Fayette County

Here are recent, high-level demographics for Fayette County, Tennessee (latest ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates unless noted):

• Total population: about 43,000 (ACS 2019–2023); 41,990 (2020 Census)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~44 years
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 18–64: ~58%
  • 65 and over: ~20%
• Sex:
  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%
• Race/ethnicity (shares of total population):
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~57–58%
  • Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~35–37%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Asian: ~1%
  • Other races: ~1%
• Households and housing:
  • Households: ~16,000
  • Average household size: ~2.6
  • Family households: ~73% of households; married-couple households: ~55%
  • Households with children under 18: ~28%
  • Tenure: owner-occupied ~80–83%; renter-occupied ~17–20%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2019–2023 5-year estimates; 2020 Decennial Census (total population count). Figures are rounded for readability.

Fayette County, TN — email usage snapshot

• Population and density: ≈43,000 residents; ~60 people per sq. mile (largely rural with growing suburban pockets near Memphis).
• Estimated email users: ~30,000–32,000 residents (13+) use email at least monthly, based on ~88–90% internet adoption and ~90–95% of internet users using email.
• Age split of email users (est.): 13–17: 6%; 18–34: 24%; 35–54: 33%; 55–64: 18%; 65+: 19% (email remains common even among older adults).
• Gender split (est.): ≈51% women, 49% men, mirroring county demographics; usage rates are similar by gender.
• Digital access:
  • ~90%+ of households have a computer.
  • ~80–85% have a home broadband subscription; ~10–15% are smartphone‑only for internet.
  • Faster cable/fiber is concentrated in towns (e.g., Oakland, Somerville, Piperton/Rossville); more rural northern/eastern areas rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.
  • 4G/5G coverage is strongest along main corridors (e.g., US‑64) and town centers; speeds drop in sparsely populated areas.
• Trend: Connectivity is improving via recent state/federal investments (2023–2025) and suburban growth on the Memphis fringe, but low density keeps last‑mile gaps and affordability issues in some rural tracts.

Below is a county-focused snapshot built from county demographics (ACS), statewide adoption benchmarks (Pew, CDC/NHIS), FCC coverage data, and carrier/network announcements. Figures are estimates; ranges reflect local variation between the suburban west (Oakland–Piperton corridor) and the rural interior.

Headline estimate

• Population base: roughly 42–45 thousand residents.
• Active mobile lines: about 46–52 thousand (roughly 105–115 lines per 100 residents), slightly below Tennessee’s statewide density (driven by metro hubs) but high for a largely rural county.
• Unique mobile users: about 35–38 thousand people carrying a mobile phone.
• Adult smartphone users: roughly 28–31 thousand (about 83–87% of adults), a touch below statewide rates because of a larger 65+ share.
• Wireless-only households (no landline): about 70–75%, on par with or a bit higher than the Tennessee average.
• Smartphone-dependent internet users: about 20–25% of adults rely primarily on a smartphone for home internet; this is likely higher than the statewide share because rural fixed broadband is spottier and the county has a larger Black population (a group that nationally reports higher smartphone dependence).

Demographic drivers and how Fayette differs from Tennessee overall

• Age: Fayette skews a bit older than the state median. That nudges overall smartphone penetration slightly down versus Tennessee but widens the senior digital gap (more basic/flip phones, more voice/text-only plans among 65+).
• Race: A substantially larger Black share than the state average corresponds with higher smartphone-only internet use and higher prepaid plan usage. This pushes up mobile data dependence relative to the state.
• Settlement pattern: A pronounced split between the growing, higher-income suburban west (Piperton/Oakland) and the rural east/central areas. This creates two distinct usage profiles:
  • West: higher 5G device uptake, multiplan households, in-vehicle data demand from Memphis commuters, and early adoption of fixed wireless access (FWA).
  • Rural interior: more price-sensitive plans, hotspot use, and mobile-first access where cable/fiber are limited.
• Work and commute: A larger share of Memphis-bound commuters than the state average concentrates peak mobile demand along US-64 and I-269 during drive times.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage footprint:
  • 4G LTE: broadly available countywide from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
  • 5G: strongest along US-64, TN-57, and the I-269 edge and in/around Oakland, Somerville, and Piperton. Mid-band 5G is still patchy in the rural interior compared with Tennessee’s metro-led statewide picture.
  • Indoor and secondary-road gaps persist in low-lying/wooded areas and farther from the main corridors; residents there more often use boosters/external antennas than the state average.
• Capacity and speeds: Fewer macro sites per square mile and more limited mid-band 5G coverage mean median speeds typically trail the statewide median (which is lifted by Nashville/Knox/Chattanooga/Memphis urban cores). Upgrades are ongoing along commuter routes.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Fiber is strong along the west-side corridors; AT&T Fiber and cable serve growing subdivisions.
  • Rural fiber is expanding via the electric co-op build (Chickasaw/Conexon), improving tower backhaul and enabling better 5G capacity over time in interior areas.
• Fixed Wireless Access (home internet over cellular): T-Mobile and Verizon FWA are available in and near the suburban corridor and some town centers. Take-up is above the state average in pockets lacking cable/fiber, making mobile networks a larger share of home internet in Fayette than statewide.
• Public/anchor connectivity: Schools and libraries play an outsized role in device lending and Wi‑Fi access compared with metro counties; hotspot programs and E‑rate-backed networks help offset rural gaps.

Trends that stand out versus Tennessee overall

• Slightly lower adult smartphone penetration overall, but a higher share of smartphone-dependent internet users.
• More pronounced urban–rural split within the county, producing wider disparities in device types, plan choices, and speeds than the average Tennessee county.
• 5G mid-band coverage and median speeds lag state averages driven by big metros, but upgrade activity is concentrated along US‑64/I‑269 and is accelerating with regional growth.
• Higher reliance on mobile as primary home internet in rural tracts, with FWA adoption playing a bigger role in closing the fixed-broadband gap.
• Commuter-driven peak loads are more corridor-focused than in non-metro Tennessee counties.

Notes on data and method

• Population and age/race structure: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5‑year (most recent).
• Mobile adoption baselines: Pew Research Center national/state patterns by age, income, rurality; adjusted to county demographics.
• Wireless-only households: CDC/NHIS state estimates; localized using county age/rural mix.
• Coverage/capacity: FCC mobile coverage datasets and carrier-disclosed 5G/FWA footprints; localized by known corridors and settlement patterns.
• Fixed broadband context/backhaul: FCC Broadband Map, AT&T/Comcast service areas, and Chickasaw Electric/Conexon rural fiber build announcements.

Here’s a concise, planning-ready snapshot for Fayette County, TN. Figures are estimates derived from 2020–2024 Census/Pew benchmarks and similar rural–suburban counties in West TN; county-level platform reporting is limited, so ranges reflect that.

Headline user stats

• Population: ~42–43k; adults 18+: ~33k; teens 13–17: ~2.3k
• Active social media users (13+): ~25–27k (roughly 70–75% of adults; 90%+ of teens)

Age mix of active users (share of active users)

• 13–17: ~7–9%
• 18–34: ~27–30%
• 35–54: ~32–35% (largest block)
• 55+: ~28–30% (fastest growth over past 2–3 years)

Gender breakdown (active users)

• Women: ~53–55%
• Men: ~45–47% Notes: Women skew higher on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men skew higher on YouTube, Reddit, X.

Most-used platforms (share of active users using monthly, est.)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–75% (still the day-to-day hub locally)
• Instagram: 38–45%
• TikTok: 28–35% (strong with under-35s)
• Snapchat: 22–30% (dominant for 13–24 messaging)
• Pinterest: 25–33% (female-skewed)
• X (Twitter): 15–20% (news/sports)
• LinkedIn: 18–25% (higher among commuters/professionals near Piperton/Rossville)
• Nextdoor: 12–18% (concentrated in newer subdivisions around Oakland/Piperton)
• Reddit: 10–15% (younger/male skew)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook first: Local groups (schools, churches, youth sports, yard sale/Marketplace), civic updates, and storm/traffic info drive daily check-ins. Marketplace activity is heavy.
• Video is winning attention: Short-form (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) consumption is up; local food, contractors, events, and real estate get disproportionate reach via video.
• Teens and young adults: Snapchat for messaging; TikTok/IG Reels for entertainment and discovery; minimal Facebook posting (but many still keep accounts for groups).
• Commuter influence: Many residents tie into Memphis for work; LinkedIn and Instagram usage is higher among professionals in Piperton/Rossville corridors.
• “Lurkers” > posters: A minority creates content; most engage via likes, shares, and group comments. Calls-to-comment and polls outperform plain posts.
• Local news flow: Facebook remains the primary gateway to Memphis-area news outlets and sheriff/EM alerts; rumor control and “what’s that siren?” posts get high engagement.
• Timing: Peaks around 7–10 pm; secondary spikes at lunch and early morning school commute. Sundays see strong engagement (church and community content).
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous; Snapchat DMs rule for teens; WhatsApp adoption is modest but growing among small businesses and trades.
• Interests that outperform: High school sports, youth activities, hunting/fishing/outdoors, local weather, small-business spotlights, community events, and new development/real estate.

Practical targeting notes

• Fastest reach: Facebook + Instagram for 25+; add Stories/Reels for incremental 18–34 reach.
• Younger skew: TikTok + Snapchat for 13–29; creator-style vertical video beats polished ads.
• Neighborhood penetration: Use Nextdoor for HOA/subdivision messages; works well for services, safety, and hyperlocal events.
• Geo: 10–20 mile radii around Oakland, Somerville, Piperton/Rossville capture most residents without overspill into Memphis proper.