Johnston County

Johnston County, North Carolina — key demographics (latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates: 2019–2023 ACS and 2023 Population Estimates)

• Population: ~246,000 (2023). Up roughly 14% since 2020, among NC’s faster-growing counties.
• Age:
  • Median age: ~37
  • Under 18: ~27%
  • 18–64: ~58%
  • 65 and over: ~15%
• Sex:
  • Female: ~50.5%
  • Male: ~49.5%
• Race and Hispanic origin (mutually exclusive shares):
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~62%
  • Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~16%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~17%
  • Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2–3%
  • Asian, non-Hispanic: ~1–2%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~1%
  • Other, non-Hispanic: <1%
• Households and housing:
  • Households: ~87,000
  • Average household size: ~2.8 persons
  • Family households: ~70–72% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~35–38%
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–77%
  • Housing units: ~93,000; vacancy ~6%

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

• Population and density: 240,000 residents across ~791 sq mi (300 people/sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ~180,000 residents age 13+ use email (≈91% of 13+; ≈74% of total population).
• Gender split of users: ≈51% female, 49% male (mirrors county sex ratio).
• Age distribution of email users (share of users): 13–17 ≈6%; 18–29 ≈18%; 30–49 ≈36%; 50–64 ≈25%; 65+ ≈15%.
• Digital access trends:
  • ~95% of households have some form of internet subscription.
  • ~90% have fixed home broadband; ~13% are smartphone‑only.
  • Email access is predominantly mobile-first; senior usage trails but is steadily rising, while 18–49 is near-universal and daily.
• Local connectivity and density facts:
  • The I‑40/US‑70 corridor (Clayton–Cleveland–Smithfield) has the densest fixed‑broadband coverage and highest adoption; eastern rural townships show lower subscription rates and greater smartphone reliance.
  • Rapid population growth tied to the Raleigh–Durham labor market sustains above–state‑average connectivity and helps keep email penetration high.

Estimates synthesized from U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2022/2023) demographics and internet‑subscription data plus Pew Research Center benchmarks for email adoption by age and gender.

Johnston County, NC: Mobile phone usage summary (2024 snapshot)

Population context

• Population: approximately 240,000–250,000 residents, one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing counties (significantly above the statewide growth rate since 2020).
• Age mix: younger than the state overall, with a larger share of families and school‑age children; roughly 26% under 18, ~59% ages 18–64, ~15% 65+.
• Race/ethnicity: higher Hispanic share than the NC average and a strong Black community alongside a White majority, contributing to bilingual mobile marketing and higher prepaid adoption.

Estimated user base

• Adult smartphone owners (18+): approximately 160,000–165,000, based on county age structure and Pew smartphone adoption rates by age (18–34 ~96%, 35–64 ~88–92%, 65+ ~70–80%).
• Teen smartphone users (13–17): about 16,000–18,000 (smartphone adoption ~95%).
• People using any mobile phone (smartphone or basic): roughly 190,000–205,000 residents, reflecting near‑universal mobile ownership among adults and very high teen adoption.
• Wireless‑only households (no landline phone): about 78–82% of households, a few points higher than the statewide share, reflecting newer subdivisions that never adopted copper landlines and a younger household mix.
• Mobile‑only internet households (relying primarily on cellular data rather than a wired subscription): approximately 7–9% of households, modestly above the statewide rate.

Demographic breakdown highlights

• Age
  • 18–34: near‑saturation smartphone ownership (~96%); heavy mobile video/social use; high propensity for app‑based services and contactless payments.
  • 35–64: high smartphone ownership (~88–92%); strong work‑related mobility and hotspot use during commutes.
  • 65+: growing adoption (~70–80% smartphones; >90% own some type of cell phone), with larger share of basic/entry devices and medical/emergency‑alert integrations.
• Income and household type
  • Rapidly growing, family‑oriented suburbs (Clayton/Cleveland/40‑42 area) drive high smartphone penetration, multiple lines per household, and add‑on lines for children.
  • In eastern and southern rural tracts, mobile phones are more likely to substitute for limited or costly wired options; fixed‑wireless home internet via cellular networks is notably used.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Hispanic and younger households contribute to above‑average prepaid and BYOD/MVNO uptake, higher use of WhatsApp and international calling features, and more bilingual customer support demand compared with statewide norms.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Macro coverage: 4G LTE is effectively universal along major corridors (I‑40, I‑95, US‑70/70 Bypass, US‑301), with gaps most likely indoors and in low‑lying or wooded rural areas east and south of Smithfield, Four Oaks, Benson, Kenly, Micro, and Pine Level.
• 5G deployment
  • T‑Mobile mid‑band (2.5 GHz) 5G covers most population centers and corridors; typical median speeds in suburban tracts range ~150–300 Mbps, lower at congested peaks.
  • Verizon and AT&T mid‑band (C‑band/DoD) are strong along I‑40/I‑95, Clayton/70 corridor, and larger towns; typical median 5G speeds ~100–200 Mbps with improved capacity year‑over‑year.
  • Indoor 5G can drop to LTE in metal‑roof structures and in fringe rural zones; carrier aggregation and 4G/5G fallback are routine.
• Capacity patterns
  • Peak‑load hotspots: commuting hubs (40/42, US‑70 Bypass), retail nodes (Clayton, Smithfield/Selma outlets), logistics sites near I‑95, and school/event times in town centers.
  • Off‑peak stability: generally stronger than rural NC peers due to Triangle adjacency and newer sites/backhaul.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA) via 5G
  • T‑Mobile and Verizon offer home internet to a large share of suburban addresses and many rural ones; adoption is higher than the NC average where legacy DSL is weak or cable plant is sparse.
  • Performance typically 50–300 Mbps depending on signal quality, tower load, and line‑of‑sight; variability is higher in evening peaks.
• Fiber and cable backhaul
  • Cable broadband (Spectrum) and selective fiber builds (including AT&T Fiber and emerging competitive fiber in fast‑growth tracts) provide strong backhaul on west/central corridors; eastern rural areas still rely more on microwave or legacy circuits, which can constrain sector capacity during peaks.
• Public safety and resilience
  • Highway corridors and town centers have robust E911 cellular coverage; storm‑related outages more common in eastern rural sectors where backup power and microwave backhaul are still being upgraded.

How Johnston County differs from the North Carolina average

• Faster growth and younger households elevate mobile line density per home, children’s lines, and app‑centric usage relative to the state profile.
• Higher Hispanic population share correlates with above‑average prepaid/MVNO adoption and cross‑border communications features.
• Greater commuter flows (Raleigh–Clayton–40/42 and I‑95 logistics) create sharper peak‑hour cell congestion than typical NC counties of similar size.
• Higher reliance on cellular for home internet in fringe/rural tracts due to patchier legacy wired options; FWA penetration outpaces the statewide average in these areas.
• Despite being partly rural, proximity to the Triangle accelerates 5G mid‑band availability and sector upgrades versus many rural NC counties, narrowing the urban–rural performance gap locally.

Key takeaways

• Mobile is the default communications platform for the county, with roughly 160k+ adult smartphone users and ~190k–205k total mobile users across a population near a quarter‑million.
• 5G mid‑band is widely available along growth corridors and in major towns, with FWA playing a meaningful role in last‑mile coverage where cable/fiber are thin.
• Usage patterns are shaped by rapid population growth, commuting, and a diverse demographic mix—producing higher prepaid share, more mobile‑only households, and sharper peak‑time capacity demands than the North Carolina average.

Social media usage in Johnston County, North Carolina (2025 snapshot)

How this was built

• Figures reflect Johnston County’s adult and teen population profile using the latest available Census/ACS estimates through 2023 combined with Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. social media adoption rates, applied to the county’s demographics. Where county-specific measures are not published, rates are modeled to the county and stated as estimates.

User stats

• Overall penetration (adults 18+): Approximately 72% of adults in Johnston County use at least one social media platform.
• Teens (13–17): Approximately 95% use at least one social platform.
• By device: Use is predominantly mobile-first; short‑form video and messaging apps drive daily engagement.

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adults using each)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• Pinterest: 35%
• TikTok: 33%
• Snapchat: 30%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• X (Twitter): 23%
• Reddit: 22%
• Nextdoor: 20%

Age-group breakdown (share using at least one social platform)

• 13–17: 95%+; platform mix skews to YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram.
• 18–29: 84–90%; heavy on YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; X/Reddit pockets of high activity.
• 30–49: ~81%; YouTube and Facebook dominate; Instagram rising; TikTok use growing.
• 50–64: ~73%; Facebook first; YouTube strong; Pinterest practical-use growth (DIY, recipes).
• 65+: ~45%; Facebook leads; YouTube for how‑to/news; Nextdoor for hyperlocal updates.

Gender breakdown (share of local social media users by gender; platform lean)

• Overall user base: approximately 52% women, 48% men (reflecting small gender differences in adoption).
• Platform tendencies:
  • Higher female use: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest.
  • Higher male use: YouTube, Reddit, X (Twitter); LinkedIn skews slightly male.

Behavioral trends observed locally

• Community-first on Facebook: Town, school, church, youth sports, and neighborhood groups drive daily check-ins; Marketplace is a primary venue for vehicles, yard/farm equipment, and home goods.
• Hyperlocal info: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups are used for utility outages, road work, school updates, and public safety notices.
• Short-form video is mainstream: TikTok and Instagram Reels are key discovery channels for local food, events, and small businesses; YouTube Shorts extends reach to older cohorts.
• Shopping and services: Facebook/Instagram drive top-of-funnel discovery; local service providers rely on Messenger/DM for quotes and scheduling.
• Work and careers: LinkedIn usage is steady among commuters and remote workers tied to the Triangle labor market; Facebook Groups and local pages remain important for hourly and trades roles.
• Language and inclusion: Hispanic/Latino audiences (notable in the county) engage with bilingual Facebook/Instagram content; WhatsApp is common in family/community coordination.
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (commute/school prep), lunch, and evening prime (7–10 p.m.), with weekend spikes tied to events, sports, and yard/estate sales.

Notes on reliability

• Percentages shown for platform adoption and age/gender splits come from Pew Research Center’s most recent U.S. adult and teen social media studies and are applied to Johnston County’s demographic structure to produce local estimates. Platform penetrations can vary by a few points locally but rank order and relative differences are robust for suburban/rural counties in the Triangle region.

Sources

• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2023–2024 (U.S. adults); Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023 (U.S. teens)
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2022–2023 county demographic profiles for Johnston County, NC
• NC Office of State Budget and Management population estimates (context for growth and commuting patterns)