Lee County

Key demographics for Lee County, Mississippi (U.S. Census Bureau; primarily ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates; 2020 Census for decennial count):

• Population

  • Total: ≈86,000–87,000 (ACS 2019–2023 estimate)
  • 2020 Census count: ≈85,400

• Age

  • Median age: ≈38 years
  • Under 18: ≈24%
  • 18–64: ≈60%
  • 65 and over: ≈16%

• Gender

  • Female: ≈52%
  • Male: ≈48%

• Race and ethnicity (percent of total population; race alone or in combination; Hispanic is an ethnicity)

  • White (non-Hispanic): ≈62–64%
  • Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ≈28–30%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ≈4–5%
  • Asian: ≈1%
  • Two or more races: ≈2–3%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native and other races: ≈1% combined

• Households and housing

  • Households: ≈33,000
  • Average household size: ≈2.6
  • Family households: ≈66% of households
  • Married-couple households: ≈45–48% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ≈30–35%
  • Homeownership rate: ≈65–70%

Insights

• The county is majority White with a substantial Black population and a small but growing Hispanic community.
• Age structure is balanced, with a moderate share of older adults; median age around the state average.
• Household composition leans toward families and homeownership, consistent with a mix of urban (Tupelo) and suburban/rural areas.

Lee County, MS snapshot (estimates based on latest ACS and Pew data applied to local demographics):

• Estimated email users: ~63,000 residents 13+ (about 73% of total population).
• Age distribution of email users: 13–17: 6%; 18–29: 19%; 30–49: 36%; 50–64: 24%; 65+: 15%.
• Gender split among email users: ~52% female, ~48% male (mirrors county population).
• Digital access:
  • ~79% of households have a broadband subscription; ~90% have a computer or smartphone.
  • Roughly 16–18% are smartphone‑only internet households, making mobile the primary channel for email among lower‑income and rural users.
  • Email engagement is highest among ages 30–49 and remains strong for 50–64; seniors (65+) show lower but steady adoption tied to telehealth and banking.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population ~86,000; density ~190 residents per sq. mile.
  • Connectivity is strongest in the Tupelo urban core and along the I‑22/US‑45 corridor, where multiple 100 Mbps+ fixed options are available; rural fringes still show pockets with limited fixed service, increasing reliance on cellular data for email.
  • Broadband subscription rates have risen several points since the late 2010s as fiber and fixed‑wireless coverage expanded.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Lee County, Mississippi

Quick context

• Population and households: About 86–87 thousand residents and roughly 33 thousand households (U.S. Census Bureau 2023 estimates; ACS).
• Urban anchor: Tupelo (regional medical, retail, and manufacturing hub) makes Lee County more urban and connected than the average Mississippi county, which shapes mobile usage.

User estimates

• Households with smartphones: ~90% of Lee County households have at least one smartphone (ACS S2801, 2018–2022 5-year), versus ~88% statewide.
• Households with a cellular data plan: ~79% in Lee County vs ~76% statewide.
• Mobile-only internet households (cellular data plan with no cable, fiber, or DSL): ~14% in Lee County vs ~20% statewide. This is a key departure from the state pattern—Lee County residents are less likely to rely on mobile as their only home connection.
• No internet subscription at home: ~16% in Lee County vs ~22% statewide.
• Estimated individual smartphone users: Approximately 64,000 residents use a smartphone in Lee County. This estimate aligns county age mix with contemporary U.S. smartphone adoption for adults and teens and is consistent with the high household smartphone ownership reported in ACS.

Demographic breakdown (how usage is distributed)

• Age:
  • Working-age adults (18–64) drive the bulk of smartphone use; the county’s employment in healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and services reinforces high mobile reliance for scheduling, messaging, authentication, and workplace apps.
  • Seniors (65+) in Lee County show higher smartphone take-up than seniors statewide, reflected in the county’s lower “no internet” share; mobile use among seniors is supported by stronger provider coverage in and around Tupelo’s clinics and services compared with rural Mississippi.
• Income and housing:
  • Mobile-only internet is notably less common in Lee County than statewide, particularly among middle- and higher-income homeowners in Tupelo and nearby suburbs who are more likely to pair smartphones with fixed broadband (fiber or cable).
  • Lower-income renters still show elevated mobile-only reliance—consistent with state and national patterns—but at a lower rate than Mississippi overall, due to broader availability of affordable fixed plans from multiple local ISPs.
• Race and ethnicity:
  • Lee County’s population is roughly two-thirds White and just over one-quarter Black, with a small but growing Hispanic community. As seen statewide, Black and Hispanic households are more likely to rely on smartphones and cellular data plans; the presence of multiple fixed-broadband options in Tupelo mitigates (but does not eliminate) these gaps relative to the state.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what enables the differences)

• 5G coverage and capacity:
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) provide 5G across Tupelo and along the I-22/US-45 corridors, with mid-band deployments that raise median speeds and reliability. Coverage remains solid across population centers, with expected attenuation in the most rural edges of the county.
  • FirstNet (AT&T) operates countywide for public safety; this backbone investment tends to lift general LTE/5G resiliency in the same areas.
• Backhaul and fixed broadband synergy:
  • Multiple fixed-broadband providers—AT&T Fiber, C Spire Fiber, Tombigbee Fiber (the electric cooperative), and Sparklight (cable)—serve substantial portions of the county. This dense fixed footprint reduces pressure to be mobile-only and improves overall app performance by offloading traffic to Wi‑Fi at home and work.
  • Ongoing Mississippi broadband initiatives (BEAM/BEAD era) continue to extend fiber deeper into Lee County, complementing 5G coverage and widening hybrid (mobile + fixed) usage.
• Public anchors and enterprise demand:
  • Healthcare, education, and logistics facilities in Tupelo operate robust private Wi‑Fi and indoor cellular solutions, which increases reliable mobile use indoors and encourages smartphone-centric work patterns (e.g., EHR apps, dispatch, point-of-sale).

How Lee County differs from Mississippi overall

• Higher smartphone household adoption (about +2 percentage points).
• Lower reliance on mobile-only internet (about −6 percentage points), reflecting better access to fiber/cable.
• Lower share of households with no internet subscription (about −6 percentage points).
• More consistent 5G mid-band capacity in population centers (Tupelo and major corridors), translating to better everyday app performance than many rural Mississippi counties.
• Smaller digital-access gaps by age and income than the state average—gaps still exist, but the combination of urban density and multiple ISPs moderates them.

Key takeaways

• Mobile phone usage in Lee County is widespread and slightly more advanced than the Mississippi average because of stronger infrastructure in and around Tupelo.
• The dominant pattern is “smartphone plus fixed broadband,” not “smartphone-only,” which differs from many parts of the state.
• Continued fiber buildouts and sustained 5G capacity upgrades are likely to further reduce mobile-only dependence while improving overall mobile experience.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022, Table S2801 (Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions); 2023 population estimates.
• FCC/National Broadband Map program data for provider footprints and technology types (contextualized to Lee County).
• Carrier public 5G coverage disclosures and FirstNet countywide availability (for infrastructure context).

Social media usage in Lee County, Mississippi (2025 snapshot)

How many people use social media

• Adult population (18+): ~66,000–68,000
• Adults using social media: ~52,000–55,500 (≈78–82% of adults)
• Daily social media users: ~43,000–47,000 (≈65–70% of adults)

Gender breakdown (share of social media users)

• Female: ~53%
• Male: ~47%

Age breakdown (share of adult social media users)

• 18–24: ~11%
• 25–34: ~20%
• 35–44: ~19%
• 45–54: ~17%
• 55–64: ~16%
• 65+: ~17%

Most-used platforms among adults in Lee County (estimated penetration)

• YouTube: ~81%
• Facebook: ~73%
• Instagram: ~44%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~30%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• X (Twitter): ~18%
• LinkedIn: ~16%
• Reddit: ~16%
• Nextdoor: ~6%

Behavioral trends and usage patterns

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, churches, school and high‑school sports, civic groups, events; Groups and Marketplace drive significant engagement and transactions.
• Video-first consumption: short-form video (Reels, TikTok, Shorts) outperforms static posts; live streams for local sports, worship, and events have strong watch-time.
• Messaging over posting for younger users: 18–34s rely on Instagram DMs, Snapchat, and Messenger for coordination; Stories and ephemeral content are favored over feed posts.
• Shopping and discovery: Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell/trade groups are primary for deal-seeking; Instagram supports boutique retail and food spots; Pinterest usage is concentrated among women 25–54 for home, recipes, and planning.
• Platform by age:
  • 18–34: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat-heavy; YouTube ubiquitous.
  • 35–54: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram secondary; Pinterest strong among women.
  • 55+: Facebook is the default; YouTube growing; TikTok adoption present but niche.
• Trust and creators: Locally known figures, schools, churches, teams, and small businesses outperform generic brand pages; UGC and testimonials drive action.
• When people are active: Morning 6–8 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., and evenings 7–10 p.m.; weekend spikes around church and sports; Friday-night football season boosts local content.
• Mobile-first: >95% of consumption is on smartphones; vertical video and captions are critical; links perform best when simplified and click-to-message options are offered.
• Ads that work locally: Geo-targeted, event- or offer-driven creative with faces and clear CTAs; short vertical video outperforms static; boosting posts without targeting yields weaker ROI.

Notes

• Figures are county-level estimates synthesized from recent national platform usage research, Mississippi/rural usage skews, and Lee County’s age–gender profile. They represent best-available, decision-ready numbers for planning and benchmarking.