Forsyth County

Forsyth County, North Carolina — key demographics (latest Census/ACS estimates)

Population

• Total: ~392,000 (2023 estimate)
• 2020 Census: ~383,000

Age

• Median age: ~38–39
• Under 18: ~23%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~52%
• Male: ~48%

Race and ethnicity (share of total population)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~50–52%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~27–29%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~14–16%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~3%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%
• Other (American Indian/Alaska Native, NHPI, some other race): ~1–2%

Households

• Number of households: ~155,000–160,000
• Average household size: ~2.45
• Family households: ~62% of households
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~58–60%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2023 1-year; 2019–2023 5-year) and 2020 Decennial Census. Figures rounded; use ACS tables or Census QuickFacts for precise values.

Forsyth County, NC snapshot (2023 pop ≈387k; largely urban at ≈930 people/sq. mi.)

Estimated email users: ≈302k residents

• Method: Apply national email adoption by age (Pew) to Forsyth County’s age mix (ACS). ≈93% of adults 18+ and ≈90% of teens 13–17 use email.

Age distribution of email users (approx.):

• 13–17: 21k (7%)
• 18–34: 89k (29%)
• 35–54: 99k (33%)
• 55–64: 39k (13%)
• 65+: 53k (18%)

Gender split: ~51% female, ~49% male (mirrors county sex ratio; email adoption is similar by gender nationally).

Digital access and connectivity trends (ACS/FCC-informed):

• Households with a computer: ~92–94%
• Any internet subscription: ~86–88%
• Fixed broadband (cable/DSL/fiber): ~82–86%
• Smartphone‑only or no home broadband: ~12–15% (higher in lower‑income tracts)
• Urban Winston‑Salem core has multiple providers and higher speeds; outlying areas have fewer options. Public libraries, schools, and county buildings offer free Wi‑Fi, supporting access for non‑subscribed households.

Note: Figures are estimates synthesizing U.S. Census ACS data for Forsyth County with national email‑use rates by age from Pew Research.

Below is a concise, county-focused snapshot that highlights where Forsyth County (Winston-Salem and surrounding communities) differs from North Carolina overall. Figures are estimates based on recent national and state survey baselines, adjusted for Forsyth’s urban profile, universities, income mix, and housing patterns.

Headline user estimates (2025)

• Mobile phone users (any mobile handset): roughly 310,000–340,000 residents, or about 80–87% of the county’s ~390,000 population.
• Adult smartphone users: about 270,000–285,000 (assumes ~88–92% adult adoption; Forsyth skews slightly higher than state average due to urban density and student/renter mix).
• Teens (13–17) with smartphones: ~24,000–26,000 (≈95% adoption).
• Mobile-only internet households (smartphone/cellular data as primary or only home internet): measurably above the NC average in urban renter corridors—likely several percentage points higher than statewide, with the sharpest concentrations in and around east/central Winston-Salem and student-heavy areas.

How Forsyth differs from statewide trends

• Higher smartphone and 5G use: As an urban county anchored by Winston-Salem and multiple campuses (Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State, UNC School of the Arts), Forsyth tends to have slightly higher smartphone adoption and 5G availability than the NC average, especially in the core city.
• More mobile-only reliance in specific tracts: Due to a higher share of renters, students, and lower-income households than the NC average, Forsyth shows above-average dependence on smartphones as the primary internet connection in several neighborhoods.
• Faster observed 5G performance in urban cores: Median speeds in the Winston-Salem core typically test above statewide medians, driven by dense mid-band 5G and robust fiber backhaul. Speeds fall toward the county edges where service transitions to low-band 5G/LTE.
• Smaller rural coverage challenge than statewide: NC’s statewide picture is pulled down by very rural counties. Forsyth’s footprint is mostly suburban/urban, so coverage gaps are fewer and more localized (northern and northwestern fringes, some semi-rural pockets).

Demographic patterns (and what they mean for mobile usage)

• Age: Near-universal smartphone use among 18–34 (students and young workers). Seniors (65+) in Forsyth are catching up faster than the NC average due to strong local healthcare networks and telehealth adoption, but still trail younger cohorts.
• Income: In lower-income tracts, prepaid plans and mobile-only internet are more common than the statewide average. The end of ACP subsidies in 2024 has likely increased price sensitivity and churn toward MVNOs and budget plans.
• Race/ethnicity: Forsyth’s higher shares of Black and Hispanic residents relative to the state average are associated with higher smartphone-only reliance (less fixed broadband) in affected neighborhoods—widening within-county disparities even as overall adoption is high.
• Housing and students: Higher renter density and the presence of multiple universities tilt the county toward mobile-first behavior compared with NC overall (more hotspot use, unlimited plans, and device financing through carriers).

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• 5G footprint:
  • T-Mobile: Broad mid-band 5G coverage (n41 “Ultra Capacity”) across most of Winston-Salem and major suburbs; generally the widest high-capacity footprint.
  • Verizon: C-band 5G is well built along I-40/Business 40, US-52, and dense commercial corridors; mmWave appears only in select downtown/event locations.
  • AT&T: Mid-band 5G overlays in core areas with strong FirstNet presence for public safety; broader low-band 5G countywide.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Dense fiber along major corridors (I-40, US-52) and in medical/university districts supports stronger carrier aggregation and peak 5G throughput than many NC counties.
  • AT&T Fiber and Spectrum are widely available in urban/suburban ZIPs, improving mobile backhaul and indoor coverage options (DAS/small cells) in hospitals, campuses, and large venues.
• Small cells and indoor coverage:
  • More small-cell nodes and indoor DAS than the NC average for a county its size, concentrated downtown, in medical campuses, and around major institutions—one driver of better urban 5G performance.
• Coverage gaps:
  • Service quality diminishes at the far northern and northwestern edges (toward the county line), with occasional reversion to LTE/low-band 5G and sparser tower spacing than in the city core.

What to watch (county vs. state)

• Continued mid-band 5G densification in Winston-Salem should keep Forsyth ahead of the statewide average for availability and speeds.
• Mobile-only households will likely remain several points above the NC average unless fixed broadband affordability and outreach improve in renter-heavy and lower-income tracts.
• Institutional demand (healthcare, higher ed) should sustain strong indoor systems and small-cell growth, a differentiator from more rural NC counties.

Notes on method/uncertainty

• Counts are derived by applying recent national/state adoption rates to Forsyth’s population, adjusted for urbanicity, income, renter share, and student presence. Local neighborhood conditions can vary substantially from countywide estimates.

Forsyth County, NC social media snapshot (estimates for 2024–25)

How many people use social media

• Population baseline: ~390,000 residents; ~300,000 adults (18+).
• Adults using at least one social platform: roughly 240,000–250,000 (about 80–83% of adults, applying Pew national rates).

Most-used platforms among adults (apply national usage rates to ~300k adults)

• YouTube: ~83% ≈ 250k
• Facebook: ~68% ≈ 205k
• Instagram: ~47% ≈ 140k
• TikTok: ~33% ≈ 100k
• Snapchat: ~30% ≈ 90k
• LinkedIn: ~30% ≈ 90k
• Pinterest: ~30% ≈ 90k
• WhatsApp: ~29% ≈ 87k
• X (Twitter): ~22% ≈ 66k
• Reddit: ~22% ≈ 66k
• Nextdoor: ~20% ≈ 60k

Age patterns (what’s strongest by cohort)

• Teens (13–17): Very high YouTube use; TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram dominate for daily social time. Expect behaviors similar to U.S. teens (YouTube ~9 in 10; TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram each used by a majority).
• 18–29: Heavy multi-platform use; Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat lead. Facebook used but less central than for older adults.
• 30–49: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram are primary; TikTok growth notable; LinkedIn relevant for professionals.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest and Nextdoor see regular use; Instagram moderate.
• 65+: Facebook is the top network; YouTube for how‑to and news; some Nextdoor for neighborhood updates.

Gender skews (national patterns likely similar locally)

• Women: Higher use of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Nextdoor; strong engagement with family, school, church, and neighborhood content.
• Men: Higher use of YouTube, Reddit, X (Twitter), and slightly more on LinkedIn; more tech, sports, and news orientation.
• Most platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) are broadly mixed by gender, with modest skews.

Behavioral trends to expect in Forsyth County

• Facebook as the local “town square”: neighborhood and school groups, churches, civic updates, Facebook Events, and heavy use of Marketplace.
• Nextdoor for hyperlocal topics: utilities/outages, safety, HOAs, city services.
• Short‑form video rules: Reels/TikTok clips for restaurants, breweries, events, and local makers; location tags and hashtags like #WinstonSalem and #wsnc drive discovery.
• Messaging-first interactions: Many residents DM businesses via Facebook/Instagram; WhatsApp common among Hispanic/Latino and international communities for family and group coordination.
• Local news and info via video: YouTube clips and Facebook posts from local outlets; brief, timely updates outperform long posts.
• Education/younger audiences: Snapchat and Instagram are key around high schools and campuses (WFU, WSSU, Salem) for student life and events.
• Shopping and services: Visual reviews and short videos influence choices; Facebook Groups and Marketplace often precede Google searches for local recommendations.
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks evenings (7–9 pm) and weekends; school-year schedules shape daytime activity.

Notes on method and sources

• County-level platform data aren’t published by platforms. Figures above apply Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult usage rates to Forsyth County’s adult population (U.S. Census Bureau/ACS). Use ad-platform audience tools and local surveys to refine for specific targets. Sources: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023.