Scioto County

Here are the latest official demographics for Scioto County, Ohio (U.S. Census Bureau; 2020 Decennial Census and 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates):

Population

• Total population: 74,008 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: about 73,000 (continued gradual decline since 2010)

Age

• Median age: ~41 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Gender

• Female: ~51%

Race and ethnicity (percent of total population)

• White (alone): ~92–93%
• Black or African American (alone): ~3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (alone): ~0.4%
• Asian (alone): ~0.5%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~1.5–2%

Households and housing

• Households: ~28,700
• Average household size: ~2.4 persons
• Family households: ~65%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~70%
• Housing units: ~33,000; vacancy rate in the mid-teens

Insights

• Population is modestly declining and older than the U.S. median, with roughly one in five residents age 65+.
• The county is predominantly non-Hispanic White, with small but present multiracial and Black populations.
• Household structure skews toward owner-occupied, family households with relatively small household size.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates (tables including DP05, S0101, S1101, DP04).

• Population baseline: Scioto County has roughly 73,100 residents across ~617 sq mi (≈118 people/sq mi), indicating low-density, largely rural connectivity conditions.
• Estimated email users: ≈50,000 residents (≈68% of the population), derived from adult share, local internet subscription patterns, and national email adoption rates.
• Age distribution of email users (count, share):
  • 13–17: ~4,000 (8%)
  • 18–34: ~13,000 (26%)
  • 35–54: ~16,000 (32%)
  • 55–64: ~7,000 (14%)
  • 65+: ~10,000 (20%)
• Gender split among users: ≈51% female, 49% male, mirroring county demographics and the near-parity of email adoption by gender.
• Digital access and devices (households):
  • With a computer: ~90%
  • With broadband internet subscription: ~76%
  • Cellular-data–only (“smartphone-only”) internet: ~13%
  • No home internet subscription: ~20%
• Trends and implications:
  • Broadband subscription has risen by roughly 6–8 percentage points since the mid‑2010s, but subscription levels remain below state and national averages, constraining consistent email access for some households.
  • Rural dispersion and hilly terrain contribute to patchy fixed-broadband quality; reliance on mobile data is higher than in urban Ohio, influencing email access patterns (more mobile-only use, lower attachment-heavy usage).

Mobile phone usage in Scioto County, Ohio — 2024 snapshot

At-a-glance user estimates

• Population and adult base: Approximately 73,000 residents; about 57,000 adults (18+)
• Adult smartphone users: ≈48,000–49,000 (about 85% of adults), below Ohio’s ~90% adult smartphone penetration
• Adult mobile phone users (any cellphone, incl. basic/feature phones): ≈51,000–52,000 (about 90% of adults)
• Smartphone-dependent adults (no fixed home broadband, rely on cellular data plans): roughly 20–25% of adults, materially higher than Ohio’s ~12–15%

Demographic breakdown (usage patterns)

• Age
  • 18–29: very high smartphone adoption (~90%+), near state levels
  • 30–49: high adoption (~90%+), near state levels
  • 50–64: moderate-to-high adoption (~80–85%), a few points below state average
  • 65+: lower adoption (~60–65%), well below state average; higher incidence of basic/legacy devices and voice/text-centric use
• Income and affordability
  • Lower median household income than Ohio overall translates to greater reliance on prepaid/value plans and higher smartphone-only internet dependence
  • Cost sensitivity shows up as multi-line family plans and MVNO usage exceeding state patterns
• Education and employment
  • Lower rates of four-year degrees and a higher share of service, healthcare support, trades, and logistics jobs correlate with above-average use of smartphones as primary internet and for shift-work coordination, messaging, and navigation apps
• Household internet mix
  • Share of households with cellular-only internet is roughly 1.5–2.0x the state average; fixed broadband adoption lags, pushing more daily tasks onto mobile devices

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T (incl. FirstNet for public safety), Verizon, and T‑Mobile provide countywide LTE with 5G in and around Portsmouth and along primary travel corridors (notably US‑23 and US‑52)
• 5G footprint and performance
  • 5G coverage is concentrated in population centers and along major roads; outside these areas, LTE remains the default
  • Mid-band 5G capacity seen in town centers; rural hills and river valleys frequently drop to LTE and experience signal shading
• Terrain and reliability
  • Appalachian topography (ridge-and-valley) produces localized dead zones and indoor coverage challenges, especially in hollows and low-lying stretches along the Ohio River, a sharper constraint than in most of Ohio’s metro counties
• Home internet alternatives
  • Fixed wireless access (FWA) from national carriers is a notable backfill where cable/fiber are limited; take-up is higher than the state average because it is price-competitive and easier to provision in dispersed areas
• Public safety and community access
  • Ongoing FirstNet upgrades support emergency services and incident response
  • Libraries, schools, and healthcare providers serve as important Wi‑Fi hubs; these community anchors play a larger role than in metro Ohio counties

How Scioto County differs from statewide trends

• Lower overall smartphone penetration than Ohio’s statewide adult rate, driven by an older age profile and income constraints
• Significantly higher smartphone-only dependence (cellular data as the primary or sole home internet), reflecting gaps in fixed broadband availability and affordability
• More uneven 5G availability, with strong corridor/town coverage but wider LTE-only zones and topography-driven dead spots than typical in Ohio’s metro counties
• Greater reliance on prepaid/MVNO offerings and multi-line value plans, consistent with cost-sensitive adoption and mobile-first use
• Higher FWA uptake as a substitute for cable/fiber, which, in turn, increases mobile network load for home-like usage (video streaming, coursework, telehealth) relative to the state average

Key implications

• Mobile networks in Scioto shoulder more “home internet” behavior than in most Ohio counties; capacity and indoor coverage solutions (mid-band 5G, small cells, and in-building amplification) matter more here
• Senior-focused digital inclusion (device onboarding, telehealth training) has outsized impact given lower 65+ smartphone adoption
• Expanding mid-band 5G beyond town centers and reinforcing LTE in terrain-limited pockets would close the most persistent experience gaps across the county

Social media in Scioto County, OH — snapshot (2025)

Core user stats

• Adult social-media adoption: ≈80% of adults use at least one platform (derived from Pew Research Center 2024 national usage; rural counties trend a few points below the U.S. average).
• Daily use: A majority of users check social apps daily; Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are the most “daily” platforms among their users.

Most-used platforms (share of local social-media-using adults; estimated from Pew 2024)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• TikTok: ~35%
• Pinterest: ~30%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Reddit: ~22% Notes: Facebook and YouTube dominate local reach; Instagram and TikTok form the secondary tier. Messenger and WhatsApp function mainly as messaging layers rather than discovery channels.

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): Heavy on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat; Instagram strong; Facebook used mainly for family/groups.
• Young adults (18–29): Core on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; YouTube nearly universal; Facebook present but less central for content discovery.
• Adults (30–49): Facebook + Instagram anchor usage; YouTube for how‑tos and product research; growing TikTok use for short how‑to and local finds.
• Adults (50–64): Facebook and YouTube lead; Instagram secondary; TikTok adoption rising for entertainment/how‑tos.
• 65+: Facebook first; YouTube second; limited adoption of newer platforms.

Gender breakdown (usage skews based on national patterns applied locally)

• Women: Higher engagement on Facebook (including Groups and Marketplace) and Pinterest; solid Instagram use for shopping, décor, food, and local events.
• Men: Higher presence on YouTube, Reddit, and X; strong volumes in DIY, automotive, outdoors/hunting/fishing, and local sports content.

Behavioral trends in Scioto County

• Community and commerce:
  • Facebook Groups and Pages drive local news, school updates, church/community events, yard sales, and Marketplace transactions.
  • Event-driven spikes (severe weather, road closures, high school sports, festivals) create short, high‑engagement bursts.
• Content formats:
  • Short-form vertical video (Reels, TikTok, Shorts) outperforms static posts for reach and shares.
  • YouTube “how‑to,” repairs, outdoors, and faith-based content see consistent watch time.
• Local business marketing:
  • Facebook and Instagram ads provide the best local targeting ROI; boosted posts tied to promotions, menus, and openings perform well.
  • TikTok/Reels effective for boutiques, salons, barbershops, gyms, restaurants, and service demos.
• Messaging and groups:
  • Facebook Messenger is the default for customer questions and community coordination; Snapchat dominates teen/young adult messaging.
• Timing:
  • Peak engagement evenings (7–10 p.m.) and weekends; lunchtime spikes for quick videos and local updates.

Method and reliability notes

• County-specific platform shares are not directly published by official sources. Percentages above are derived by applying 2024 Pew Research Center U.S. platform usage rates to Scioto County’s user base and rural profile, providing best-available local estimates.