Hancock County

Key demographics for Hancock County, Ohio (latest available estimates)

• Population

  • Total: ~75,800 (2023 estimate, U.S. Census Bureau)

• Age

  • Median age: ~39 years
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 18–24: ~10%
  • 25–44: ~25%
  • 45–64: ~25%
  • 65 and over: ~18%

• Gender

  • Female: ~50.7%
  • Male: ~49.3%

• Race and ethnicity

  • Non-Hispanic White: ~86–87%
  • Non-Hispanic Black: ~2%
  • Non-Hispanic Asian: ~2%
  • Non-Hispanic Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Other non-Hispanic races combined (AIAN, NHPI, some other): ~0.5%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~6%

• Households and housing

  • Total households: ~30,600
  • Average household size: ~2.4 persons
  • Family households: ~61% of households; married-couple families: ~47%
  • Households with children under 18: ~28%
  • Nonfamily households: ~39%; living alone: ~32% (about 11% age 65+ living alone)
  • Tenure: ~71% owner-occupied, ~29% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 American Community Survey (5-year) and 2023 Population Estimates Program. Figures are rounded for clarity.

Hancock County, OH email usage (estimates, adults 18+):

• Estimated users: ~54,000 adult email users. Basis: ~76,000 residents, ~77% adults, ~92% email adoption among adults.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 18–29: ~21% of users; adoption ~98%
  • 30–49: ~34% of users; adoption ~98–99%
  • 50–64: ~26% of users; adoption ~95%
  • 65+: ~19% of users; adoption ~88–90%
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male (email adoption is near-parity, with women slightly higher by 1–2 pts).
• Digital access and trends:
  • ~86% of households have a broadband subscription; ~93–95% have a computer device.
  • Smartphone-only home internet: ~14% of households, indicating some reliance on mobile data plans.
  • Access is strongest in the Findlay urban core, with slower fixed broadband options more common toward rural edges; public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools) supplements access.
  • Ongoing upgrades (fiber/5G) are raising speeds and reliability; remote work/learning has increased multi-device, always-on email use.
• Local density/connectivity context: 76,000 people across ~533 sq mi (140–145 people/sq mi), a mixed urban–rural profile that drives high overall email use with modest rural gaps in fixed broadband quality.

Hancock County, OH mobile phone usage summary

Core user estimates

• Population and households: 75,783 residents (2020 Census), roughly 30,500 households (assuming ~2.48 persons per household).
• Adult mobile users: About 57,500 adults use a mobile phone (≈96% of the ≈59,900 adults).
• Adult smartphone users: About 52,700 adults use a smartphone (≈88% of adults). This estimate applies age-specific adoption rates from recent national research to Hancock County’s age mix.

Demographic breakdown (adults)

• By age (counts rounded):
  • 18–29: ~11,600 smartphone users (≈96% of ~12,100 adults in this bracket)
  • 30–49: ~18,700 (≈95% of ~19,700)
  • 50–64: ~12,000 (≈83% of ~14,400)
  • 65+: ~10,400 (≈76% of ~13,600)
• By household status:
  • Households with at least one smartphone: ≈27,200–27,500 (roughly 89–90% of ~30,500 households), consistent with high household smartphone presence seen in counties anchored by a regional employment center (Findlay).
• Urban/rural split inside the county:
  • Smartphone adoption is highest in and around Findlay (mid-to-high 80s percent among adults) and modestly lower in outlying townships, mirroring the typical 5–7 percentage point urban–rural gap seen nationally.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage and technology mix:
  • All three national carriers (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) provide countywide 4G LTE. 5G is broadly available in Findlay and along the I‑75/US‑224 corridors, with mid‑band 5G (Verizon C‑band and T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz) lighting most high-traffic areas; low‑band 5G or LTE dominates in rural townships.
  • AT&T FirstNet Band 14 augments public‑safety and rural coverage. Small-cell densification is concentrated near I‑75 interchanges, commercial strips, and industrial sites.
• Backhaul and fiber availability:
  • Multiple long‑haul fiber routes follow I‑75, and city fiber builds (e.g., competitive providers in Findlay) give carriers robust backhaul to support mid‑band 5G capacity.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA):
  • 5G Home/Business internet from T‑Mobile and Verizon is widely marketable in and around Findlay and along I‑75, with LTE FWA options extending farther into rural areas. This FWA footprint is a notable complement to mobile service and signals strong 5G spectrum utilization in populated corridors.

How Hancock County differs from Ohio overall

• Earlier and denser mid‑band 5G along a non‑metro interstate corridor: Because I‑75 bisects the county and Findlay anchors a regional jobs hub, carriers prioritized mid‑band 5G here earlier than in many rural Ohio counties. Outside the metros (Columbus/Cincinnati/Cleveland), Hancock’s freeway‑centric 5G capacity is above the statewide rural average.
• Enterprise and IoT tilt above average: Logistics, manufacturing, and energy employers in and around Findlay contribute to higher-than-average machine‑to‑machine and enterprise device density relative to many Ohio counties of similar size, which raises total mobile connections per capita beyond what consumer lines alone would suggest.
• Lower prepaid share and higher multi‑line plan penetration: With a strong employer base and higher prevalence of family and employer-subsidized plans, Hancock tends to skew more postpaid than the statewide mix that includes more price‑sensitive Appalachian counties.
• Coverage quality is more uniform than in rural Appalachian Ohio: Hancock’s flat terrain and tower siting along I‑75 yield more consistent outdoor LTE/5G coverage than many southeastern Ohio counties, though in‑building performance still depends on proximity to low‑band sites in the outer townships.
• FWA adoption is a bigger factor outside the metros: Relative to Ohio’s large metropolitan counties (where cable/fiber are ubiquitous), Hancock’s rural townships rely more on 5G/LTE FWA as a primary or backup broadband option, reinforcing higher mobile network utilization.

Key takeaways

• Approximately 57,500 adults in Hancock County use a mobile phone, and about 52,700 use a smartphone.
• Smartphone adoption is highest among working‑age adults and modestly lower among seniors, but overall adult adoption (≈88%) is solidly in line with national norms and slightly above what’s typical for rural‑leaning Ohio counties.
• Network capacity is strongest in Findlay and along I‑75 due to mid‑band 5G buildout and robust fiber backhaul. Rural areas are well‑served by LTE plus low‑band 5G, with FWA filling fixed‑broadband gaps.

Sources and methodology

• Population and household counts: 2020 Decennial Census.
• Adoption rates: Pew Research Center mobile device ownership (latest available through 2023) applied to Hancock County’s age structure to derive local estimates.
• Infrastructure: FCC Broadband DATA maps (2024) and carrier public coverage disclosures for 5G/LTE, corroborated by known spectrum holdings (T‑Mobile 600 MHz/2.5 GHz; Verizon C‑band/700/850; AT&T 700/850 and FirstNet Band 14).

Hancock County, Ohio — Social Media Usage Snapshot (2025)

Population base

• Residents: 75,783 (2020 Census; county seat: Findlay)
• Practical user base considered: ages 13+

User stats (best-available local estimates derived from Census demographics and Pew 2023–2024 platform adoption)

• Adult social media users (18+): approximately 42,000–46,000 (about 70–75% of adults)
• Teen users (13–17): approximately 4,000–4,500 (roughly 85–90% use at least one platform)
• Overall users 13+: approximately 46,000–50,000

Most-used platforms (share of adults using each; local estimates aligned to Pew 2024, adjusted slightly older than the U.S. average)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 68–72% (still the county’s top general-purpose network)
• Instagram: 42–48%
• TikTok: 28–34% (strong among under-35; lower among 45+)
• Snapchat: 25–30% (concentrated among teens/younger adults)
• Pinterest: 30–35% (skews female)
• LinkedIn: 25–30% (boosted by white-collar employers in Findlay)
• X (Twitter): 20–25%
• Reddit: 18–22%
• WhatsApp: 15–20%
• Nextdoor: 12–18% (neighborhood/homeowner clusters)

Age groups (share patterns and behaviors)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube (~90%+), Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat each ~60%+ (Pew Teens 2023). Heavy on school sports, clubs, trends; Snapchat for messaging; TikTok/IG Reels for creation.
• 18–29: Daily Instagram/TikTok, Snapchat messaging; YouTube for entertainment/how-to; LinkedIn for internships and early-career (University of Findlay pipeline).
• 30–44: Facebook + Instagram core; Marketplace for local buy/sell; parenting, school PTO, and youth sports groups; short‑form video consumption rising.
• 45–64: Facebook primary; YouTube for DIY, product research; strong use of local groups for services, events, and community news.
• 65+: Facebook for family/community, Messenger for communication; YouTube for tutorials, health, and hobby content.

Gender breakdown

• Overall user base skews slightly female: roughly 52–54% women, 46–48% men.
• Platform tendencies: women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X.

Behavioral trends specific to Hancock County

• Community-first Facebook usage: High participation in local Groups (school athletics, church/faith, charity drives, neighborhood watches) and heavy Marketplace activity for vehicles, tools, and household goods.
• Local news and weather: Strong reliance on Facebook Pages/Groups for school closings, storm updates, traffic/incidents; regional outlets and first responders drive spikes.
• Event-driven engagement: Noticeable surges around the Hancock County Fair, high school sports seasons, parades, and city festivals; photo/video recaps perform best within 24–48 hours of events.
• Video dominance: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) is the fastest-growing format for discovery; YouTube remains the go-to for tutorials, product research, and long-form.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is standard across ages; Snapchat prevalent under 30; WhatsApp pockets tied to international ties and certain workplaces.
• Best posting windows (local patterns): Evenings (7–9 pm ET) and weekend mornings for broad reach; weekday lunch (11:30 am–1 pm) works for desk-bound audiences; storm/closure updates perform immediately.
• Advertising effectiveness: Facebook/Instagram provide the broadest, most efficient local reach; YouTube pre-roll builds awareness; TikTok is efficient for 18–34; LinkedIn is effective for professional recruiting (energy, manufacturing, healthcare, education).

Notes on sources and method

• Population and age structure: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census, ACS profile for Hancock County).
• Platform adoption benchmarks: Pew Research Center (Social Media Use in 2024) and Pew Research Center (Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023).
• Local percentages are county-level estimates aligned to national adoption and adjusted for Hancock County’s slightly older age mix and industry profile.