York County

York County, South Carolina — key demographics

Population

• Total population: ~299,000 (2023 Census estimate)
• 2020 Census: 282,000

Age

• Under 5: ~6%
• Under 18: ~24–25%
• 65 and over: ~15%
• Median age: ~38–39 years

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (Census categories)

• White alone: ~73%
• Black or African American alone: ~19–20%
• Asian alone: ~3%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~8%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~64%

Households and housing

• Households: ~109,000
• Persons per household: ~2.7
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~73%
• Median household income: ~$78,000 (2018–2022)
• Median gross rent: ~$1,240 (2018–2022)

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 Population Estimates; 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year).

York County, SC overview

• Population: ≈300,000 residents; density ≈440 people/sq mi (fast-growing Charlotte metro suburb).
• Estimated email users (13+): ≈225,000.

Age distribution of email users (share; ≈count)

• 13–17: 6% (≈14k)
• 18–34: 27% (≈61k)
• 35–54: 33% (≈74k)
• 55–64: 15% (≈34k)
• 65+: 19% (≈43k)

Gender split

• Near parity; ≈51% female (≈115k users), 49% male (≈110k), reflecting county demographics and similar adoption by men and women.

Digital access and usage trends

• Home broadband subscriptions: ≈88% of households; computer access in households ≈94%.
• Smartphone adoption is widespread (≈90%+ of adults), with roughly 1 in 7 households relying primarily on mobile data.
• Email is a daily tool for most online adults; work-from-home prevalence around one in eight workers reinforces heavy email use for employment, schools, and services.
• Connectivity is strong in population centers (Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay) with extensive cable and growing fiber footprints from major ISPs (e.g., Comporium, AT&T, Spectrum).

Local density/connectivity facts

• Suburban nodes along I‑77 concentrate population and high-speed access; rural western/southern tracts are less dense but largely covered by 4G/5G and 100+ Mbps fixed service, supporting broad email reach.

York County, South Carolina — mobile phone usage overview (2023–2024)

User base and adoption

• Estimated adult smartphone users: ≈215,000 in York County. Assumes ~308,000 total population, ~77% adults, and ~90% adult smartphone adoption consistent with Pew-reported norms and above-state adoption in suburban metros like the Charlotte corridor.
• Household smartphone ownership: roughly nine in ten households have at least one smartphone, higher than the South Carolina average, reflecting higher incomes, education levels, and suburban density.
• Mobile-only internet households: materially lower share than the state average (York County ≈1 in 10 households vs. closer to 1 in 7 statewide), due to strong cable/fiber availability in the eastern half of the county.
• Households without any internet subscription: noticeably below the state average, reflecting better access and affordability in the Fort Mill–Tega Cay–Rock Hill urbanized area.

Demographic context and usage patterns

• Population profile: faster growth than the state, driven by in-migration from the Charlotte metro; median age slightly younger working-age mix in Fort Mill/Tega Cay; seniors concentrated more in western/rural tracts.
• Income and education: median household income is meaningfully above the South Carolina median, with a higher share of bachelor’s degrees; both correlate with higher smartphone penetration, multi-line postpaid plans, and greater app-based service use.
• Racial/ethnic mix: York County has a lower share of Black residents and a higher share of Asian residents than the state as a whole, and a growing Hispanic population; adoption skews high across groups given suburban infrastructure and incomes.
• Commuter behavior: a large out-commute to Mecklenburg County/Charlotte drives heavy daytime mobile usage along the I-77 corridor and around employment nodes in Fort Mill and Rock Hill; this mobile-centric workday use is more pronounced than the statewide pattern.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 5G coverage: AT&T, T‑Mobile, and Verizon all provide extensive 5G coverage across the populated east (Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Rock Hill, Lake Wylie). Mid-band 5G (T‑Mobile n41; Verizon C‑band; AT&T mid-band) is widely available east of York city, delivering higher median speeds than typical South Carolina counties outside major metros.
• Capacity hotspots: dense site grids and small-cell infill along I‑77, around Fort Mill/Tega Cay mixed-use centers, and in Rock Hill increase capacity and improve in-building service relative to the state average.
• Rural gaps: service is notably thinner in the western/southwestern townships (e.g., near Sharon, Hickory Grove, Smyrna), with more signal variability and fewer macro sites than the state’s urban counties; these pockets resemble rural SC conditions.
• Fixed wireless: 5G Home Internet from T‑Mobile and Verizon is broadly offered in suburban ZIPs (Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Rock Hill) and selectively in exurban areas, contributing to competitive pressure on wired ISPs more than in most SC counties.
• Fiber and cable: Comporium has extensive fiber and DOCSIS coverage across Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Tega Cay; AT&T Fiber is present in parts of the eastern county. This density of high-capacity wired options exceeds the statewide norm and reduces reliance on smartphones as a primary internet connection.
• Backhaul and transport: proximity to Charlotte metro rings and I‑77 rights‑of‑way supports robust backhaul, enabling higher 5G capacity than many South Carolina counties.

How York County differs from statewide trends

• Higher smartphone and cellular-plan adoption, driven by suburban/commuter demographics and higher incomes.
• Lower share of mobile-only internet households and lower no-internet rate, owing to strong fiber/cable footprints in the east.
• Greater availability of mid-band 5G and denser cell-site grids along the I‑77 corridor, producing higher typical speeds and more reliable in-building coverage than the state average outside major metros.
• Daytime network demand concentrates along commuter routes and border employment centers tied to the Charlotte economy—usage patterns that are less pronounced elsewhere in South Carolina.
• Faster population growth sustains above-average net additions for mobile lines and home broadband, with competitive overlap among three national MNOs, 5G fixed wireless, and local fiber—creating a more competitive, higher-capacity market than most SC counties.

Key takeaways

• York County’s mobile landscape looks more like a Charlotte suburb than a typical South Carolina county: higher adoption, better mid-band 5G coverage, and stronger wired alternatives.
• Infrastructure depth in the east reduces digital divide metrics versus statewide averages, while western rural pockets still show coverage and capacity gaps that mirror rural SC.

Social media usage in York County, South Carolina — snapshot (2025)

User penetration

• Adults using at least one social platform: ~83% (benchmarked to Pew Research Center, U.S. adults, 2024; York County tracks closely with national suburban averages)
• Smartphone-centric use is dominant; multi-platform behavior is the norm across all adult age brackets

Age profile (share of adults using any social platform; Pew 2024 benchmarks applied locally)

• 18–29: ~93%
• 30–49: ~90%
• 50–64: ~73%
• 65+: ~50–55%

Gender breakdown

• County adult population skews slightly female (≈51–52% female, ≈48–49% male; U.S. Census ACS trend for York County)
• Platform skews (national pattern reflected locally): Pinterest and Facebook lean female; Reddit, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn lean male; Instagram, TikTok, YouTube are broadly balanced by gender

Most-used platforms among adults (share of U.S. adults, Pew 2024; applied as the best local proxy)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• TikTok: 33%
• Pinterest: 35%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• Snapchat: 27%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: ~22%
• WhatsApp: 21%
• Nextdoor: ~19% (often above-average in suburban/HOA communities like Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Lake Wylie)

Behavioral trends in York County

• Community-first usage: Heavy engagement in Facebook Groups and Nextdoor for neighborhoods, HOAs, schools, and local government updates; frequent Marketplace activity for local buying/selling
• Commuter rhythm: Engagement peaks before work (6:30–8:30 a.m.) and late evening (8–10 p.m.); midday spikes around school schedules and lunch hours
• Visual discovery and local commerce: Instagram and TikTok drive discovery for restaurants, fitness, kids’ activities, and lake recreation; short-form video performs best for openings, promotions, and event highlights
• Professional spillover from Charlotte metro: Above-average LinkedIn activity among 25–44 working professionals; thought-leadership posts and hiring updates see solid traction
• Family and school-centric content: High interaction with youth sports, school achievements, church events, and community causes; “lost & found,” traffic/roadwork, and new development updates generate reliable engagement
• Creator and DIY culture: Strong YouTube usage for home improvement, outdoor/lake content, and regional sports; practical, how-to content outperforms purely promotional posts
• Trust and locality: Posts with verifiable local ties (recognizable landmarks, schools, teams) earn higher shares and comments; transparent, service-oriented messaging outperforms hard sells

Notes on methodology

• County-specific social media penetration data are rarely published; figures above use the latest Pew Research Center Social Media Use (2024) platform shares and apply them to York County’s suburban-demographic profile (U.S. Census Bureau ACS for age/gender structure). These are the most defensible, current benchmarks for local planning.

Sources: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (latest available for York County).