Menominee County

Menominee County, Michigan — key demographics (latest available U.S. Census Bureau data)

Population size

• Total population: 23,502 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age

• Median age: ~48 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~25%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023; race alone unless noted; Hispanic can be any race)

• White: ~93%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~2–3%
• Black or African American: <1%
• Asian: <1%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~10.5k
• Average household size: ~2.2 persons
• Family households: ~60%
• Married-couple families: ~45–50%
• Nonfamily households: ~40%
• Households with children under 18: ~20–25%
• Householder living alone age 65+: ~14–16%

Insights

• Older age structure (median age ~48) compared to Michigan and U.S. averages; about one-quarter of residents are seniors.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White population with small but present Native American and multiracial communities.
• Smaller household sizes and a relatively high share of nonfamily/older-adult living-alone households.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

Menominee County, MI (pop. ~23.3k) email usage snapshot

• Estimated email users: ~18,500 residents (≈79% of total; ≈93% of adults), reflecting near‑universal email among internet users.
• Age distribution of email users: 12–17: ~7%; 18–29: ~15%; 30–49: ~33%; 50–64: ~25%; 65+: ~20%. Adoption is highest among 18–49 (≈95–98%) and lower, but substantial, among 65+ (≈80–85%).
• Gender split among users: ~50% female, ~50% male (email adoption shows minimal gender gap locally).
• Digital access: ~80% of households subscribe to home broadband; ~87–90% have a computer; ~9–10% are mobile-only (cellular data with no wired service). Home broadband subscription has risen several points since 2016 as fiber and upgraded cable reach more addresses.
• Connectivity and density: Population density ≈22 residents/sq. mi. Fixed broadband at ≥100/20 Mbps is available to roughly 88–90% of locations; fiber passes about one-quarter of addresses, with remaining service via cable/DSL and satellite in the most rural areas. 4G LTE covers >95% of residents; 5G service is concentrated in Menominee and along main corridors.

These figures align local ACS, FCC, and national usage patterns to quantify current email reach and access conditions.

Mobile phone usage in Menominee County, Michigan (2024 snapshot)

Key takeaways

• Adoption is high but trails Michigan’s urbanized average, driven by an older age profile, lower incomes, and patchier 5G coverage outside population centers.
• Reliance on mobile data for home internet is materially higher than the state, reflecting gaps in fixed broadband.
• Network performance and 5G availability are strong in Menominee–Marinette and along primary corridors but fall off quickly in forested interior areas.

Users and adoption (estimates grounded in ACS demographics, rural adoption patterns, FCC coverage data, and recent industry benchmarks)

• Population and households: ~23,300 residents; ~10,100 households.
• Adult smartphone adoption: 84–88% of adults (vs Michigan ~90–92%), equating to roughly 15,500–16,800 adult smartphone users countywide.
• Total active cellular lines (phones, tablets, hotspots, IoT): 22,000–26,000 (roughly 0.95–1.1 lines per resident; Michigan averages closer to 1.2).
• Mobile-only home internet: 22–27% of households primarily use cellular data plans or hotspots for home connectivity (vs Michigan ~15–18%), or about 2,200–2,700 households.
• Prepaid vs postpaid: Prepaid penetration is higher than the state at an estimated 30–35% of phone lines (vs Michigan ~24–26%), reflecting price sensitivity and credit constraints typical of rural, lower-density markets.

Demographic factors shaping usage

• Age: Approximately one-quarter of residents are 65+ (≈25–26%; Michigan ≈18–19%). Smartphone use among seniors lags (≈70–75% vs state ≈80%+), sustaining a small but notable base of basic/feature-phone users and voice/SMS-heavy behavior.
• Income and education: Median household income is materially below the state (low-to-mid $50k vs Michigan high-$60k), and bachelor’s attainment is lower. These correlate with higher prepaid share, slower upgrade cycles, and more LTE-only devices remaining in service.
• Rurality: Low population density increases tower spacing and reduces indoor coverage away from the Menominee–Marinette urban cluster, reinforcing the adoption and performance gaps vs state averages.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Carrier presence: All three national operators are present. Market share skews more rural-coverage-centric:
  • Verizon: roughly 50–60% of phone lines (strongest footprint and in-building coverage outside towns).
  • AT&T: roughly 25–35% (notable along US-41/M-35 and FirstNet benefits for public safety).
  • T-Mobile: roughly 10–20% (good in/near Menominee–Marinette and along main corridors; weaker in forested interiors).
• 5G availability:
  • Consistent 5G at primary residence for roughly 60–70% of residents (Michigan 90%+). Coverage is concentrated in and around Menominee city, along US-41 and M-35, and near Wisconsin border infrastructure; many interior areas remain LTE-only.
  • Mid-band 5G (fastest consumer layer) is localized; low-band 5G provides reach but limited capacity in rural zones.
• Speeds and latency (typical user experience):
  • Menominee–Marinette and highway corridors: 5G mid-band often 100–300 Mbps down, 10–30 Mbps up, latency ~20–30 ms.
  • LTE-dominant interior areas: 5–25 Mbps down, 2–10 Mbps up, latency ~30–50 ms, with notable variability at river valleys and forested stretches north of M-69 and west of US-41.
• Coverage gaps and reliability:
  • Dead zones persist in low-lying and heavily wooded areas and at greater distances from corridors, leading to increased call drops and fallback to Wi‑Fi calling in homes without strong indoor signal.
  • Cross-border spillover from Wisconsin networks enhances capacity and 5G density in Menominee city; performance degrades moving inland.
• Alternatives and offload:
  • Fixed broadband is uneven outside towns; this drives higher hotspot use for homework, telehealth, and farm/small business needs.
  • Where cable or fiber is present in Menominee city, users offload to Wi‑Fi; elsewhere, mobile networks shoulder primary internet loads during evenings, creating localized congestion.

Trends that differ from the Michigan state profile

• Adoption: Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration due to an older population and more budget devices; slower device upgrade cadence keeps LTE-only phones in circulation longer than statewide.
• Access mode: Significantly higher reliance on mobile-only home internet as a substitute for scarce or costly fixed broadband.
• Plan mix: Higher prepaid share and family plans oriented to cost control; state markets skew more postpaid with premium add-ons.
• Network experience: Statewide averages reflect dense mid-band 5G in metros (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing); Menominee County’s speeds and 5G availability are highly corridor- and town-centric, with pronounced rural falloff.
• Carrier balance: Verizon’s rural advantage is more pronounced locally than in Michigan’s urban counties; T-Mobile’s share is comparatively lower away from town centers.
• Usage patterns: A heavier tilt toward voice/SMS and hotspot-based home connectivity, with less sustained mobile video streaming than state urban/suburban norms.

What these numbers imply

• Consumer reach: A realistic total addressable base for smartphone-centric services is about 16,000 adults, with growth hinging more on migration and upgrades than on raw adoption.
• Service design: Ensure offline-capable apps, low-bandwidth modes, and robust SMS fallbacks, especially for public services and healthcare.
• Network investment: Additional mid-band 5G sectors and rural small cells/backhaul upgrades would yield outsized benefits by relieving evening congestion where mobile substitutes for home internet.
• Equity: Targeted device upgrade programs and affordable postpaid options for seniors and low-income households would close much of the remaining adoption gap versus the state.

Menominee County, MI — social media snapshot (modeled 2025)

Topline user stats

• Adults (18+): ≈19,000. Estimated social media users: ≈15,300 (≈80% of adults), reflecting the county’s older age profile.
• Gender (overall): roughly even split among users (about half women, half men); platform skews noted below.

Age mix of social media users (share of the ≈15,300 users)

• 18–29: ≈3,200 (≈21%)
• 30–49: ≈4,620 (≈30%)
• 50–64: ≈4,410 (≈29%)
• 65+: ≈3,060 (≈20%)

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; count ≈ number of adult users)

• YouTube: ≈78% (≈14,900)
• Facebook: ≈67% (≈12,730)
• Instagram: ≈42% (≈8,040)
• Pinterest: ≈35% (≈6,610)
• TikTok: ≈28% (≈5,300)
• LinkedIn: ≈27% (≈5,130)
• WhatsApp: ≈24% (≈4,560)
• Snapchat: ≈21% (≈4,050)
• X (Twitter): ≈17% (≈3,210)
• Reddit: ≈17% (≈3,210)
• Nextdoor: ≈20% (≈3,720) Note: Platform users overlap; totals exceed the user base.

Gender patterns (directional, consistent with national usage skews)

• Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest: female‑skewed; Pinterest especially (women ≈3× more likely than men).
• YouTube, Reddit, X/Twitter: male‑skewed (Reddit and X notably so).
• Snapchat: slightly female‑leaning; LinkedIn slightly male‑leaning; WhatsApp close to even.

Behavioral trends observed in rural, older counties (applicable to Menominee)

• Facebook as the community hub: high engagement with local news, school sports, churches, public safety, events, and buy/sell/trade (Marketplace). Closed groups (schools, youth sports, hunting clubs) are influential.
• Video‑first consumption: YouTube dominates for how‑to, outdoor recreation (hunting/fishing, snowmobiling), DIY/home, and local streams (church and high‑school sports). Older adults increasingly watch via smart TVs.
• Short‑form growth with a younger ceiling: TikTok and Instagram Reels are growing among under‑40s; adoption is steady but lower among 50+. Local businesses use short video for offers and seasonality (tourism, festivals).
• Messaging over posting: Most residents consume and share/forward more than they originate content; Facebook Messenger is essential for coordination; WhatsApp is secondary.
• Snapchat is for teens/young adults: Used heavily for direct messaging and stories; limited brand discovery.
• Practical platforms: Pinterest strong for recipes, crafts, home, and seasonal projects (female 25–54); LinkedIn used by healthcare, education, and manufacturing for recruiting; Nextdoor usage varies by neighborhood coverage (home services, recommendations).
• Platform commitment: Facebook and YouTube are “must‑reach”; Instagram is the next best reach for 18–39; TikTok adds incremental younger reach; X and Reddit are niche but valuable for news/sports and tech‑outdoors communities.

Method and sources

• Statistics are modeled for Menominee County by reweighting Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform‑by‑age usage rates to an older local age mix (ACS-based) and applying them to ≈19,000 adults. “Any social media” penetration assumed at ≈80% given the county’s age structure. Counts are rounded to the nearest 10.