Ingham County

Ingham County, Michigan — key demographics

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates)

Population size

• Total population: 284,900 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: 31.6 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Age distribution (ACS 2018–2022):
  • Under 18: ~18%
  • 18–24: ~17–18%
  • 25–44: ~29%
  • 45–64: ~21%
  • 65 and over: ~14%

Gender (ACS 2018–2022)

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition (2020 Census unless noted)

• White alone: ~71%
• Black or African American alone: ~12%
• Asian alone: ~7–8%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~0.6–0.7%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.1%
• Some other race alone: ~3%
• Two or more races: ~6%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~7–8%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~66%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~116,000–117,000
• Average household size: ~2.3–2.4
• Family households: ~55%
• One-person households: ~33%
• Owner-occupied: ~54%
• Renter-occupied: ~46%

Insights

• Younger age profile than Michigan overall, influenced by Michigan State University
• Higher renter share and smaller average household size than state averages
• Racially more diverse than many Michigan counties, with notable Black and Asian populations and a Hispanic share under 10%

Ingham County, MI — email usage snapshot

• Estimated email users: 235,000–250,000 residents (roughly 82–86% of the population) use email regularly.
• Age distribution of users: 18–34: 36–40% (boosted by Michigan State University); 35–54: 32–34%; 55–64: 13–15%; 65+: 13–15%.
• Gender split: ~51% female, ~49% male among active users; usage intensity is effectively parity across genders.
• Digital access trends: Around 90% of households maintain a broadband subscription and roughly 95% have a computer/device capable of email; adult smartphone adoption exceeds 80%, supporting always‑on email. Institutional ecosystems (state government in Lansing, MSU, healthcare systems) anchor daily email dependence for work, school, and services.
• Local density/connectivity facts: County population density is just over 500 residents per square mile, with the Lansing–East Lansing core far denser and covered by multiple cable/fiber operators and extensive campus/public Wi‑Fi. Access to baseline broadband (25/3 Mbps) is effectively universal, while gigabit service is concentrated in the urban core; rural southern and eastern townships show lower average speeds and greater reliance on fixed‑wireless or DSL.

Overall, Ingham County exhibits high email penetration and near‑universal connectivity, with age skew younger than typical due to the university and a modest urban–rural speed gap.

Mobile phone usage in Ingham County, Michigan — key findings and how they differ from statewide patterns

Headline user estimates (2024, derived from ACS 2022 S2801 and Pew adoption rates applied to Ingham’s demographics)

• Adult mobile phone users: approximately 235,000–245,000 (about 92–95% of adults), higher than Michigan’s adult adoption by roughly 2–3 percentage points due to the county’s younger age profile and large student population.
• Households with at least one smartphone: approximately 92–94% in Ingham County vs roughly 89–91% statewide.
• Households with a cellular data plan for internet: about 86–89% in Ingham vs roughly 82–85% in Michigan.
• Smartphone-only internet households (cellular plan but no fixed home broadband): about 14–17% in Ingham vs roughly 11–13% statewide, reflecting student and renter-heavy neighborhoods around East Lansing and Lansing.

What stands out versus the Michigan average

• Younger, student-driven market: Ingham’s large concentration of 18–29-year-olds (Michigan State University) pushes smartphone adoption and mobile-only reliance above state averages. Churn and prepaid/eSIM usage also trend higher than statewide norms because of academic-year turnover and shorter-tenure renters.
• Higher renter share and lower median household size near campus: These correlate with more cellular-only internet subscriptions and fewer in-home fixed broadband lines than the state overall.
• Within-county digital divide is sharper: Urban and campus areas have dense 5G mid-band coverage and high usage, but southern and eastern rural townships show higher LTE reliance and lower performance relative to the state’s urbanized counties.

Demographic breakdown of mobile adoption and access (estimates informed by ACS device and subscription data and Pew national adoption, adjusted to Ingham’s age mix)

• By age
  • 18–29: smartphone adoption 98–99%; smartphone-only internet 22–28% (above MI average by ~5–8 points).
  • 30–49: adoption 96–98%; smartphone-only 10–13% (slightly above MI).
  • 50–64: adoption 90–93%; smartphone-only 6–8% (near MI average).
  • 65+: adoption 80–85%; smartphone-only 4–6% (near MI average).
• By income
  • Under $35k: smartphone ownership ~90–92%; smartphone-only 22–26% (above MI by ~3–5 points).
  • $35k–$75k: smartphone ownership ~94–96%; smartphone-only 10–14%.
  • $75k+: smartphone ownership 97–99%; smartphone-only 5–8%.
• By tenure and student status
  • Renters (especially near MSU): materially higher smartphone-only reliance and prepaid plan usage than owner-occupied households; this gap is wider than at the state level because renters comprise a larger share locally.
• By race/ethnicity
  • Consistent with national patterns, Black and Asian residents in Ingham show very high smartphone adoption; smartphone-only reliance is elevated among Black and Hispanic households compared to the county average. The presence of a sizable Asian student population around MSU contributes to near-universal smartphone adoption in that subgroup.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 5G availability
  • Lansing–East Lansing–Meridian/Okemos–Delhi Charter Township corridor: broad 5G coverage from all three national carriers, with mid-band (C-band/N41) widely available; this underpins high mobile data usage and supports smartphone-only households.
  • Rural edges (e.g., southern/eastern townships): more LTE-only pockets and lower mid-band 5G density than the urban core; speeds and capacity are improving but lag the county’s urban areas.
• Fixed broadband context affecting mobile behavior
  • Extensive cable and growing fiber (e.g., AT&T Fiber and competitive fiber builds in parts of Lansing/East Lansing/Meridian) reduce smartphone-only rates in well-served neighborhoods.
  • Student-heavy blocks near campus still exhibit higher cellular-only internet despite good fixed options, reflecting cost/tenure preferences and mobility.
• Transportation corridors
  • I-96, I-69, and US-127 are well covered for 4G/5G; game days and peak events can strain capacity near MSU and downtown Lansing but coverage is resilient compared to many Michigan corridors.
• Public safety and accessibility
  • Ingham County supports Text-to-911 and participates in Michigan’s NG911 ecosystem, improving emergency access for mobile-only users.

Usage and plan mix trends distinct from state averages

• Higher prepaid and eSIM adoption: Driven by students and short-term residents, prepaid penetration is a few points higher than the Michigan average; eSIM usage is notably higher due to frequent device/plan changes.
• Heavier mobile data consumption in the urban core: Mid-band 5G availability around Lansing/East Lansing drives above-average on-device and hotspot usage relative to statewide norms, while rural edges see more conservative use due to capacity and coverage variability.
• Seasonal churn and device turnover: Academic calendar effects create cyclical activation spikes and short tenure, a pattern not seen as strongly in most Michigan counties.

Notes on methodology and sources

• Statistics are based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 S2801 (Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions) for county/state comparisons, combined with Pew Research Center smartphone adoption rates applied to Ingham’s age and tenure mix to produce user and subgroup estimates. Infrastructure points reflect FCC Broadband Data Collection releases and carrier-announced 5G deployments through 2024. Where ACS publishes only household-level measures, estimates were converted to user counts using county demographics.

Social media usage in Ingham County, MI (2025 snapshot)

Scope and method

• County-level platform-by-platform usage isn’t directly published. Figures below use Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult social-media adoption rates, applied to Ingham County’s demographics (younger profile due to Michigan State University), plus observed platform skews by age and gender. Treat platform percentages as share of adults using each platform.

Overall penetration

• Any social media: about 83% of adults
• Distinct local tilt: A larger-than-average 18–24 population (MSU) pushes usage higher for Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Reddit relative to the U.S. average; Facebook and Pinterest remain strong among 30+ households and retirees.

Most-used platforms (share of adults; Pew 2024 applied locally)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Reddit: ~22%
• WhatsApp: ~21% Notes: Ingham likely runs above these national baselines for Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok among 18–29 and slightly above average for LinkedIn (state government and higher-ed workforce).

Age-group snapshot (local tendencies)

• Teens (13–17): Very high YouTube use; Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok dominate daily social time; Facebook marginal.
• 18–24 (MSU core): Heaviest users overall. Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube lead; Reddit stronger than average; WhatsApp common among international students. Facebook used for campus groups, housing, buy/sell, and events.
• 25–34: Mixed stack: Facebook + Instagram + YouTube routine; TikTok usage sizable; LinkedIn active for early-career mobility; Pinterest for home/lifestyle.
• 35–49: Facebook and YouTube anchor; Instagram secondary; Pinterest notable; LinkedIn for career networking; TikTok usage growing.
• 50–64: Facebook strongest; YouTube for how-to/news; Pinterest sizable; Instagram moderate; some X for news.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube lead; others low but rising gradually.

Gender breakdown (patterns consistent with Pew)

• Overall social-media adoption is similar for men and women.
• Skews by platform:
  • Pinterest: more women than men
  • Reddit: more men than women
  • LinkedIn: slightly more men
  • Instagram/Snapchat: slight female tilt
  • Facebook/TikTok/YouTube: broadly balanced

Behavioral trends in Ingham County

• Campus-centered communities: Heavy use of Instagram Stories/Reels, Snapchat, and TikTok for student life, events, and local food/nightlife; Facebook Groups for sublets, off-campus housing, textbooks, and rideshares.
• Civic and local info: Strong Facebook presence for county/city agencies (alerts, closures, elections), neighborhood groups, mutual aid, school updates, and parks/recreation programming; YouTube for meetings/streams.
• Sports and culture spikes: MSU athletics drives real-time posting and live video; gameday and tournament windows noticeably increase activity and local hashtags.
• Local commerce: Small businesses and venues rely on Instagram Reels/TikTok for discovery; Facebook and Instagram ads used for geo-targeted promotions; Google/YouTube for how-to and service searches.
• Messaging ecosystems: WhatsApp and Telegram clusters among international students and recent immigrants; Facebook Messenger and Snapchat dominate peer messaging; Instagram DMs common for customer-service and creator interactions.
• Content format shift: Short-form vertical video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) outperforms static posts for reach; user comments concentrate in Facebook Groups and on Reddit threads for local issues.

Key sources

• Pew Research Center, The State of Social Media in 2024 (U.S. adult platform adoption)
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (age structure indicating a larger 18–24 cohort in Ingham County)