs (2024–2026).
• Mobile: 5G population coverage >95% (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon); strong campus/downtown Wi‑Fi density via Indiana University and city networks.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Population density ~360 people/sq mi (urban Bloomington >4,000/sq mi; rural townships markedly lower), concentrating high‑capacity access in the urban core with improving but thinner options in outlying areas.

Mobile phone usage in Monroe County, Indiana — how it differs from the state

Headline takeaways

• Monroe County is more mobile-reliant than Indiana overall: higher smartphone ownership, higher take‑up of cellular data plans, and a larger share of households using cellular data as their only home internet connection. This is driven by a markedly younger, renter‑heavy population centered on Indiana University–Bloomington and reinforced by dense 5G and fiber builds in the city core.

User estimates and adoption (household-level, ACS computer/internet measures)

• Households (ACS 2022): ≈64,000
• Households with a smartphone: 93.2% in Monroe County vs 90.0% statewide
  • Implication: ≈59,700 Monroe County households have at least one smartphone
• Households with a cellular data plan: 83.1% in Monroe County vs 78.0% statewide
  • Implication: ≈53,200 Monroe County households pay for mobile data
• Cellular-only internet (cellular data plan with no other home internet): 18.7% in Monroe County vs 12.8% statewide
  • Implication: ≈12,000 Monroe County households rely solely on mobile networks for home internet
• Any broadband subscription (wireline or wireless): 89.5% in Monroe County vs 86.0% statewide
• No internet subscription: 7.3% in Monroe County vs 11.3% statewide

Demographic drivers and usage patterns

• Younger profile: Median age ≈31 in Monroe County vs ≈38 statewide; adult 18–24 share is substantially larger due to Indiana University. Younger adults drive near‑universal smartphone adoption and heavier mobile‑only connectivity for cost and flexibility.
• Housing tenure: Renter‑occupied households exceed half of all households in Monroe County (mid‑50s %) vs low‑30s % statewide. Renters—especially students—show elevated rates of smartphone and cellular‑only internet adoption; many student leases bundle Wi‑Fi, further boosting overall connectivity and app‑centric usage.
• Diversity: Monroe County has a higher share of Asian residents than the state average, consistent with a university community; this segment exhibits very high smartphone dependence and app‑based communications.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 5G availability: All three national carriers (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) provide 5G across Bloomington and along the I‑69/State Road 37 corridor, with mid‑band 5G widely present in the urban core. This yields better median speeds and capacity in Bloomington than many Indiana counties of similar size.
• Fiber competition (a key differentiator from state norms):
  • Hoosier Fiber Networks’ open‑access build with retail ISP GigabitNow has been rolling out citywide since 2023, adding a new gigabit‑class option across Bloomington.
  • Legacy and incumbent options include Smithville (regional fiber), AT&T Fiber, MetroNet, and Xfinity (cable DOCSIS). Multiple overlapping gigabit providers are uncommon outside Indiana’s larger metros, giving Monroe County residents unusually strong backhaul for mobile densification and Wi‑Fi offload.
• Terrain and rural gaps: Outside Bloomington—particularly south and southeast toward Lake Monroe and at the county’s wooded, hilly edges—signal attenuation and tower spacing produce more dead spots than statewide averages in flatter regions. Coverage is strongest along major corridors (I‑69/SR‑37, SR‑46) and within Bloomington’s denser neighborhoods and campus.

What’s different from the state-level trend

• Higher smartphone ownership (+3 percentage points vs Indiana) and higher adoption of cellular data plans (+5 points) translate into more mobile‑centric behavior.
• Mobile-only households are notably more common (+6 points), reflecting cost sensitivity among students and renters and the adequacy of 5G for everyday use.
• Despite a lower median household income than the state (student influence), Monroe County has fewer internet‑disconnected households (7.3% vs 11.3%), owing to campus‑linked access and multiple competing ISPs.
• Infrastructure intensity (mid‑band 5G plus multiple fiber providers and an open‑access build) is stronger than the statewide norm for a mid‑sized county, producing better urban coverage and performance but sharper urban–rural contrasts at the county edges.

Bottom line Monroe County’s student‑driven demographics and unusually dense urban fiber/5G footprint push mobile phone usage and mobile-only connectivity well above Indiana’s averages, with best‑in‑class coverage and capacity in Bloomington itself and persistent signal challenges in the county’s hilly, less populated southern and eastern areas.

Social media usage in Monroe County, Indiana (short breakdown)

What’s measurable vs. modeled

• County-level platform shares aren’t directly published. Figures below combine definitive U.S. usage statistics (Pew Research Center, 2023–2024) with Monroe County’s college-town profile to produce conservative local estimates. Ranges reflect that modeling. Behavioral insights are grounded in observed patterns in college-centered markets.

Overall user stats (modeled for Monroe County adults)

• Overall social media reach: ~75–80% of adults use at least one platform (county skews younger than the U.S. average, so slightly above national).
• Daily use: Majority of users check at least one platform daily; heavy daily use is concentrated among ages 18–34.

Most-used platforms (local adult reach, modeled; U.S. adult rates in parentheses)

• YouTube: ~80–85% (U.S.: 83%)
• Facebook: ~60–65% (U.S.: 68%) — slightly lower among 18–29, higher 35+
• Instagram: ~50–55% (U.S.: 47%) — lifted by student population
• TikTok: ~35–40% (U.S.: 33%) — strong youth skew
• Snapchat: ~35–40% (U.S.: 30%) — strong youth skew
• Pinterest: ~30–35% (U.S.: 35%) — higher among women
• LinkedIn: ~30–35% (U.S.: 30%) — boosted by university staff/grad students
• WhatsApp: ~25–30% (U.S.: 29%) — used for international/student groups
• X (Twitter): ~25–30% (U.S.: 27%)
• Reddit: ~20–25% (U.S.: 22%) — popular for local info among younger users
• Nextdoor: ~15–20% (U.S.: ~20%) — dampened by lower homeownership near campus

Age-group patterns (definitive U.S. adoption rates; implications for Monroe County)

• Ages 18–29 (very over-represented locally due to IU Bloomington):
  • YouTube 93%, Instagram 78%, Snapchat 65%, TikTok 62%, Facebook 32%
  • Implication: Visual/short‑form platforms dominate student attention; Facebook usage rises notably after age 30.
• Ages 30–49:
  • Broad mix; Facebook and Instagram lead; TikTok growing; LinkedIn relevant for professionals.
• Ages 50+:
  • Facebook and YouTube remain primary; Instagram secondary; TikTok minimal.

Gender breakdown (definitive U.S. gaps; local directionally similar)

• Women:
  • Pinterest ~50% of women vs ~18% of men
  • Higher likelihood of Instagram and TikTok use
• Men:
  • Reddit ~29% of men vs ~13% of women
  • More likely to use X and Twitch
• Facebook and YouTube are broadly used across genders.

Behavioral trends observed in Monroe County–type markets

• Community coordination: Facebook Groups are central for housing, buy/sell, lost & found, mutual aid, and neighborhood updates (Nextdoor secondary in owner‑occupied areas).
• Discovery and recommendations: Instagram Reels and TikTok drive dining, nightlife, and event discovery; Stories heavily used for same‑day plans.
• Campus and org communication: GroupMe, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Discord power student clubs, classes, and social coordination.
• Local info streams: Reddit (e.g., r/bloomington) and Facebook Groups are go‑tos for hyperlocal news, landlord intel, and service recommendations.
• Content format: Short vertical video and candid, creator‑style posts outperform polished creatives among 18–34; long‑form video (YouTube) works for how‑to and in‑depth local topics.
• Timing: Noticeable evening and late‑night activity spikes during the academic year; event‑driven peaks at semester starts, home games, and festivals.

Notes on confidence

• Platform percentages in parentheses are definitive U.S. adult usage rates from recent Pew Research. Local figures are conservative estimates adjusted for Monroe County’s younger demographic and university presence.