Alamance County

Which reference year/source would you prefer for Alamance County, NC?

• 2023 ACS 1-year estimates (most current annual sample)
• 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates (most stable for counties)
• 2020 Decennial Census (official counts, but older)

Also, for “household data,” do you want just number of households and average household size, or also family vs. nonfamily share and homeownership rates?

Email usage in Alamance County, NC (estimates, 2024–25)

• Estimated users: 130,000–150,000 residents use email regularly (about 80–85% of those age 15+).
• Age profile of email users:
  • 18–34: ~25–30% (near-universal adoption)
  • 35–49: ~25–30%
  • 50–64: ~25–30%
  • 65+: ~15–20% (lower but rising adoption)
• Gender split: Roughly even; women likely ~51–52% of users, reflecting the county’s slight female-majority population.
• Digital access:
  • ~80–86% of households subscribe to broadband; ~88–92% have a computer (ACS-like ranges for similar NC counties).
  • Smartphone access is widespread; a significant share of email is read on mobile.
• Density/connectivity facts:
  • Population ~175–180k across ~435 sq mi; highest connectivity in the Burlington–Graham–Elon corridor along I‑40/85 (cable/fiber common).
  • Outer rural areas more reliant on DSL/fixed‑wireless with lower speeds and higher latency.
  • Public libraries, schools, and Elon University offer free Wi‑Fi/device access that help mitigate gaps.
• Trends: Ongoing fiber buildouts and strong mobile usage; affordability and rural last‑mile coverage remain the primary barriers.

Notes: Figures are approximations based on national/NC adoption rates applied to Alamance’s population profile.

Mobile phone usage in Alamance County, NC — 2025 snapshot

Bottom line

• Overall usage is high and broadly similar to North Carolina, but Alamance stands out for heavier “smartphone-only” reliance (cellular data as primary internet), a pronounced student-driven mobile intensity around Elon University, and a sharper urban–rural gap in 5G performance and device reliance.

User estimates

• Population context: ~175–185k residents; adult share ~77–79%.
• Estimated mobile users (any mobile phone): 150–165k residents (includes teens; multiple lines per person are common).
• Estimated smartphone users: 135–150k residents. Adult ownership rates likely near 88–92%, with near-universal adoption among 18–29 and teens, and lower rates among 65+.
• Lines per capita: consistent with U.S. norms (~110–130 lines per 100 residents), implying roughly 195–235k active lines countywide. This is boosted by student lines, business lines along the I‑40/85 corridor, and wearables/IoT.

How Alamance differs from the state

• Higher smartphone-only/home-internet-by-cellular reliance: Due to a mix of lower-than-state median income pockets, more renters and students, and DSL/cable gaps in rural townships, the share of households relying primarily on cellular data is likely a few points higher than the NC average. Expect roughly mid-to-high teens percent in Alamance vs low-to-mid teens statewide.
• Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration among seniors: Alamance skews a bit older than the state, which pulls down the countywide average despite very high adoption among working-age adults and students.
• More pronounced urban–rural performance gap: Burlington–Graham–Elon–Mebane corridors enjoy ubiquitous 5G (including mid-band), while northern/southern rural areas still fall back to LTE more often and face capacity dips, driving heavier reliance on unlimited mobile plans and fixed wireless access (FWA) as a home alternative.
• Student effect: Elon University concentrates very high device density, app-based transportation/food delivery usage, and small-cell demand relative to a typical NC county of similar size.

Demographic breakdown (patterns relative to NC)

• Age
  • 18–29: Near-universal smartphone adoption; heavier data consumption and multiple devices per person are above state average due to the university presence.
  • 30–64: Similar to statewide adoption; above-average use of mobile hotspotting for part-time remote work in the I‑40/85 commuter belt.
  • 65+: Adoption lags state slightly; feature-phone retention and shared plans with limited data are more common in rural tracts.
• Income and tenure
  • Lower-income and renter households (concentrated in Burlington and select rural areas) are more likely smartphone-only and to purchase prepaid or budget MVNO plans. This pushes the county’s cellular-only share above the state average.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Black and Hispanic households in the county show higher smartphone-only reliance than White non-Hispanic households, mirroring state patterns but with a slightly larger gap because of local income and language-access dynamics.
• Geography within the county
  • Strongest 5G capacity and device penetration: Burlington, Graham, Elon, Mebane (along I‑40/85).
  • More cellular-only households and performance variability: northern and southern rural townships (e.g., Snow Camp/Saxapahaw area and far-north communities), where wired broadband is spottier.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• 5G availability: All three national carriers operate 5G in the urban corridor; T‑Mobile’s 2.5 GHz and Verizon/AT&T mid-band (C‑band/3.45 GHz) are widely present around Burlington–Graham–Elon–Mebane. Rural edges still see LTE fallback and lower mid-band depth.
• Capacity investment drivers: The I‑40/85 freight/commuter corridor and campus/event venues (Elon) have accelerated small-cell deployments and mid-band overlays earlier than is typical for a county this size.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): T‑Mobile 5G Home and Verizon 5G/LTE Home are available in much of the county and see above-average uptake in rural tracts and cost-sensitive urban blocks compared to statewide norms, substituting for DSL/coax gaps.
• Backhaul and fiber: The interstate corridor and municipal cores have robust fiber backhaul supporting denser 5G, while outlying areas rely on longer microwave/fiber spurs, contributing to the urban–rural performance gap.
• Public safety and coverage resiliency: FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is strong around municipal centers; rural in-building coverage still benefits from low-band spectrum, external antennas, or femtocells.

Method notes and confidence

• Estimates synthesize 2019–2023 ACS device and subscription patterns, Pew Research smartphone adoption, CTIA national line-per-capita norms, FCC mobile coverage trends, and local demographics (Elon University, I‑40/85 corridor). Exact county-level figures for smartphone-only households and 5G footprint vary by tract; use the above as planning ranges.
• To validate locally: Check ACS S2801 (Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions) for Alamance vs NC, FCC Mobile Coverage and FWA availability maps, and carrier coverage tools centered on Burlington, Graham, Elon, and rural ZIPs.

Below is a concise, data‑anchored snapshot of social media use in Alamance County, NC. Because county‑specific platform surveys are rare, figures are estimated by applying 2024 Pew Research Center U.S. usage rates to Alamance’s adult population. Treat numbers as directional.

Population baseline

• Residents: ≈176,000 (recent estimate). Adults (18+): ≈137,000.
• Adult social media penetration: ≈83% (Pew 2024) → ≈114,000 adult users. Including teens, total users likely 125,000–130,000.

Most‑used platforms (adults)

• YouTube: ~83% of adults → ≈114k
• Facebook: ~68% → ≈93k
• Instagram: ~47% → ≈64k
• Pinterest: ~35% → ≈48k
• LinkedIn: ~30% → ≈41k
• TikTok: ~33% → ≈45k
• Snapchat: ~27% → ≈37k
• Reddit: ~23% → ≈32k
• X (Twitter): ~22% → ≈30k
• WhatsApp: ~23% → ≈32k Note: Percentages reflect national adult usage (Pew 2024); counts are mapped to ≈137k adults in Alamance. Users often overlap across platforms.

Age patterns (local implications mapped from national trends)

• Teens (13–17): Very high use of YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok; Instagram strong; Facebook minimal. Short‑form video and DMs dominate.
• 18–29: YouTube ~95%+, Instagram ~75–80%, TikTok ~60%+, Snapchat ~60%+, Facebook ~30–40%. Heavy creators; event discovery via IG/TikTok.
• 30–49: YouTube ~90%+, Facebook ~70–80%, Instagram ~50%; TikTok ~35–40%; Snapchat ~25%. Use Marketplace, local groups, schools/athletics updates.
• 50–64: Facebook ~65–70%, YouTube ~80%+; Instagram ~25–30%; TikTok ~15–20%. News, community groups, how‑to video.
• 65+: Facebook ~55–60%, YouTube ~55–60%; Instagram/TikTok ~10–15%. Civic info, churches, health content. Nextdoor skews older homeowners.

Gender tendencies (directional, from national data)

• Women: Higher on Facebook and Instagram; Pinterest strongly female (about 2.5x men). Strong engagement with local businesses, schools, events, and Marketplace.
• Men: Higher on Reddit, X, and LinkedIn; slightly higher YouTube time in tech/sports/news genres.

Behavioral trends observed in similar NC counties and likely in Alamance

• Facebook as the community hub: Local news, school and church groups, civic updates, and Marketplace drive frequent daily checks.
• Video first: YouTube for how‑tos, local sports replays, and long‑form; TikTok/IG Reels for short, trend‑driven local content (restaurants, events).
• Neighborhood chatter: Nextdoor (and Facebook neighborhood groups) for safety, yard sales, utilities, HOA, and city services.
• “Smartphone‑first” usage: Many residents primarily access social via mobile; vertical video and concise captions perform best.
• Local commerce: Small businesses lean on Facebook + Instagram for promos; Stories and Reels outperform static posts. Reviews and community referrals matter.
• Education calendar effects: Elon University and local high schools create seasonal spikes on Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat (move‑in, games, graduations).
• Spanish‑speaking community: Above‑average use of Facebook and WhatsApp for family, groups, and local services in Spanish; bilingual posts increase reach.
• Peak times: Evenings (7–10 pm) and weekend mornings see higher engagement; weekday lunchtime bumps for quick video/Story consumption.

Quick takeaways for planning

• To reach most adults quickly: Facebook + YouTube; add Instagram for 18–49 and TikTok for under‑40.
• For neighborhood and homeowner engagement: Nextdoor and Facebook groups.
• For hiring and professional networking (Labcorp, healthcare, advanced manufacturing): LinkedIn.
• Creative mix: Prioritize short‑form video, clear local hooks (place names, schools, teams), and community participation (polls, Q&A, events).

Sources and method

• U.S. Census Bureau (population baseline) and Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform penetration by age and gender). Platform rates applied to ≈137k adults in Alamance to estimate local counts.