Franklin County

Franklin County, Ohio — key demographics (latest available U.S. Census Bureau estimates; values rounded)

Population size

• Total population: ~1.34 million (ACS 2023; 2020 Census count: 1,323,807)

Age

• Under 18: ~22%
• 18–64: ~65%
• 65 and over: ~13%
• Median age: ~34 years

Sex

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race/ethnicity

• White alone: ~61%
• Black or African American alone: ~25%
• Asian alone: ~7%
• Two or more races: ~5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~7%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~56% (Note: “Hispanic” overlaps with race; percents may not sum to 100.)

Households

• Total households: ~570,000
• Average household size: ~2.35
• Family households: ~57% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~28%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 American Community Survey (5-year) and 2020 Decennial Census (values rounded).

Summary for Franklin County, Ohio (Columbus area)

• Estimated email users: About 1.0–1.1 million residents. Basis: ~1.33M population, high internet/computer access, and ~90%+ of online adults using email (Pew-style rates).
• Age pattern: Highest adoption among 30–64 (95–98%); 18–29 roughly ~90–95%; 65+ around ~85–90%. Teens widely use email for school accounts. County’s relatively young median age (34) supports high overall usage.
• Gender split: Essentially even (near 50/50); national data show negligible differences between men and women in email use.
• Digital access trends:
  • ~89–91% of households subscribe to broadband; ~93–95% have a computer or smartphone.
  • Smartphone‑only internet users estimated ~10–15%.
  • Strong urban coverage with multiple ISPs (e.g., AT&T Fiber, Spectrum, Breezeline); gigabit options available in much of Columbus.
  • Libraries and schools (e.g., Columbus Metropolitan Library’s system) provide free Wi‑Fi/computers, helping close gaps in lower‑income neighborhoods.
• Local density/connectivity facts: Predominantly urban county with ~1.33M residents over ~544 sq. mi (≈2,400–2,500 people/sq. mi). Urban density and fiber/cable build‑out translate to high connectivity; remaining disparities are more about affordability/subscription than physical availability.

Estimates synthesize recent ACS/FCC local access indicators with national email‑use benchmarks.

Franklin County, OH mobile phone usage snapshot (2024–2025)

User estimates

• Population context: ~1.34 million residents; roughly 1.0–1.05 million adults. Urban, younger profile than Ohio overall.
• Estimated smartphone users: 1.05–1.15 million residents use a smartphone.
  • Method: apply ~90–94% adult smartphone adoption (Pew U.S. urban rates) plus very high teen adoption to county population.
• Mobile-only (smartphone as primary internet): roughly 12–16% of households, higher than Ohio’s average (about 9–12%).
• Households with any mobile broadband subscription (cellular data plan): roughly 78–82% in Franklin vs ~70–75% statewide.
• Multiple-line users: higher than state average due to students and young professionals maintaining work/personal or eSIM travel lines.

Demographic breakdown (how Franklin differs from Ohio)

• Age: Larger 18–34 segment (Ohio State University and a strong entry-level job market) pushes smartphone adoption and mobile-first behavior above the state average; seniors’ adoption is improving but remains below younger cohorts, with a smaller senior share than Ohio overall.
• Income: Low- and moderate-income neighborhoods show higher reliance on smartphone-only internet than the statewide average; reasons include affordability and adequate 5G coverage for everyday needs.
• Race/ethnicity: Black and Hispanic households in Franklin County are more likely to be smartphone-only compared with white households, mirroring national urban patterns and creating an urban digital divide that looks different from rural coverage gaps seen elsewhere in Ohio.
• Students/transients: Large OSU population and international residents drive heavy app-based messaging, video, and social, higher prepaid/eSIM uptake, and demand for dense campus/small-cell coverage—less pronounced at the state level.

Digital infrastructure highlights (and differences vs Ohio)

• 5G coverage and density:
  • All three national carriers provide countywide 5G; mid-band coverage is extensive across Columbus and suburbs; mmWave hotspots exist in downtown, OSU/Arena District, and stadium/venue clusters.
  • Network densification (small cells, DAS) is visibly higher than the state average along High St, campus, Short North, Arena District, Easton, Polaris, and major corridors—supporting faster median speeds and capacity during events.
• Performance:
  • Independent tests typically show higher median 5G speeds in Columbus/Franklin County than Ohio statewide medians, reflecting denser mid-band deployments and better backhaul.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Robust metro fiber from multiple carriers (e.g., AT&T, Lumen, Zayo, Spectrum/Charter, Breezeline) and ongoing builds supporting the region’s data center growth (notably in nearby New Albany/Franklin-Licking border) raise backhaul capacity above many Ohio counties.
• Fixed-wireless access (FWA):
  • Verizon and T‑Mobile 5G Home offerings are widely available in Franklin County and are adopted at higher rates than in rural parts of Ohio, complementing strong cable/fiber availability.
• Public connectivity:
  • Columbus Metropolitan Library hotspot lending and branch Wi‑Fi, COTA bus Wi‑Fi, extensive campus Wi‑Fi at OSU, and venue DAS provide more public access options than typical counties.
• Smart city legacy:
  • The Smart Columbus initiatives left a foundation of corridor sensors, RSUs, and institutional coordination that contribute to a more sophisticated urban mobility/communications environment than most of Ohio.

Behavioral and usage trends that stand out vs statewide

• More mobile-first behavior: Higher share of residents rely on smartphones for primary internet (payments, telehealth, learning), whereas statewide differences are often driven by rural fixed-broadband availability rather than urban affordability preferences.
• Higher data consumption and app intensity: A younger, student-heavy base and event-driven surges (OSU football, Arena District) lead to capacity-oriented deployments uncommon in many Ohio counties.
• Faster 5G uptake: Franklin residents adopt 5G plans and devices earlier, matching network availability; statewide adoption is tempered by rural coverage and older demographics.
• Better indoor/venue experience: Proliferation of small cells and DAS reduces congestion during peak times; this is atypical outside Ohio’s largest metros.

Method notes and sources

• Population: U.S. Census/ACS 2023 estimates.
• Device/usage rates: Pew Research Center (smartphone adoption by urbanicity/age), ACS S2801 “Computer and Internet Use” (smartphone presence, cellular data subscriptions, smartphone-only households), and market reports on 5G/FWA uptake.
• Coverage/performance: Carrier coverage disclosures, FCC National Broadband Map, and third-party speed test aggregators. Figures above are reasoned estimates synthesized from these sources and typical urban-county patterns in Ohio.

Here’s a concise, county‑level snapshot based on 2023–2025 U.S. social-media benchmarks (Pew, DataReportal), adjusted for Franklin County’s urban/younger profile (Columbus/OSU) and ACS demographics. Treat figures as modeled estimates, not official counts.

Overall usage

• Population: ~1.34M. Estimated monthly social media users: 1.0–1.1M (≈75–82% of residents).
• Multi-platform behavior: ~80% use 3+ platforms monthly; ~55–60% use short‑form video weekly.

Age mix (share of local social media user base)

• 13–17: ~9%
• 18–24: ~16%
• 25–34: ~25%
• 35–44: ~18%
• 45–54: ~13%
• 55–64: ~10%
• 65+: ~9%

Gender breakdown (users)

• Women ~51%
• Men ~48%
• Non-binary/unspecified ~1% (likely undercounted in most datasets)

Most-used platforms (approx. monthly reach among local social users, 13+)

• YouTube: ~88%
• Facebook: ~67%
• Instagram: ~58%
• TikTok: ~50%
• Facebook Messenger: ~52%
• Snapchat: ~42% (notably high among OSU students/teens)
• LinkedIn: ~33% (strong with regional employers/professionals)
• Pinterest: ~32% (skews female, home/DIY/food)
• X (Twitter): ~23% (news/sports/events)
• Reddit: ~22% (r/Columbus, niche interests, tech)
• WhatsApp: ~24% (notable use in immigrant communities: Somali, Nepali/Bhutanese, Hispanic)
• Nextdoor: ~12% (higher in suburbs: Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, Gahanna)

Behavioral trends to know

• Local-first content wins: High engagement with Columbus news outlets, weather/traffic, and public safety alerts; neighborhood groups for buy/sell, services, and events.
• Sports-driven spikes: OSU Buckeyes, Columbus Crew, Blue Jackets, Clippers; real-time chatter on X/Reddit; celebratory and highlight clips on IG/TikTok/YouTube.
• Short-form video dominance: Food/coffee, nightlife (Short North, German Village), campus life, and “things to do” roundups; strong weekend/event performance.
• Time-of-day patterns: Morning scroll (7–9 a.m.), lunch (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.), and prime-time (8–10 p.m.); game days/events shift peaks to afternoons/evenings.
• Community platforms bifurcation:
  • City core/OSU: TikTok, IG, Snap, Reddit.
  • Suburbs/families: Facebook Groups, Messenger, Nextdoor, Pinterest.
• Professional networking: Above-average LinkedIn usage around downtown, Polaris, Dublin; recruiting and industry groups active midweek.
• Offer sensitivity: Strong response to limited-time deals, events, and student discounts; UGC and creator partnerships outperform brand-only posts.
• Language/cultural reach: Better engagement when campaigns include Somali, Spanish, and Nepali variants for targeted neighborhoods.

Notes and caveats

• County-specific platform shares aren’t officially published; figures are modeled from national urban adoption rates and local demographics.