Fairfield County

Key demographics — Fairfield County, Ohio

• Population: ~170,000 (2023 estimate); 158,921 (2020 Census)
• Age: median ~39 years; under 18 ~23%; 65+ ~17%
• Gender: ~50.7% female, ~49.3% male
• Race/ethnicity (ACS categories):
  • White, non-Hispanic ~85%
  • Black or African American ~6%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race) ~3%
  • Two or more races ~4–5%
  • Asian ~1–2%
  • Other (including American Indian/Alaska Native, NHPI) <1%
• Households:
  • ~64,000 households; average household size ~2.6
  • ~69% family households; ~52% married-couple families
  • ~31% of households have children under 18
  • Owner-occupied housing rate ~75%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2023 1-year) and 2020 Decennial Census.

Fairfield County, OH snapshot (estimates; based on ACS and Pew benchmarks)

• Estimated email users: ~115,000–125,000 adults. Method: ~170,000 residents; ~130,000 adults; ~90–95% of online adults use email and local internet adoption tracks Ohio/U.S. averages.
• Age distribution of email use (share of each group):
  • 18–29: ~95–98%
  • 30–49: ~95–98%
  • 50–64: ~90–94%
  • 65+: ~80–88%
• Gender split: Nearly even; men and women within a few percentage points of each other.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription roughly high-80s percent; computer/smartphone access in the mid-90s percent range.
  • Growing fiber and cable coverage in suburban corridors; some smartphone-only households (~10–15%).
  • Increased remote work/online services since 2020 supports higher daily email use.
• Local density/connectivity:
  • Part of the Columbus metro; higher-density areas (Pickerington, Lancaster, NW townships near I-70/I-270) generally have robust cable/fiber.
  • More rural southern/eastern parts face patchier options, relying on fixed wireless/DSL where fiber isn’t present.

Notes: Figures are derived from county population estimates and statewide/national adoption rates; exact email counts aren’t published locally but align with similar Ohio suburban counties.

Below is a concise, decision-ready snapshot of mobile phone usage in Fairfield County, OH, with emphasis on how local patterns diverge from Ohio-wide trends. Figures are directional estimates synthesized from recent ACS indicators on device/connection types, FCC mobile coverage maps, and metro–rural adoption patterns; they’re best used for planning, not for compliance reporting. User estimates (countywide)

• Total smartphone users: roughly 140,000–150,000 residents (about 85–92% of adults). Slightly higher than Ohio’s average due to the county’s Columbus-metro commuter suburbs.
• Households with a smartphone: about 90–93% (a touch above the Ohio average).
• Households relying mainly or only on mobile data for home internet: ~12–16% countywide, likely lower than the Ohio average (often ~17–20%), because cable broadband is widely available in populated areas.

Demographic breakdown (what’s different vs state-level)

• Geography within the county is the biggest differentiator:
  • Northern/western suburbs (Pickerington, Canal Winchester/Lithopolis areas within Fairfield): higher 5G handset adoption, more multi-line family plans, and lower “mobile-only” reliance than the state average, thanks to strong cable/fiber availability and commuter profiles.
  • Southern/eastern rural townships: more LTE-only usage, more mobile-only or mobile-first households, and more coverage variability than the state average for suburban counties.
• Age:
  • 18–34: near-saturation smartphone adoption (>95%) and heavy 5G use in the suburban north; mobile-only is common for renters/younger households but still below Ohio’s overall rate in the suburbs.
  • 65+: adoption in suburban tracts is above the Ohio average (driven by higher income and family plan bundling), but in rural tracts it falls below the state average, widening the intra-county gap more than typical in Ohio.
• Income:
  • Under $35k: mobile-only rates likely at or above the Ohio average in rural tracts (affordability + weaker fixed options).
  • $75k+: below-average mobile-only rates vs Ohio, reflecting widespread cable/fiber take-up and work-from-home needs in the commuter belt.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • The county’s majority-White, suburban profile and proximity to Columbus modestly narrow device-ownership gaps seen at the state level; remaining disparities align more with income and geography than with race alone.

Digital infrastructure points (and how they shape usage differently than Ohio overall)

• Mobile coverage and 5G:
  • Mid-band 5G (T-Mobile, Verizon C-band, and AT&T C-band) is strong along the US-33 corridor, Lancaster, and the northern suburbs—denser and more performant than what you’d expect in a typical Ohio county with similar population.
  • Rural southeastern tracts see more LTE-only pockets and weaker indoor reliability than Ohio’s urban/suburban average, contributing to device-ownership but lower high-speed mobile performance.
  • mmWave 5G remains limited to select high-traffic nodes; not a major differentiator versus the state, but the mid-band build-out pace in the growth corridor is a local strength.
• Wireline backstop (impacts mobile-only rates):
  • Spectrum cable passes most populated areas; AT&T Fiber has a growing but still uneven footprint (stronger near the Franklin County line and in denser parts of Lancaster/Pickerington). This depresses mobile-only home internet below the state average in the north and around Lancaster.
  • In rural townships, legacy DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite fill gaps, nudging some households to rely primarily on mobile.
• Tower siting and backhaul:
  • Newer sites and sector upgrades are concentrated along US-33 and growth nodes, delivering above-average median mobile speeds relative to many Ohio counties of similar size—while terrain and distance in the southeast sustain below-average rural performance.

Trends that clearly diverge from Ohio state-level patterns

• Larger intra-county disparity than typical: The suburban north overperforms state averages (device ownership, 5G use, speeds), while the rural southeast underperforms (coverage quality, mobile-only reliance).
• Lower countywide mobile-only rate than Ohio overall, driven by strong cable/fiber in populated tracts—yet with rural pockets that exceed the state’s mobile-only average.
• Faster 5G handset uptake and mid-band availability in the commuter belt than in a typical Ohio county, reflecting Columbus spillover investment and demographics.
• Seniors in suburban tracts show higher adoption than Ohio’s senior average; seniors in rural tracts show lower—wider spread than the state norm.

Below is a concise, county-tailored snapshot. Note: Direct county-level platform stats aren’t published; figures are estimates using Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. usage rates applied to Fairfield County’s demographics. Treat as directional.

Snapshot of users

• Population baseline: roughly 160–170k residents.
• Social media penetration: about 82–85% of adults; ~95% of teens (13–17).
• Estimated users: 105k–115k adults; 9k–11k teens.
• Gender makeup among users mirrors the county (≈51% women / 49% men).

Most-used platforms (adults; share of adults who use)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 45–50%
• TikTok: 30–38%
• Snapchat: 28–35%
• Pinterest: 30–35% (skews female, home/lifestyle)
• LinkedIn: 25–30% (higher in Columbus-commuter suburbs)
• X (Twitter): 20–25%
• Reddit: 15–20%
• Nextdoor: 12–18% (not universal, but strong in HOA/subdivision areas)

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): YouTube 90%+, Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat 60–70% each; Facebook limited. Heavy daily use and messaging (Snapchat).
• 18–34: Instagram + TikTok lead; Snapchat strong; YouTube universal. Facebook used mostly for groups/marketplace, not posting.
• 35–54: Facebook dominant for groups, schools, youth sports; Instagram secondary; YouTube for how‑to and product research; emerging TikTok adoption.
• 55+: Facebook + YouTube core; Pinterest for hobbies; limited Instagram/TikTok; Nextdoor adoption where available.

Gender tendencies

• Women: Over-index on Facebook groups/Marketplace, Instagram, Pinterest; high engagement with local schools, events, and small-business pages.
• Men: Over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X; strong interest in sports, DIY/home improvement, tech/auto content.
• Messaging: Snapchat/Instagram DMs common under 35; Facebook Messenger standard 35+.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: High activity in Facebook groups (neighborhoods, buy/sell/trade, school/PTA, youth sports, church/community service).
• Marketplace > traditional classifieds: Strong use for secondhand goods, yard equipment, baby/kids items, and local services.
• Local news via social: Residents follow school districts, city/county agencies, local outlets; weather/traffic (US‑33) and event-driven spikes (e.g., Fairfield County Fair).
• Video-forward consumption: Short-form Reels/TikToks for restaurants, local events, and “things to do”; YouTube for tutorials, home/yard projects.
• Trust and conversion drivers: Neighbor recommendations in groups, school/coach endorsements, and visible community involvement outperform generic ads.
• Timing: Evenings (7–10 p.m.) and early mornings see the highest engagement; weekend mornings are strong for Marketplace and events.
• Cross-posting behavior: Local businesses and creators cross-post Facebook + Instagram; teens/young adults cross-post TikTok/Instagram and coordinate via Snapchat.

Notes on methodology

• Percentages reflect estimated share of adults using each platform, based on Pew Research Center’s latest U.S. figures mapped to Fairfield County’s suburban/rural mix and commuter profile. Teens’ figures reflect Pew’s teen survey benchmarks.