Monroe County

Monroe County, Ohio — key demographics (latest U.S. Census Bureau data: 2020 Decennial; 2019–2023 ACS 5-year; 2023 population estimates)

Population size and trend

• Total population (2023 estimate): ~13,300
• 2020 Census: 13,385; 2010 Census: 14,642
• Trend: about a 9% decline since 2010

Age

• Median age: ~46–47 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18–64: ~57%
• 65 and over: ~22–23%
• Insight: Older-than-national age profile, with a sizable share of seniors

Gender

• Male: ~50–51%
• Female: ~49–50%
• Insight: Near even split

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS; categories shown to avoid double counting)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~95%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~0.5–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~0.2–0.3%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~0.2%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~1–2%
• Insight: Predominantly non-Hispanic White population

Households and housing

• Households: ~5,600–5,800
• Average household size: ~2.3–2.4 persons
• Family households: ~65% of households; married-couple families: ~50%
• Households with children under 18: ~25%
• Nonfamily households: ~35%; living alone: ~30%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80% (renters ~20%)
• Insight: Small households, high homeownership, and many nonfamily/lone-person households reflect an older, rural county profile

• Population and density: Monroe County, OH had 13,385 residents in 2020 across ~457 sq mi (≈29 people per sq mi), reflecting very low density that raises last‑mile connectivity costs.
• Estimated email users: ≈10,200 residents (about 76% of the population) use email regularly.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: 8% (≈800)
  • 18–34: 22% (≈2,200)
  • 35–54: 29% (≈3,000)
  • 55–64: 16% (≈1,600)
  • 65+: 25% (≈2,600)
• Gender split among email users: ≈51% male, 49% female, mirroring county demographics; usage rates are effectively even by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • ~78% of households maintain a home broadband subscription.
  • ~12% are smartphone‑only for internet access.
  • ~22% have no fixed home internet.
  • Access is strongest in and around the county seat (Woodsfield) and along main corridors; coverage thins in remote townships due to Appalachian terrain and sparse settlement.
  • Mobile LTE/5G performance is uneven in valleys; satellite and fixed wireless help fill gaps.
• Insight: Despite rural constraints, email remains near‑universal among working‑age adults and students, while lower fixed‑broadband availability and an older age profile dampen usage among seniors and the most remote households.

Mobile phone usage in Monroe County, Ohio — summary and county–state contrasts

Core user estimates

• Population and base: 2020 Census population 13,385; roughly 10,500 adults and about 5,500–5,700 households.
• Active mobile users: approximately 8,000–9,000 adult smartphone users countywide, reflecting lower adoption than Ohio’s urban/suburban average.
• Lines in service: on the order of 9,000–11,000 mobile lines (total SIMs), given multiple-line households and work/IoT lines but lower device-per-person density than statewide.
• Cellular-only internet: a noticeably higher share of households use cellular data as their primary or only home internet compared with the Ohio average, consistent with lower wireline broadband availability.

Demographic breakdown shaping usage

• Age: Monroe County skews older than Ohio overall, with a higher 65+ share. This depresses smartphone adoption and lowers average data use per subscriber versus state averages.
• Income and education: lower median income and educational attainment than the Ohio mean correlate with higher prepaid/MVNO usage, longer device replacement cycles, and more Android share relative to iOS.
• Work patterns: more outdoor, energy, and transportation employment translates to stronger demand for reliable voice/coverage and device durability, but not necessarily for the highest-tier 5G speeds.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carrier presence: AT&T and Verizon provide the broadest footprint via low-band LTE/5G; T-Mobile coverage exists but remains more variable along ridge/valley terrain. Carrier diversity at the census-block level is thinner than in most Ohio counties.
• 5G mix: Coverage is predominantly low-band 5G (excellent reach, modest capacity). Mid-band 5G (C-band/n77 or n41) is present only near primary corridors and the county seat; contiguous mid-band coverage is the exception, not the rule.
• Terrain effects: The Ohio River valley and ridge-and-hollow topography create dead zones and shadowing, raising the importance of low-band spectrum and careful site placement.
• Site density and backhaul: Fewer macro sites per square mile than the state average; microwave backhaul persists on some sites where fiber laterals are sparse, constraining peak capacity.
• Public safety and resilience: Coverage along main routes (e.g., OH-7/US-78) is prioritized, but interior hollows and secondary roads see greater variability in signal reliability, especially during weather events that load networks.
• Wireline constraints driving mobile reliance: Limited fiber-to-the-home and pockets of DSL/coax limitations push a higher proportion of households to rely on cellular hotspots or phone tethering for home internet.

How Monroe County differs from Ohio overall

• Adoption level: Smartphone adoption and per-capita line density are both lower than the Ohio average; cellular-only home internet reliance is higher.
• Plan mix: Prepaid and MVNO penetration is higher than statewide; family plans and postpaid premium tiers are less dominant.
• Device mix and upgrade cadence: Higher Android share and longer replacement cycles than the state average; fewer premium-flagship devices per capita.
• Network experience: Lower median mobile speeds and greater performance variability than state urban/suburban averages due to limited mid-band 5G, fewer sites, and challenging terrain; however, baseline voice/text coverage on low-band LTE/5G is comparatively strong along major corridors.
• Competitive intensity: Fewer census blocks with three-operator strong coverage; AT&T/Verizon hold a larger relative share than in Ohio’s metros, and roaming/MVNO experiences can differ more by carrier.

Actionable implications

• Capacity, not just coverage, is the binding constraint: incremental mid-band 5G and fiber backhaul to existing towers would yield outsized improvements in user experience.
• Affordability programs matter more: ACP successor discounts or carrier-specific low-cost plans have a greater impact on adoption and data use than in higher-income Ohio counties.
• Targeted fill-ins: Small cells or repeaters in river-valley communities and around schools/clinics can significantly reduce dead zones without countywide densification.
• Public safety and redundancy: Backup power and diverse backhaul on key macro sites provide disproportionately large resilience benefits given the terrain.

Notes on sources and methodology

• Figures are synthesized from recent federal survey baselines (e.g., ACS Computer and Internet Use tables), FCC coverage filings, and industry adoption benchmarks, adjusted for Monroe County’s population, age, income, and rural infrastructure profile. Ranges are provided where small-population margins of error apply.

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

Population baseline

• Total population: ≈13,400 (2020 Census)
• Adults 18+: ≈10,600
• Estimated social media users (adults + teens 13–17): ≈9,500
• Adult social media users (18+): ≈8,700

Age breakdown of adult social media users (18+)

• 18–24: 9% (≈780)
• 25–34: 15% (≈1,300)
• 35–54: 36% (≈3,100)
• 55–64: 19% (≈1,650)
• 65+: 21% (≈1,830)

Gender breakdown

• Overall adult social media users: ≈51% women, 49% men
• Platform skews (local mix generally follows national patterns): Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest skew female; YouTube/Reddit/X skew male; TikTok near parity with a slight female tilt

Most-used platforms among adults (monthly use; share of adult users and approximate users)

• YouTube: 76% (≈6,600)
• Facebook: 64% (≈5,600)
• Instagram: 35% (≈3,050)
• TikTok: 26% (≈2,260)
• Snapchat: 22% (≈1,910)
• Pinterest: 21% (≈1,830)
• X (Twitter): 14% (≈1,220)
• LinkedIn: 12% (≈1,040)
• Reddit: 10% (≈870) Note: Users are multi-platform; totals don’t sum to 100%.

Behavioral trends observed in rural Ohio counties consistent with Monroe County

• Facebook is the local hub: heavy use of Groups (community news, yard sale, school and church events) and Marketplace; strong reliance on word-of-mouth via trusted pages and admins.
• Video-first consumption: short, practical clips outperform polished ads; how‑to, home/auto repair, hunting/outdoors, high‑school sports, and local events drive views. Smart‑TV YouTube viewing is common.
• Private sharing dominates: Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, and Snapchat carry a large share of interpersonal content; many decisions happen off the public feed.
• Engagement timing: interactions concentrate in early evenings (roughly 6–9 pm) and weekends; mornings used for quick news/weather checks.
• Younger users’ split: teens and 18–24s cluster on Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok; Facebook is retained mainly for family and school groups.
• Older users’ split: 55+ heavily favor Facebook and YouTube; growing YouTube adoption for tutorials and streaming on TV devices.
• Commerce behavior: Marketplace and local business pages are key for services (home, auto, lawn, trades). Authentic, locally shot content outperforms stock creative.
• Geographic spillover: effective audiences commonly extend 15–30 miles into adjacent counties (Belmont, Washington, Noble, and Wetzel WV) for work, shopping, and healthcare trips.
• Trust signals: clear local identity, recognizable people/places, and prompt DM responses raise conversion more than high production value.

Method note

• Figures are 2025 modeled estimates for Monroe County based on its age structure (2020 Census/ACS) and U.S. platform adoption rates (Pew Research Center 2023–2024), with conservative adjustments for rural usage; counts are rounded.