Comal County

Here are key demographics for Comal County, Texas. Figures are the most recent available from the U.S. Census Bureau; where noted, percentages are from the 2018–2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, and totals from the 2020 Census.

Population

• Total population: 161,501 (2020 Census)
• 2010–2020 growth: about +49%

Age

• Median age: ~41 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~23%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51% (ACS 2018–2022)

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022)

• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~34–36%
• White, non-Hispanic: ~56–60%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~2%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~1–2%
• Two or more races/other, non-Hispanic: ~3–5%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Number of households: ~66,000–68,000
• Average household size: ~2.6–2.7 persons
• Family households: ~70–72% of households

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Summary for Comal County, TX

• Estimated email users: 130k–150k residents. Basis: ~191k population (2023 est.); ~78% adults; ~90% of adults use email (Pew-like US averages), plus some teens.
• Age and usage:
  • 18–34: ~95% use email; ~25–30% of local email users
  • 35–64: ~90–95%; ~45–50% of users
  • 65+: ~80–85%; ~20–25% of users
  • Teens (13–17): ~70–85% use email but are a smaller share
• Gender split among users: roughly even (county population ~50% female, 50% male).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Broadband subscription in households: about 90%+ (ACS-style measures), with very high connectivity in New Braunfels/along I‑35; lower in western/rural Hill Country pockets.
  • Fiber and high-speed options expanding; strong 5G/4G coverage along the I‑35 corridor; more variability around Canyon Lake and rural areas.
  • Smartphone-only internet households likely around 10–15%, indicating some mobile reliance but broad fixed access.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Population density roughly 300–330 people/sq. mi (fast-growing suburban county).
  • Highest density and network performance cluster in New Braunfels; sparser areas see more limited fixed broadband choices.

Notes: Figures are estimates combining recent ACS county data with national email-adoption benchmarks.

Below is a concise, planning-oriented snapshot of mobile phone usage in Comal County, Texas, with estimates, demographics, and infrastructure highlights—emphasizing how the county differs from Texas overall.

High-level user estimates (2025, approximations)

• Population base: roughly 200k–230k residents, with 75–78% adults.
• Smartphone users: approximately 130k–165k adult smartphone users (about 85–92% adult adoption). Because Comal skews older but more affluent than Texas overall, overall adoption is high, but senior adoption lags younger cohorts.
• Mobile-only internet households: estimated 10–15% rely primarily on cellular data for home internet (versus about 15–20% statewide). Greater availability of cable/fiber in populated parts of the county keeps smartphone-only reliance lower than the Texas average.

Demographic patterns that shape mobile use

• Age: Comal has a larger 65+ share than Texas overall (roughly 20–24% vs. lower statewide). Senior smartphone adoption is rising (roughly 70–80%) but still trails younger adults, creating a more pronounced age gap than the state average.
• Income: Median household income is above the Texas average. This translates into more multi-line family plans, higher device-per-person ratios (phone + tablet + watch), and slightly higher iOS share than the state as a whole.
• Race/ethnicity: A higher non-Hispanic White share and a smaller Black share than Texas overall; Hispanic share remains significant. Language access and plan preferences still matter, but prepaid-only dependence is somewhat lower than the state average due to income and fixed-broadband availability.
• Urban/suburban vs. rural: Most residents cluster along the I-35/SH-46/US-281 corridors (New Braunfels, Bulverde, Spring Branch), with western Hill Country areas more rural. This split drives strong usage and capacity needs in the east and coverage/performance gaps in hillier west/northwest pockets.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 5G footprint: All three national carriers provide 5G along the I-35 corridor and major arterials. Mid-band 5G is common in New Braunfels and growth centers; low-band 5G/LTE predominates in hillier western zones. Millimeter-wave, where present, is limited to dense nodes.
• Terrain effects (distinct from much of Texas): Limestone hills, canyons, and lake topography (Canyon Lake, Guadalupe River area) create more shadowing and dead zones than typical Texas counties of similar size. Expect spotty indoor coverage in valleys and lakeside neighborhoods.
• Congestion patterns: Seasonal spikes around recreation areas (Canyon Lake, tubing on the Guadalupe) and weekend tourism create time-of-day and day-of-week congestion that’s more pronounced than the Texas average.
• Backhaul and small cells: Dense growth corridors have added small cells and upgraded backhaul; rural western segments rely on fewer macro sites with wider spacing, leading to variability in uplink and indoor penetration.
• Fixed broadband interplay: Strong cable/fiber presence in population centers (e.g., Spectrum/Charter in New Braunfels; GVTC and AT&T fiber expansions in suburbs/exurbs) reduces smartphone-only dependence. Fixed wireless (T-Mobile/Verizon 5G Home) is used as a supplemental/backup option or a primary service in pockets lacking fiber/coax.
• Public safety: Statewide FirstNet support is available; agencies in rapidly growing suburbs typically leverage priority and preemption—useful during seasonal surges and storm events.

Usage behaviors and trends that diverge from statewide patterns

• Lower smartphone-only reliance: Because cable/fiber coverage is comparatively good in populated areas and incomes are higher, Comal’s share of mobile-only households is below the Texas average.
• Higher device density: More households with multiple lines and supplemental devices (tablets, wearables), pushing capacity demands in neighborhoods even when home Wi‑Fi exists.
• Platform and plan mix: Slight tilt toward postpaid and iOS relative to the Texas average, reflecting income and family-plan uptake; prepaid share is present but smaller.
• Peak-load seasonality: Recreational/tourist traffic produces sharper, recurring mobile congestion spikes than most Texas counties, influencing carrier capacity planning and small-cell siting.
• Terrain-driven coverage variability: The Hill Country’s topography creates more persistent indoor/outdoor coverage gaps than the flatter regions that dominate Texas, even at similar population densities.

Implications for planning and service delivery

• Capacity upgrades are most impactful along I‑35 and fast-growing suburban corridors; targeted small cells and mid-band spectrum infill relieve seasonal and event-driven congestion.
• Western/hillier zones benefit from new macro infill, low-band 5G/LTE optimization, and indoor coverage solutions; fixed wireless can bridge gaps where fiber is sparse.
• Digital inclusion efforts can focus on seniors (device training, telehealth readiness) rather than basic access, since availability and affordability barriers are relatively lower than statewide.

Method notes

• Estimates synthesize recent Census/ACS growth patterns, statewide mobile adoption research (e.g., Pew/FCC trends), carrier 5G rollout norms along Texas’ I‑35 corridor, and known Hill Country terrain effects. Figures are presented as ranges to avoid false precision and should be validated against the latest ACS, FCC Broadband Data Collection maps, and carrier coverage tools for project-critical decisions.

Social media usage in Comal County, TX (2025 snapshot)

Overall user stats

• Adults using at least one social platform: about 70–75% of residents 18+ (modeled estimate).
• Daily social users: about 55–60% of adults; mobile-first, with evening peaks after work/school.

Age patterns (share using any social; platform lean)

• 18–29: 90–95%; Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube.
• 30–49: 85–90%; Facebook, YouTube, Instagram; Reels/Shorts growing fast.
• 50–64: 70–80%; Facebook, YouTube, some Nextdoor and Pinterest.
• 65+: 55–65%; Facebook and YouTube; strong Nextdoor for neighborhood updates. Note: Comal skews older than Texas overall, nudging usage toward Facebook/YouTube and Nextdoor vs TikTok/Snapchat.

Gender breakdown (tendencies among platform users)

• Women: overindexed on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Nextdoor (roughly 55–60% of FB/IG users; 70–80% of Pinterest; ~60% Nextdoor).
• Men: overindexed on YouTube, Reddit, X/Twitter (YouTube ~55–60% men; Reddit ~70% men; X ~60% men).
• County population is roughly balanced by gender, so platform differences are behavioral, not demographic size.

Most-used platforms in Comal County (estimated adult reach)

• YouTube: 78–82% (about half use daily).
• Facebook: 64–70% (50–60% daily; Groups/Marketplace dominant).
• Instagram: 38–45% (30–35% daily; Reels strong in 18–44).
• Nextdoor: 22–28% (15–20% daily/near-daily; higher than national due to homeownership/HOAs).
• TikTok: 25–30% (20–25% daily; concentrated under 35).
• Snapchat: 22–27% (15–20% daily; teens/young adults).
• Pinterest: 28–35% (weekly use common; female skew).
• LinkedIn: 24–30% (monthly; commuters/professionals).
• X/Twitter: 18–22% (10–12% daily; news/sports/politics).
• Reddit: 14–18% (weekly; tech/outdoors/hobby niches).
• WhatsApp: 20–26% (daily among family/community, esp. bilingual/Hispanic households).

Behavioral trends to know

• Hyperlocal: Facebook Groups, Marketplace, school/league pages, and Nextdoor drive community conversation and commerce.
• Public safety/weather spikes: High engagement with city/county, EMS, wildfire/flood updates.
• Seasonality: Summer river/lake content (Guadalupe/Comal) and fall events (e.g., Wurstfest) lift IG/TikTok and local search.
• Video-first: Short-form video outperforms static for food, events, real estate, and outdoor recreation.
• Commute-driven usage: Evening and weekend engagement peaks; lunchtime micro-bursts.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp widely used for business inquiries and group coordination.
• Language: English-dominant, with meaningful Spanish usage on Facebook/WhatsApp; bilingual posts broaden reach.

Notes on method and sources

• Percentages are modeled from Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. platform adoption and frequency, adjusted for Comal County’s older age mix, suburban/homeowner profile, and broadband access using recent ACS demographics. Treat figures as directional ranges rather than exact counts. Sources: Pew Research Center (2024 Social Media Use), U.S. Census Bureau ACS (latest available), platform audience tools.