Wayne County

Wayne County, North Carolina — key demographics (latest available)

Population size

• Total population: 117,4xx (2023 Census estimate)
• 2010 Census: 122,623; 2020 Census: 117,333 (net decline since 2010)

Age

• Median age: ~37 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18–64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Racial/ethnic composition (Hispanic is any race; others are non-Hispanic)

• White (NH): ~50%
• Black/African American (NH): ~31%
• Hispanic/Latino: ~13%
• Two or more races (NH): ~4%
• Asian (NH): ~1–2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (NH): ~1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (NH): <0.5%

Household data

• Households: ~44,000
• Persons per household: ~2.55–2.60
• Homeownership rate: ~62%
• Median household income: ~$52k–$55k
• Per capita income: ~$27k–$28k
• Poverty rate: ~18–20%

Notable insights

• Demographics are balanced between White and Black populations with a growing Hispanic community.
• Younger profile than many NC counties (influenced by the Seymour Johnson AFB presence).
• Income below the NC median; poverty rate above the state average; homeownership modest.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 Population Estimates; 2023 American Community Survey; 2020 Decennial Census; Census QuickFacts).

Wayne County, NC email landscape (2025)

• Estimated users: ~90,600 residents (13+) use email. Basis: 2023 population ~117,300; age-13+ cohort shares and Pew adoption rates by age.

• By age (users):

  • 13–17: ~8,000
  • 18–34: ~25,600
  • 35–54: ~29,300
  • 55–64: ~13,100
  • 65+: ~14,600 Insight: Highest penetration is 35–54; seniors are sizable but lower-adoption.

• Gender split among users: ~51% female, 49% male (tracks county sex distribution).

• Digital access trends (ACS-based):

  • ~88–90% of households have a computer device.
  • ~80–83% subscribe to home broadband; ~12–15% are smartphone‑only; ~6–8% lack home internet.
  • Trend: smartphone dependence remains notable in lower‑density tracts, which can limit email reliability and attachment-heavy use.

• Local density/connectivity facts:

  • Population density ≈210 people per square mile across ~553 sq mi; urban concentration in Goldsboro with extensive rural surroundings.
  • Broadband adoption is strongest in and around Goldsboro; rural areas show higher reliance on mobile-only access and legacy DSL, influencing email frequency and off-peak usage.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2018–2022; 2023 population estimates); Pew Research on email/online adoption by age.

Wayne County, NC mobile phone usage summary (focus on how it differs from statewide patterns)

At-a-glance user estimates (2023–2024)

• Population and households: about 117,000 residents and 44,000–45,000 households (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019–2023).
• Estimated mobile phone users: approximately 100,000 residents use a mobile phone (roughly 85% of the total population; based on county age structure and national ownership rates).
• Estimated smartphone users: roughly 90,000 residents use a smartphone (around 75–80% of the total population, higher among adults and teens).

Device ownership and internet subscription (household-level, ACS 2019–2023, table S2801)

• Households with a smartphone
  • Wayne County: 92–93%
  • North Carolina: about 94%
  • Insight: Wayne is slightly below the state on smartphone presence per household.
• Households with broadband of any type
  • Wayne County: ~84%
  • North Carolina: ~89%
  • Insight: A notable gap; Wayne trails the state in overall broadband adoption.
• Households with wired broadband (cable, fiber, or DSL)
  • Wayne County: ~75–76%
  • North Carolina: ~80–81%
  • Insight: Lower wireline adoption in Wayne increases dependence on mobile.
• Households with a cellular data plan for home internet
  • Wayne County: ~74%
  • North Carolina: ~78–79%
  • Insight: Cellular plans are widely used, but Wayne’s slightly lower rate reflects fewer total subscribers despite heavier reliance where wireline is absent.
• Households with no internet subscription
  • Wayne County: ~13%
  • North Carolina: ~9%
  • Insight: Non-adoption is materially higher in Wayne.
• Smartphone-only computing (has a smartphone but no desktop/laptop)
  • Wayne County: mid-to-high teens percent of households
  • North Carolina: low-teens percent of households
  • Insight: Smartphone-only reliance is meaningfully higher in Wayne than statewide.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• County profile (ACS 2019–2023):
  • Race/ethnicity: roughly 53% White, 31% Black, 12% Hispanic/Latino, 2% Asian, remainder multiracial/other.
  • Age: approximately 24% under 18, 61% ages 18–64, 15% 65 and older.
  • Income: median household income is below the North Carolina median.
• How demographics shape mobile use locally:
  • Higher smartphone-only reliance among younger adults and in tracts with higher shares of Black and Hispanic households aligns with national patterns and is more pronounced in Wayne due to lower wireline availability and lower median income.
  • Seniors in Wayne are more likely than the NC average to have no home internet; those who are connected are more likely to rely on basic smartphone access rather than computers.
  • Military presence around Goldsboro/Seymour Johnson AFB supports strong urban mobile adoption and faster 5G availability in the urban core.

Digital infrastructure points

• Network coverage and technology:
  • 4G LTE: near-universal outdoor coverage across the county from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
  • 5G: countywide low-band 5G coverage, with mid-band 5G (T-Mobile n41; Verizon/AT&T C-band n77) concentrated in and around Goldsboro, major highways (US-70/US-117), and denser corridors.
  • Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): T-Mobile 5G Home and Verizon 5G Home/LTE Home are available in population centers and some surrounding communities, filling gaps where cable/fiber are limited.
• Wired broadband footprint:
  • Cable internet (e.g., Spectrum) covers most incorporated areas and primary corridors; suburban and rural fringes show coverage gaps.
  • Fiber availability remains city-centric, with ongoing but uneven expansion into suburbs; rural census tracts still depend on DSL, FWA, or mobile-only.
• Performance characteristics:
  • Mid-band 5G areas typically deliver hundreds of Mbps with good capacity; low-band 5G/4G areas trend lower (tens of Mbps), adequate for basic streaming and telework but sensitive to congestion and indoor penetration.
• Notable gaps:
  • Rural eastern and southwestern tracts show weaker mid-band 5G density and spottier wired options, contributing to higher mobile-only or FWA reliance than the state average.

How Wayne County differs from the North Carolina average

• Lower wireline broadband adoption and higher no-internet rate, which together push more households toward mobile phones as primary connectivity.
• Higher share of smartphone-only households, reflecting both affordability constraints and infrastructure gaps.
• Faster relative uptake of mobile-based home internet (FWA/mobile-only) in areas beyond Goldsboro due to limited fiber/cable options.
• More pronounced demographic divides in adoption: younger, Black, and Hispanic households exhibit higher mobile dependence than statewide averages, while seniors are more likely to be offline altogether.
• Urban–rural split is sharper: Goldsboro’s 5G mid-band density and cable/fiber options contrast with rural tracts that lean on 4G/low-band 5G and mobile-only service.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2019–2023, table S2801: Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions); carrier coverage disclosures (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile); FCC broadband/mobile deployment datasets; Pew Research Center (national smartphone ownership baselines).

Social media usage in Wayne County, North Carolina (2025 short breakdown)

Context and reach

• Population: ~117,000 (2023 estimate). Adults (18+): ~90,000.
• Broadband at home: ~80–84% of households. Smartphone ownership: ~88–91% of adults.
• Adult social media users: ~74,000–78,000 (≈82–86% of adults). Daily users: ~55,000–60,000.

Most‑used platforms among adults (share of all adults who use each platform; Wayne County 2025 modeled estimate)

• YouTube: 80–83%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 42–48%
• TikTok: 30–36%
• Pinterest: 30–35%
• Snapchat: 26–32%
• X (Twitter): 20–24%
• WhatsApp: 20–24%
• LinkedIn: 18–22%
• Reddit: 18–22%
• Nextdoor: 10–14%

Age profile (share using any social media; platform skews)

• 18–24: ~93–97%. Heavy Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; YouTube near‑universal. Facebook lower but still material.
• 25–34: ~90–94%. Mix of Facebook + Instagram; TikTok strong; YouTube near‑universal; Messenger/WhatsApp for coordination.
• 35–44: ~86–90%. Facebook dominant; Instagram moderate; TikTok growing; Pinterest strong among women.
• 45–54: ~82–86%. Facebook primary; YouTube strong; Instagram light; TikTok selective.
• 55–64: ~75–80%. Facebook primary; YouTube strong; Pinterest moderate; limited TikTok/Instagram adoption.
• 65+: ~62–68%. Facebook and YouTube lead; some Nextdoor; lighter use of other apps.

Gender breakdown and skews

• Adult population: ~51–52% women, ~48–49% men.
• Women over‑index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (Pinterest is heavily female). Men over‑index on YouTube, Reddit, and X. TikTok and Snapchat skew slightly female in usage and posting.

Behavioral trends in Wayne County

• Facebook is the community backbone: high engagement with local groups (neighborhoods, schools, churches), Marketplace, and event pages. Local news, weather, and public‑safety updates get rapid shares and comments.
• Short‑form video is surging: TikTok and Instagram Reels drive discovery for local food, events, youth sports, and small businesses; re‑posted to Facebook for reach across older audiences.
• Private/closed groups and messaging: Facebook Groups and Messenger are primary for coordination; WhatsApp usage present, especially among bilingual and international families.
• Military community effect (Seymour Johnson AFB): stronger 18–34 cohort participation, active buy/sell/housing groups, and consistent off‑peak posting due to shift work; Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok are above average in this segment.
• Shopping and local commerce: Facebook/Instagram fuel consideration via short videos, Stories, and carousels; Marketplace and group recommendations drive last‑mile decisions. Pinterest influences home, crafts, and seasonal purchases among women 25–54.
• Time‑of‑day peaks: weekday early morning (6:30–8:30 a.m.), lunch (11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekend engagement is highest Saturday late morning and Sunday afternoon. Weather and school/athletics schedules trigger real‑time spikes.

Key takeaways

• Reach: ~4 in 5 adults use social media, with daily use common.
• Platforms: YouTube and Facebook are the reach leaders; Instagram and TikTok are essential for under‑35s; Pinterest is a strong secondary channel for women 25–54.
• Content: Short, local, and video‑first content performs best; group/community distribution on Facebook is crucial for scale.
• Targeting: For older and family audiences, prioritize Facebook + YouTube; for 18–34, prioritize Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat; use Messenger/WhatsApp to convert interest into action.

Notes on data

• County‑level platform shares are not directly published; figures are 2025 modeled estimates applying recent U.S. adult platform usage (e.g., Pew Research Center 2024/2025) to Wayne County’s demographics and rural profile using Census/ACS baselines. Where exact county data are unavailable, ranges reflect reasonable local variance.