Sumner County

Sumner County, Tennessee — key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau)

Population size

• Total population (2023 estimate): ~215,000
• 2020 Census: 196,281

Age

• Median age: ~40 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition (Hispanic is of any race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~82%
• Black or African American: ~6–7%
• Hispanic/Latino: ~6–7%
• Asian: ~1–2%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Other (including American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander): <1%

Households

• Total households: ~79,000
• Average household size: ~2.6 persons
• Family households: ~70% of households
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~72–74%
• Households with children under 18: ~30–35%

Insights

• Fast-growing suburban county north of Nashville with a majority homeowner base.
• Age structure is balanced, with a sizable working-age population and a growing 65+ cohort.
• Population remains predominantly non-Hispanic White, with steady growth in Hispanic/Latino and multiracial groups.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (2023) and American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

• Estimated email users: ~150,000 adults in Sumner County (≈92% of ~164,000 adults), plus most connected teens; email remains near-universal among internet users.
• Age distribution of adult email users (share of users): 18–29: ~18%; 30–49: ~39%; 50–64: ~26%; 65+: ~17%. Adoption is highest among 18–49 (≈97–99%), strong at 50–64 (≈92%), and slightly lower for 65+ (≈80–85%).
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, 49% male, mirroring county demographics with minimal usage gap by gender.
• Digital access and usage:
  • Households with a computer: ~94–96%.
  • Home broadband subscription: ~86–90% of households; fixed broadband uptake has risen ~2–3 percentage points since 2019.
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~14–18%, indicating a notable mobile-dependent segment.
  • Daily email checking is standard among working-age adults and increasing among seniors as device ownership grows.
• Local density/connectivity facts: Population ~210,000; overall density ≈380 people/sq mi. Connectivity is strongest in the Hendersonville–Gallatin corridor (extensive cable/fiber). Northern rural areas (toward Portland/Westmoreland) show more DSL/fixed wireless reliance. LTE/5G coverage is robust along I‑65 and TN‑386, supporting high mobile email access.

Notes: Estimates draw from ACS computer/internet indicators and recent national email-use research (Pew) applied to Sumner County’s suburban profile.

Mobile phone usage in Sumner County, Tennessee — 2024 snapshot

Topline

• Population and households: ≈210,000 residents and ≈78,000 households (2023 estimates). Rapid suburban growth tied to the Nashville metro is shaping mobile demand and infrastructure.
• Estimated mobile users: 180,000–190,000 residents age 13+ use a mobile phone; 160,000–175,000 are smartphone users.
• Distinctive trend vs Tennessee overall: higher smartphone and 5G adoption in the suburban core (Hendersonville, Gallatin, White House) and lower reliance on mobile-only home internet in those areas, with mobile/fixed‑wireless dependence concentrated in the rural north and east.

User estimates and adoption

• Overall adoption
  • Smartphone adoption among adults: ≈88–92% in Sumner County vs ≈84–88% statewide.
  • Wireless‑only households (no landline): ≈75–80% in Sumner County, roughly on par with or slightly above Tennessee’s ≈72–76%.
  • Households with a cellular data plan (any portable device): ≈80–85% in Sumner County vs ≈76–82% statewide.
• Age profile (share owning/using a smartphone)
  • 13–17: ≈95–98% (vs ≈95% statewide).
  • 18–34: ≈96–98% (vs ≈94–97% statewide).
  • 35–54: ≈93–96% (vs ≈90–94% statewide).
  • 55–64: ≈85–90% (vs ≈80–86% statewide).
  • 65+: ≈75–82% (vs ≈68–75% statewide).
  • Insight: Older-adult adoption runs several points higher than the state average, reflecting higher incomes, proximity to services, and stronger device support among family households.
• Income and plan mix
  • Households ≥$75k: near‑universal smartphone adoption, higher incidence of multi‑line postpaid plans and premium devices.
  • Households <$35k: high smartphone adoption but greater reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans and mobile-only internet.
  • Distinctive trend: Sumner’s median income exceeds the state median, translating to a higher postpaid share and newer devices than the Tennessee average.
• Race and ethnicity
  • White (majority share of county population): high smartphone adoption with strong postpaid penetration in the suburban core.
  • Black and Hispanic residents: smartphone adoption parity or higher than White residents; higher likelihood of prepaid plans and mobile‑only or fixed‑wireless reliance for home internet.
  • Distinctive trend: As Hispanic population growth outpaces the county average, mobile-first behaviors (prepaid, hotspotting, fixed wireless) are rising faster than statewide.

Digital infrastructure

• Network coverage and capacity
  • All three national carriers (AT&T/FirstNet, Verizon, T‑Mobile) provide countywide LTE with broad 5G coverage in Hendersonville, Gallatin, White House, and along major corridors (TN‑386/Vietnam Veterans Pkwy, US‑31E, I‑65-adjacent areas near White House).
  • Mid‑band 5G (n41/n77) is prevalent in the suburban core, delivering consistent 100+ Mbps class service; rural edges (Portland, Westmoreland, Bethpage/Cottontown areas) see more LTE fallback and lower mid‑band density.
  • FirstNet Band 14 coverage is established for public safety; densification near schools, medical facilities, and government sites has improved indoor reliability.
• Small cells and upgrades
  • Targeted small cell deployments and 5G upgrades cluster along commercial corridors (big‑box retail zones, downtown Hendersonville/Gallatin) to handle peak-hour traffic and evening streaming loads.
  • Distinctive trend: Capacity upgrades in Sumner have outpaced many rural Tennessee counties due to rapid in‑migration and commuter traffic tied to Nashville.
• Home internet interplay
  • Cable and fiber availability in the suburban core (e.g., AT&T Fiber in many neighborhoods; cable in most denser areas) reduce the share of households that rely exclusively on mobile data in Hendersonville and Gallatin.
  • Electric co‑op fiber expansion (e.g., Cumberland Connect) is improving wired options in northern/eastern areas; where fiber/cable remain limited, residents lean on fixed‑wireless (T‑Mobile Home Internet, Verizon 5G Home) and mobile hotspots.
  • Distinctive trend vs state: Stronger wired competition in Sumner’s core means lower mobile‑only home internet reliance than the Tennessee average, while rural pockets still behave similarly to rural state norms.

Usage patterns and behaviors

• Data consumption
  • County median monthly mobile data usage per line trends above the Tennessee median in 5G‑dense suburbs due to streaming, telehealth, and hybrid work; rural edges trend closer to the state median due to coverage and capacity constraints.
• Device lifecycle
  • Faster device refresh in suburbs (iPhone and premium Android) than statewide; higher penetration of 5G‑capable devices results in more mid‑band utilization and network offload efficiency.
• Work, school, and telehealth
  • Higher work‑from‑home and hybrid commuting around Nashville increases daytime mobile data in commercial corridors and evening congestion in residential sectors; schools’ 1:1 device programs and telehealth uptake amplify mobile hotspots as backup connections.

Key differences from Tennessee overall

• Higher smartphone adoption and 5G utilization, especially among seniors and higher‑income households.
• Higher postpaid share and newer device mix; lower prepaid share than the state average.
• Lower reliance on mobile‑only home internet in the suburban core due to stronger cable/fiber presence; rural pockets still mirror statewide rural reliance on mobile/fixed‑wireless.
• Faster capacity upgrades (mid‑band 5G and small cells) driven by population growth, commuter patterns, and enterprise demand from the Nashville metro.

Sources and methodology

• Estimates synthesized from U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2022–2023) for population/household and internet subscription indicators, Pew Research Center (2021–2023) for device adoption by age, CDC NHIS (2022) for wireless‑only households, FCC carrier filings and public coverage maps for 5G/LTE footprints, and carrier fixed‑wireless availability. Figures are county‑level estimates aligned to 2023–2024 conditions and benchmarked against Tennessee statewide ranges.

Social media usage in Sumner County, TN (2024)

Snapshot

• Adult social media users (incl. YouTube): ≈85% of adults are active on at least one platform. Modeled count: ~130,000–135,000 adults.
• Gender mix of adult users: ≈51% women, 49% men (mirrors county demographics).
• Teen usage (13–17): very high adoption (≈90%+ use at least one platform), dominated by YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat.

Most‑used platforms among adults (share of adults who use each platform, modeled)

• YouTube: ~82%
• Facebook: ~71%
• Instagram: ~43%
• Pinterest: ~34%
• TikTok: ~29%
• Snapchat: ~23%
• LinkedIn: ~27%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Reddit: ~19%
• Nextdoor: ~18%

Age patterns (who over‑indexes on what)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat first; Instagram next; Facebook marginal.
• Young adults (18–34): YouTube + Instagram lead; TikTok strong; Snapchat still relevant; Facebook used but not primary.
• Midlife (35–54): Facebook + YouTube dominate; Instagram and Pinterest for lifestyle/shopping; TikTok moderate.
• Older adults (55+): Facebook + YouTube primary; Pinterest useful for projects; limited TikTok/Instagram.

Gender patterns

• Women: Slightly higher overall usage; over‑index on Facebook and Pinterest; strong Instagram adoption among 18–44.
• Men: Over‑index on YouTube, Reddit, and X; LinkedIn skew modestly male; Facebook usage still high but slightly lower than women.

Behavioral trends observed locally

• Community and commerce: Facebook Groups and Marketplace are central for schools, youth sports, churches, and buying/selling; Nextdoor used for HOA, safety, and contractor recommendations.
• Video-first consumption: Short‑form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) drives discovery for local dining, boutiques, realtors, gyms; YouTube used for DIY, home services research, and church/live event streams.
• Local discovery: Geo-tagged posts, local hashtags, and cross-posting to community groups materially lift reach; events and “things to do” content performs above average.
• Trust signals: Reviews, UGC, and neighborhood referrals influence service providers (home, auto, healthcare). Facebook recommendations and Nextdoor threads are frequent decision triggers.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default for customer service; WhatsApp usage is modest compared with Messenger, but growing among international households.

Method note

• Figures are 2024 modeled estimates for Sumner County by weighting Pew Research Center’s latest U.S. platform adoption rates by age and gender to the county’s demographic mix (U.S. Census Bureau/ACS). Percentages reflect adult usage unless noted.