Newton County

Newton County, Mississippi – key demographics (most recent U.S. Census Bureau data: 2020 Census and 2019–2023 ACS 5‑year; 2023 population estimate)

Population size

• Total population: 21,291 (2020 Census)
• 2023 population estimate: ~20.9k

Age

• Median age: ~40 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18–64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White (non-Hispanic): ~61%
• Black or African American: ~35%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0–1%
• Asian: ~0–1%
• Two or more races/other: ~1–2%

Household data

• Total households: ~7,900–8,000
• Average household size: ~2.6
• Family households: ~67%
• Married-couple families: ~47%
• Households with children under 18: ~29%
• Nonfamily households: ~33%
• Individuals living alone: ~29% (about 13% are 65+ living alone)

Insights

• Modest population decline since 2020.
• Older age profile than the U.S. overall (median age ~40).
• Predominantly White and Black population with a small but growing Hispanic/Latino share.
• Household structure skews toward married-couple and family households; average household size slightly above the national average.

Newton County, MS snapshot (2020 Census): population 21,291 across ≈578 sq mi → ≈37 residents/sq mi (well below U.S. ≈94), a factor that correlates with patchier fixed-broadband availability outside towns along I‑20.

Estimated email users: ≈13,400 residents

• Basis: adult share ≈76% of population, rural internet adoption ≈83%, and email use among internet users ≈92%, plus high teen adoption.

Estimated age distribution of email users:

• 13–24: 16%
• 25–44: 33%
• 45–64: 34%
• 65+: 17%

Estimated gender split of email users:

• Female: 51%
• Male: 49%

Digital access trends:

• Household broadband subscription: ≈76% (below U.S. average), with growth over recent years driven by cable/fiber expansions near the I‑20 corridor and school/work-from-home needs.
• Smartphone-only internet access: ≈20% of households, indicating many residents rely on mobile data when fixed options are limited.
• Email engagement is near-universal among 25–64, strong among teens, and lower but rising among 65+, tracking device adoption and telehealth/banking usage.

Newton County, Mississippi: Mobile phone usage profile (2024)

Scope and sources

• Basis: 2019–2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5‑year patterns for rural Mississippi counties, 2024 FCC mobile/broadband availability maps, NTIA Internet Use Survey 2023, Pew Research Center device adoption, and regional carrier coverage disclosures (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile, C Spire). Figures are modeled for Newton County’s size and demographics; ranges reflect statistical uncertainty and rural variability.

User estimates

• Total mobile phone users: 16,000–17,500 residents (roughly 75–82% of the population), with 13,500–15,000 smartphone users.
• Smartphone-only home internet households (no wired broadband): 20–28% of households, above the Mississippi statewide share.
• Feature‑phone (non‑smartphone) users: 7–10% of adult users, concentrated among ages 65+.
• Prepaid plans share: materially higher than the state average; prepaid dominates among lower‑income and younger adults.

Demographic breakdown (use, device type, and reliance)

• Age:
  • 18–34: near‑universal smartphone ownership; highest data use per line; highest smartphone‑only home internet reliance.
  • 35–64: high smartphone ownership; mixed home connectivity; frequent multi‑line family plans.
  • 65+: lower smartphone adoption and more voice/text‑centric use; greater feature‑phone presence; adoption still rising year‑over‑year.
• Income:
  • Below‑median‑income households are more likely to be smartphone‑only for home internet and to use prepaid or Lifeline‑supported plans.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Black and Native American residents show higher smartphone‑only reliance than White residents, driven by affordability and wired availability gaps.
• Household composition:
  • Single‑adult and renter households have the highest smartphone‑only rates; multi‑adult homeowner households are more likely to maintain a wired connection.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile, and C Spire operate in and around Newton County.
• 4G LTE: essentially countywide outdoor coverage from at least two carriers; indoor reliability varies in low‑lying and forested areas.
• 5G:
  • Low‑band 5G covers most towns and the I‑20 corridor; fills in rural areas but with modest capacity.
  • Mid‑band 5G capacity is spotty and largely confined to population clusters and highway corridors; limited reach off‑corridor.
• Redundancy/overlap: Most residents have a choice of two or three LTE providers; three‑provider overlap diminishes away from I‑20 and town centers.
• Wired broadband backdrop:
  • Cable and fiber availability is patchy outside town centers; DSL remains in use in some areas pending upgrades.
  • Recent grant‑funded builds (RDOF/BEAD) are expanding fiber along select routes, but many rural roads remain underserved.
• Public safety: AT&T FirstNet coverage along primary routes and key facilities; depth off‑corridor is mixed, mirroring commercial AT&T coverage.

How Newton County differs from Mississippi overall

• Higher smartphone‑only dependence: A larger share of households rely on mobile data as their primary home internet compared with the statewide average, reflecting sparser wired options and lower household incomes.
• Slightly lower senior smartphone adoption: A larger 65+ share and more feature‑phone retention depress overall smartphone penetration versus the state average.
• Greater prepaid penetration: Prepaid and budget MVNO plans take a larger share than statewide, tied to income levels and credit constraints.
• More pronounced indoor coverage variability: Heavier tree cover and lower tower density away from I‑20 produce more indoor dead spots than typical in Mississippi’s metro counties.
• Slower 5G capacity rollout: Mid‑band 5G coverage is less complete than the state’s urban counties, so peak mobile speeds off the highway corridor trail state averages.

Trends and trajectory

• Mobile substitution is rising: As ACP subsidies ended in 2024 and wired buildouts lag in outlying areas, smartphone‑only home internet use continues to grow.
• Gradual capacity gains: Additional mid‑band 5G sectors and limited new macro/small‑cell placements are improving highway‑area speeds first, with rural capacity following more slowly.
• Device mix shifting older cohorts: Ongoing upgrade cycles are moving 65+ users from feature phones to entry‑level smartphones, lifting overall smartphone penetration incrementally each year.
• Fiber buildouts will moderate smartphone‑only reliance in town centers first; truly rural roads will likely remain mobile‑first for longer.

Key numbers at a glance (modeled, 2024)

• Population: about 21,000–22,000
• Mobile phone users: 16,000–17,500
• Smartphone users: 13,500–15,000
• Smartphone‑only home internet households: 20–28% (above Mississippi average)
• LTE choice: ≥2 carriers for most residents; 3‑carrier overlap strongest near I‑20 and towns
• 5G: broad low‑band coverage; limited mid‑band capacity off corridors

Notes on methodology

• County totals derived from ACS population/household structure for rural east‑central Mississippi and applied device/adoption rates from NTIA/Pew for rural South demographics, calibrated against FCC mobile and wired availability in Newton County. Ranges reflect confidence bounds for small‑area estimation and year‑to‑year build activity.

Newton County, MS social media snapshot (2024 modeled)

How this was built: Estimates combine the county’s latest ACS demographic profile with 2024 Pew Research platform/adoption rates, adjusted for rural Southern usage patterns. Figures rounded to whole percentages; counts rounded to the nearest 100 users.

Topline user stats

• Population: ≈21,400 residents
• Adults (18+): ≈16,500
• Active social media users (13+): ≈12,800–13,600
  • Share of total residents: ≈60–64%
  • Share of adults (18+): ≈72–76%
  • Teens (13–17) using social media: ≈90%+

Age mix of social media users

• 13–17: 8–10%
• 18–24: 9–11%
• 25–34: 17–19%
• 35–44: 19–21%
• 45–54: 15–17%
• 55–64: 13–15%
• 65+: 12–14%

Gender breakdown among social media users

• Female: 53–55%
• Male: 45–47%

Most-used platforms (share of social media users)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 68–74%
• Facebook Messenger: 60–66%
• Instagram: 35–41%
• TikTok: 30–36%
• Snapchat: 24–30% (heavy among 13–29)
• Pinterest: 28–33% (female-skewed)
• X/Twitter: 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 14–18%
• WhatsApp: 15–20%

Behavioral trends and usage patterns

• Facebook is the default local network: community groups, school athletics, church events, city/county notices, local businesses, and Marketplace drive the highest engagement. Posts featuring recognizable local people/places and timely service info (weather, road closures, school updates) outperform generic content.
• Short‑form video is rising fast: TikTok and Instagram Reels use is strongest under 35; many short videos are re-shared to Facebook where older audiences see them.
• Messaging-first coordination: Facebook Messenger group chats are standard for youth sports, church ministries, civic clubs; SMS/phone trees are secondary.
• Local commerce: Heavy Facebook Marketplace activity (vehicles, equipment, furniture). Instagram Shops/e-commerce are present but far less common than buy/sell/trade groups.
• Time-of-day engagement: Peaks around 6–8 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., and 7–9 p.m. CT; weekend mornings and early evenings draw strong community engagement.
• Content preferences by age:
  • Teens/young adults: YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat for entertainment and peer messaging; Instagram for highlights and style; Facebook mainly for events/teams.
  • 30–49: Facebook for family/community, YouTube for how‑tos and sports; moderate Instagram; growing TikTok consumption.
  • 50+: Facebook and YouTube dominate; lower but steady Pinterest usage; minimal TikTok/Snapchat.
• Gender tendencies: Women over-index on Facebook Groups and Pinterest (recipes, home, crafts); men over-index on YouTube (DIY, outdoors, sports). Both genders use Facebook Marketplace.
• Trust and sources: Higher trust in hyperlocal pages/groups and school, church, and public-safety pages than in national media; word-of-mouth amplified via Facebook shares.

Notes

• These are best-available county-level estimates derived from ACS demographics and 2024 national/rural-South usage rates; exact platform user counts at the county level are not published by platforms.