Amherst County

Here are concise, recent demographics for Amherst County, Virginia.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates). Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

• Population size

  • Total population: 31,307 (2020 Census)
  • Latest ACS estimate: ~31,300 (2019–2023)

• Age (ACS 2019–2023)

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

• Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%

• Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023; mutually exclusive)

  • Non-Hispanic White: ~75%
  • Non-Hispanic Black: ~18%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~3–4%
  • Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3%
  • Asian (non-Hispanic): ~1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~0–1%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic): ~0%

• Households (ACS 2019–2023)

  • Total households: ~12,500–12,900
  • Average household size: ~2.4
  • Family households: ~67% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~24%
  • Housing tenure: ~76% owner-occupied, ~24% renter-occupied

Amherst County, VA (population ~31k) likely has 22–24k email users (about 75–80% of residents), combining ACS internet-access levels with Pew findings that most internet users use email.

Age distribution of email users (approx.):

• 13–17: 9%
• 18–34: 23%
• 35–64: 47%
• 65+: 21%

Gender split: County population is ~51% female/49% male; email adoption is near parity across genders.

Digital access trends:

• ~78–82% of households subscribe to home broadband
• ~85–90% have a computer or smartphone
• ~12–17% lack home internet
• ~10–12% are smartphone‑only users Home broadband adoption and speeds are gradually rising; mobile access helps bridge gaps, but affordability and rural last‑mile coverage remain constraints.

Density/connectivity context:

• Low population density (~65 residents per sq. mile) and hilly terrain increase per‑user network costs.
• Fixed broadband coverage is strongest in population centers and along main corridors, with sparser options in outlying areas.

Notes: Estimates synthesized from recent ACS Computer and Internet Use, FCC Broadband Map summaries, and Pew Research on email prevalence.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Amherst County, VA differs from statewide patterns mainly because it’s a small, largely rural county with older demographics and more variable coverage. Adoption is high but a bit below Virginia’s urban-driven averages; reliance on smartphones as the primary internet connection is notably higher; and 5G/performance gains are concentrated along a few corridors rather than countywide.

User estimates (orders of magnitude, based on rural-Virginia and ACS/Pew patterns adjusted for Amherst’s size and age mix)

• Population base: ~31–32k residents; ~24–25k adults (18+).
• Adult smartphone users: roughly 19k–22k (about 80–88% adult adoption; a few points lower than Virginia overall).
• Total smartphone users including teens: roughly 21k–24k.
• Smartphone-only internet households (no fixed broadband at home, rely on cellular): likely in the high teens to low 20s percent of households, several points higher than state average.
• Prepaid/MVNO share: elevated vs state (cost sensitivity and coverage-testing behavior lead more users to prepaid or multi-carrier setups).

Demographic breakdown (how Amherst differs from Virginia)

• Age: Older age structure depresses overall adoption. Among 65+, smartphone adoption likely 10–15 points lower than the Virginia average; among under-35, adoption is comparable to state levels.
• Income: Lower median household income than Virginia overall correlates with higher smartphone-only reliance and more prepaid plans.
• Race/ethnicity: Black and Hispanic residents are as likely as, or more likely than, White residents to rely on smartphones for primary internet access; overall county shares are small but smartphone-dependence within these groups is higher than the county average.
• Household composition: Single-adult and renter households show higher smartphone-only rates than owner-occupied households; this gap is wider than in urban Virginia.

Digital infrastructure and coverage patterns

• Coverage geography: Strongest along US-29 (Madison Heights–Amherst corridor) and into the Lynchburg fringe; patchier in foothills and near the Blue Ridge/George Washington National Forest where terrain limits line-of-sight.
• 5G: Sub‑6 GHz 5G from major carriers is present along main corridors and population centers; outside those, LTE remains the workhorse. Millimeter-wave 5G is unlikely.
• Carriers: Verizon and AT&T have the most consistent rural reach; T‑Mobile’s mid-band 5G has improved along primary roads but remains variable off-corridor.
• Capacity/backhaul: Sites on major corridors have better backhaul (fiber/microwave), supporting higher speeds; off-corridor sites may be capacity-constrained at peak times.
• Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T) improvements have added coverage in select areas, but terrain-related dead zones persist for handhelds.
• Alternatives/anchors: Schools, libraries, and county facilities play a bigger role as Wi‑Fi anchors; mobile hotspots are more common as a substitute for home broadband than in urban parts of the state.

Key ways Amherst diverges from Virginia overall

• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption, driven by an older age mix and rural geography.
• Higher smartphone-only internet reliance due to patchier fixed broadband and cost constraints.
• More prepaid/MVNO usage and multi-carrier strategies to cope with spotty coverage.
• 5G availability is corridor-centric; state averages are pulled up by dense urban markets (NoVA, Hampton Roads, Richmond) with broader and faster 5G.
• Greater day-to-day performance variability from terrain and lower tower density.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot. Amherst County does not publish platform-level usage, so figures are modeled from recent U.S. social media surveys (e.g., Pew) adjusted for the county’s older, rural profile. Treat as directional estimates.

Headline user stats

• Residents: ~31k; adult population ~24–25k.
• Adults using at least one social platform: ~18k–21k (≈ 72–82% of adults).
• Gender among social users: ~53% women, ~47% men (platform skews vary).

Age mix and adoption (share using any social)

• 18–29: ~90–95%
• 30–49: ~85–90%
• 50–64: ~70–75%
• 65+: ~55–60% Notes: Amherst skews older than the U.S. average, so overall penetration lands a bit below national levels.

Most-used platforms (share of adult social media users; monthly; modeled)

• YouTube: 80–85% (broadly used across all ages)
• Facebook: 70–75% (strongest in 35+; hub for local info)
• Instagram: 35–40% (younger and parents)
• TikTok: 25–30% (teens/20s; growing into 30s/40s)
• Pinterest: 25–30% (female-skew; recipes, crafts, home/yard)
• Snapchat: 20–25% (teens/college-age)
• WhatsApp: 15–20% (family comms, international ties)
• X/Twitter: 15–18% (news/sports niche)
• Reddit: 12–15% (male-leaning, hobby/tech/outdoors)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (lower in rural labor mix)
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (patchy neighborhood coverage; some use)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook Groups = the town square: school updates, youth sports, church/community events, yard sales, lost/found pets, local business promos, storm/road alerts.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for how-tos (home/auto, outdoors), high school sports highlights, local gov meetings; short-form (Reels/TikTok) for quick entertainment and local biz teasers.
• Messaging gravity: Facebook Messenger is common for coordinating family/community; Snapchat DMs among teens/young adults; WhatsApp in pockets with international or military ties.
• Shopping and services: Heavy use of local buy/sell/trade groups; event-driven spikes (festivals, school year, holidays); “DM to order” is common for home businesses.
• Trust local voices: Engagement favors content from known community members, schools, churches, coaches, and local agencies over polished brand creatives.
• Time-of-day peaks: Early morning (commute/coffee) and evening (post-dinner) see the most scroll time; midday bumps during school/work breaks.
• Platform choice by life stage:
  • Teens/college: Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube; Instagram for identity and sports/club updates.
  • 25–44: Facebook + Instagram dual use; Reels/TikTok for discovery; Pinterest for projects; marketplace for deals.
  • 45–64: Facebook dominant; YouTube for DIY and news; growing comfort with Reels/TikTok for entertainment.
  • 65+: Facebook and YouTube; emphasis on local news, community notices, and grandkid content.
• Event/weather-driven surges: Severe weather, school closures, and county announcements trigger spikes on Facebook and YouTube livestreams.

Notes and caveats

• Percentages reflect modeled estimates for Amherst County based on national platform rates adjusted for an older, rural population; exact local figures may vary by subcommunity and broadband availability.