Wayne County

Wayne County, Indiana – key demographics (2019–2023 ACS 5-year, U.S. Census Bureau)

Population size

• Total population: 65,708

Age

• Median age: 41.7 years
• Under 18: 21.6%
• 18–64: 59.0%
• 65 and over: 19.4%

Gender

• Female: 51.1%
• Male: 48.9%

Race and ethnicity

• White, non-Hispanic: 84.9%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 6.8%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): 3.8%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 2.7%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: 0.6%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 0.3%
• Other (incl. NHPI/Some other race), non-Hispanic: 0.9%

Households

• Total households: 27,580
• Average household size: 2.34
• Family households: 60.7% of households
  • Married-couple families: 42.9% of households
• Nonfamily households: 39.3%
  • 1-person households: 31.9%
• Households with children under 18: 27.3%
• Homeownership rate: 69.1%

Brief insight: Wayne County’s population is modestly older than the U.S. and Indiana averages, predominantly non-Hispanic White, with a majority of households being owner-occupied and a relatively small average household size. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Wayne County, IN overview (2024 est.)

• Population: ~66,000; adults (18+): ~51,000.
• Estimated email users: ~51,000 residents use email at least occasionally (≈90% of adults; ≈77% of the total population).

Age distribution of email use (local rates mirror state/national patterns)

• 13–17: ~85% use email.
• 18–29: ~95%.
• 30–49: ~96%.
• 50–64: ~92%.
• 65+: ~85%. Given the county’s older age mix, email users roughly split: 18–34 ≈30%, 35–54 ≈32%, 55–64 ≈17%, 65+ ≈21%.

Gender split

• Female users: ~26,000 (≈51% of users, reflecting the county’s slightly higher female share).
• Male users: ~25,000 (≈49%).

Digital access and trends

• Household broadband subscription is around 80% (computer/smartphone access ~90%); smartphone‑only internet households ~15–20%.
• Email access is most robust in and around Richmond; older adults and lower‑income rural households are more likely to be mobile‑only or un/undersubscribed to home broadband.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Population density ~160 people per square mile; the I‑70/US‑40 corridor concentrates fixed broadband (including fiber and cable) and strong 4G/5G coverage, while outer townships have spottier speeds and lower adoption, shaping email usage toward the urban core.

Wayne County, Indiana mobile phone landscape (2024–2025)

Population and context

• Population: ~65,900; households: ~26,700; land area: ~400 sq mi.
• Older and lower-income than Indiana overall: larger 65+ share and lower median household income. More rural mix outside Richmond and the I‑70 corridor.

User estimates (adults 18+ ≈ 51,400)

• Adult smartphone users: 45,200–46,300 (88–90%).
• Feature phone only: 3,100–4,100 adults (6–8%).
• No mobile phone: 2,100–3,100 adults (4–6%).
• Age breakdown (smartphone adoption; counts are adults):
  • 18–34 years: 95–97% (≈13.7k–14.0k users).
  • 35–64 years: 90–93% (≈23.1k–23.9k users).
  • 65+ years: 72–78% (≈8.1k–8.8k users).
• Household-level mobile reliance:
  • Smartphone-only internet households (no fixed home broadband): 20–24% of households (≈5,300–6,400), higher than the Indiana average (≈15–18%).
  • Fixed Wireless Access (mobile 5G home internet) adoption: 9–12% of households, above state average due to rural availability and price sensitivity.

Demographic patterns

• Income: Among households under $35k (≈38–42% of county households), smartphone-only reliance rises to an estimated 30–35%. Cost is the dominant driver of mobile-centric connectivity.
• Age: Seniors 65+ are the primary group without smartphones or with feature phones; they account for the majority of the 4–6% of adults with no mobile phone.
• Race/ethnicity: County is majority White with small Black and Hispanic communities; smartphone ownership rates are high across groups, but smartphone-only internet reliance is materially higher among Black and Hispanic households, reflecting income and housing factors.
• Education: Lower bachelor’s attainment than the state correlates with higher prepaid uptake and smartphone-only internet use.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks: All three national carriers operate countywide. 4G LTE outdoor coverage is effectively universal on major roads; indoor coverage is strong in Richmond and along I‑70, with weaker pockets in low-lying and wooded rural areas.
• 5G: Countywide low-band 5G is widespread; mid-band 5G is concentrated in Richmond, Cambridge City, and the I‑70 corridor. Rural townships see more low-band 5G/LTE fallback.
• Home internet alternatives: 5G Fixed Wireless (e.g., mobile carriers’ “home internet”) and several WISPs cover most populated areas; cable and fiber are available in and around Richmond and key towns.
• Public connectivity: Libraries, K‑12 schools, Earlham College, Ivy Tech, and municipal sites provide free Wi‑Fi that complements mobile access, particularly for homework and telehealth.
• Transport corridors and backhaul: I‑70, US‑27, and US‑40 anchor macro sites and fiber routes; coverage is strongest along these corridors with sparser small-cell density outside the urban core.

How Wayne County differs from Indiana overall

• Higher smartphone-only dependence: Wayne County’s 20–24% smartphone-only households notably exceeds the state average (≈15–18%), driven by affordability, housing type, and uneven fixed broadband.
• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption among seniors: County’s older age profile yields a larger share of feature-phone and non-users than the state average.
• Greater prepaid and MVNO usage: Price sensitivity and credit constraints translate to an estimated higher prepaid share than statewide norms.
• Faster uptake of Fixed Wireless for home internet: Mobile 5G-based home internet fills coverage and affordability gaps more visibly than in metro Indiana.
• Coverage variability: Performance is strong along I‑70 and town centers but more fragmented in rural areas due to fewer small cells and terrain effects; this gap is wider than in more urbanized Indiana counties.

Operational and policy insights

• Affordability remains the decisive driver of mobile-centric access; plans that bundle generous data and hotspot allowances resonate more in Wayne County than statewide.
• Senior-focused outreach (device training, simplified plans) can shrink the county’s above-average non-user/feature-phone segment.
• Continued mid-band 5G build beyond the I‑70 corridor and targeted rural infill would reduce the county’s larger-than-average indoor coverage gaps.
• Partnerships with libraries and schools amplify impact: public Wi‑Fi and device lending materially support the county’s higher smartphone-only population.

Notes on methodology

• User estimates apply national smartphone adoption rates by age (Pew Research, 2023–2024) to Wayne County’s age structure and adjust for rural/low-income effects observed in NTIA/ACS datasets. Household smartphone-only and FWA adoption ranges reflect ACS Internet subscription patterns, Indiana rural county benchmarks, and carrier 5G availability in 2024–2025.

Social media usage in Wayne County, IN (2025 snapshot)

Headline user stats

• Population: ~65,800 (2023 est.); residents age 13+: ~55,000
• Active social media users (13+): ~43,000 (≈78%)
• Daily social users: ~31,000 (≈72% of users)
• Gender among active users: ~53% women, 47% men

Most-used platforms (share of residents 13+)

• YouTube: ~76%
• Facebook: ~62%
• Instagram: ~38%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Pinterest: ~28%
• Snapchat: ~26%
• X (Twitter): ~16%
• LinkedIn: ~15%
• Reddit: ~12%
• Nextdoor: ~7%

Age-group profile (use of at least one platform; leading platforms)

• 13–17: 94% use; top: YouTube (95%), Snapchat (75%), TikTok (70%), Instagram (~65%)
• 18–29: 95% use; top: YouTube (95%), Instagram (78%), TikTok (71%), Snapchat (~65%)
• 30–49: 86% use; top: Facebook (76%), YouTube (90%), Instagram (50%), TikTok (~40%)
• 50–64: 74% use; top: Facebook (72%), YouTube (77%), Instagram (35%), Pinterest (~32%)
• 65+: 52% use; top: Facebook (50%), YouTube (55%), Pinterest (22%), Nextdoor (~10%)

Gender patterns

• Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok skew female locally; combined they account for ~56–58% women users
• YouTube, Reddit, X skew male; combined they account for ~56–60% men users
• Overall social user base in the county tilts modestly female (~53/47) due to heavier female use of Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest

Behavioral trends

• Facebook as the local hub: strong use of community and neighborhood groups, schools/churches, event posts, Marketplace, lost-and-found, and weather updates
• Video-first consumption: steady growth in Reels, TikTok, and Shorts; high engagement for how‑to content, local sports highlights, and quick service explainers
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is dominant for adults; Snapchat for teens/college; WhatsApp remains niche outside international families
• Shopping behavior: high responsiveness to coupons, giveaways, and time-bound offers; Facebook Marketplace is a leading channel for secondhand goods
• Small business playbook: Facebook + Instagram pairing is standard; short videos and before/after carousels drive leads for restaurants, boutiques, auto, and home services
• Timing: engagement peaks weekdays 7–10 pm; secondary spike around lunch (12–1 pm); weekends see extended midday activity
• Trust and localism: posts featuring recognizable locations, schools, or community causes consistently outperform generic creative; older adults prefer private/closed Facebook groups, while younger users favor ephemeral content and short-form video
• Platform niches: LinkedIn for healthcare, manufacturing, and education professionals; X for local sports and severe-weather monitoring; Pinterest for DIY and home projects

Data notes: Figures are 2025 modeled estimates for Wayne County created by applying recent U.S. platform adoption rates (Pew Research, 2023–2024) to the county’s age/sex profile (ACS, 2022–2023). Percentages refer to residents age 13+ unless stated.