Bristol County

Key demographics — Bristol County, Massachusetts (latest Census Bureau ACS estimates)

• Population: ~579,000
• Age:
  • Median age: ~41 years
  • Under 18: ~20%
  • 65 and over: ~19%
• Gender:
  • Female: ~52%
  • Male: ~48%
• Race/ethnicity (percent of total population):
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~74%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~12%
  • Black or African American: ~6%
  • Asian: ~2%
  • Two or more races: ~6%
  • Other: ~1%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~228,000
  • Average household size: ~2.55
  • Family households: ~63%
  • Nonfamily households: ~37%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (most recent 2019–2023 5-year estimates).

• Estimated email users: Bristol County population is about 580,000. Applying MA/US adoption benchmarks, roughly 460,000–500,000 residents likely use email regularly (about 80–88% of residents age 13+).
• Age distribution of users (est.): 13–24: 15–18%; 25–44: 30–35%; 45–64: 30–35%; 65+: 15–20%. Usage is near-universal among working-age adults; seniors participate but at lower rates.
• Gender split: Roughly even, tracking the county’s slightly higher female share; about 50–52% female, 48–50% male among users.
• Digital access trends: Household internet subscription rates are in the mid-80% range, with 10–15% of households smartphone‑only. Email access is increasingly mobile-first, but most adults also check via laptops/desktops. Libraries, schools, and community centers provide important supplemental access in lower‑income neighborhoods.
• Local density/connectivity: The county is relatively dense for non‑Boston Massachusetts, anchored by New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, and Attleboro. Cable broadband is widespread in urban cores, with growing fiber in denser corridors; outer towns can face fewer provider choices and lower top speeds. 4G/5G coverage is strong along I‑195, I‑95, and Route 24, supporting reliable mobile email. These patterns produce high overall email reach with pockets of digital divide tied to income and housing.

Mobile phone usage in Bristol County, MA — 2025 snapshot

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, with ranges to reflect uncertainty)

• Population base: roughly 575,000–585,000 residents.
• Adult smartphone users (18+): about 380,000–410,000 (county-wide adoption a few points lower than the Massachusetts average).
• Total smartphone users including teens: roughly 410,000–440,000.
• Smartphone-only/phone-first households: about 20–25% of households rely primarily on mobile data for home internet (notably higher than the statewide share).
• Mobile prepaid share: meaningfully higher than the state average, with stronger use of budget and MVNO brands.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: Seniors (65+) are a larger slice of the population than in the Boston core and are less likely to own smartphones or use data-heavy apps; adoption in this group is several points lower than the statewide senior average. Teen adoption is near universal.
• Income: Median household income trails the state median, correlating with more Android devices, higher prepaid usage, and greater price sensitivity (e.g., promotional switching, family plans, and BYOD).
• Language and immigrant communities: Larger Portuguese, Cape Verdean, Brazilian, and Hispanic communities than the state average drive demand for WhatsApp, international calling/MVNO plans, and Wi‑Fi calling; community hotspots and library devices see steady use.
• Work patterns: More blue-collar and service employment and cross-border commuting toward Providence lead to heavy peak-hour corridor usage and event-driven surges (e.g., Mansfield venues), with occasional capacity constraints.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage: All three national carriers provide 5G across the major population centers (Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, Attleboro/North Attleborough, Mansfield) and along I‑195, Route 24, I‑95, and Route 140. Mid-band 5G (Verizon C‑band, T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz) is widely available on these corridors.
• Gaps/variability: More LTE fallback and weaker indoor coverage in lower-density or coastal areas (parts of Westport, Freetown, Dartmouth/Acushnet) and in older multi‑story housing where building materials attenuate signals. Small-cell density is lower than in Boston/Cambridge.
• Speeds: Mid-band 5G routinely delivers triple‑digit Mbps in towns and along highways; speeds drop notably off‑corridor and indoors where LTE or low-band 5G dominates.
• Backhaul/fixed alternatives: Cable dominates fixed broadband; fiber-to-the-home is patchier than in metro Boston. This makes mobile a more common primary connection.
• 5G home internet (FWA): Adoption is stronger than the state average—often a budget alternative to cable—likely in the high single digits to low teens percent of households, versus mid single digits statewide.
• Public access: Libraries and schools maintain hotspot-lending and public Wi‑Fi that see heavier usage than in higher-income parts of the state.

How Bristol County differs from Massachusetts overall

• Adoption level: Overall smartphone adoption is slightly lower, driven by income and age mix; senior adoption lags more than elsewhere in the state.
• Reliance on mobile: A larger share of households are mobile‑only or phone‑first for internet access, a gap that widened after the wind‑down of federal affordability subsidies.
• Plan mix: Higher prevalence of prepaid, MVNOs, and discounted family plans; more price-driven switching.
• Device mix: Android share is higher and iPhone share lower than the state average.
• Infrastructure density: Fewer small cells and enterprise DAS deployments than Greater Boston; more pockets of LTE fallback and indoor coverage challenges.
• FWA uptake: 5G home internet is adopted at higher rates than statewide, substituting for less-ubiquitous fiber.
• Performance: Median speeds and consistency are a notch below the statewide average (which is buoyed by dense Boston-area networks), with more pronounced event- and corridor-driven congestion.

Data notes and method

• Estimates synthesize county population and household counts with recent national/state smartphone adoption patterns by age and income, and observed 5G buildouts in southeastern Massachusetts. Ranges are provided where precise, current county-level measurements are unavailable.

Social media in Bristol County, MA (short breakdown, 2025 est.)

Snapshot and user stats

• Population: ~580,000 residents; ~460,000 adults (18+).
• Internet access: roughly 9 in 10 households have internet; smartphone ownership is widespread.
• Social media reach: about 70–75% of residents use at least one social platform monthly (~400–435k people). Usage is slightly higher among 18–49s.

Most-used platforms (share of adults, county-level estimates based on MA/national patterns)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~60–70%
• Instagram: ~45–50%
• TikTok: ~30–35%
• Pinterest: ~30–35%
• Snapchat: ~25–30%
• LinkedIn: ~22–28% (higher in commuter/white-collar clusters)
• WhatsApp: ~20–25% overall; higher among Portuguese/Cape Verdean households
• Reddit: ~20–25%
• Nextdoor: ~15–20% (stronger in suburban towns like Mansfield, Norton, Dartmouth, Attleboro)

Age patterns (what’s most active)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram dominate; Facebook low.
• 18–29: Very high on YouTube; Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok all strong; Facebook moderate.
• 30–49: YouTube and Facebook lead; Instagram solid; LinkedIn and WhatsApp used for work/family ties.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube lead; Pinterest meaningful; Instagram moderate; some Nextdoor.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube primary; Nextdoor use grows; Instagram limited.

Gender breakdown

• County population is roughly 52% female, 48% male; overall social usage is similar by gender.
• Platform skews: Pinterest and Instagram lean female; TikTok leans slightly female; LinkedIn, Reddit, and X lean male; Facebook and YouTube are broadly balanced.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first Facebook use: very active local Groups (neighborhoods, schools, buy/sell/Marketplace, youth sports, local events). Event pages perform well (fairs, Portuguese festivals, fundraisers).
• Bilingual engagement: notable Portuguese/Azorean and Cape Verdean communities; WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube see above-average use for family/diaspora ties; bilingual posts boost reach.
• Short-form video growth: Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts drive discovery for restaurants, events, salons, fitness, and home services. Authentic, local faces and captions outperform polished ads.
• Hyperlocal trust: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups shape recommendations for trades, childcare, healthcare, and pet services; reviews and neighbor endorsements matter more than brand voice.
• Timing: Evenings (7–10 pm) and weekend mornings see peaks; school-year rhythms affect parent engagement; weather and storm updates spike real-time sharing.
• Shopping and deals: Facebook Marketplace is heavily used for secondhand goods; limited-time offers and pick-up convenience perform well. Instagram boosts for local boutiques and food specials convert when paired with Stories/Reels.
• Worklife split: LinkedIn presence is stronger in commuter corridors (I-95/495) and healthcare/education; recruiting ads for nursing, manufacturing, logistics, and public safety perform well.

Notes on method

• Figures are estimates derived from Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. platform usage, adjusted for Massachusetts demographics and Bristol County’s known community makeup (ACS/Census). Use for planning, not compliance reporting.