Hill County Local Demographic Profile

Hill County, Texas — key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau)

Population

  • Total population: 2020 Census ~36.6k; 2023 estimate ~37k (modest growth)

Age

  • Median age: ~42 years (older than Texas overall)
  • Under 18: ~23%
  • 18–64: ~57–58%
  • 65 and over: ~20%

Gender

  • Female: ~50–51%
  • Male: ~49–50%

Race and ethnicity (Hispanic can be of any race)

  • Non-Hispanic White: ~63–65%
  • Hispanic or Latino: ~24–26%
  • Black or African American (NH): ~7%
  • Two or more races (NH): ~2–3%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native (NH): ~0.5–1%
  • Asian (NH): ~0.5–1%

Households and housing

  • Households: ~14–15k
  • Average household size: ~2.5 persons
  • Family households: ~65–68% of households
  • Married-couple families: ~48–50%
  • Households with children under 18: ~26–28%
  • One-person households: ~27–30% (about half of these age 65+)
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~70–75%

Notes

  • Figures reflect the 2020 Decennial Census and the 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates for detailed breakdowns. These indicate an older, majority non-Hispanic White county with a sizable Hispanic population, high homeownership, and predominantly family households.

Email Usage in Hill County

Hill County, TX (pop. ≈36,000; area ≈986 sq mi; density ≈36/sq mi) is predominantly rural, with connectivity concentrated around Hillsboro and Whitney and along the I‑35/US‑77 corridors.

Estimated email users: 24,500–26,000 (about 88–93% of adults; ≈70–73% of total population). Method: county age/sex structure from ACS applied to national email-use rates (Pew/NTIA).

Age distribution of email users (approximate counts):

  • 18–34: ~7,500
  • 35–54: ~9,000
  • 55–64: ~4,500
  • 65+: ~4,000

Gender split among email users: Female 51% (12.8k), Male 49% (12.2k); usage parity by gender.

Digital access trends (ACS/NTIA-based):

  • Households with internet subscription: ~78–82%, up ~4–6 points since 2019.
  • Device access (computer and/or smartphone): >90% of households.
  • Smartphone‑only internet: ~16–18%, reflecting rural reliance where fixed options are limited.
  • Senior (65+) connectivity has grown notably, narrowing the gap with mid‑age adults.

Local connectivity facts:

  • Fastest fixed broadband and fiber near towns; many outlying areas rely on DSL, fixed‑wireless, or satellite.
  • Mobile 4G/LTE covers most populated areas; 5G is present in/near Hillsboro. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS), Pew Research Center, NTIA Internet Use Survey, state broadband mapping.

Mobile Phone Usage in Hill County

Hill County, TX — mobile phone usage summary (2024 modeled estimates)

Headline numbers

  • Population: 36,700
  • Adult population (18+): 28,600
  • Mobile phone users (any cell phone): 30,300
  • Smartphone users: 26,100
  • Mobile-only internet households (use cellular as their only home internet): 2,540 (18% of ~14,100 households)

How these figures were derived

  • Demography based on recent Census estimates for Hill County and age structure typical of rural Central Texas.
  • Ownership rates grounded in recent national and Texas-rural benchmarks: adults with any mobile phone ≈95%; adult smartphone ownership ≈82%; teens (13–17) smartphone ownership ≈95%; children 5–12 with a phone ≈25%, with ~10% on smartphones.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

  • Age: Older than the Texas average
    • 65+ share: 21% (Texas ≈13–14%)
    • Effect: Slightly lower smartphone penetration than state urban counties; higher voice/SMS reliance among seniors; more basic and mid-range Android devices in use.
  • Race/ethnicity: Less diverse than Texas
    • Hispanic: 23% (Texas ≈40%)
    • Black: 7% (Texas ≈12%)
    • Non-Hispanic White: 67%
    • Effect: Language-access needs are lower than state average; device-financing uptake tracks income rather than multilingual service demand.
  • Income and education
    • Median household income: ~$57,000 (Texas ≈$73,000)
    • Effect: Higher prepaid/MVNO share and price-sensitive plan selection; slightly lower 5G handset penetration than state average but rising as older LTE devices are retired.

Digital infrastructure and performance

  • Coverage
    • 4G LTE population coverage: ~99%
    • 5G population coverage: ~90% (≈70% by land area), concentrated along the I-35 corridor (Hillsboro–Itasca–Abbott) and in/around towns such as Hillsboro, Whitney, Hubbard, and Covington.
    • Notable weak spots: Western lake terrain around Lake Whitney and some eastern ranchlands show signal variability and capacity constraints indoors.
  • Speeds (typical user experience)
    • County median mobile download: ~62 Mbps; upload: ~9 Mbps
    • Urbanized nodes on mid-band 5G (e.g., Hillsboro/I-35): 140–220 Mbps down, 15–30 Mbps up
    • Outlying low-band 5G/LTE areas: 10–40 Mbps down, 3–8 Mbps up
  • Capacity/backhaul
    • Robust fiber backbones parallel I-35 and major state routes; elsewhere, backhaul mixes fiber spurs with microwave, which caps peak throughput during busy hours in rural sectors.
  • Reliability
    • Highway corridors: low drop rates and strong VoLTE/VoNR support
    • Fringe areas: increased handoffs to low-band spectrum; indoor coverage depends on metal building construction and boosters/Wi‑Fi calling

User estimates and composition (2024)

  • Any-mobile users: ~30,300 (adults ~27,200; teens ~2,200; children 5–12 ~900)
  • Smartphone users: ~26,100 (adult smartphones ~23,500; teens ~2,200; children 5–12 ~400)
  • Plan mix
    • Prepaid/MVNO share: ~35% (Texas ≈28%)
    • Postpaid share: ~65%
    • Rationale: Lower incomes and credit constraints increase prepaid adoption; coverage parity improvements make MVNOs viable outside urban cores.
  • Mobile-only internet households: ~18% (Texas ≈12–13%)
    • Drivers: Patchy fixed broadband outside towns and competitive unlimited cellular plans; reliance peaks among renters and lower-income households.

Key ways Hill County differs from Texas overall

  • Older population skews ownership from “smartphone-only” toward mixed device use; adult smartphone penetration (~82%) trails metro Texas by 3–6 percentage points.
  • Higher prepaid/MVNO usage and lower device financing uptake relative to state average.
  • Greater mobile substitution for home internet (18% vs ~12–13% statewide), particularly outside the I‑35 corridor.
  • 5G coverage is widespread by population but more uneven by land area; county median speeds (~62 Mbps down) lag major Texas metros (often 90–120 Mbps).
  • Time-of-day congestion is more pronounced on sectors serving lake and highway recreation areas, with weekend peaks affecting upload performance.

Implications for stakeholders

  • Carriers: Capacity adds on mid-band 5G sectors around Hillsboro and along US‑77/State Highway 22 will yield outsized benefits; targeted low-band infill west of Whitney reduces dead zones.
  • Public sector: Mobile-centric digital inclusion programs (subsidized plans, signal boosters, and Wi‑Fi calling education) have higher ROI than device-only initiatives.
  • Businesses and healthcare: Prioritize SMS and low-bandwidth app design for rural users, and offer offline-capable features for areas with intermittent coverage.

Social Media Trends in Hill County

Social media usage in Hill County, Texas (2025 snapshot)

Scope and basis: Modeled local estimates built from the latest American Community Survey demographics and Pew Research Center’s 2024 social media adoption by platform and rural/age cohorts.

Population base

  • Total population ≈36,000; adults (18+) ≈27,500–28,000.

Overall usage (adults)

  • Active social media users: ~75–80% of adults (≈20.5k–22.5k people).
  • Daily users (any platform): ~60–65% of adults.
  • Smartphone access: ~85% of adults; home broadband: ~80% of households.

Most-used platforms (share of adults who use each; Hill County rural-adjusted)

  • YouTube ~78%
  • Facebook ~63%
  • Instagram ~38%
  • Pinterest ~28%
  • TikTok ~27%
  • Snapchat ~22%
  • X (Twitter) ~17%
  • LinkedIn ~14%
  • WhatsApp ~13%
  • Reddit ~13%
  • Nextdoor ~10% Top three by reach: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram.

Age-group adoption and platform patterns

  • 18–29: ~95% use at least one platform. YouTube ~95%, Instagram ~75%, Snapchat ~70%, TikTok ~65%, Facebook ~55%.
  • 30–49: ~88% any. Facebook ~75%, YouTube ~88%, Instagram ~50%, TikTok ~35–40%, Pinterest ~35%.
  • 50–64: ~73% any. Facebook ~65%, YouTube ~70%, Instagram ~30%, Pinterest ~28%, TikTok ~20%.
  • 65+: ~55% any. Facebook ~50%, YouTube ~55%, Instagram ~15–20%, TikTok ~10–12%.

Gender breakdown

  • Overall user base: ~51% female, ~49% male (reflects local adult mix).
  • Platform skews: Pinterest (strong female), Facebook (slight female), Instagram (slight female), YouTube/Reddit/X (slight male).

Behavioral trends observed in similar rural Texas counties and consistent locally

  • Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups (city/county, schools, churches), Marketplace, obituaries, local alerts, and high school sports. Trust is driven by known people and local businesses.
  • Video-first consumption: short-form video (Reels/TikTok) drives discovery; YouTube used for how‑to/DIY, agriculture/ranching, hunting/fishing, and auto repair.
  • Timing: engagement peaks 6–8 a.m., lunch hour, and 7–10 p.m.; weekends (Fri–Sun) run higher.
  • Messaging: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat dominate private sharing; many local conversations move off public feeds.
  • Commerce: Facebook Marketplace and page boosts outperform standard display ads; strong response to promotions tied to local events, giveaways, and limited-time offers.
  • Language/culture: Facebook and WhatsApp see higher use among Hispanic residents; bilingual posts lift reach.
  • Content that works: weather and utility updates, school news, local faces, community service posts, and practical tips outperform polished, generic creative.

Note: Figures are best-available local estimates derived from national platform adoption data adjusted for rural usage patterns and Hill County’s demographics.

Other Counties in Texas