Franklin County

Franklin County, North Carolina — key demographics (latest available U.S. Census/ACS estimates; rounded)

Population

• Total population: ~72,000 (ACS 2018–2022 5-year)

Age

• Median age: ~41
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18 to 64: ~60%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Sex

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race/ethnicity (mutually exclusive)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~58%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~27%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9–10%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~1%
• Other (including American Indian/Alaska Native, NHPI), non-Hispanic: ~1–2%

Households

• Total households: ~27,000
• Average household size: ~2.6
• Family households: ~70% of households
• Owner-occupied: ~76% of occupied housing units (renters ~24%)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates (and 2020 Decennial Census for context). Figures are rounded.

Franklin County, NC – estimated email usage snapshot (2025)

• Population baseline: ~75,000 residents; moderate growth; density ~150 people per sq. mile (exurban to the Raleigh-Durham region).
• Estimated email users: ~50,000–52,000 residents.
  • Method: ~58.5k adults (18+) × ~88% internet access × ~92% email use, plus ~3.8k teens (13–17) with high email adoption.
• Age distribution of email users (share of users):
  • 13–17: ~5%
  • 18–34: ~25%
  • 35–64: ~50%
  • 65+: ~20%
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male (roughly mirrors county demographics).
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription roughly 82–88%; smartphone‑only internet users ~18–22% (higher in rural areas).
  • Email is near-universal among connected adults; seniors’ adoption continues to rise.
  • Daily checking is common; mobile email use dominates for smartphone-only households.
• Connectivity and local density notes:
  • Strongest wireline options (cable/fiber) along US‑1/US‑401 corridors and in/around Louisburg, Youngsville, Franklinton; rural northern/eastern parts have more DSL/fixed wireless.
  • Ongoing state/federal grants are expanding fiber to remaining unserved/underserved pockets; 5G covers main corridors, improving mobile email reliability.

All figures are estimates derived from county demographics, ACS-style broadband patterns, and national email adoption rates.

Below is a concise, decision-ready snapshot of mobile phone usage in Franklin County, NC, with modeled 2024 estimates and how local patterns differ from statewide trends. Figures are derived from recent ACS “Computer and Internet Use” benchmarks, NC telco market patterns, and county demographics; they are best used as planning estimates.

User estimates

• Population base: ~75,000 residents; ~58,000 adults (18+); ~28,500 households.
• Smartphone users (adults): 50,000–54,000 (≈86–92% of adults; midpoint ≈89%). Slightly below the NC average by ~1–2 percentage points, largely due to a higher rural/older mix.
• Wireless-only phone households (no landline): ~20,000–21,000 (≈70–74% of households). Likely a bit higher than the NC average, reflecting rural norms and cost sensitivity.
• Mobile-reliant internet users (primarily use a smartphone for online access): 19–22% of adults (county) vs ~16–18% statewide. Indicates heavier dependence on phones where home broadband is thinner or costlier.
• Households relying on cellular as primary home internet (mobile hotspot or 5G/4G fixed wireless): ~13–16% county vs ~9–12% statewide. Elevated adoption where cable/fiber options are limited.
• Prepaid share of mobile lines: Elevated vs statewide (notably higher use of Cricket/Metro/Boost) in lower-density and lower-income tracts.

Demographic breakdown (directional)

• Age:
  • 18–44: Very high smartphone adoption (≈95%+), near parity with NC.
  • 45–64: High adoption (≈90–93%), slightly below NC.
  • 65+: 75–82% adoption, a few points below NC average; gap widens in the more rural north/east of the county.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Black and Hispanic households show higher mobile-only/home cellular reliance than White households, consistent with statewide patterns, but the gap is a bit wider locally where fixed broadband options thin out.
• Income and geography:
  • Southern/western tracts (Youngsville–Franklinton–Bunn corridors) track closer to Triangle suburbs: higher 5G adoption, postpaid plans, and device upgrades.
  • Northern/eastern rural tracts show more prepaid, mobile-only internet, and lower senior smartphone adoption.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage:
  • 4G LTE is broadly available across the county.
  • 5G low-band covers most populated areas; mid-band 5G (faster, capacity-adding) is strongest along the US-1/NC-98 and US-401 commuter corridors toward Wake County and around towns (Youngsville, Franklinton, Louisburg). Northern and far-eastern areas see more low-band 5G/LTE and fewer mid-band nodes, contributing to lower median speeds indoors.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA):
  • T-Mobile and Verizon 5G home internet are widely marketed in the southern/western half; adoption is rising where Spectrum/ Brightspeed fiber doesn’t reach or where cable is too costly.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Recent NC GREAT and federal BEAD-related awards have targeted Franklin for new fiber builds (especially outside town centers). Buildouts improve tower backhaul and enable more mid-band 5G sectors over 2024–2026.
• Tower siting:
  • Macro sites are concentrated along US-1, US-401, NC-39/NC-98, and around towns; coverage gaps persist in some low-density pockets and around water/wooded areas where indoor signal can be weak.

How Franklin County differs from the North Carolina average

• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption, driven by a marginally older/rural composition, but with fast catch-up in the Wake-adjacent south/west.
• Higher share of mobile-only and cellular home internet users, reflecting infrastructure gaps and price sensitivity in rural tracts.
• More prepaid plan usage and slower device refresh cycles outside commuter corridors.
• Greater intra-county disparity in 5G performance: strong mid-band 5G in commuter corridors versus low-band/LTE reliance in the north/east; this gap is wider than the average gap seen statewide.
• Faster growth in FWA adoption than the state average, aided by better mid-band 5G along the Triangle fringe and as a substitute where wireline options lag.

Notes on methodology

• Estimates combine recent ACS state benchmarks for smartphone ownership and household phone service with county-specific adjustments for age structure, urban/rural mix, commuting patterns, income, and provider footprints. Ranges reflect uncertainty at the county level.
• For exact current figures (ACS S2801 county tables; FCC 5G/FWA availability), a fresh data pull can refine the counts by tract or block group.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot. County-level, platform-by-platform stats aren’t directly published, so figures are modeled from Pew Research (2024), DataReportal (2024–25), and ACS demographics for Franklin County and similar small-metro counties in NC. Treat percentages as ranges.

Headline user stats

• Population: roughly 70–75k; adults (18+) ~55–60k.
• Estimated social media users (18+): 45–50k adults (≈75–85% of adults). Including teens, total users likely 50–55k.
• Daily users: ~60–70% of users are daily, implying ~30–35k daily active residents.

Age mix (share using at least one social platform)

• Teens (13–17): 90%+ (heaviest on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram).
• 18–29: 85–95%.
• 30–49: 80–90%.
• 50–64: 70–80%.
• 65+: 45–60% (Facebook and YouTube dominate).

Gender breakdown (active users)

• Women: ~52–56%.
• Men: ~44–48%.
• Notes: Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X.

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

• YouTube: 80–85%.
• Facebook: 60–70% (broadest cross-age reach; strongest among 30+).
• Instagram: 40–50% (strong 18–39, growing 40–49).
• TikTok: 30–40% (very high daily time spent; skew younger).
• Snapchat: 25–35% (dominant for teens/early 20s; limited 30+).
• Pinterest: 25–35% (skews female, home/lifestyle, DIY).
• LinkedIn: 20–30% (buoyed by commuters to Raleigh–Durham).
• X/Twitter: 15–20% (news, sports, local alerts niche).
• Reddit: 10–15% (younger male skew, interest-based rather than local).
• Nextdoor/Facebook Groups: penetration varies by neighborhood; Groups usage is widespread for local info.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: Facebook Groups (schools, youth sports, HOA/town forums) and Marketplace are core habits; event posts, yard sales, local services perform well.
• Short-form video surge: TikTok and Instagram Reels drive discovery; how‑tos, local food, trades, and “what’s happening this weekend” content see high saves/shares.
• Commute effect: Proximity to the Triangle boosts LinkedIn usage and exposure to Raleigh–Durham pages; weekday engagement often spikes early morning and early evening.
• Shopping and services: High intent via Facebook/Instagram for local home services, auto, pets, and seasonal activities; DMs and Messenger close many leads.
• News and alerts: Residents follow a mix of local outlets, county/government pages, school systems, and scanner/incident groups; breaking weather and traffic posts get outsized engagement.
• Messaging is default: Facebook Messenger and iMessage dominate; WhatsApp growing within Hispanic and international communities.
• Timing and devices: Mobile-first; engagement peaks 7–10 pm, with secondary spikes around lunch and early morning. Weekends favor events, markets, and recreation posts.

Notes

• Figures are estimates for 2024–25 based on national platform usage adjusted for small-metro NC patterns and Franklin County’s age mix. For precise local counts, use platform ad planners (reach estimates by ZIP/County) or commission a short resident survey.