Washington County

Washington County, Ohio – key demographics

Population size

• 59,711 (2020 Census)
• Change since 2010: down about 3% (2010: ~61,800)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~22%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition (2020 Census)

• White alone: ~94%
• Black or African American alone: ~1–2%
• Asian alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: <1%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~1–2%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~93%

Household data (ACS 2018–2022 unless noted)

• Households: ~24,700
• Average household size: ~2.3 persons
• Family households: ~64% of households; married-couple families ~49%
• Households with children under 18: ~24%
• Nonfamily households: ~36%; living alone ~31% (about 13% age 65+ living alone)
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~73%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Washington County, OH (population ~59,000) has an estimated 45,000 active email users (about 76% of residents). Estimated user age distribution: 13–17: 5%; 18–24: 11%; 25–34: 13%; 35–54: 31%; 55–64: 17%; 65+: 23%. Gender split among email users closely mirrors the population: about 51% female and 49% male.

Digital access: roughly 87% of households have a computer and about 83% subscribe to home broadband; about 13% are smartphone‑only, and approximately 15% have no home internet. Email use is near‑universal among internet users (around 95%), but lower wireline availability and affordability in rural areas push some residents to rely on mobile data.

Local density/connectivity: with about 632 square miles of land, the county averages roughly 94 residents per square mile. Higher‑speed cable/fiber service is concentrated in Marietta, Belpre, and primary corridors, while many outlying townships depend on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. Public libraries and Marietta College add vital free Wi‑Fi, bolstering access for students and households without reliable home service.

Mobile phone usage in Washington County, Ohio (latest available 2023–2024 estimates)

Headline figures

• Residents: ~59,000; adults (18+): ~47,000; households: ~25,800
• Adults with any mobile phone: ~45,000 (95%), slightly below Ohio’s ~96%
• Adult smartphone users: ~40,700 (86%), below Ohio’s ~90%
• Adults in wireless‑only households (no landline): ~63% in-county vs ~69% statewide
• Households relying on cellular data as their only home internet: ~16% in-county vs ~13% statewide
• Households with no home internet subscription: ~14% in-county vs ~9% statewide

Demographic breakdown (county vs Ohio)

• Age
  • 18–34: smartphone adoption ~95% (≈ on par with Ohio)
  • 35–64: ~90% (2–3 percentage points lower than Ohio)
  • 65+: ~62% (about 6 points lower than Ohio’s ~68%), reflecting Washington County’s older age profile
• Income
  • Under $35k: smartphone adoption ~78% (lower than Ohio by ~4 points); higher likelihood of prepaid plans and mobile‑only home internet
  • $35k–$75k: ~88% (≈2 points lower than Ohio)
  • $75k+: ~94% (≈1 point lower than Ohio)
• Device access at home
  • Households with at least one smartphone: ~88% (Ohio ~91%)
  • Smartphone‑only (no desktop/laptop): ~17% of households (Ohio ~13%)
• Geography within the county
  • Marietta–Belpre corridor: highest 5G availability and fastest speeds; rural townships show lower smartphone adoption among seniors and greater mobile‑only internet reliance

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Network availability
  • All three national carriers operate countywide; low‑band 5G covers most populated areas
  • Mid‑band 5G (C‑band/n77, n41) population coverage: ~70–75% in-county vs ~88–90% statewide; strongest along I‑77, Marietta/Belpre, OH‑7 river corridor
  • LTE remains the primary layer in valleys and low‑density townships; hilly terrain creates dead zones and handoff issues
• Performance
  • Median mobile download speeds: ~50 Mbps in-county vs ~95 Mbps statewide; uploads typically 6–12 Mbps; latency mid‑30s to 50s ms
  • Peak mid‑band 5G along I‑77 routinely exceeds 150 Mbps; sub‑10 Mbps pockets persist in wooded hollows and fringe areas
• Backhaul and sites
  • Fiber backhaul concentrated along I‑77/US‑50 and in Marietta/Belpre; microwave backhaul is still used at outlying sites
  • Small‑cell density is limited outside downtown Marietta/Belpre, slowing mid‑band 5G densification compared with Ohio’s metros

Trends that differ from the Ohio state profile

• Adoption gap driven by age and income: Smartphone ownership is 3–4 points lower overall, with the largest gap among adults 65+
• Greater mobile dependence for home connectivity: Cellular‑only home internet is ~3 points higher than the state average, tied to patchier fixed broadband and cost sensitivity
• Slower 5G mid‑band rollout and lower speeds: Population coverage for mid‑band 5G trails the state by ~15 points; county median speeds are roughly half the statewide median
• More smartphone‑only households: Share of households relying on phones without a computer is ~4 points higher than the statewide share
• Landline persistence among seniors: Wireless‑only rate is several points lower than Ohio overall, reflecting an older population that keeps legacy voice service

Quantified local estimates (2023–2024)

• Adults with any cellphone: ~45,000
• Adult smartphone users: ~40,700
• Adults in wireless‑only households: ~29,800
• Households with at least one smartphone: ~22,700
• Households with cellular data as their only home internet: ~4,100
• Households with no home internet subscription: ~3,600

Interpretation

• Washington County’s older age structure and lower median income modestly depress smartphone adoption versus Ohio while simultaneously increasing reliance on mobile networks for home internet where fixed options are limited or costly.
• Infrastructure is adequate for broad coverage but lags the state in mid‑band 5G density and backhaul, producing lower median speeds and more variability between town centers and rural hollows.
• Digital equity challenges are more pronounced than the state average, with higher rates of mobile‑only and no‑subscription households, particularly outside the Marietta–Belpre corridor.

Methodological note: Figures are derived from 2019–2023 ACS 5‑year county demographics and device/internet indicators, state baselines (Ohio), and 2024 FCC/mobile industry coverage datasets; adoption rates by age/income reflect the county’s demographic mix applied to current statewide/national usage patterns. Estimates are rounded for clarity.

Social media usage in Washington County, Ohio (best-available 2024 view, modeled from 2023 ACS county demographics and Pew Research 2024 U.S. platform adoption)

User stats

• Adult population (18+): approximately 46–48k (about 78–80% of county residents)
• Adults using at least one social platform: ~72–78% (roughly three in four adults)
• Daily users (of those on social): ~65–70%
• Typical platform mix: median 2–3 platforms per user

Age groups (share using at least one social platform)

• 18–29: ~90–95%
• 30–49: ~80–90%
• 50–64: ~70–75%
• 65+: ~45–55% Note: Washington County skews older than the U.S. average, so overall social adoption leans slightly lower than urban Ohio.

Gender breakdown

• Population mix: ~51% female, ~49% male; social users mirror this split
• Platform tilt: Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest skew female; YouTube, Reddit, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn skew male by several points

Most-used platforms among adults (county-level estimates aligned to U.S. usage)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~63–70%
• Instagram: ~40–48%
• TikTok: ~25–33%
• Snapchat: ~20–27% (concentrated under 30)
• Pinterest: ~28–35% (primarily women 30–64)
• X (Twitter): ~18–22%
• LinkedIn: ~20–24% (concentrated 25–54)
• Reddit: ~15–20%
• WhatsApp: ~20–26%
• Nextdoor: ~8–12% (neighborhood coverage varies)

Behavioral trends in the county

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy reliance on Groups (schools, churches, youth sports), Marketplace, and event pages; local news, weather alerts, road closures, and school updates drive spikes
• Video leads engagement: YouTube for how‑to, home/auto repair, local sports highlights; short‑form video (Reels/TikTok) increasingly used by small businesses and festivals
• Under‑35 split: Instagram/TikTok for dining, recreation, and retail discovery; Snapchat for peer messaging and stories
• 35–64 cohort: Facebook first for information and recommendations; Pinterest for home, crafts, and seasonal planning
• 65+ cohort: Facebook primary; YouTube for tutorials and faith content
• Local commerce: strong use of Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell/trade groups; reviews and word‑of‑mouth in Groups influence purchase decisions
• Posting/consumption cadence: engagement peaks evenings and weekends; weather events and high school sports markedly lift reach and shares
• Advertising implications: Facebook/Instagram provide the broadest paid reach; short‑form video outperforms static for awareness; geo‑targeting within Marietta and along major corridors (I‑77/State Rte 7) captures most active users

Sources and method

• Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (Washington County, OH)
• Platform adoption and age/gender patterns: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024
• County figures are modeled by applying national age/gender platform adoption rates to Washington County’s demographic profile; treat percentages as best‑fit local estimates where direct county measurements are not published.