Medina County

Medina County, Ohio — key demographics (latest available Census/ACS estimates)

Population size

• 184,000 (2023 population estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~41–42 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 18–64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Gender

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White (non-Hispanic): ~90%
• Black or African American: ~2%
• Asian: ~2%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3%

Household data

• Households: ~71,000
• Average household size: ~2.6 persons
• Family households: ~70–72% of all households
• Married-couple households: ~55–60%

Insights

• Suburban county with steady growth since 2010 and a median age slightly above the U.S. average.
• Predominantly White, with modest but rising racial/ethnic diversity.
• Household size is larger and homeownership rates are higher than the Ohio average, reflecting a family-oriented housing profile.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 Population Estimates; 2023 American Community Survey 1-year; 2020 Decennial Census). Figures are rounded for clarity and reflect the most recent published estimates.

• Scope: Medina County, OH population ≈184,000; density ≈433 people per sq. mile (2020 Census), suburban to Cleveland–Akron with strong fixed broadband coverage.
• Estimated email users: ≈147,000 residents.
• Age distribution of email users (estimated using typical U.S. adoption by age applied to local age mix):
  • 13–17: ≈10,500 users
  • 18–29: ≈25,500
  • 30–49: ≈49,000
  • 50–64: ≈35,500
  • 65+: ≈26,000
• Gender split: roughly 51% female (≈75,000 users) and 49% male (≈72,000), mirroring county demographics.
• Digital access and trends:
  • About 94–95% of households have a computer and ≈90–93% maintain a home broadband subscription (ACS “Computer and Internet Use”).
  • Cable and growing fiber coverage in cities (Medina, Brunswick, Wadsworth) drive high-speed availability; rural townships lean more on cable/DSL and fixed wireless.
  • Smartphone access is widespread, but smartphone-only households are a minority due to strong home broadband adoption. Insights: Email penetration is effectively universal among working-age adults; older adults (65+) contribute a substantial user base. High household broadband and suburban density underpin consistent email engagement across demographics.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Medina County, Ohio

Scope and baseline

• Population and households: Approximately 185,000 residents and about 72,000 households (2023 estimates).
• Context: Suburban/exurban county in Greater Cleveland with higher household income and education than Ohio overall. This typically correlates with higher smartphone adoption, higher use of postpaid plans, and lower reliance on mobile-only internet.

User estimates (best-available 2023–2024 proxies and modeling)

• Smartphone users: Roughly 130,000–140,000 adult residents use smartphones (about 88–94% of adults), slightly above Ohio’s average by an estimated 2–4 percentage points.
• Households with a cellular data plan: Approximately 86–90% of households have an active cellular data plan for a smartphone or other mobile device, a few points above the statewide share.
• Mobile-only internet households (use cellular data but no fixed home broadband): About 7–9% in Medina County versus roughly 12–14% statewide, reflecting stronger fixed-broadband uptake locally.
• Multiple-line households: Higher-than-state share of households maintaining multiple mobile lines (family plans), consistent with suburban household composition and income levels.

Demographic patterns

• Age:
  • 18–44: Near-universal smartphone adoption (>95%); heavy use of app-based services, mobile banking, and video streaming.
  • 45–64: High smartphone adoption (roughly 90%+), strong bring-your-own-device use for work.
  • 65+: Estimated 75–80% smartphone adoption—several points higher than Ohio overall—driven by income and caregiver/telehealth use.
• Income:
  • Higher-income tracts around Brunswick, Wadsworth, and Medina city show the strongest device multiplicity (phone + tablet + wearable), higher 5G plan penetration, and lower prepaid usage.
  • Lower-income pockets show higher smartphone-only internet reliance than the county average, but still below the statewide rate.
• Education and employment:
  • Above-average education and a sizable commuter/professional base correspond to higher postpaid plan prevalence, more hotspot use for remote work, and higher adoption of security and MDM (mobile device management) on personal devices.
• Rural vs suburban:
  • Rural townships (e.g., Harrisville, Homer, Westfield) show slightly lower mid-band 5G availability and more indoor coverage variance; suburban centers (Brunswick, Medina, Wadsworth) show the county’s best speeds and capacity.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and technology:
  • All three national carriers provide countywide 4G LTE outdoor coverage.
  • 5G low-band covers the vast majority of the population; 5G mid-band is concentrated along I-71/US-42/US-224 corridors and in Brunswick, Medina, and Wadsworth. mmWave is limited to dense or venue-centric spots, not countywide.
• Capacity and speeds:
  • Typical mid-band 5G download speeds in city centers frequently reach 100–200 Mbps, with rural low-band 5G/LTE more often in the 30–80 Mbps range. Peak speeds are higher where mid-band channels (e.g., C-band or 2.5 GHz) are available.
• Network densification:
  • Recent small-cell and sector upgrades cluster around retail corridors, schools, industrial parks, and along I-71. Suburban nodes see more carrier aggregation and mid-band utilization.
• Reliability and public safety:
  • Countywide VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling support, and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are standard across carriers. FirstNet coverage is present via AT&T with priority/preemption for public safety; roaming interoperability with other networks is typical in populated areas.
• Device/ecosystem:
  • Higher share of 5G-capable smartphones and eSIM activation than the state average, with strong BYOD among employers and sustained demand for unlimited and premium-tier plans.

How Medina County differs from the Ohio state average

• Higher smartphone and cellular data-plan adoption by a few percentage points.
• Lower mobile-only internet reliance (roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the statewide rate) due to strong cable/fiber availability and higher incomes.
• Greater prevalence of postpaid, multi-line family plans; lower prepaid share.
• Faster typical 5G performance in population centers, reflecting denser mid-band deployments near suburban corridors.
• Smaller age-related adoption gap: seniors in Medina County adopt smartphones at higher rates than seniors statewide.
• More device multiplicity per household (smartphone plus tablet/wearables) and greater use of mobile hotspots for hybrid/remote work.

Key takeaways

• Mobile adoption in Medina County is broadly universal and modestly outpaces the state, especially in suburban municipalities.
• The county relies less on mobile as the sole internet connection, with mobile complementing strong fixed-broadband penetration.
• Capacity upgrades focus on commuter and commercial corridors; rural edges are well covered for voice and basic data but see fewer mid-band performance gains.

Medina County, OH: social media snapshot (modeled from the latest Census population estimates and Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform-usage rates; see sources)

Headline user stats

• Population: ~184,400 (2023 estimate). Adults (18+): ~144,000.
• Adults using at least one major social platform: ≈ 83% → ~119,000 people (driven by YouTube’s 83% adult reach).

Most‑used platforms among adults (share of adults who use each; Pew 2024)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• TikTok: 33%
• Pinterest: 35%
• Snapchat: 30%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22%
• WhatsApp: 21% Applied to Medina County’s adult population, that equates roughly to: YouTube ~120k users; Facebook ~98k; Instagram ~68k; TikTok ~48k; Pinterest/LinkedIn/Snapchat ~43–45k each; X/Reddit/WhatsApp ~30–32k each.

Age‑group patterns (local usage closely tracks U.S. rates)

• 18–29: heavy on YouTube (93%), Instagram (78%), Snapchat (65%), TikTok (62%); Facebook still substantial (~67%).
• 30–49: YouTube (92%) and Facebook (73%) lead; Instagram (49%) and TikTok (39%) meaningful; Snapchat (~31%); LinkedIn strong for professionals in the Cleveland–Akron labor market.
• 50–64: Facebook (69%) and YouTube (83%) dominate; Instagram (29%), TikTok (18%) niche but growing.
• 65+: Facebook (58%) is the anchor; YouTube (49%); Instagram (~15%) and TikTok low but rising among new retirees.

Gender breakdown (platform skews)

• Overall usage is balanced in aggregate.
• Women over‑index on Facebook/Instagram and especially Pinterest (about 50% of women vs 19% of men use Pinterest).
• Men over‑index on YouTube/Reddit/X (about 25% of men vs 8% of women use Reddit); men also slightly higher on LinkedIn.
• Women are modestly more likely to use Snapchat and TikTok.

Behavioral trends observed in similar suburban Midwest counties and evident locally

• Community and commerce revolve around Facebook: neighborhood/school/sports groups, city/county pages, and Marketplace drive daily engagement and local transactions.
• Short‑form video is the discovery engine: TikTok and Instagram Reels propel awareness for restaurants, boutiques, parks, and events; creators often cross‑post to Facebook Reels.
• Pinterest + YouTube fuel home‑improvement/DIY: strong homeowner base means idea-boarding on Pinterest and how‑to viewing on YouTube for seasonal projects.
• Professional networking is material: LinkedIn usage aligns with commuting patterns to Cleveland–Akron employers; effective for recruiting and local business visibility.
• Private messaging is a primary service channel: Facebook Messenger and Instagram DMs are commonly used for inquiries, bookings, and customer support.
• Seasonal cadence: spikes around school calendars and youth sports sign‑ups (Q1), spring home/yard projects (spring–early summer), summer festivals/county fair, and holiday retail (Nov–Dec).

Notes on methodology

• Counts are modeled by applying Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult platform‑usage percentages to Medina County’s 2023 adult population estimate; local conditions (high suburban broadband/smartphone adoption) suggest parity or slight over‑performance on visual/video platforms.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Medina County, Ohio (2023 population estimate)
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (adult platform reach by age and gender)
• Pew Research Center, Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023 (for youth patterns referenced qualitatively)