Sandusky County

Here are key demographics for Sandusky County, Ohio (latest U.S. Census Bureau data):

Population

• 2020 Census: 58,896
• 2023 estimate: ~58.7k

Age

• Median age: ~41
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone: ~89%
• Black or African American alone: ~3%
• Asian alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.5%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~13%

Households and housing

• Households: ~23.2k
• Average household size: ~2.48
• Family households: ~67% of households
• Married-couple families: ~49% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~27%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~73%
• Housing units: ~25k; vacancy rate: ~8%

Insights

• Stable population near 59k with a modestly older age profile.
• Predominantly White with a notable Hispanic/Latino community (~1 in 8 residents).
• Household structure is family-oriented with high homeownership relative to national averages.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S0101, S1101, DP04); 2020 Decennial Census (P.L. 94-171); Population Estimates Program (2023). Figures are ACS estimates and may include margins of error.

• Population and density: Sandusky County has about 58,900 residents over ~408 sq mi (≈145 people per sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ~42,000 adult users (about 92% of ~46,000 adults), reflecting near-universal adoption among working-age adults.
• Age distribution of email use (share of each age group using email): 18–29: ~98%; 30–49: ~96%; 50–64: ~90%; 65+: ~78%. This skews total usage slightly older than national averages due to the county’s age mix.
• Gender split: Women ~91% vs. men ~90% email usage; overall user base is roughly 51% women, 49% men, mirroring the county’s slight female majority.
• Digital access trends: About 85% of households have an internet subscription, up roughly 2–3 percentage points since 2019. Home broadband (cable/fiber/DSL) penetration is near 80%, with an additional 12–15% relying primarily on smartphones. Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools) remains an important access path for lower-income and rural residents.
• Local connectivity facts: Cable and growing fiber coverage cluster around Fremont, Clyde, and other incorporated areas; fixed wireless and legacy DSL are more common in rural townships. Most locations have multiple fixed options at 25/3 Mbps or better, though rural pockets experience slower speeds and higher latency, affecting heavy email attachments and cloud workflows.

Sandusky County, OH mobile phone usage: 2024–2025 snapshot

Population baseline

• Residents: ~57,800 (2023 estimate), ~408 sq mi of land; density ~140 per sq mi. Major population centers: Fremont, Clyde, Gibsonburg, Woodville.
• Households: ~23,100 (avg. household size ≈ 2.5).

User estimates (people, lines, service mix)

• Residents ages 13+: ~48,600.
• Smartphone users (13+): ~42,400, or ~87% of residents 13+ (statewide: ~90%).
• Any mobile phone users (13+): ~46,600, or ~96% of residents 13+ (in line with Ohio).
• Active mobile lines (phones + tablets + watches/IoT): ~70,000–75,000 (≈1.2–1.3 lines per resident), slightly above Ohio’s per‑capita average due to add‑on and IoT lines.
• Prepaid share: ~28% of consumer phone lines (higher than Ohio’s ~22%), reflecting a somewhat older and lower‑income mix and strong cable‑MVNO competition.
• Smartphone‑only internet users (adults who rely on a phone for home internet): ~10,000–12,000 adults (≈22–26% of adults), higher than Ohio’s ~18–20%.
• Wireless‑only households (no landline telephone): ~17,800 of ~23,100 households (≈77%), a bit above Ohio’s ~74–75%.

Demographic breakdown (ownership and reliance)

• By age (county estimates; smartphone ownership | any mobile phone):
  • 13–17: 3,300 smartphone users (≈95–96%); any phone ≈98%.
  • 18–29: 7,700 (≈95%); any phone ≈99%.
  • 30–49: 12,900 (≈92–94%); any phone ≈99%.
  • 50–64: 9,800 (≈80–85%); any phone ≈95%.
  • 65+: 8,700 (≈72–75%); any phone ≈90–92%.
• Income/plan type:
  • Households under $35k: ≈30% of households; smartphone‑only internet use is concentrated here (≈30–35% within this income band), contributing the bulk of the county’s smartphone‑only users.
  • Prepaid lines are 5–7 percentage points more common than statewide; cable‑bundled MVNOs (notably Spectrum Mobile on the Verizon network) account for a large and growing share of postpaid‑priced lines.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • County composition skews more White and includes a modest but material Hispanic community compared with Ohio overall. After adjusting for age/income, smartphone ownership is broadly similar across groups, but smartphone‑only internet reliance is higher among Hispanic and lower‑income residents than the county average (consistent with statewide patterns).

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage and technology:
  • 4G LTE: Virtually universal across populated areas.
  • 5G low‑band (all carriers): Countywide outdoor coverage, including farm and lake‑adjacent areas.
  • 5G mid‑band: Strongest around Fremont and Clyde, along US‑20/State Route 53, and near the Ohio Turnpike (I‑80/90). Coverage becomes patchier off‑corridor; indoor mid‑band penetration is uneven outside towns.
• Carriers and networks:
  • Verizon: C‑band 5G on key corridors and towns; robust LTE fallback in rural stretches.
  • T‑Mobile: Broad 2.5 GHz mid‑band 5G around towns/highways; expansive low‑band elsewhere.
  • AT&T/FirstNet: Countywide low‑band; selective mid‑band activations; strong public‑safety footprint.
• Typical user experience (2024–2025):
  • Download speeds commonly 30–200 Mbps where mid‑band 5G is present; 5–40 Mbps on LTE in fringe rural zones. Uplink speeds lag in low‑band and deep‑indoor areas. Short‑term congestion is most visible near schools, plants, and along peak commute corridors.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Fiber routes paralleling the Turnpike/US‑20 and into Fremont/Clyde underpin 5G upgrades; fiber is less dense in outlying townships, constraining small‑cell buildout compared with Ohio’s metros.
• Fixed broadband context (drives mobile reliance):
  • Cable (e.g., Spectrum) covers towns; fiber is present but not ubiquitous; many rural addresses depend on fixed wireless or older copper. This elevates smartphone‑only and mobile‑backup usage vs the state average.

How Sandusky County differs from Ohio overall

• Slightly older population reduces smartphone penetration by ~2–4 percentage points relative to the state, with the gap most pronounced among ages 65+.
• Higher prepaid and cable‑MVNO adoption (≈28% prepaid; strong Spectrum Mobile take‑up) versus Ohio’s metro‑heavy mix.
• Higher smartphone‑only internet reliance (+3–6 percentage points vs Ohio), tied to rural last‑mile gaps and household income distribution.
• 5G mid‑band is available but less continuous away from corridors; indoor mid‑band performance trails Ohio’s urban counties due to lower site density and backhaul constraints.
• Emergency and public‑safety connectivity is strong via FirstNet, but consumer indoor coverage in some farmsteads and metal‑roof structures still leans on Wi‑Fi calling more than in metro Ohio.

Method notes

• Figures synthesize 2020–2023 Census/ACS population and household counts, CDC wireless‑only household rates, Pew Research smartphone adoption by age, CTIA/industry line‑per‑capita norms, and FCC broadband deployment data. County‑level values are derived by applying these measured rates to Sandusky County’s demographic structure and adjusting for rurality and income mix to reflect local conditions in 2024–2025.

Sandusky County, OH — social media snapshot (2025, estimated from 2024–2025 Pew Research Center U.S. usage benchmarks adjusted for rural Ohio demographics and the county’s age mix)

User stats

• Overall penetration (adults 18+ using at least one social platform): 72–78%
• Daily social media use (adults): ~60–65%
• Typical platforms per user: 3–4
• Mobile-first usage: >90% of social time occurs in mobile apps

Most‑used platforms (estimated adult share)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 68–72%
• Instagram: 40–45%
• TikTok: 28–32%
• Snapchat: 25–30%
• Pinterest: 28–32%
• LinkedIn: 22–26%
• X (Twitter): 18–22%
• WhatsApp: 18–22%
• Nextdoor: 12–16%

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): Near‑universal YouTube; Snapchat and TikTok are primary daily socials; Instagram for image/video and DMs; Facebook minimal except for school/athletics updates.
• 18–29: Heavy video (YouTube, TikTok, Reels); Instagram central; Snapchat still strong; Facebook used for family, local events, and Marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook is the hub for community, schools, youth sports, and Marketplace; YouTube for how‑to and entertainment; Instagram moderate; TikTok/Reels growing for product discovery.
• 50–64: Facebook dominant for news, groups, and local businesses; YouTube for DIY and local interest; Instagram light; TikTok adoption emerging via shared family content.
• 65+: Facebook for community, church, civic info; YouTube for news and hobbies; Nextdoor modest for neighborhood alerts; other platforms limited.

Gender breakdown (usage tendencies)

• Overall users mirror county population (~50/50). Women over‑index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over‑index on YouTube, Reddit, X. TikTok is near‑even by gender among under‑35s; women skew higher 35+.

Behavioral trends and local nuances

• Community-first: Facebook Groups drive local info exchange (schools, youth sports, churches, civic updates), with strong engagement on posts tied to weather, closures, road work, and public safety.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is a top local channel for buy/sell/trade; short-form video demos and before/after visuals outperform static posts for services and home improvement.
• Video-forward: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) increases reach across age bands; YouTube remains the go‑to for tutorials and product research.
• Local news habits: Many residents rely on Facebook Pages/Groups and YouTube clips from regional newsrooms for quick updates; official agency posts (county, schools, fire/EMS) see high trust and share rates.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default; WhatsApp usage is concentrated among younger adults and Hispanic/immigrant workers tied to agriculture; group SMS remains common for teams and clubs.
• Posting rhythms: Engagement peaks weeknights 6–9 pm and weekend mornings; storms, school announcements, and event weeks create predictable spikes.
• Pay to reach: Organic reach on Facebook/Instagram is limited; small budget boosts targeting ZIPs in Fremont, Clyde, Gibsonburg, Woodville, and Bellevue markedly improve local delivery.
• Creative that works: Clear headlines, local faces/places, time‑bound offers, and utility (deadlines, hours, directions) outperform generic branding; UGC and testimonials drive trust.

Notes on methodology

• Percentages reflect 2024–2025 Pew Research Center platform adoption for U.S. adults, adjusted modestly for rural counties in Ohio; platform shares for teens align with Pew teen reports and industry panels. Where no county‑specific survey exists, figures are presented as local estimates consistent with rural Midwest usage patterns.