Buncombe County

Key demographics – Buncombe County, North Carolina (most recent ACS 2019–2023 and 2023 Census estimates)

• Population: ~275,000 (2023 estimate)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~43–44
  • Under 18: ~18–19%
  • 65 and over: ~22–23%
• Gender:
  • Female: ~52%
  • Male: ~48%
• Race and ethnicity (shares of total population):
  • White (alone): ~86–87%
  • Black or African American (alone): ~6–7%
  • Asian (alone): ~1–2%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native (alone): ~0.5–1%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (alone): ~0.1%
  • Two or more races: ~3–4%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~7–8%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~120,000–122,000
  • Average household size: ~2.2–2.3
  • Family households: ~55–58% of households
  • One-person households: ~31–33%
  • Households with children under 18: ~23–25%

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

Summary (Buncombe County, NC)

• Estimated email users: ~195–200k adults. Basis: ~270k residents, ~79% adults, and ~90–95% adult email adoption (US benchmarks adjusted for the county’s older profile).

• Age distribution of email users (approx.):

  • 18–34: ~57k (≈29%)
  • 35–54: ~67k (≈34%)
  • 55–64: ~32k (≈16%)
  • 65+: ~40k (≈20%) Note: Older cohorts have slightly lower adoption but are numerous locally, keeping their share sizable.

• Gender split among users: ~51–52% female, ~48–49% male (usage rates are near-equal by gender).

• Digital access trends:

  • Household broadband subscription roughly 88–90%; smartphone‑only internet ~12–14% (estimates using recent ACS-style patterns for similar NC counties).
  • Rural tracts likely below 80% subscription; seniors and low‑income households more reliant on mobile and public access.
  • Public libraries, schools, and municipal Wi‑Fi remain important access points.

• Local density/connectivity facts:

  • Population density ≈410 people per sq. mile (≈270k across ~656 sq. miles).
  • Best fixed broadband (cable/fiber) in Asheville and along major corridors; mountainous terrain creates last‑mile gaps where DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite fill in.

Notes: Figures are estimates derived from national/NC adoption rates applied to local population.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Buncombe County, North Carolina (focus on how it differs from statewide patterns)

Quick snapshot (2024–2025, best-available estimates)

• Population: roughly 270–280k.
• Estimated smartphone users: 205k–225k residents (adult adoption ~88–92% using Pew-like rates applied to local age structure; teen adoption high but slightly below urban NC).
• Active mobile lines (phones, tablets, wearables, vehicles): on the order of 320k–380k.
• Households relying on mobile data as primary home internet (mobile-only): about 8–12% in Buncombe vs roughly 10–14% statewide. Slightly lower than the NC average in the Asheville urban core; pockets higher in mountainous fringes.

Demographic patterns

• Age
  • Buncombe skews older (median age ~3–4 years higher than NC overall). That pulls overall smartphone adoption down 1–2 percentage points vs the state.
  • 18–34: near-saturation smartphone use (>95%), similar to NC.
  • 65+: smartphone adoption likely 75–85% in Buncombe—higher in Asheville city, lower in rural parts. The county’s larger senior share means more basic/legacy devices than in Wake/Mecklenburg.
• Income and housing
  • Cost of living (rent) is high relative to wages in service and hospitality, raising price sensitivity. Prepaid and budget MVNO plans have strong uptake among renters and service workers.
  • Mobile-only internet is concentrated in lower-income tracts west and southeast of Asheville and in rural townships where cable/fiber is thin; still, the city’s cable/fiber options keep the countywide mobile-only rate slightly below the NC average.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Buncombe is more non-Hispanic white than NC overall, with a smaller Black share and a growing Hispanic population. Digital gaps by race are present but numerically smaller than statewide simply because the groups are smaller locally.
  • Hispanic households show above-average reliance on mobile data and prepaid plans, similar to state trends.
• Education/occupation
  • Higher share of college-educated and remote/creative professions in Asheville lifts premium smartphone ownership and 5G device penetration.
  • Hospitality/tourism workers rely heavily on mobile for shift coordination, transport, and payments; device turnover is slower than in Raleigh/Charlotte.

Usage behavior that differs from the NC average

• Greater intra-county variance: Urban Asheville behaves like large NC metros (high 5G device penetration, Wi‑Fi offload, multiple lines per user), while mountain valleys show rural-style coverage gaps and mobile-only reliance.
• Seasonal surges: Tourism and festivals drive above-average seasonal spikes in data traffic compared with most NC counties, stressing capacity in downtown, the River Arts District, Biltmore Village, and trailhead corridors.
• Older population mix: Slightly more voice/text-centric users and basic plans than in younger NC counties; higher adoption of medical/emergency apps among seniors.
• Above-average tethering/phone-as-hotspot among remote workers in areas with limited wired broadband.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T (including FirstNet for public safety), Verizon (strong rural footprint), and T‑Mobile (robust 5G mid-band in the urban basin). MVNOs ride these networks.
• 5G status
  • Asheville and immediate suburbs: broad 5G coverage with mid-band capacity (typical real-world 150–400 Mbps when uncongested).
  • Outlying and mountainous areas: mix of LTE and 5G low-band; speeds often 5–50 Mbps with dead zones on ridgelines, parklands, and winding hollows.
  • Compared to NC overall, terrain-driven dead zones are more common; small cells and DAS are increasingly used downtown and in venues to handle event traffic.
• Backhaul and fiber
  • Strongest along the I‑26 and I‑40 corridors and in the city; microwave backhaul still used in some mountain sites.
  • Fixed broadband is materially better in Asheville than much of western NC, which moderates countywide mobile-only rates versus many rural NC counties.
• Fixed wireless (5G home internet)
  • Available in much of the Asheville metro; adoption is moderate and often strongest in fringe suburbs where cable uploads are weak or fiber is absent.
• Public connectivity
  • Libraries, schools, and city facilities supply Wi‑Fi offload. Public transit and parks Wi‑Fi is more limited than large NC metros, keeping mobile data usage higher on-the-go.

What this means for planning and outreach

• Expect two very different user realities within one county: metro-grade mobile experiences in Asheville and terrain-limited, coverage-constrained experiences in rural townships.
• Compared with NC overall, Buncombe needs more investment in:
  • Ridge/valley fill-in sites and microwave/fiber backhaul to reduce shadowing.
  • Event-driven capacity downtown and near major venues/trailheads.
  • Programs targeting seniors and low-income renters to close device and plan affordability gaps.
• Carrier mix: Verizon tends to lead in rural reliability; T‑Mobile and AT&T are highly competitive in the city. For county services and public safety, AT&T/FirstNet coverage is a differentiator; for consumer 5G speeds, T‑Mobile is often strongest in the urban basin; for broad highway coverage, Verizon performs consistently.

Notes on sources and estimation

• User and household figures are derived by applying recent Pew Research smartphone adoption rates to Buncombe’s age structure and by using ACS “Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions” patterns for counties; infrastructure observations reflect FCC coverage maps, carrier 5G mid-band deployments, and known topographic effects in the Blue Ridge. Exact block-level conditions vary; consult the latest FCC Broadband Map, carrier coverage maps, and local speed-test datasets for procurement or siting decisions.

Buncombe County, NC social media usage — quick breakdown (estimates)

Population and user base

• Residents: about 270,000
• People 13+: ~230,000
• Estimated social media users (13+): 190,000–205,000 (≈82–89% of 13+)
• Adults (18+): ~215,000; adult social users: 175,000–185,000 (≈81–86%)

Age profile of social users (share of all local users; directional)

• 13–17: ~7%
• 18–29: ~16%
• 30–49: ~33%
• 50–64: ~27%
• 65+: ~17% Note: Buncombe skews slightly older than the U.S. average, so platforms popular with 50+ (e.g., Facebook, YouTube) are relatively strong.

Gender

• County population is roughly 51% female, 49% male; social media usage is similarly balanced.
• Platform lean: Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest skew female; YouTube/Reddit/X skew male. TikTok is mixed with a slight female tilt.

Most-used platforms (adult reach; estimated local percentages)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~65–72%
• Instagram: ~42–50%
• TikTok: ~28–35%
• Pinterest: ~30–36% (notably strong among women 25–54)
• LinkedIn: ~28–34% (healthcare, education, hospitality management)
• Snapchat: ~20–27% (mostly under 35)
• X/Twitter: ~20–26%
• Reddit: ~15–22%
• Nextdoor: ~10–20% monthly active; ~20–30% registered (homeowners/neighborhoods) Note: Users multi-home across platforms; percentages won’t sum to 100%.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: High participation in Facebook Groups (buy/sell/trade, events, housing, outdoors). Nextdoor used for neighborhood updates, lost/found pets, contractor recs.
• Event and tourism spikes: Engagement rises Thu–Sun around arts, live music, breweries, Biltmore/Blue Ridge Parkway, and during leaf season (Oct) and summer tourism.
• Visual storytelling wins: Instagram Reels/Stories and YouTube Shorts featuring hikes, waterfalls, food, and maker culture perform strongly; local hashtags (#asheville, #avl, #828) aid discovery.
• Younger discovery patterns: 18–34s lean on TikTok/Instagram for where to eat, hike, and go; UGC and creator collabs drive foot traffic.
• Older engagement: 50+ are heavy on Facebook Pages/Groups; clear info posts, events, and community service news perform best.
• Messaging and reviews: Many residents contact businesses via FB Messenger/IG DMs; Google/Facebook reviews and short-form UGC heavily influence choices.
• Seasonality and weather sensitivity: Content tied to foliage, trail conditions, road closures, and festivals gets outsized shares and saves.
• Paid performance tips: Use tight geo-targeting around Asheville + visitor interest targeting; lean Facebook for 35+, Instagram/TikTok video for under 35; LinkedIn for recruiting (healthcare, education, hospitality).

Method at a glance

• Figures are directional estimates combining Buncombe’s age mix with recent U.S. adoption rates from Pew Research Center (2023–2024). Nextdoor estimates reflect company disclosures and typical suburban/homeowner adoption patterns. For campaign planning, validate with platform ad tools (local reach), Google Trends, and page/group insights.