Hardin County

Hardin County, Ohio — key demographics

Population size

• 30,696 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~38 years (ACS 5-year)
• Age distribution: ~20% under 18; ~60% 18–64; ~20% 65+ (ACS 5-year)

Gender

• Approximately 50% male, 50% female (ACS 5-year)

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone (non-Hispanic): ~93%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): <1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): <1%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2% (ACS 5-year; categories may not sum to 100% due to ethnicity vs. race)

Household data

• Households: ~12,000
• Average household size: ~2.4–2.5
• Family households: ~62–64% of households
• Married-couple families: ~48–50% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~25–28%
• Homeownership rate: ~70–75% (ACS 5-year)

Insights

• Small, rural county with a stable population around 31,000.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with small but present racial/ethnic diversity.
• Age structure is balanced with a modestly older profile than the U.S. overall, reflected in a roughly one-fifth share age 65+.
• Household composition is family-oriented with high homeownership typical of rural Ohio.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (population total); American Community Survey 5-year estimates (age, gender, race/ethnicity, and household characteristics).

• Scope: Hardin County, Ohio (2023 pop. ~30,300; land ~470 sq mi; density ~65 residents/sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ~23,300 residents (ages 15+) use email regularly, derived from adult adoption rates and local connectivity.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 15–24: 19% (4,400), buoyed by Ohio Northern University in Ada.
  • 25–44: 32% (7,500).
  • 45–64: 30% (7,000).
  • 65+: 19% (4,400).
• Gender split among email users: ~50% female, ~50% male (mirrors county demographics; negligible usage gap).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Households: ~11,800.
  • With a computer: 90% (10,600 households).
  • With a broadband subscription: 79% (9,300 households), with adoption highest in Kenton and Ada and lower in rural townships.
  • Smartphone-only internet households: 14% (1,650), indicating mobile-first communication for a notable minority.
  • Older adults (65+) show lower email intensity than younger cohorts, but healthcare portals, schools, and government alerts sustain usage growth.
• Connectivity facts: Service is densest along Kenton–Ada and main corridors (e.g., US‑68/OH‑309), where cable/fiber are available; DSL and fixed wireless remain common in sparsely populated areas, shaping email access patterns and speeds.

Mobile phone usage in Hardin County, Ohio — 2024 snapshot

Baseline context

• Population: 30,696 (2020 Census). Small, predominantly rural county centered on Kenton and Ada (home to Ohio Northern University).
• Rural profile and an older age mix mean usage patterns differ from Ohio’s largely urban/suburban average.

User estimates

• Mobile phone users: Approximately 22,000–24,000 adult users. This applies national adult mobile ownership (mid- to high-90% range) to Hardin’s adult population.
• Smartphone users: Roughly 19,000–21,000 adults. Rural smartphone adoption trails state/metro Ohio by several points; student presence in Ada lifts the 18–24 segment to near-universal adoption.
• Wireless‑only households (no landline): About 8,500–9,500. Rural and lower‑income households in the county skew toward mobile‑only voice and data, above the rate seen in Ohio’s metro counties.
• Prepaid/MVNO usage: Materially higher than the state average, reflecting price sensitivity and coverage‑based carrier selection common in rural Ohio.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age:
  • 18–24: Near‑universal smartphone adoption (driven by Ohio Northern University); heavy app, social, and campus Wi‑Fi use; higher 5G device penetration than the county average.
  • 25–44: High smartphone and mobile‑broadband reliance, including hotspot use for work-from-home and side businesses where wireline is limited.
  • 45–64: High overall mobile ownership with a mix of smartphones and legacy devices; pragmatic carrier choices based on signal at home/farm.
  • 65+: Smartphone adoption lags younger cohorts; a meaningful minority still use basic/feature phones or share family plans. This group contributes most to the county’s gap versus the state average.
• Income: Median household income trails the Ohio average, correlating with:
  • Greater use of prepaid/MVNO plans.
  • Higher likelihood of smartphone‑only internet access in households without affordable wired broadband.
• Work sectors: Agriculture, light manufacturing, logistics, education, and healthcare translate into:
  • Strong daytime usage along farmsteads, industrial sites, and county corridors.
  • Use of rugged devices, push‑to‑talk, and precision‑ag connectivity (telemetry on LTE/low‑band 5G).

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage and carriers: AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile all operate across the county. 4G LTE is the baseline; low‑band 5G covers town centers and primary corridors, with mid‑band 5G capacity concentrated around Kenton and Ada. Outlying areas see 4G/low‑band 5G with variable indoor performance.
• Capacity and speeds: Median mobile speeds are typically lower than Ohio’s metro counties due to sparser tower density and less mid‑band spectrum in rural cells. Peak speeds and consistency improve markedly in town centers and near campus.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): Adoption is above the state average outside town centers. T‑Mobile and Verizon market home internet over 5G/LTE in and around populated areas; LTE‑based FWA fills gaps farther out. Households beyond cable/fiber footprints rely on hotspots for primary access more than in metro Ohio.
• Wireline backhaul: Fiber reaches anchor institutions (e.g., schools, public safety, Ohio Northern University) and portions of town centers. Residential fiber and modern cable are limited outside population clusters, reinforcing mobile/FWA dependence.
• Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T) coverage supports first‑responder communications; rural dead‑zone remediation and in‑building coverage remain ongoing priorities typical of rural Ohio counties.

How Hardin County differs from Ohio’s state‑level trend

• Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration, driven by an older age mix and rural coverage realities.
• Higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans and mobile‑only households compared with metro‑heavy state averages.
• Greater dependence on mobile broadband and FWA for home internet, due to limited fiber/cable outside town centers.
• More pronounced indoor coverage variability in farmsteads/metal buildings and at the edges of cells, while metro Ohio benefits from denser mid‑band 5G.
• A distinct student‑driven hotspot around Ada that raises 18–24 adoption and data consumption relative to county norms.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are best‑available estimates synthesized from recent national research on mobile ownership and rural adoption, U.S. Census/ACS population structure, and public carrier/FCC mapping patterns for rural Ohio through 2024. Small‑county margins of error and local build‑outs can shift specifics at the census‑block level, but the county‑versus‑state contrasts above are directionally robust.

Social media usage in Hardin County, Ohio (2025 snapshot)

Population base

• Total residents: ~30,200
• Adults (18+): ~23,600
• Adult social media users: ~82% of adults ≈ 19,300

Most-used platforms among adults (share of 18+; ≈ users)

• YouTube: 82% (~19.3k)
• Facebook: 72% (~17.0k)
• Instagram: 44% (~10.4k)
• Pinterest: 36% (~8.5k)
• TikTok: 30% (~7.1k)
• Snapchat: 30% (~7.1k)
• X (Twitter): 20% (~4.7k)
• Reddit: 18% (~4.2k)
• LinkedIn: 18% (~4.2k)
• WhatsApp: 16% (~3.8k)
• Nextdoor: 10% (~2.4k)

Age profile (adult adoption and platform lean)

• 18–24: 95% use social media. Heavy on YouTube (95%), Instagram (80%), Snapchat (75%), TikTok (70%); Facebook (45%).
• 25–34: 90% use. YouTube (90%), Facebook (70%), Instagram (62%), TikTok/Snapchat (~40% each).
• 35–49: 82% use. Facebook (75%), YouTube (85%), Instagram (45%), Pinterest (40%), TikTok (30%).
• 50–64: 73% use. Facebook (72%), YouTube (70%), Pinterest (38%), Instagram (30%), TikTok (20%).
• 65+: 52% use. Facebook (62%), YouTube (55%), Pinterest (25%), Instagram (18%), TikTok (10%).

Gender breakdown (share of adult user base by platform)

• Overall users: Women ~53%, Men ~47%
• Facebook: Women ~57%, Men ~43%
• Instagram: Women ~55%, Men ~45%
• TikTok: Women ~60%, Men ~40%
• Pinterest: Women ~75%+, Men ~25%–
• Snapchat: Women ~60%, Men ~40%
• YouTube: Men ~54%, Women ~46%
• Reddit: Men ~70%, Women ~30%
• X (Twitter): Men ~60%, Women ~40%
• LinkedIn: Men ~55%, Women ~45%

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Facebook is the community backbone: township and school district groups (Kenton, Ada, etc.), Hardin County Fair, churches, 4‑H, local sports, obituaries, lost-and-found, and buy/sell/trade and Marketplace dominate engagement.
• Video is pervasive: YouTube for DIY, farming/equipment maintenance, hunting/fishing, and local sports highlights; short-form (Reels/TikTok) for local businesses, events, and Ohio Northern University student life.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are primary DM channels; group chats common for teams, classes, and parent groups.
• Shopping and referrals: Heavy reliance on Facebook Marketplace and group recommendations for services, home repair, autos, and ag supplies.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; school and weather updates spike mornings; Marketplace activity surges lunch and early evening.
• Content style: Practical and community-first; posts with local faces, volunteerism, fundraisers, safety/weather alerts, and event information outperform brand-style content.
• Platform momentum: TikTok and Instagram Reels continue to gain among 25–34; Facebook remains stable and dominant for 35+; X is niche and flat; Reddit usage clusters around college students and hobbyists.

Notes

• Figures are estimated for 2025 using the county’s adult population (ACS-based) and the latest available U.S./rural usage rates (Pew and similar studies), adjusted for rural Ohio patterns and the presence of a local university (ONU). Percentages refer to adults (18+).