Fulton County

Here are key demographics for Fulton County, New York (latest U.S. Census Bureau data; figures rounded):

Population

• Total population: 53,324 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~53.5k (Census Vintage 2023)

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~22%

Sex

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White alone: ~91%
• Black or African American alone: ~3%
• Asian alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.4%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~4–5%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~87%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~22,000
• Average household size: ~2.33
• Family households: ~62% of households (married-couple ~44%)
• Households with children under 18: ~26–28%
• One-person households: ~31%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~72%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (e.g., DP05, DP02); Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023).

Here’s a best-available estimate for Fulton County, NY (pop. ~53k):

• Estimated email users: 38k–45k residents (roughly 70–85% of the population), based on U.S. internet/email adoption benchmarks applied to local connectivity.
• Age distribution (share of each group using email):
  • 13–17: ~60–75%
  • 18–29: ~95%+
  • 30–49: ~95%
  • 50–64: ~88–93%
  • 65+: ~70–85%
• Gender split among email users: roughly even, tracking population (≈51% female, 49% male), with negligible usage gap by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband subscription likely ~75–85% of households; an additional 10–15% are smartphone‑only users.
  • Public libraries and schools augment access via Wi‑Fi and devices.
  • Most populated corridors (Gloversville–Johnstown/NY‑30A) have denser fixed broadband and 4G/5G coverage; outlying hamlets see more reliance on fixed‑wireless, mobile, or satellite.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Population density ≈100 people/sq. mi. (well below the NYS average), contributing to patchier last‑mile infrastructure in rural areas.
  • Ongoing NYS and federal broadband programs are targeting remaining unserved/underserved pockets.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from Census/ACS, Pew, and FCC patterns for similar rural counties; treat as directional estimates.

Mobile phone usage in Fulton County, NY — 2024–2025 snapshot

At-a-glance user estimates

• Population base: roughly 53,000 residents; about 41,000 are adults (18+).
• Active mobile users: approximately 40,000–43,000 unique users countywide.
• Smartphone users: about 35,000–38,000 (roughly 78–84% of adults plus most teens).
• Wireless-only (no landline) households: estimated 55–65% in Fulton County, below New York State’s average (roughly 70–75%).
• Households with mobile broadband (a cellular data plan): about 65–70% in Fulton County vs. roughly 75–80% statewide.
• Smartphone-only internet households (rely on cellular, no home wireline broadband): estimated 18–22% in Fulton County, higher than the NYS average (about 12–14%).

Demographic patterns

• Age
  • 18–34: smartphone adoption near universal (≈90–95%), similar to statewide.
  • 35–64: high adoption (≈85–90%) but slightly below NYS due to cost sensitivities.
  • 65+: markedly lower adoption (≈60–70% vs. ≈75–80% statewide); more basic/feature-phone use persists.
• Income and affordability
  • A larger share of lower- and moderate-income households than the NYS average correlates with:
    • Higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans.
    • Higher smartphone-only internet use (skipping home broadband to save money).
• Education
  • Lower average educational attainment than the state links to greater smartphone-only reliance for internet access.
• Race/ethnicity
  • The county is predominantly White; racial gaps seen at the state level are less visible locally. Affordability and age are stronger drivers than race in Fulton County.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Coverage footprint
  • 4G LTE is broadly available in population centers (Gloversville, Johnstown, villages and main corridors like NY‑29/30/30A). Coverage weakens moving north and into more forested, hilly terrain and lake areas (e.g., around Caroga/Great Sacandaga), where dead zones are more common than the state average.
• 5G availability and capacity
  • 5G is present in and around the main population clusters. Mid-band 5G (capacity 5G) is spotty outside those areas; low-band 5G covers more geography but with LTE-like speeds. Overall 5G capacity lags the state average, which is buoyed by dense urban buildouts.
• Carriers and public safety
  • Verizon, AT&T (including FirstNet Band 14 for public safety), and T‑Mobile all operate locally. T‑Mobile’s low-band footprint is relatively wide; C‑band/mid-band upgrades from Verizon and AT&T are concentrated near towns and along primary roads.
• Backhaul and middle mile
  • Fiber backhaul is available in town centers and along key corridors; outside those, backhaul can be constrained, limiting 5G capacity. The county relies more on microwave and longer fiber laterals than urban NYS counties.
• Alternatives and supplements
  • Fixed wireless providers (using CBRS and licensed microwave) are more prevalent than in downstate metro areas. Some households use mobile hotspots as a primary connection more than the NYS average.
• Densification
  • Fewer small cells and infill sites than the state average; investment tends to prioritize filling coverage gaps rather than high-capacity densification.

How Fulton County differs from the New York State pattern

• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption, driven by an older age profile and affordability constraints.
• Lower share of wireless-only voice households than NYS (older residents keep landlines), but a higher share of smartphone-only internet households (wireline broadband is skipped for cost/availability reasons).
• Greater reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans and fixed wireless or hotspot-based home internet.
• 5G mid-band capacity is more limited and localized; coverage gaps persist in rural/wooded areas, unlike more continuous coverage in downstate metros.
• Seasonal usage spikes (lakes, campgrounds, recreation areas) create congestion patterns that are more pronounced than in urban NYS.
• Infrastructure deployments emphasize extending reach and backhaul to rural zones rather than dense urban-style small-cell buildouts, slowing capacity gains relative to the state average.

Notes on methods and sources

• Estimates triangulate U.S. Census/ACS demographics for Fulton County, national and NYS-level mobile adoption (e.g., Pew, CDC NHIS on wireless-only households, ACS device/subscription tables), FCC/NTIA broadband indicators, carrier coverage disclosures, and independent testers’ upstate speed observations. Figures are provided as ranges to reflect data lags and rural variability.

Fulton County, NY — social media snapshot (best-available estimates)

How many users

• Population: ~53k; adults (18+): ~42–44k.
• Adults using at least one social platform: ~30–33k (≈70–75% of adults; in line with Pew’s national/rural rates).

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; county estimates)

• YouTube: 75–80% (largest overall reach)
• Facebook: 65–70% (most central for local/community)
• Instagram: 35–40%
• TikTok: 25–30%
• Pinterest: 28–32%
• Snapchat: 18–22%
• LinkedIn: 15–20%
• X (Twitter): 15–18%
• WhatsApp: 12–18%
• Reddit: 12–15%
• Nextdoor: 5–8% Note: Ranges apply Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. platform adoption to Fulton County’s older/rural-skewed profile; exact county-level usage isn’t directly published.

Age patterns

• Teens (13–17): TikTok/Snapchat dominant; Instagram second; Facebook used mainly for groups/school info.
• 18–29: Near‑universal YouTube; heavy Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat; Facebook used but less central.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok growing; Pinterest strong among parents.
• 50–64: Facebook highest; YouTube high; Instagram modest; TikTok rising for entertainment/how‑tos.
• 65+: Facebook >50% use; YouTube ~50%; lighter on Instagram/TikTok; some Nextdoor where available.

Gender tendencies

• Women: More likely on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; higher engagement in local groups and Marketplace.
• Men: More likely on YouTube, Reddit, X; content skew to sports, outdoors, auto, trades.

Behavioral trends (what people do)

• Community/info: Facebook Groups are the hub (towns like Gloversville/Johnstown, schools, youth sports, lost & found, yard sales). Fast propagation of school closings, severe weather, and public-safety notices.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell groups drive secondhand goods and seasonal gear; Instagram for boutiques, salons, food specials.
• Local gov/services: County/municipal pages used for road work, closures, events; posts with photos/maps outperform text-only updates.
• Content formats: Short‑form video (Reels/TikTok) outperform static posts for restaurants, outdoor rec near the Adirondack foothills, makers/crafts.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default DM for businesses; SMS/phone still common; WhatsApp usage is present but limited relative to big metros.
• Timing: Usage peaks 6–8am and 7–9pm; Sunday evening planning window is strong; snow/weather events spike midday engagement.
• Trust: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups for “what’s happening,” but users often verify with official county/school pages or local news.

Notes and sources

• Estimates are derived from Pew Research Center’s 2024 Social Media Use (national + rural cuts) blended with Fulton County’s age profile (ACS), then rounded to local ranges. Exact platform penetration by county is not publicly reported; for precise planning, pull audience estimates from platform ad tools (Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, X) geotargeted to Fulton County.