Genesee County

Here are the latest Census Bureau figures for Genesee County, NY (most from ACS 2019–2023 5-year; population from 2023 Population Estimates):

Population size

• 2020 Census: 58,388
• 2023 estimate: ~57,700

Age

• Median age: ~43.5 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race/ethnicity (ACS, percent of total)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~86–87%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5–6%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~1%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2–3%
• Other (incl. American Indian/Alaska Native, NHPI): <1%

Households

• Total households: ~23,000
• Average household size: ~2.35–2.40
• Family households: ~59–60% of households
• Married-couple households: ~45% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~26%
• Householder living alone age 65+: ~13%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Population Estimates Program; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

Genesee County, NY snapshot (estimates)

• Population: ~58,000 across ~495 sq mi (≈117 people/sq mi; largely rural). County seat: Batavia. Connectivity is strongest in/near Batavia and along the I‑90 corridor; outer towns have more limited provider choice.

• Estimated email users: 40,000–45,000 residents. Method: apply national adult email adoption (90%+) to the county’s adult population; teen usage adds modestly.

• Age distribution (usage rates, applying Pew U.S. averages locally):

  • 18–29: ~95% use email
  • 30–49: ~93%
  • 50–64: ~90%
  • 65+: ~80–85% Given the county’s older age profile, most email users are 30–64, with strong but slightly lower usage among 65+.

• Gender split: ~50/50. Email adoption is essentially equal by gender; the county population is near even, so users are too.

• Digital access trends:

  • ~85–88% of households have a broadband subscription (ACS-style measure); overall device ownership is high.
  • A small minority (roughly 5–10%) rely on cellular-data–only or have no home internet.
  • Fiber and cable coverage is expanding from population centers; unserved or underserved pockets persist in rural tracts, where satellite or DSL may be more common.

Note: Figures are derived from ACS-style county connectivity rates and national Pew email-adoption patterns applied to local demographics.

Overview Genesee County (pop. ~58,000) is a largely rural area between Buffalo and Rochester. Mobile phone adoption is high but a bit below New York State averages, with sharper urban–rural disparities, heavier prepaid/MVNO use, and greater reliance on cellular as a primary home internet option than is typical statewide.

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, based on population and rural adoption patterns)

• Total mobile phone users (any mobile device): roughly 46,000–52,000 residents.
• Smartphone users: roughly 41,000–47,000. Adult adoption is high, but countywide rates sit a few points below NYS (which is near nine-in-ten adults), mainly due to a larger senior share and rural pockets with weaker coverage.
• Mobile-only or smartphone-only home internet households: meaningfully higher than NYS. Expect roughly one in five households using a phone or hotspot as their primary connection (vs. closer to one in eight statewide), driven by limited wired options outside towns.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age
  • 18–64: Smartphone adoption is comparable to state levels (well over 85%).
  • 65+: Noticeably lower smartphone adoption than NYS; more basic/flip phones remain in use. This pulls down the overall county average versus the state.
  • Teens: High smartphone penetration, but data plans skew toward shared family or prepaid options more than in urban NY.
• Income and plans
  • Median income trails NYS, and that shows up as a higher share of prepaid/MVNO lines, more price-sensitive plan shopping, and longer device replacement cycles (often 3–4+ years vs. shorter cycles in metro NY).
• Platform mix
  • Android share is higher than the statewide mix (where iPhone dominates, especially in NYC). In Genesee, Android often leads or is close to parity, reflecting price sensitivity and prepaid ecosystems.
• Urban vs. rural within the county
  • Batavia and the I‑90 corridor look more like state averages: newer devices, more 5G use, and postpaid family plans.
  • Outlying towns and farm areas show more basic phones, boosters for indoor coverage, and heavier hotspot use for home connectivity.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what’s different from state-level)

• Network footprint
  • Verizon and AT&T generally offer the most consistent rural coverage; T‑Mobile is strong in Batavia and along the Thruway but can be spottier on back roads and in low‑lying areas.
  • 5G low‑band reaches major roads and population centers; mid‑band 5G (higher speeds) is concentrated around Batavia and the Thruway corridor. Outside those areas, LTE is still the primary experience.
• Speed and capacity
  • In‑town mid‑band 5G commonly delivers high‑hundreds Mbps under good signal; rural LTE ranges widely (often 5–25 Mbps, sometimes less indoors). This urban–rural performance gap is larger than in downstate metros.
  • Event-driven congestion is notable (e.g., concerts and fairgrounds near Darien Lake) compared with typical daily loads in cities.
• Gaps and workarounds
  • Coverage holes and weak indoor signal persist in some hamlets and farm valleys (e.g., around low-lying stretches near Tonawanda Creek and in more remote parts of towns like Alabama, Byron, Bethany). Signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling are common remedies—more so than in most of NYS.
• Backhaul and tower density
  • Fewer macro sites per square mile than downstate; carriers lean on co‑locations (water towers, silos) and microwave or limited fiber backhaul in rural sectors. This contributes to greater variability in speed and reliability than the state average.
• Fixed alternatives
  • Spectrum cable covers Batavia and larger villages; beyond that, options taper to legacy DSL, fixed wireless, satellite, or cellular hotspots. As a result, cellular is more often used as primary home internet than the NYS norm.

Key ways Genesee County differs from the NYS average

• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption due to an older population mix and rural coverage constraints.
• Higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans and longer device lifecycles.
• Higher share of smartphone-only or mobile hotspot households because wired broadband is patchier outside towns.
• More pronounced performance split: strong 5G in Batavia/Thruway areas versus LTE‑dependent, variable speeds in outer townships.
• Android share tends to be higher, iPhone share lower, than the statewide mix.
• Coverage and resilience considerations (storms, power reliability, distance from towers) play a bigger role in carrier choice than in urban NY.

Genesee County, NY — social media snapshot (2025 est.)

Baseline

• Population: ~57,000 residents; ~48,000 are age 13+
• Internet/broadband: roughly 84–88% of households have a broadband subscription; smartphone use >85% among adults
• Social media penetration (age 13+): 78–83% monthly active → about 37,000–40,000 people; 65–70% daily active → ~31,000–34,000

Age mix (share using at least one platform, monthly)

• 13–17: 95%+
• 18–29: ~95%
• 30–49: 88–92%
• 50–64: 75–80%
• 65+: 55–65% (heaviest on Facebook and YouTube)

Gender notes

• Overall usage near parity; women slightly higher (+2–4 pp)
• Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, local groups/Marketplace
• Men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X (Twitter); similar on TikTok and Snapchat

Most-used platforms (share of residents age 13+, monthly; county-adjusted estimates)

• YouTube: 70–78% (≈34k–38k)
• Facebook: 62–70% (≈30k–34k)
• Facebook Messenger: 55–60% (≈27k–29k)
• Instagram: 35–45% (≈17k–22k)
• TikTok: 28–35% (≈13k–17k)
• Snapchat: 22–30% (≈11k–14k)
• LinkedIn: 15–22% (≈7k–11k)
• X (Twitter): 15–20% (≈7k–10k)
• Reddit: 12–18% (≈6k–9k)
• WhatsApp: 8–15% (≈4k–7k)
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (≈2k–5k; adoption limited outside denser neighborhoods)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook as the local “utility”: school districts, volunteer fire/EMS, towns/villages, churches, youth sports, and community swap/yard-sale groups drive daily check-ins; Marketplace is a top local shopping channel
• Local news flows through Facebook and YouTube; many discover county updates and events via shares in neighborhood or “What’s happening in…” groups
• Video-first habits: YouTube for cord-cutting, local sports highlights, church services, DIY/auto/home projects; TikTok/IG Reels for entertainment and small-business promotion
• Youth patterns: Snapchat for messaging and group chats; TikTok/IG for trends and local eateries; limited Facebook use except for events, school notices, or Marketplace via family
• Commerce: Deal posts, giveaways, and limited-time offers on FB/IG outperform static web pages; click-to-call and message buttons convert better than long forms
• Timing: Engagement peaks 7–9 pm; secondary bump 11:30 am–1 pm; weather and school/road alerts cause short, sharp spikes
• Rural connectivity: Patchy broadband in some tracts nudges heavier off-peak, Wi‑Fi-based video viewing and favors shorter videos; image/text posts remain important for reach

Notes on method

• Figures are estimates derived from 2023–2024 Pew Research national platform usage, rural/suburban differentials, and local demographics applied to Genesee County’s population profile. For campaign planning, validate with platform ad-reach tools and a short local survey.