Cheshire County

Key demographics – Cheshire County, New Hampshire

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

• Population size:

  • 76,458 (2020 Census)
  • ~76.5k (ACS 2018–2022)

• Age:

  • Median age: ~44 years
  • Under 18: ~18%
  • 18–64: ~60%
  • 65 and over: ~22%

• Gender:

  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%

• Race/ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022):

  • White, non-Hispanic: ~91%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3%
  • Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%
  • Asian, non-Hispanic: ~1.5–2%
  • Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: <1%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: ~0%

• Households (ACS 2018–2022):

  • Total households: ~30,000
  • Average household size: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~60% of households
  • Owner-occupied housing: ~68%
  • Renter-occupied housing: ~32%

Summary of email usage in Cheshire County, NH (estimates)

• Estimated users: About 58–62k residents use email out of ~76k total (≈56k adults). Based on national adoption rates applied to local population.
• Age distribution (adoption rates):
  • 18–29: ~95–99% use email
  • 30–49: ~95–98%
  • 50–64: ~90–95%
  • 65+: ~75–85% County skews slightly older than the U.S., so a larger share of users are 50+ compared with urban counties.
• Gender split: Roughly even (~50/50). Email adoption is similar among men and women.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription is high for a rural county (roughly mid–high 80s percent), with 10–15% relying primarily on smartphones for internet.
  • Fiber has expanded in/around Keene (e.g., Consolidated/Fidium), while many rural towns remain on cable/DSL; fixed‑wireless/5G home internet is increasingly available.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ≈100 people/sq. mi.; Keene (~23k) concentrates ~30% of residents and the most robust broadband.
  • Best wireline speeds follow major corridors (NH‑9, NH‑12); hillier western/southern areas show more variability in speeds and provider choice.

Below is a county-focused snapshot that pulls from standard public sources (ACS S2801 “Computer and Internet Use,” FCC mobile coverage filings/maps, state broadband plans, and Pew adoption trends) and local context. Figures are expressed as ranges where only county-level proxies exist.

Topline estimates for Cheshire County (2024–2025 snapshot)

• Population and households: roughly 76–78k residents, ~31–32k households.
• Mobile phone users: 70–73k residents use a mobile phone of some kind; 62–68k use smartphones.
  • Basis: near-ubiquitous cellphone ownership among adults, with slightly lower smartphone adoption among 65+ compared to younger adults.
• Households with a smartphone: about 28–30k households.
• Smartphone-only internet households (no wired broadband, rely on cellular data): approximately 12–16% of households (about 3.7–5.1k), likely a few points higher than the statewide NH average.

What’s distinct versus New Hampshire overall

• More pronounced urban–rural split: Keene and college-adjacent towns look like the state average (or better) on smartphone and 5G use; outlying hill-and-valley towns have lower smartphone adoption among seniors and more cellular-only internet reliance due to limited wired options.
• Slightly higher smartphone-only connectivity: Fixed broadband gaps in parts of the Monadnock region (e.g., Stoddard, Gilsum, Sullivan, Richmond, Fitzwilliam, parts of Hinsdale/Winchester) nudge some households to depend on cellular data plans; statewide, fiber/cable coverage is denser in the Seacoast and Merrimack Valley.
• Bimodal age pattern: County skews older than the state median, but Keene State and Franklin Pierce students boost smartphone saturation and 5G demand in Keene/Rindge. That produces heavier mobile data use around campuses and more conservative use patterns among older residents in rural towns.
• Cost sensitivity a bit higher: Median incomes trail the state average, which correlates with more price-sensitive plans and somewhat greater MVNO/prepaid uptake than in wealthier NH metros.

Demographic breakdown (drivers of usage)

• Age:
  • 18–34: near-universal smartphone use; heavy 5G and app-centric usage around Keene and Rindge (campuses/work hubs).
  • 35–64: high smartphone adoption; mix of postpaid and MVNO plans; frequent Wi‑Fi offload where fiber/cable is present.
  • 65+: still high cellphone ownership but lower smartphone adoption and more voice/SMS-centric usage; higher presence of basic/flip phones than state’s younger metros.
• Income:
  • Lower-income tracts (parts of Keene, Hinsdale, Winchester) show higher smartphone-only rates and MVNO reliance.
  • Higher-income pockets (Keene suburbs, Walpole/Chesterfield corridors) more often bundle wired broadband with mobile, reducing smartphone-only dependence.
• Education/student presence:
  • Keene State College and Franklin Pierce University add roughly 4.5–5k students; this cluster increases demand for mid-band 5G capacity, unlimited plans, and campus-adjacent small cells.
• Geography:
  • Keene/Swanzey/Jaffrey–Rindge corridor: usage and network quality closer to statewide norms.
  • Peripheral, forested, or hilly towns: more coverage variability and cellular-only households.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage quality:
  • 4G LTE is broadly available along main corridors (NH 9, NH 10, NH 12, US 202) and in/around Keene; pockets of weak signal persist in valleys and wooded terrain, especially near Mount Monadnock and northern/western hill towns.
  • 5G distribution: low-band 5G is widespread; mid-band 5G capacity is concentrated in Keene and along primary travel corridors, tapering in outlying areas. This is a sharper urban–rural contrast than the statewide average.
• Capacity and backhaul:
  • Ongoing fiber builds (e.g., Consolidated/Fidium Fiber) in and around Keene, Swanzey, Jaffrey, Rindge improve tower backhaul and enable 5G upgrades. Where new fiber hasn’t reached, carriers are slower to deploy higher-capacity 5G.
• Competition and plans:
  • All three national carriers are present; MVNOs are widely used in price-sensitive segments. Campus areas see higher uptake of unlimited and hotspot-enabled plans; rural areas see more mixed plan types.
• Public safety and resilience:
  • Statewide Text-to-911 is active; FirstNet/public-safety coverage is strong along main corridors but still contends with the same terrain-driven gaps seen by consumers. Local planners continue to target dead zones for new sites and fiber-fed backhaul.

Implications for planning and service design

• Targeted buildouts: The biggest delta with state-level performance is not in Keene but in the ring of rural towns. Mid-band 5G and additional sites or repeaters in valley communities would materially close the county–state gap.
• Digital equity: Smartphone-only households are a notable share in Cheshire County; subsidies, device support for seniors, and fixed wireless access (FWA) where fiber isn’t imminent can improve outcomes.
• Campus-centric demand: Seasonal and event-driven loads around Keene and Rindge justify capacity-focused small cells and C‑band/2.5 GHz overlays.

Data notes and how to firm up numbers

• Smartphone ownership and smartphone-only households: use ACS Table S2801 (2019–2023 5‑year for county reliability). Compare Cheshire County vs New Hampshire totals to quantify the gaps noted above.
• Coverage and 5G: reference the FCC mobile coverage maps and carrier 5G mid-band filings; spot-check around Keene, Jaffrey–Rindge, Walpole/Chesterfield, Stoddard/Dublin/Fitzwilliam.
• Validation: local 911/EMA and school/university IT teams can corroborate capacity hotspots and outage-prone areas.

Below is a concise, county‑level snapshot using the best available public benchmarks (primarily Pew Research Center U.S. usage rates, adjusted to Cheshire County’s age mix and urban/rural profile). Exact platform stats aren’t published at the county level, so treat figures as reasonable estimates.

At‑a‑glance user stats

• Population: ~76–78k residents; ~65–67k are age 13+
• Social media users (any platform, monthly): ~48k–55k (roughly 70–82% of residents 13+)
• Daily users: ~60–65% of residents 13+ (skews younger in Keene due to Keene State College)

Most‑used platforms in Cheshire County (share of residents 13+; estimated)

• YouTube: 72–76%
• Facebook: 60–65%
• Instagram: 38–45%
• TikTok: 26–32%
• Snapchat: 24–30%
• Pinterest: 25–32% (notably higher among women 25–54)
• LinkedIn: 22–28% (concentrated among professionals in/around Keene)
• X (Twitter): 15–22%
• Reddit: 16–22%
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (higher in denser neighborhoods; limited in rural towns)

Age‑group usage patterns (estimates; % using any social media monthly)

• 13–17: 95–98%; heavy on Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube; Instagram rising; Facebook minimal
• 18–24: 95–97%; YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok dominant; Reddit/Discord pockets
• 25–34: 90–93%; YouTube, Instagram, Facebook; TikTok growing; LinkedIn for job/skills
• 35–49: 80–85%; Facebook and YouTube core; Instagram/Pinterest secondary; TikTok modest
• 50–64: 65–75%; Facebook and YouTube primary; Pinterest notable; limited TikTok/Instagram
• 65+: 45–55%; Facebook and YouTube mainly; some Pinterest; minimal on newer platforms

Gender breakdown (among social media users; estimated)

• Overall users: ~53–55% women, ~45–47% men
• Platform tilts:
  • More women: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
  • More men: YouTube, Reddit, X
  • Mixed/younger: Snapchat, TikTok

Behavioral trends to know

• Community and local info: Facebook Groups and Pages are central for town updates, school notices, events, yard sales, lost/found pets, and Monadnock‑area hiking/outdoor groups. Nextdoor has pockets of use in denser neighborhoods.
• Video‑first consumption: Short‑form video (YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram Reels) drives discovery of local restaurants, campus life, hiking (Mt. Monadnock), and events.
• Messaging over posting: Younger users favor Snapchat/Instagram DMs; older users use Facebook Messenger. Public posting rates are lower than viewing/DM activity.
• Local commerce: Facebook Marketplace is widely used for resale. Instagram helps small businesses/artisans; LinkedIn supports hiring for education, healthcare, and manufacturing.
• News and alerts: Local agencies and media rely on Facebook for announcements, storms/closures, and emergency updates; reposts ripple into community groups.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings and weekends; student‑driven spikes around campus events and semester cycles.
• Ad responsiveness: Strongest on Facebook/Instagram for local offers and events; authenticity and clear locality cues (Keene/Monadnock) improve performance.

Data notes

• Figures are estimates derived from national platform adoption (Pew Research Center, 2023–2024) adjusted for Cheshire County’s demographics (older median age, plus a college‑age cluster in Keene). County‑specific platform percentages are not directly published; ranges reflect this uncertainty.