Delaware County

Key demographics for Delaware County, Ohio (U.S. Census Bureau: 2023 Population Estimates; 2018–2022 ACS/QuickFacts)

• Population size: ~232,000 (2023 estimate)
• Age:
  • Under 18: ~26%
  • 65 and over: ~14%
  • Median age: ~39 years
• Gender: ~50.5% female, ~49.5% male
• Racial/ethnic composition:
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~80–82%
  • Asian, non-Hispanic: ~9–10%
  • Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~4%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
  • Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3–4%
  • Other groups (American Indian/Alaska Native, NHPI): <1% combined
• Household data (2018–2022 ACS):
  • Households: ~83,000
  • Average household size: ~2.7–2.8 persons
  • Family households: ~75%
  • Married-couple families: ~60–65%
  • Owner-occupied housing: ~78–80%

Note: Figures rounded; for exact table values, use Census QuickFacts and ACS tables (e.g., B01001, B03002, DP02/DP04).

Delaware County, OH email usage (estimates)

• Estimated users: 170–190k residents use email regularly. Based on ~230k population, ~92% adult adoption, plus partial teen adoption.
• Age distribution of users (approx.): 13–17: 5%; 18–34: 27%; 35–54: 38%; 55–64: 15%; 65+: 15%.
• Gender split: Nearly even; roughly 49% male, 51% female among users.

Digital access trends

• Very high home connectivity: low-90% of households have a broadband subscription and mid/high-90% have a computer (ACS-style metrics).
• Fiber and gigabit cable are common in the southern/central suburbs; ongoing buildouts are reducing gaps in exurban/rural areas.
• A small share rely on smartphone-only internet (~5–7%); older and rural residents are more affected by lower speeds.
• Strong 4G LTE and broad 5G coverage along the I-71/US-23 corridors support mobile email use.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Fast-growing Columbus-metro county; highest densities (and fastest speeds) in Powell, Lewis Center, southern Delaware/Westerville areas; more sparse north/west has patchier performance.
• Libraries, schools, and municipal sites provide free Wi‑Fi, boosting access for residents without home service.

Mobile phone usage in Delaware County, Ohio — summary with county–vs–state contrasts (2024–2025)

Quick take

• Very high penetration and 5G adoption, with more iOS users, premium plans, and multi‑device ownership than the Ohio average.
• Network capacity is strong along I‑71/US‑23/Polaris–Powell–Lewis Center; remaining gaps are in northern/western rural townships.
• Fixed wireless (5G Home Internet) and expanding fiber fill remaining broadband gaps; Spectrum’s footprint boosts Spectrum Mobile adoption.

User estimates

• Population baseline: roughly 230,000–240,000 residents (fastest‑growing large county in Ohio).
• Smartphone users: approximately 180,000–205,000 residents.
  • Basis: adult smartphone ownership in affluent suburbs typically 92–95%; teen ownership ~90%+. Applying those rates to Delaware County’s age mix yields an overall 78–86% of total population using smartphones.
• Total mobile lines (phones + watches/tablets/IoT): likely 250,000–320,000.
  • Basis: high multi‑device and family‑plan uptake; 1.1–1.3+ active lines per resident is common in similar suburban counties.
• Growth trend: user base and traffic growing faster than the Ohio average due to sustained in‑migration and new housing in the Olentangy/Orange/Liberty/Berlin areas.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Age: Family‑heavy suburbs with many school‑age children and teens drive high iMessage/social/video usage and evening network peaks.
• Income and education: Highest median household income in Ohio and high bachelor’s rates correlate with:
  • More premium devices and faster upgrade cycles (roughly every 2–3 years vs 3–4 years statewide).
  • More wearables and secondary lines per household.
• Seniors: Higher adoption among 65+ than the Ohio average, aided by affordability and family plan bundling.
• Platform/OS mix: iOS share is materially higher than the state average.
  • Delaware County: roughly 55–65% iOS (affluent suburban profile).
  • Ohio overall: closer to parity (about 45–55% iOS depending on source/segment).

Usage and plan mix (vs Ohio)

• Plans: Skews to premium unlimited and family bundles; lower reliance on prepaid than the state average.
• MVNOs: Spectrum Mobile (on Verizon) has outsized share because Spectrum is the dominant cable ISP locally; other MVNOs present but less concentrated.
• Data consumption: Above the state average, driven by 5G availability, streaming, and multi‑device households.
• Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): Strong uptake of Verizon/T‑Mobile 5G Home Internet in suburban and fringe‑rural zones as an alternative to DSL or where fiber isn’t yet built.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage
  • 4G LTE: Near‑ubiquitous across populated areas.
  • 5G: Robust mid‑band 5G along I‑71, US‑23, SR‑315, Polaris/Lewis Center/Powell, and the City of Delaware; expanding northward. Pockets of LTE‑only or weaker indoor 5G persist in northern/western rural townships and some river valley/park areas (e.g., around Alum Creek and Delaware State Park).
• Capacity and densification
  • Macro sites line the main corridors; small‑cell and C‑Band/n41 upgrades are concentrated around retail/office hubs (Polaris area), schools, and new subdivisions.
  • Daytime surges tied to commuting into the Columbus metro and weekend retail/sports traffic.
• Backhaul and fiber
  • Strong fiber backhaul along I‑71/US‑23; AT&T, Zayo, Lumen and others interconnect in the Columbus metro.
  • Residential broadband: Spectrum cable is widespread; AT&T Fiber is present in parts of southern/eastern suburbs and expanding; additional FTTH providers have built in areas of the City of Delaware and Powell.
• Public and institutional connectivity
  • Libraries, schools (Olentangy and Delaware City), and municipal sites provide Wi‑Fi and anchor‑tenant backhaul that support surrounding cellular capacity.
• Emergency communications
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is established; continued enhancements near major parks, highways, and schools.

How Delaware County differs from Ohio overall

• Higher smartphone penetration and faster device upgrade cycles.
• More iOS users and more premium unlimited/family plans; less prepaid reliance.
• Better 5G depth and indoor coverage in populated areas; fewer coverage gaps, with remaining issues concentrated at the rural fringe.
• Higher uptake of Spectrum Mobile and 5G Home Internet due to local ISP footprint and suburban housing patterns.
• Network traffic growth is faster than the state average because of rapid population and housing growth.

Equity and gap notes

• The digital divide is narrower than in many Ohio counties but not eliminated:
  • Northern/western townships can still face weaker indoor 5G and limited wired broadband choices.
  • Affordability is less of a barrier than coverage/choice for those pockets; ACP sunsets may still affect some households.

Sources and method (high level)

• Estimates triangulated from: U.S. Census/ACS population and income trends, Pew Research smartphone ownership benchmarks, FCC National Broadband Map and carrier coverage disclosures (2023–2024), and observed ISP footprints in the Columbus metro.
• Figures are ranges to reflect the latest builds, MVNO dynamics, and rapid growth; local carrier engineering data would refine them further.

Below is a concise, decision-ready snapshot. Exact platform shares aren’t published at the county level, so figures are modeled from Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. usage patterns, adjusted for Delaware County’s suburban, high-income, family-heavy profile.

Overall user stats

• Population context: ~225–235K residents; adults 18+ ≈ 160–175K.
• Social media penetration (adults): ~75–85% use at least one platform (≈120–150K adults).
• Multi-platform behavior: Most active adults use 3–5 platforms; YouTube + Facebook is the most common pair.

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; modeled)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Instagram: ~45–50%
• TikTok: ~30–35%
• Pinterest: ~30–35% (skews female, homeowners, DIY/recipes)
• LinkedIn: ~30–35% (stronger in 25–54, professionals)
• Snapchat: ~25–30% (strong in teens/20s)
• X (Twitter): ~20–25%
• Reddit: ~20–25%
• Nextdoor: ~10–15% (higher in HOA/suburban neighborhoods)

Age patterns (who’s active, and where)

• 18–29: Very high usage (90%+). Platform mix: Instagram (70%+), YouTube (90%+), Snapchat (60–70%), TikTok (60–65%).
• 30–49: High usage (85–90%). Facebook (75%+), YouTube (90%+), Instagram (50–60%), TikTok (30–40%), LinkedIn (35–45% of this cohort).
• 50–64: Moderate‑high usage (70–80%). Facebook (65–75%), YouTube (75–85%), Pinterest (35–45%), LinkedIn (25–35%).
• 65+: Moderate usage (45–60%). Facebook (50–60%), YouTube (60–70%); lower on Instagram/TikTok.

Gender breakdown (tendencies)

• Overall user base: Slight female majority among active users (~52–55% women).
• Platform skews: Pinterest strongly female; Facebook and Instagram slightly female; Reddit and X skew male; YouTube slight male tilt; LinkedIn modest male tilt.

Local behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: Heavy use of Facebook Groups and Events for schools, youth sports, churches, HOAs, and local charities; strong engagement on local announcements, safety, and weather updates.
• Marketplace and local commerce: Facebook Marketplace and Buy/Sell/Trade groups are highly active; service referrals often happen in Groups and on Nextdoor.
• Family and youth content: High engagement with school activities, youth athletics highlights, local camps, family-friendly events, and dining.
• Professional angle: Above-average LinkedIn activity for networking, hiring, and Columbus-metro employer news.
• Short-form video growth: Reels and TikTok drive discovery for local restaurants, fitness, real estate, and events; creators are mostly micro-influencers from the Columbus DMA.
• Timing: Peaks around early morning school/commute, lunch hour, and 7–10 p.m. Prime ad windows often align with evening family time.
• Trust and locality: Content with clear local relevance (neighborhood names, school districts, parks, roads) outperforms generic creative. UGC and testimonials carry outsized weight.
• Safety/privacy sensitivity: Parents are privacy-conscious; posts featuring minors perform best with opt‑in UGC and careful tagging.

Notes on method

• Percentages are modeled from recent Pew U.S. adult platform usage and standard age/gender skews, calibrated to a suburban, high‑income county profile. For exact tactical planning, validate with platform ad planners (Meta, Google/YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Nextdoor) geofiltered to Delaware County.