Ottawa County

Ottawa County, Ohio — key demographics

Population size

• 40,364 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~48 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~19%
• 65 and over: ~26%

Gender

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~90%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~6%
• Black or African American: ~1%
• Asian: ~0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~17.6k
• Persons per household: ~2.28
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~83%
• Family households: ~66% of households
• Married-couple households: ~53% of households

Insights

• Older-than-average population with about one in four residents age 65+
• Predominantly White non-Hispanic with a small but notable Hispanic population
• High homeownership and smaller household sizes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year; Population Estimates Program)

• Estimated email users: ~30,300 adults in Ottawa County, OH (about 92% of the ~33,100 adults; ≈75% of the ~40,400 total population).
• Age distribution of email users (share of users): 18–29: ~15%; 30–49: ~31%; 50–64: ~26%; 65+: ~29%. Adoption is near‑universal among working‑age adults and high among seniors.
• Gender split: Population is roughly 51% female, 49% male; email usage mirrors this (≈15.5k female users, ≈14.8k male).
• Digital access:
  • Households with a computer: ~92–94%.
  • Households with a broadband subscription: ~84–86%.
  • Smartphone‑only internet households: ~12–15% (higher outside town centers).
  • Seniors use email slightly less frequently but remain predominantly connected.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Population density: roughly 150–160 people per square mile (moderate rural/suburban mix).
  • A large share of housing is seasonal/vacation stock along Lake Erie and the islands (around one‑third of units), which lowers measured broadband subscription rates despite solid coverage in populated corridors.
  • Fixed wireless and 5G play a growing role in low‑density and island areas; cable/fiber dominate Port Clinton, Catawba, and other denser townships.

Overall: email is a mature, near‑universal channel for adults countywide, with the largest user blocks in ages 30–49 and 65+.

Ottawa County, Ohio — Mobile Phone Usage Snapshot (latest public estimates through 2023–2024)

User estimates

• Residents: ~40,000; households: ~18,000
• Estimated unique mobile phone users (all types): ~31,000–32,000 residents
• Estimated smartphone users: ~27,000–29,000 residents
• Household-level adoption (ACS 2019–2023, 5-year):
  • Households with a smartphone: ~88–90% (Ottawa slightly below Ohio’s ~91–92%)
  • Households with any broadband subscription (wireline, fixed wireless, 5G home, or cellular data plan): ~83–85% (Ottawa slightly below Ohio’s ~86–88%)
  • Cellular data plan present in the household: ~72–76%
  • Cellular-data-only internet (no wireline at home): ~9–11% (Ottawa higher than Ohio’s ~6–8%)
  • No home internet: ~11–12% (Ottawa higher than Ohio’s ~9–10%)

Demographic breakdown (how usage differs from Ohio)

• Older age structure drives distinct usage patterns:
  • Ottawa County has a substantially larger 65+ share than the Ohio average, which correlates with slightly lower smartphone adoption and fewer app-intensive behaviors.
  • Applying current age-specific ownership rates to local age mix yields:
    • Ages 18–34: smartphone ownership ~95%+ (near parity with Ohio)
    • Ages 35–64: ~88–92% (slightly below Ohio)
    • Ages 65+: ~70–78% (noticeably below Ohio’s overall average)
• Income and subscription mix:
  • Low- and moderate-income households in Ottawa are more likely to be “cellular-only” for home internet than the Ohio average, reflecting sparser wireline choices outside towns and seasonal housing patterns.
• Education and work patterns:
  • A larger share of outdoor, tourism, and service employment (relative to state mix) contributes to higher daytime mobile data use around the lakeshore, ferry terminals, and attractions during peak season.

Digital infrastructure points

• Coverage and technology:
  • 4G LTE coverage is effectively countywide along US-2, OH-53, OH-163, and in all population centers (Port Clinton, Marblehead, Catawba Island).
  • 5G is broadly available in and around towns and along major corridors; mid-band 5G capacity is concentrated in Port Clinton/Catawba/Marblehead. Low-band 5G and LTE dominate rural western tracts and the islands.
  • Lake Erie islands (Put-in-Bay/South Bass, Kelleys, Middle Bass) have functional LTE/5G service but experience variable capacity and occasional dead spots due to terrain, low site density, and backhaul constraints.
• Providers and access:
  • All three national mobile carriers operate in the county; 5G fixed wireless (home internet) is available in and near Port Clinton/Catawba and some adjacent areas.
  • Cable broadband is strong in towns; fiber is limited outside select neighborhoods. Rural areas lean on fixed wireless ISPs and, increasingly, 5G home internet, which supports the higher local rate of cellular-only households.
• Seasonal load:
  • Summer tourism and events create traffic spikes on the peninsulas, ferry docks, marinas, and islands, with carriers periodically augmenting capacity. This seasonality is more pronounced than the Ohio average and influences peak-hour speeds and reliability.

How Ottawa County trends differ from Ohio overall

• Slightly lower smartphone and broadband subscription rates, driven by an older population profile and more seasonal/second-home units.
• Higher share of cellular-data-only households than the state average, reflecting patchier wireline options outside towns and the appeal of mobile plans for seasonal residents.
• More pronounced seasonal congestion and a sharper urban–rural divide in mid-band 5G capacity than typical Ohio counties without major tourism corridors or islands.
• Coverage gaps are less about reach (LTE is widespread) and more about capacity and backhaul on islands and along the lakeshore during peak periods.

Bottom line

• Ottawa County’s mobile landscape is defined by near-universal LTE, town-centered 5G capacity, and a higher-than-average reliance on cellular for home internet. Compared with Ohio overall, the county’s older age mix and seasonal tourism produce slightly lower smartphone adoption, higher cellular-only households, and more acute peak-season capacity challenges despite solid corridor coverage.

Ottawa County, Ohio — social media snapshot (2025)

Scope note: Figures are modeled for Ottawa County using 2023–2024 U.S. platform adoption by age and sex (e.g., Pew/DataReportal) reweighted to the county’s older-leaning age mix (ACS). Totals refer to residents age 13+ unless noted.

Population baseline and user stats

• Residents: ~40,000; age 13+: ~35,000
• Social media users: ~27,000 (about 77% of 13+; ~67% of total population)
• Device mix: Mobile-dominant (>90% of use), with Facebook/YouTube accounting for most time spent

Age breakdown (share who use social media)

• 13–17: ~95%
• 18–29: ~94%
• 30–49: ~88%
• 50–64: ~73%
• 65+: ~58% Note: County skews older, pulling the overall rate below national urban averages.

Gender breakdown (among social media users)

• Women: ~52% of users; higher activity on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
• Men: ~48% of users; higher activity on YouTube, Reddit, X

Most-used platforms (share of local social media users; approx. user counts in parentheses)

• YouTube: 82% (22,000)
• Facebook: 78% (21,000)
• Instagram: 43% (12,000)
• Pinterest: 32% (8,500)
• TikTok: 29% (7,800)
• Snapchat: 27% (7,300)
• LinkedIn: 21% (5,700)
• X (Twitter): 18% (4,900)
• Nextdoor: 12% (3,200)
• Reddit: 11% (3,000)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the hub: Local news, schools, county services, and especially Groups and Marketplace dominate engagement, aligning with the county’s older age profile.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube leads for how‑to, local fishing/boating, weather, and event recaps; short‑form (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) continues to grow among under‑35s.
• Strong seasonality: Noticeable May–September lift tied to Lake Erie tourism, fishing, and island traffic; ferry schedules, weather, and events drive spikes. Off‑season engagement centers on school sports, local government, and storm updates.
• Private/closed sharing: Messenger and Snapchat see heavy use for family and friend networks; public posting skews to Facebook, while younger users preferentially create on Instagram/TikTok and share privately elsewhere.
• Discovery patterns: Facebook Events and local Pages are key for restaurants, festivals, and services; Nextdoor is niche but effective for hyperlocal notices, lost/found, and HOA discussions.
• Ad responsiveness:
  • Facebook/Instagram: Best reach and conversions for 30+ (services, healthcare, real estate, home/auto, seasonal hospitality).
  • TikTok/Instagram: Efficient awareness with under‑30s (F&B, attractions, retail, seasonal jobs).
  • YouTube: Broad reach across ages for how‑to and destination content; skippable in‑stream performs well for tourism and public info.
• Timing: Engagement clusters around early morning (commute/weather checks) and evening prime hours; weekends favor late morning to early afternoon for events and Marketplace activity.

Key takeaways

• Expect roughly 27,000 active social media users locally, with Facebook and YouTube delivering the widest reach.
• Older age structure increases Facebook Groups/Marketplace utility and lowers TikTok/Snapchat penetration versus national averages.
• Seasonal content tied to Lake Erie, ferries, fishing, and tourism reliably drives the largest engagement lifts.