Franklin County

Below are top-line demographics for Franklin County, New York (most recent U.S. Census Bureau data; figures rounded).

Population

• Total: 47,555 (2020 Census)
• ACS 2019–2023 estimate: ≈46,900

Age

• Median age: ≈39 years
• Under 18: ≈19%
• 18 to 64: ≈66%
• 65 and over: ≈15%

Gender

• Male: ≈54%
• Female: ≈46%

Race and ethnicity

• White (non-Hispanic): ≈68%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ≈12%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ≈7%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ≈1%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ≈6%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ≈7% (Note: Hispanic can be of any race; categories may not sum to 100% due to rounding.)

Households and housing

• Households: ≈18,300
• Average household size: ≈2.35
• Family households: ≈60%
• Households with children under 18: ≈26%
• Tenure: ≈69% owner-occupied, ≈31% renter-occupied

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

Franklin County, NY snapshot

• Population/density: 47.5k residents over ~1,630 sq. mi. (29 people/sq. mi.), with population concentrated in Malone, Saranac Lake (part), and Tupper Lake.
• Estimated email users: 33–36k residents. Method: adult population (37k) × high U.S. email adoption (≈85–90%), adjusted for local internet access.
• Age distribution of email use (approx. share using email):
  • 18–29: 95%+
  • 30–49: ~95%
  • 50–64: ~90%
  • 65+: ~75–85% (lower in the most rural tracts)
• Gender split: roughly 50/50 in both population and email use; no material gender gap in usage.
• Digital access and trends:
  • ~80% of households have a broadband subscription (ACS 5‑year, approx.); remaining rely on mobile-only or satellite.
  • 4G coverage is common along major corridors; 5G/fiber concentrated in towns; rural Adirondack areas still have gaps per FCC maps.
  • Public libraries, schools, and municipal Wi‑Fi are important access points.
  • Ongoing upgrades via NY’s ConnectALL and federal BEAD efforts target unserved/underserved pockets.

Interpretation: High email penetration among working-age adults; seniors lag somewhat. Low population density and terrain drive service disparities, but buildouts are narrowing the gap.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Franklin County, New York

How many users (estimated)

• Adults in the county: roughly 35,000–38,000.
• Any mobile phone (smartphone or basic): about 33,000–36,000 adult users, reflecting very high but slightly below–state-average adoption in rural areas.
• Smartphones: about 28,000–32,000 adult users. Overall smartphone penetration appears a few points lower than the New York State average, mainly due to an older age profile and lower median incomes.
• Mobile-only internet at home: an estimated 2,500–3,500 households rely mainly or exclusively on cellular data for home internet, a higher share than the statewide average. This reflects gaps in fixed broadband availability and affordability, as well as the 2024–2025 pause in the federal ACP subsidy.

Demographic patterns (how the county differs from the state)

• Age: Younger adults are near-universal smartphone users, but adoption among 65+ is notably lower than the state average. The county’s older age mix pulls down overall smartphone penetration relative to New York’s largely urban population.
• Income and education: Lower-income and lower-education households are more likely to be mobile-only for home internet and to use prepaid plans, at rates above the state average. The end of ACP has likely increased this reliance.
• Geography within the county: Town centers and college areas (e.g., Malone; the Saranac Lake/Tupper Lake corridor that overlaps county lines) show higher 5G usage and app-based services; more remote hamlets show greater dependence on voice/SMS, Wi‑Fi calling, and signal boosters.
• Native communities: The St. Regis Mohawk (Akwesasne) area has unique connectivity efforts (tribal and regional providers) and a higher share of cross-border considerations than most NY counties. This can shape plan choices and device settings (e.g., roaming controls).

Digital infrastructure and usage context (distinct from statewide trends)

• Coverage and terrain: Franklin County’s mountainous/forested terrain and Adirondack Park permitting constraints create more coverage shadows and slower densification than typical downstate/metro NY areas. Residents report more dead zones and a heavier reliance on Wi‑Fi calling and external antennas/boosters.
• 5G footprint: 5G is present but patchy. Low‑band 5G (and 4G LTE) cover main corridors; mid‑band 5G is largely confined to and around population centers. That’s a sharper urban–rural gap than the statewide picture.
• Speeds and capacity: Median cellular speeds trend lower than the state average because networks lean on low‑band spectrum for reach; mmWave is essentially absent. Seasonal tourism and events can create localized congestion spikes unusual for a low-density area.
• Carriers: Verizon and AT&T generally provide the most reliable rural coverage; T‑Mobile has expanded low‑band coverage but mid‑band depth is spottier than in downstate metros. FirstNet (AT&T) is a factor for public‑safety coverage in remote areas.
• Backhaul and towers: Fewer macro sites per square mile than the state average and limited fiber backhaul off main routes slow upgrades. Microwave backhaul still appears in some stretches where fiber is thin.
• Cross‑border effects: Proximity to Québec means occasional inadvertent roaming onto Canadian networks, a dynamic uncommon elsewhere in NY. Some residents adopt plan features or device settings to avoid international charges.
• Fixed-broadband gaps: DSL and legacy cable plant persist in pockets; fiber doesn’t yet reach many outlying roads. That pushes a higher share of residents toward mobile hotspots and phone tethering than statewide. State/tribal investments (e.g., ConnectALL initiatives and tribal/municipal providers) are addressing gaps but buildout is ongoing.

What this means in practice

• Penetration is high, but smartphone adoption and 5G use lag the NY average because of age, income, terrain, and infrastructure.
• Mobile-only home internet is meaningfully more common than statewide, particularly post-ACP pause.
• Coverage quality is more variable; boosters, Wi‑Fi calling, and careful carrier selection matter more here than in most of New York.
• Cross-border roaming and seasonal traffic patterns create edge cases that shape user behavior and plan selection.

Notes on method

• Estimates blend county population/age structure with recent national and rural adoption rates and observed North Country infrastructure patterns. Exact subscriber counts and performance metrics would require carrier or FCC map data for final validation.

Here’s a concise, county-specific snapshot based on U.S. Census/ACS demographics, Pew Research Center’s 2024 social media benchmarks (with rural adjustments), and indicative platform ad-reach tools. Figures are estimates and ranges.

Headline numbers (Franklin County, NY)

• Population: ~47K; adults (18+): ~36–38K
• Adults using any social platform: ~70–75% → ~25–28K adults
• Teens (13–17) using any platform: ~85–90% → ~3–4K teens
• Total active social users (13+): ~28–32K

Age mix of active users (share of local social audience)

• 13–17: 10–12%
• 18–24: 12–15%
• 25–34: 18–20%
• 35–44: 18–20%
• 45–54: 15–17%
• 55–64: 12–14%
• 65+: 10–12%

Gender breakdown (active social audience)

• Women: ~53–57%
• Men: ~43–47% Note: The county’s relatively large incarcerated male population depresses male representation among active social users.

Most-used platforms among adults (share of local adults using)

• YouTube: ~75–80%
• Facebook: ~70–75%
• Instagram: ~35–40%
• TikTok: ~28–33%
• Snapchat: ~25–30%
• Pinterest: ~28–32% (skews female)
• X (Twitter): ~18–22% (news/sports/weather)
• LinkedIn: ~20–25% (healthcare, education, public sector)

Younger users (13–24) tilt

• Instagram: ~75–85%
• TikTok: ~65–75%
• Snapchat: ~60–70%
• YouTube: ~90–95%

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: school sports, town events, buy/sell/trade, mutual aid, local government and weather/emergency updates. High engagement in Groups; Messenger used for customer service.
• Video first, mobile first: Short, captioned video (YouTube, Facebook/IG Reels, TikTok). Rural bandwidth favors concise clips and vertical formats.
• “Local and practical” content wins: high interest in outdoor recreation (Adirondacks/Tupper Lake), hunting/fishing, maple season, yard/garden/DIY, local dining, high school sports, and road/weather conditions.
• Teens/young adults: Snapchat for messaging and friend networks; TikTok/IG for trends and local creators; YouTube for how‑tos and entertainment.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace and Group-based selling outperform formal e‑commerce for many residents; event discovery via Facebook Events.
• Timing: Engagement peaks weekdays 7–9 a.m. and 7–10 p.m.; weekends mid‑morning to early afternoon.
• Trust dynamics: Local pages, known individuals, and community groups carry more weight than national brands; comments and shares drive reach more than ads alone.

Notes and sources

• Estimates derived from Pew Research Center (Social Media Use, 2024), U.S. Census/ACS for Franklin County age/sex structure, and rural adjustments commonly observed in platform usage. Platform-specific ad planning tools were used directionally for share/order, not exact counts. Actual figures vary by season, connectivity, and the county’s unique institutional population.