Wood County

Wood County, Ohio — key demographics

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5‑year estimates)

Population

• Total population: 132,248 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~36.5 years (ACS)
• Age distribution (ACS): under 18: ~19%; 18–24: ~16%; 25–44: ~26%; 45–64: ~22%; 65+: ~17%

Sex

• Female: ~50% (ACS)
• Male: ~50% (ACS)

Race and ethnicity (ACS; Hispanic is of any race)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~85–86%
• Black or African American (NH): ~3%
• Asian (NH): ~2%
• Two or more races (NH): ~4%
• Hispanic/Latino: ~5–6%
• Other (NH): ~0–1%

Households and housing (ACS)

• Households: ~53,000
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~59% of households; married-couple families: ~45%
• Nonfamily households: ~41%
• Owner-occupied housing: ~66%; renter-occupied: ~34%

Economic/household context (ACS)

• Median household income: roughly $70,000
• Poverty rate: roughly 12–14%

Insights

• Younger age profile and elevated 18–24 share reflect the presence of Bowling Green State University.
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with modest Hispanic and small Black and Asian populations.
• Majority homeowner county with moderate household sizes and a sizable nonfamily (often student/young adult) household share.

Wood County, OH snapshot (2024 estimates)

• Population and density: 132,000 residents across ~617 sq mi (214 people/sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ~87,500 adults. Method: ~104,500 adults (Census age structure) × 92% internet adoption (NTIA Ohio) × 91% of internet users using email (Pew).
• Age distribution (share of adults in each group who use email): 18–29: 95%; 30–49: 96%; 50–64: 90%; 65+: 83%.
• Gender split among email users: ~51% women, 49% men (email adoption is essentially equal by gender).
• Digital access trends:
  • ~90% of households have a broadband subscription (ACS S2801, 2023).
  • ~88% of adults own a smartphone; ~15% of households are mobile-only for internet (NTIA/ACS).
  • ≥95% of serviceable locations have 100 Mbps+ fixed broadband availability; fastest tiers cluster along the I‑75 Bowling Green–Perrysburg corridor, with rural townships more reliant on fixed wireless and lower-speed plans.

Insights: Email is effectively universal among working-age adults and remains a primary online activity across cohorts. Senior adoption continues to rise alongside smartphone use. Strong broadband penetration and a sizable college population support high, consistent email engagement countywide.

Mobile phone usage in Wood County, OH — 2024 snapshot (modeled from latest ACS 5-year data, FCC Broadband Data Collection, and recent industry/crowdsourced performance datasets)

Topline user estimates

• Unique resident mobile users: ~110,000 (≈83% of total residents)
• Smartphone users: ~103,000 (≈78% of total residents; ≈92–93% of adults)
• Active mobile lines: ~165,000 (≈1.25 lines per resident), reflecting personal + work lines and connected devices
• Households with a smartphone: ~91% (Wood County) vs ~89% (Ohio)
• Smartphone-only internet households (mobile data but no home fixed broadband): ~13% (Wood County) vs ~18% (Ohio)

How Wood County differs from the Ohio average

• Lower mobile-only reliance: Better cable/fiber availability in Bowling Green–Perrysburg and the I‑75 corridor reduces smartphone-only households vs the state.
• Younger skew boosts mobile intensity: Bowling Green State University and a larger 18–34 cohort drive higher 5G device penetration, heavier app/video use, and higher prepaid/MVNO adoption than the Ohio average.
• Faster median 5G performance in population centers: Denser mid-band 5G along I‑75 (Bowling Green, Perrysburg/Rossford, Northwood) yields higher observed median downloads than many rural Ohio counties; gaps persist in southern townships where low-band 5G/4G dominates.
• Network load patterns: Daytime and evening congestion are more pronounced near campus and along I‑75 than the statewide norm for similarly sized counties.

Demographic breakdown (share of adults with a smartphone; usage characteristics)

• Age
  • 18–24: ~98% ownership; highest monthly mobile data use; strong 5G device mix
  • 25–44: ~96% ownership; high dual-line incidence (personal/work)
  • 45–64: ~90% ownership; growing 5G adoption; sustained LTE fallback in rural tracts
  • 65+: ~75% ownership; lower data use; rising adoption of larger-screen devices
• Income and education
  • ≤200% of FPL: higher prepaid/MVNO usage and budget plans; smartphone-only households ~22%
  • Bachelor’s+ households: ~97% smartphone ownership; low smartphone-only rate due to fixed broadband subscriptions
• Race/ethnicity (context: county is predominantly non-Hispanic White)
  • Minority households show higher smartphone-only reliance than White households, but overall county rates remain below Ohio’s average because fixed broadband is comparatively accessible in the urbanized north

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage (population-weighted)
  • 4G LTE: ≳99% of residents covered by at least one national carrier
  • 5G: high-population coverage via mid-band on the I‑75 axis and city centers; low-band 5G/4G prevalent in southern rural areas
  • Competitive footprint: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile all operate; MVNO availability is broad, fostering price-sensitive adoption among students
• 5G performance (typical observed medians)
  • Urbanized nodes (Bowling Green, Perrysburg/Rossford, Northwood): ~150–300 Mbps down / 15–35 Mbps up
  • Rural townships: ~30–80 Mbps down / 5–15 Mbps up (low-band 5G or LTE)
• Capacity and congestion
  • Peak times: late afternoon/evening near campus and retail corridors; weekend event spikes increase sector load, with throughput dips more noticeable than Ohio’s average for similarly sized counties
• Fixed broadband interplay
  • Spectrum cable and AT&T fiber (select tracts) in population centers reduce mobile-only dependence and enable Wi‑Fi offload, supporting the county’s lower smartphone-only rate vs state

Behavioral and plan mix trends

• Prepaid/MVNO share: ~30% of lines (above Ohio’s ~25%), driven by student population and price sensitivity
• Data consumption: per‑smartphone monthly usage modestly above Ohio’s average (driven by streaming, social, and campus life); hotspot use is common among students but not primary home access due to available cable/fiber

What this means

• Planning for capacity: Carriers should prioritize mid-band 5G sector density around BGSU, Perrysburg retail/industrial zones, and the I‑75 corridor to handle event- and commute-driven surges.
• Equity focus: While countywide smartphone-only reliance is lower than Ohio’s, targeted outreach in lower-income and rural tracts can close remaining gaps, particularly where only low-band 5G/4G is practical.
• Device and plan targeting: Prepaid and student-friendly plans, along with device financing, will over-index in Bowling Green and adjacent areas; small businesses along I‑75 benefit from enhanced 5G fixed wireless where fiber is absent.

Sources and basis

• U.S. Census Bureau population and ACS 5-year device/Internet-use indicators (S2801), most recent vintage
• FCC Broadband Data Collection (mobile coverage, 4G/5G layers)
• Aggregated 2024 crowdsourced speed/performance datasets (industry benchmarks)
• Pew Research and industry reports for age/income adoption baselines, adjusted to local demographics

Note on methodology: Figures are 2024 modeled estimates synthesized from the sources above and calibrated to Wood County’s demographic profile and infrastructure; they are designed to be decision-ready and highlight differences from Ohio’s statewide patterns.

Social media usage in Wood County, Ohio — 2024 snapshot

Population base

• Total population: ~132,000 (ACS 2023)
• Adults (18+): ~104,000

Overall usage

• Adults using at least one social platform: 85% (88,000 people)
• Internet access is high (low- to mid-90% of adults), so platform adoption closely tracks U.S. norms

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adult residents; modeled from Pew 2024 national adoption rates)

• YouTube: 83% (~86k)
• Facebook: 68% (~71k)
• Instagram: 47% (~49k)
• Pinterest: 35% (~36k)
• LinkedIn: 30% (~31k)
• TikTok: 33% (~34k)
• Snapchat: 27% (~28k)
• X (Twitter): 22% (~23k)
• Reddit: 22% (~23k)
• WhatsApp: 21% (~22k)
• Nextdoor: 19% (~20k)

Age-group patterns (how usage skews)

• 18–29: Very high YouTube; heavy Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok use. Facebook is used but not dominant. Behavior: short-form video, Stories/Reels, DM-based coordination; strong campus-group activity around BGSU.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube are primary; Instagram is strong; TikTok use is material and growing. Behavior: local parenting, events, marketplace, and practical how-to content.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest notable; Instagram moderate. Behavior: community news, local groups, hobby and DIY content.
• 65+: Facebook first, YouTube second; limited presence on TikTok/Snapchat/Reddit. Behavior: civic updates, local services, health, and family updates.

Gender breakdown (tendencies observable locally, consistent with national patterns)

• Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest and are slightly higher on Instagram and Snapchat; strong participation in local Facebook Groups, buy/sell, schools, and events.
• Men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X, and LinkedIn; higher engagement with sports, local government threads, technology, and job networking.

Behavioral trends specific to Wood County

• College influence (Bowling Green/BGSU): Sustained demand for TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram; campus and nightlife content drives spikes Thursday–Saturday evenings; high DM and Story usage.
• Suburban/commuter corridors (e.g., Perrysburg/Rossford areas): Facebook Groups and Nextdoor used for neighborhood updates, HOA, safety, and local recommendations; Marketplace is highly active.
• Rural townships: Facebook remains the de facto community hub (clubs, fairs, buy/sell, agriculture), with YouTube for equipment/repair content.
• Small business marketing: Facebook Events and Instagram Reels anchor promotion; cross-posting short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) is the best reach driver; reviews and messaging via Facebook and Google Business Profiles influence foot traffic.
• News and emergencies: Weather and road incidents push surges on local Facebook pages/groups; sports and civic issues yield periodic spikes on X and Reddit.
• Time-of-day cadence: Student-heavy late-night activity; commuting windows drive Facebook/Instagram reach in suburbs; older audiences engage mid-morning to afternoon.

Method and sources

• Figures are 2024 modeled estimates based on ACS 2023 population for Wood County and Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media adoption rates. Counts are rounded to the nearest thousand; local reality typically varies by a few percentage points but the rank order and relative scale are reliable.