Greene County

Greene County, Tennessee — Key Demographics

Population

• 71,100 (2023 population estimate)
• 70,152 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years
• Under 18: ~20–21%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~91%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4–5%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2–3%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~0.2%

Households and housing

• Households: ~28,400
• Persons per household: ~2.39
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~74%
• Family households: ~66% of households
• Median household income: ~$49–50k
• Poverty: ~18%

Insights

• Older-than-state and national age profile with nearly one in four residents aged 65+
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White population with a small but growing Hispanic community
• High homeownership and small household size consistent with an older, rural county

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

Greene County, TN email landscape (2025 snapshot)

• Population and density: ≈70,800 residents across ≈620 sq mi (≈114 people/sq mi). ≈28,400 households.
• Digital access: ≈87% of households have a computer; ≈76% subscribe to home broadband; ≈13% are smartphone‑only; ≈16% report no home internet subscription.
• Estimated email users: ≈52,000 adults use email regularly (about 92% of the adult population).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 18–29: ≈22%
  • 30–49: ≈36%
  • 50–64: ≈25%
  • 65+: ≈17% Email adoption remains near-universal among under‑65 adults and high among seniors, though seniors account for a smaller share of total users.
• Gender split among email users: ≈51% female, ≈49% male (mirroring county demographics).
• Connectivity and density insights: Access is strongest in and around Greeneville and along US‑11E/I‑81, where multiple cable/DSL/fiber options exist; outlying rural areas see more DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite reliance. Mobile 4G/5G coverage is broad on major corridors, supporting smartphone‑only access. Overall household broadband adoption and device access are slightly below statewide urban averages but consistent with rural Tennessee trends, indicating continued reliance on mobile connectivity where wired options are limited.

Mobile phone usage in Greene County, Tennessee — 2024 snapshot

Overview and user estimates

• Population and households: About 70,000 residents and roughly 28,000 households, with approximately 56,000 adults.
• Mobile phone users (any cellphone): ≈53,000 adults (about 95% of adults), broadly consistent with national and state patterns.
• Smartphone users: ≈45,000 adults (around 80% of adults). This is a few points lower than Tennessee’s statewide adult smartphone rate, reflecting Greene County’s older age structure and lower household incomes.
• Wireless‑only voice (no landline): ≈18,000–19,000 households (about two‑thirds), somewhat below Tennessee’s very high statewide wireless‑only rate, due mainly to Greene County’s older population keeping some legacy landlines.
• Cellular‑data–only internet households: ≈6,000–7,000 households (roughly 1 in 4). This share is higher than the statewide average, indicating greater reliance on mobile data in lieu of wired broadband in rural parts of the county.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age
  • 18–34: Very high smartphone adoption (near universal), heavy app‑based communication and streaming, high reliance on mobile data when away from home Wi‑Fi.
  • 35–64: High smartphone adoption, frequent hotspot use for work/education; prepaid uptake is notable among cost‑sensitive users.
  • 65+: Smartphone adoption materially lower than state average for this age group; many use basic voice/text or smartphones with limited data plans. This group explains much of the county’s shortfall vs statewide smartphone penetration.
• Income and education
  • Lower median household income than Tennessee overall correlates with more prepaid plans, smaller data buckets, and higher incidence of “cellular‑only” home internet. Budget Android devices are more common than in metro Tennessee.
• Rural vs town centers
  • Greeneville and corridors along US‑11E/I‑81 exhibit usage patterns close to statewide norms (higher 5G availability, more video streaming, multi‑line family plans).
  • Outlying and mountainous communities show higher mobile‑only internet reliance and more voice/SMS‑centric usage due to variable coverage and fewer wired options.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 4G LTE is effectively ubiquitous across populated areas, but terrain (valleys/ridges near the Cherokee National Forest and in southern/eastern parts of the county) creates localized weak‑signal pockets and single‑carrier areas.
• 5G availability is concentrated along major corridors (Greeneville–Baileyton–Mosheim, US‑11E, segments of I‑81, and town centers). Approximately two‑thirds of residents spend most of their time in 5G‑covered areas; that coverage share is lower than the statewide figure, which is closer to the high‑70s to mid‑80s percent in populated areas.
• Real‑world speeds: Typical daytime mobile downloads run lower than the Tennessee median. Expect roughly 35–55 Mbps in much of the county (higher in town centers, lower in ridge‑shadowed areas), versus statewide medians nearer 70–80 Mbps.
• Network resilience and redundancy: Two‑to‑three carrier overlap is common along primary roads; single‑carrier dominance persists on some secondary roads and hollows. This drives conservative plan choices (Wi‑Fi calling, external antennas, or multi‑SIM failover) for small businesses and remote workers.
• Fixed‑wireless and satellite options: 5G fixed‑wireless (where available) and satellite services supplement patchy wired broadband in rural tracts, reducing but not eliminating cellular‑only internet dependence.

How Greene County differs from Tennessee overall

• Slightly fewer adult smartphone users (share): The county trails the statewide adult smartphone share by several percentage points, driven by an older age profile and lower incomes.
• More cellular‑only home internet: A higher fraction of households rely on mobile data as their primary or only home internet, compared with the state average.
• 5G footprint and speeds: 5G coverage and median speeds lag statewide figures, with more persistent LTE‑only zones due to topography and lower tower density outside town centers.
• Plan mix: Prepaid and lower‑data plans are more prevalent than statewide, reflecting price sensitivity and variable coverage that reduces the perceived value of premium unlimited tiers in some rural pockets.
• Landline retention: Despite high wireless‑only prevalence, legacy landlines persist slightly more than statewide among seniors and in hard‑to‑cover areas, moderating the county’s wireless‑only rate relative to Tennessee’s leading position nationally.

Key takeaways

• Mobile phone adoption is widespread, but smartphone penetration and 5G performance lag state averages.
• Reliance on cellular data for home connectivity is meaningfully higher than in Tennessee overall, especially outside Greeneville and main corridors.
• Continued build‑out of rural 5G and expansion of wired/fixed‑wireless broadband will directly reduce cellular‑only internet dependence and narrow the usage gap with statewide trends.

Greene County, TN — social media snapshot (2024–2025)

Core population context

• Total residents: 70,152 (2020 Census)
• Approx. 18+ adults: ~79% of residents
• Gender: ~51% female, ~49% male
• 65+ share: ~21% (older than U.S. average, which shapes platform mix)

Estimated social media reach

• Active social media users: ~48,000–52,000 residents (roughly 68–74% of the population when combining adults and teens)
• Adult users: ~70–75% of adults use at least one social platform
• Teen users (13–17): >90% use at least one platform

Age mix of users (share of local social media users)

• 13–17: ~8%
• 18–24: ~11%
• 25–34: ~19%
• 35–44: ~18%
• 45–54: ~16%
• 55–64: ~14%
• 65+: ~14%

Gender among users

• Women: ~52–54% of local social users
• Men: ~46–48%
• Skews by platform: women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X

Most-used platforms (estimated share of local adults)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 40–50% (heavy under 35)
• TikTok: 30–35% (strong under 30)
• Snapchat: 25–30% (dominant for 13–24)
• Pinterest: 30–35% (female-skewed)
• LinkedIn: 18–22% (professionals, public-sector, healthcare)
• X (Twitter): 18–22% (news/sports/politics)
• Reddit: 15–20% (male-skewed, tech/hobbies)
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (patchy rural adoption; Facebook Groups often substitute)

Behavioral trends and what works

• Facebook as the community hub: high participation in local groups (buy-sell-trade, school athletics, churches, public safety, local government). Events and posts with familiar places/faces perform best.
• Short-form video first: Reels and TikTok drive reach; repurpose vertical video across platforms. Practical “how-to,” local food, outdoors, and school-sports content are consistent winners.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is the default; Snapchat is primary for teens/young adults; WhatsApp remains niche.
• Timing: Evenings (7–10 pm) and weekend late mornings/early afternoons show the strongest engagement; local sports/game nights spike real-time interactions.
• “Shop local” response: Offers, giveaways, and community support angles materially boost CTR/engagement for small businesses and civic orgs.
• Platform roles:
  • Facebook for reach + groups + events
  • Instagram for visuals, stories/reels, local retail and dining
  • TikTok for discovery among younger residents
  • YouTube for longer how-to/local coverage and streaming
  • Pinterest for home, crafts, recipes (female 25–54)
  • LinkedIn for hiring/healthcare/education administration
• Older adults: Remain active on Facebook and YouTube; carousel/photo posts and clear event info outperform flashy creative.
• Trust and tone: Local voices and recognizable landmarks outperform generic stock; plainspoken, service-oriented copy beats nationalized messaging.

Notes on methodology

• Population and gender shares reflect U.S. Census. Platform percentages reflect Pew Research Center’s most recent U.S. adoption rates calibrated to Greene County’s older age profile and rural broadband patterns; figures are localized estimates rather than county survey counts.