Chatham County

Chatham County, North Carolina – key demographics

Population

• 76,285 (2020 Census). Recent estimate: roughly 80,000 (2023).

Age (ACS 2018–2022)

• Median age: ~46 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender (ACS 2018–2022)

• Female: ~50.8%
• Male: ~49.2%

Race/ethnicity (mutually exclusive; ACS 2018–2022/Census 2020)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~66–68%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~13–14%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~11–12%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~2%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3–4%
• Other (incl. American Indian/Alaska Native, NHPI), non-Hispanic: ~1–2%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~31,000–32,000
• Persons per household: ~2.4
• Family households: ~70% of households

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Chatham County, NC snapshot (estimates)

• Population: ≈80,000 (2023); density ≈110 people/sq mi across ~700 sq mi, with higher concentration in Pittsboro and Siler City.
• Estimated email users: 57,000–60,000 adults (18+), based on ~92–95% email adoption among adults. Including teens likely adds several thousand more.
• Age distribution of email users (share of users):
  • 18–29: ~15%
  • 30–49: ~32%
  • 50–64: ~26%
  • 65+: ~27% (slightly larger than state average given Chatham’s older median age)
• Gender split: roughly mirrors population (≈51% female, 49% male) with negligible adoption differences by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • Most households have a computer or smartphone (≈95%+) and broadband subscription is high for NC (≈88–92%), with smartphone‑only internet in roughly 7–10% of households.
  • Fastest connectivity in and around Pittsboro/Chatham Park and Siler City; pockets of western/southern rural areas rely more on fixed wireless or older copper, affecting speeds and reliability.
  • Libraries and county facilities provide free public Wi‑Fi, helping bridge access gaps.

Notes: Figures synthesize recent ACS “Computer and Internet Use” patterns for NC counties and Pew Research email adoption benchmarks; rounded to reflect local uncertainty.

Below is a planning-oriented summary of mobile phone usage in Chatham County, NC, with best-available estimates and emphasis on how local patterns differ from North Carolina overall. Figures are indicative ranges based on ACS/Pew/FCC-style benchmarks, county demographics, and known deployment patterns as of 2024; validate with the latest ACS S2801/S2802 and FCC BDC for final numbers.

Headline snapshot

• Population context: ~80,000 residents, fast growth around Pittsboro/Chatham Park and Siler City industrial sites, with a relatively older age profile than NC overall.
• Core pattern: A “two-County” split—high adoption and speeds in the northeast/east (US-15/501 and US-64 corridors, Pittsboro area) and more reliance on cellular as primary internet in rural west/south.

User estimates (mobile adoption and usage)

• Unique mobile users (any mobile phone): ~65,000–70,000 residents use a mobile phone regularly.
• Smartphone users (adults): ~55,000–60,000 adult smartphone users (roughly 85–90% of adults; county likely 1–3 points below NC average due to older median age).
• Wireless-only households (no landline): ~65–72% of households (NC statewide is higher ~70–75%; Chatham skews slightly lower because of age).
• Smartphone-only internet households (no fixed home broadband, rely on cellular): countywide ~14–18%; rural west/south pockets ~20–25%; Pittsboro/east ~8–12% (NC average ~12–15%).
• Lines per 100 residents (all cellular lines): ~100–120, in line with national norms; concentrated multi-line ownership in higher-income northeast.

Demographic breakdown (who uses what)

• Age:
  • 18–49: near-saturation smartphone use (95%+).
  • 50–64: high but below younger adults (≈85–90%).
  • 65+: lower adoption (≈70–80%), pulling county average slightly below NC; still rising year over year as device affordability improves.
• Income/education geography:
  • Northeast/east (Briar Chapel, Chatham Park, Governors Club, 15/501 corridor): high-end devices, multiple lines per household, strong 5G device penetration; mobile is a complement to robust home broadband.
  • West/south (rural Siler City environs, farm communities): higher smartphone-only internet reliance and prepaid plans; mobile often substitutes for limited or costly wired options.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Hispanic households in rural areas show above-average smartphone-only reliance relative to county mean (consistent with statewide/rural patterns).
  • Black and White households track county averages, with differences driven more by locality/income than race.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage pattern:
  • 4G LTE: broadly available on primary corridors (US-64, US-15/501, US-421) and town centers (Pittsboro, Siler City); gaps persist on secondary rural roads and low-density areas.
  • 5G: strongest along US-64 and 15/501 and in/near Pittsboro; expanding in Siler City/industrial zones. Rural west/south still see LTE-dominant service.
• Speeds and reliability:
  • Corridor/town medians: typically 60–150 Mbps down on 5G where mid-band is present; LTE zones often 10–40 Mbps with higher variability.
  • Rural fringe: greater latency and speed volatility; indoor coverage can drop to single-digit Mbps without signal boosters.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA) and stopgaps:
  • Above-state-average FWA uptake in rural tracts because it outperforms legacy DSL and fills fiber gaps.
  • County-sponsored and state GREAT grant projects plus fixed wireless builds have improved access in some dead zones but unevenly.
• Fiber/backhaul trajectory:
  • Ongoing fiber builds tied to residential growth (Pittsboro/Chatham Park) and industrial sites (Siler City area) are improving tower backhaul and enabling more 5G upgrades.
  • Expect additional small-cell or sector densification along growth corridors as VinFast/Wolfspeed-adjacent activity ramps.

How Chatham differs from North Carolina overall

• More polarized experience: The intra-county gap between high-performance corridors and rural fringe is wider than the state average urban–rural gap.
• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption: Driven by an older age structure, despite strong adoption among working-age newcomers; net effect is 1–3 points below the NC average.
• Higher smartphone-only reliance in specific rural tracts: County average near state norm, but rural west/south pockets exceed NC averages for cellular-as-primary internet.
• Patchier mid-band 5G: Compared with NC’s metro counties, Chatham’s 5G mid-band coverage is more corridor-centric, with faster drop-off away from highways and towns.
• Faster near-term growth in demand: Industrial projects and master-planned communities are likely to outpace statewide average growth in both mobile traffic and small-cell/fiber upgrades over the next 2–3 years.

Planning implications

• Prioritize rural west/south for coverage and capacity: Target new macro sites, sector adds, or 5G mid-band where signal drops and smartphone-only reliance are highest.
• Co-plan fiber backhaul with residential growth: Tie tower upgrades to fiber buildouts in Pittsboro/Chatham Park and Siler City industrial areas.
• Support device adoption for older adults: Programs that reduce cost barriers and improve digital skills can narrow the adoption gap that drags county averages below the state.
• Track FWA versus fiber tradeoffs: In areas with near-term FWA gains, ensure spectrum and backhaul can sustain peak loads; move to fiber where feasible to reduce the smartphone-only burden.

Notes and confidence

• Estimates above synthesize ACS computer/internet indicators, state wireless-only benchmarks, FCC BDC coverage patterns, and typical rural/metro performance differentials as of 2023–2024. For a formal report, validate with:
  • ACS S2801/S2802 (latest 1-year/5-year for county) for device and subscription types.
  • FCC BDC Mobile (latest biannual) for 4G/5G by technology and provider.
  • State broadband office grant maps and carrier buildout announcements for near-term changes.
  • Speed-test telemetry (Ookla/Opensignal) to ground-truth corridor vs rural performance.

Below is a concise, locally tuned snapshot. Because platform publishers rarely release county-level figures, the percentages are modeled from NC/Pew U.S. usage rates and adjusted for Chatham County’s older age mix and commuting/professional profile. Treat them as directional ranges.

Quick context

• Population: ~80–82k residents; ~62–64k adults (18+).
• Adults using at least one social platform: ~75–80% (≈47–51k adults).

Most-used platforms among adults (estimated reach of adults)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 35–40%
• TikTok: 25–30%
• LinkedIn: 25–30% (boosted by RTP/triangle-area commuters)
• WhatsApp: 20–25% (higher among Hispanic/Latino residents)
• Snapchat: 20–25%
• X/Twitter: 18–22%
• Nextdoor: 15–20% (strong in subdivisions/HOAs)

Age profile (share of each age group using at least one platform)

• 13–17: 90%+
• 18–29: 90–95%
• 30–49: 85–90%
• 50–64: 70–80%
• 65+: 55–65% Note: Because Chatham skews older, overall usage is slightly lower than big metros, with heavier Facebook/Nextdoor and lighter TikTok/Snapchat than statewide averages.

Gender breakdown (adult users)

• Female: ~52–54%
• Male: ~46–48% Patterns: Women over-index on Facebook/Instagram/Nextdoor; men over-index on YouTube, X, Reddit.

Behavioral trends seen locally

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups and Nextdoor for local news, schools, road/construction updates, lost/found pets, recommendations, and yard-sale/Marketplace activity.
• Short video wins: Reels/Shorts drive higher engagement for local eateries, events, and parks (e.g., hiking, lake/river spots).
• Commerce: Facebook/Instagram are primary for local business discovery, promos, and events; Marketplace heavily used for secondhand goods and home/yard needs.
• Language/culture: Strong Spanish-language engagement in and around Siler City; WhatsApp and Facebook are key for community coordination and small-business outreach.
• Politics/civics: Noticeable spikes in local-issue conversations near elections and bond measures; engagement clustered in neighborhood groups.
• Timing: Highest engagement evenings 7–10 pm; weekend afternoons perform well for events and retail posts.
• Creative best practices: Native vertical video, clear local hooks (place names, roadways, school/team mentions), and bilingual posts improve reach and shares.

Sources/method notes

• Baselines from U.S. Census/ACS for population; platform adoption modeled from Pew Research Center’s U.S. social media usage (latest waves) and North Carolina patterns, adjusted for Chatham’s older median age and commuting/professional mix. Percentages are estimates, not official platform counts.