Vance County

Vance County, North Carolina – Key Demographics

Population

• Total population: 42,578 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age

• Median age: ~41
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18–64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Female: ~52%
• Male: ~48%

Race and Ethnicity (shares may not sum to 100% because Hispanic is an ethnicity)

• Black or African American (alone): ~49%
• White (alone): ~41%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~11%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• American Indian and Alaska Native (alone): ~1%
• Asian (alone): ~1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (alone): ~0.1%

Households

• Total households: ~16,400
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~66% (married-couple families ~39%)
• Nonfamily households: ~34%
• Households with children under 18: ~28%
• Individuals living alone: ~29% (about 12% age 65+ living alone)

Insights

• The county is majority–minority, with Black residents comprising the largest share.
• Age structure skews slightly older than the state overall, with nearly one in five residents 65+.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates).

• Population base: ≈42.6k residents; ≈35.3k are age 13+.
• Estimated email users: ≈27.6k residents (age 13+), derived from rural internet-use norms (85%) and near-universal email use among internet users (92%).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 18–34: ~28%
  • 35–54: ~33%
  • 55–64: ~16%
  • 65+: ~23%
• Gender split among email users: ~53% female, ~47% male, mirroring county demographics and minimal gender gaps in email adoption.
• Digital access and device context (ACS-based, 2018–2022):
  • Households with a broadband subscription: ~72%.
  • Households without any internet subscription: ~22%.
  • Smartphone-dependent access (cellular data as primary/only connection): ~15–18%.
  • Households with a computer: ~85–90%.
• Trends and implications:
  • Email penetration is high but constrained by connectivity gaps; older and rural tracts show lower subscription rates, mildly depressing 65+ email usage.
  • Smartphone-only households skew usage toward mobile email and webmail rather than desktop clients.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ≈160–170 residents per square mile, with Henderson as the primary connectivity hub; broadband availability and speeds improve near major corridors, tapering in outlying areas.

Mobile phone usage in Vance County, NC — 2025 snapshot

Context and demographics (definitive, most recent public data)

• Population: roughly 42–43k; adults ≈ 32–33k (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2018–2022 ACS trends)
• Household count: ≈ 16.5–17.5k
• Median household income: low-to-mid $40k, well below the NC median (ACS 2018–2022)
• Age: older than state average (share of residents 65+ ≈ 18–20%)
• Race/ethnicity: majority Black and White, with a growing Hispanic population; county has a higher share of Black residents than the NC average

User estimates (modeled from Pew Research Center 2023 smartphone adoption, CDC NHIS 2022 wireless-only household rates, and county demographics)

• Adult smartphone users: 27,500–29,500 (about 84–90% of adults). This trails metro NC but is close to rural-state averages.
• Wireless-only (cellphone-only) households: 12,000–13,500 (about 70–78% of households). This is higher than the typical NC rate (~66–72%), reflecting cost sensitivity and weaker fixed-broadband take-up.
• Smartphone-only internet users (no home broadband): 9,000–10,000 adults (≈ 25–30% of adults). This is notably above the statewide share (≈ 18–22%).
• Plan types: prepaid penetration is materially higher than the NC average. Estimated 30–40% of lines in Vance are prepaid vs roughly low-20s statewide, consistent with income mix and ACP wind-down effects in 2024.

Demographic breakdown of mobile usage (county-specific estimates derived from national/state patterns applied to county age-income-race mix)

• Age
  • 18–29: 96–98% smartphone adoption; heavy mobile-only internet reliance (≈ 35%)
  • 30–64: 88–92% adoption; mobile-only internet ≈ 22–28%
  • 65+: 70–78% adoption; mobile-only internet ≈ 12–18% (higher than NC seniors overall due to affordability constraints)
• Income
  • < $35k: smartphone adoption ≈ 88–92%, but mobile-only internet reliance ≈ 35–45%
  • $35–75k: adoption ≈ 90–94%; mobile-only ≈ 18–25%

  • $75k: adoption ≈ 94–97%; mobile-only ≈ 8–12%

• Race/ethnicity
  • Black and Hispanic residents show similar smartphone adoption to county averages but higher mobile-only internet use than White residents, tracking lower fixed-broadband subscription rates observed in the ACS

Digital infrastructure highlights (FCC Broadband Map 2024, carrier public disclosures, statewide deployment patterns)

• Networks present: AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon provide countywide 4G LTE with reported 5G service; UScellular operates LTE with selective 5G. FirstNet (AT&T) is active for public safety.
• 5G footprint: Mid-band 5G (T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz; Verizon/AT&T C‑band) is strongest along the I‑85 and US‑1 corridors and in/around Henderson. Outlying areas more often rely on low‑band 5G or LTE.
• Capacity and speeds: Peak speeds are competitive near Henderson and along highways; off‑corridor rural sectors show lower median throughput and higher mid‑day/capacity variability than NC’s metro averages.
• Fixed‑wireless access (FWA): 5G home internet from T‑Mobile is widely marketed; Verizon FWA availability is more selective. FWA is a meaningful substitute where cable/fiber is limited, contributing to higher smartphone‑only and mobile‑primary behavior.
• Fiber/cable backhaul: Fiber is concentrated along major rights‑of‑way and in town; sparse backhaul in rural pockets constrains small‑cell densification relative to metro NC.

Trends that differ from the North Carolina state level

• Higher reliance on mobile as primary internet: Smartphone‑only and wireless‑only household rates in Vance are materially above the state average, driven by lower incomes and patchier fixed‑broadband adoption.
• More prepaid and budget plans: A larger share of prepaid lines than the statewide mix, with stronger sensitivity to promotional pricing and data caps.
• Coverage quality gap off major corridors: 5G is present, but mid‑band coverage and capacity drop more quickly outside Henderson/I‑85 than in urban NC, leading to greater variability in experience.
• Device and usage patterns: Similar overall smartphone penetration to rural NC, but heavier mobile data substitution for home internet and higher use of hotspotting/FWA than the state’s urban counties.

Key implications

• Mobile networks in Vance carry a greater share of “home internet” traffic than in metro NC, making capacity upgrades (mid‑band 5G sectors, additional backhaul) more impactful per user.
• Affordability remains a primary determinant of adoption patterns; the end of new ACP funding in 2024 increased pressure on prepaid uptake and mobile‑only reliance.
• FWA and targeted fiber expansion will directly affect mobile usage trends; where fiber/cable becomes available, smartphone‑only rates should recede toward state norms.

Sources (for methods and baselines): U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census and 2018–2022 ACS 5‑year estimates; Pew Research Center Mobile Fact Sheet (2023); CDC National Health Interview Survey (wireless‑only households, 2022); FCC National Broadband Map mobile coverage filings (accessed 2024); carrier public deployment updates through 2024. Figures reported as estimates where county‑level measurements are not directly published.

Social media usage in Vance County, NC (2025 snapshot)

How many people use social media

• Adults using at least one social platform: ~72% of adults
• Daily social-media users: ~65% of adults
• Average number of platforms used per adult user: 3–4 Note: These county-level figures are the best-available estimates, aligned to Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. usage patterns and adjusted for small-metro/rural Southern counties with similar demographics to Vance County.

Age pattern (share of adults using at least one platform)

• 18–29: ~95%
• 30–49: ~85%
• 50–64: ~72%
• 65+: ~50% Where they spend time:
• 18–29: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; Facebook mainly for family and local events
• 30–49: YouTube and Facebook first; Instagram/TikTok growing; WhatsApp/Messenger for family groups
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest for projects/shopping; Instagram modest
• 65+: Facebook first for community/church/schools; YouTube for news, sermons, how‑tos

Gender breakdown (any social use)

• Women: ~75%
• Men: ~69% Skews:
• Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; strong use of local Facebook Groups/Marketplace
• Men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X; higher engagement with sports, automotive, and local news/weather

Most-used platforms among adults in Vance County (share of adults; best-available estimates)

• YouTube: ~82%
• Facebook: ~70%
• Instagram: ~42%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Pinterest: ~32%
• WhatsApp: ~24%
• Snapchat: ~24%
• LinkedIn: ~22%
• X (Twitter): ~17%
• Reddit: ~16%
• Nextdoor: ~10%

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: Heavy reliance on Groups for local news, schools, churches, buy/sell/yard sales, lost-and-found pets, and event promotion. Marketplace is a top commerce channel.
• Messaging is central: Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp power family, church, and team communications; Spanish-English bilingual households lean on WhatsApp.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube and short-form Reels/TikTok drive how-to, music, sports highlights, and local event recaps; school and church livestreams get steady views.
• Youth communication splits: Teens/young adults favor TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram for daily interaction; Facebook is mainly for announcements and family.
• Local businesses and services: SMBs prioritize Facebook Pages, boosted posts, and Marketplace listings; Instagram used for visuals; LinkedIn presence is lighter than state metro areas.
• News, weather, and alerts: Rapid updates via Facebook pages/groups and YouTube; X is used by a smaller, news-focused minority.
• Peak activity windows: Morning commute (7–9 a.m.), lunch (12–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekend Marketplace browsing is pronounced.
• Device behavior: Mobile-first usage dominates; short videos, Stories/Reels, and vertical content outperform links; posts with clear local relevance and faces outperform generic creatives.

What this means for outreach

• Lead with Facebook and YouTube for county-wide reach; add Instagram and TikTok to capture under-40s.
• Use Facebook Groups/Marketplace for local relevance and conversion; pair with short-form video for discovery.
• Schedule posts to the three daily peaks; use bilingual assets where appropriate.
• Expect modest ROI from LinkedIn/Reddit/X compared with Facebook/YouTube/Instagram in this county.