Fauquier County

Here are current, high-level demographics for Fauquier County, Virginia (rounded; primarily from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates; population from 2023 Population Estimates Program):

• Population: ~73,000 (2023 est.)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~42
  • Under 18: ~23%
  • 18–64: ~60%
  • 65 and over: ~17%
• Sex:
  • Female: ~50–51%
  • Male: ~49–50%
• Race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic race plus Hispanic of any race):
  • White (non-Hispanic): ~74%
  • Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~7%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9–10%
  • Asian (non-Hispanic): ~2%
  • Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~6%
  • Other (incl. AIAN, NHPI, etc., non-Hispanic): ~1–2%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~26,500–27,000
  • Average household size: ~2.7–2.8
  • Family households: ~70–75% (married-couple families ~55–60%)
  • Tenure: ~80% owner-occupied, ~20% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 American Community Survey (5-year) and 2023 Population Estimates Program.

Fauquier County, VA snapshot (estimates)

• Population/density: ≈74,000 residents; ~110 people per sq. mile (largely rural with small towns like Warrenton).
• Estimated email users: ~52,000–58,000 (roughly 85–90% of residents age 15+ plus most secondary students).
• Age mix of email users (approx.):
  • 13–17: 5–7%
  • 18–34: 22–25%
  • 35–54: 36–40%
  • 55–64: 14–16%
  • 65+: 15–18%
• Gender split of users: ~51% female, 49% male (mirrors population).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: ~85–90%; 5–10% lack home internet; 10–15% are smartphone‑only.
  • Connectivity strongest in/around Warrenton, Bealeton, New Baltimore, and along US‑29/US‑17/US‑15; western/foothill areas more likely to rely on slower DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.
  • County‑wide 4G/LTE; 5G present on major corridors and in populated areas, with patchier coverage rurally.
  • Post‑2020, elevated telework persists (roughly mid‑teens to low‑20s percent of workers), reinforcing daily email use for work, schools, and services.
  • Libraries/schools provide public Wi‑Fi that supplements access for households without reliable broadband.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from U.S./Virginia adoption benchmarks applied to local ACS population patterns; actual counts vary by neighborhood and provider build‑out.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Fauquier County, Virginia (what stands out vs the statewide picture)

Headline differences from the Virginia average

• Coverage mix: Strong 4G/LTE along highways and town centers, but more dead zones and weaker indoor service in western/valley terrain than the state average. 5G mid‑band is spotty outside Warrenton/US‑29/US‑17 corridors; mmWave is essentially absent. In Virginia’s metros, mid‑band and even some mmWave are far more common.
• Adoption patterns: Smartphone adoption is high but slightly more age‑skewed than the state, with seniors lagging more than in NoVA/Hampton Roads. Conversely, higher household incomes drive multi‑line plans and hotspots where coverage exists.
• Access strategies: Above‑average reliance on Wi‑Fi calling, signal boosters, and carrier fixed‑wireless (LTE/5G Home Internet) in rural tracts, whereas Virginia’s urban users depend more on dense terrestrial broadband and small‑cell 5G.
• Daypart and corridor effects: Heavier commuter flows to Northern Virginia push peak mobile demand along US‑29/US‑17/I‑66 and in park‑and‑ride areas—creating sharper peak congestion than the statewide norm.
• Digital divide pockets: Despite high median income, unserved or under‑served rural pockets are more common than the state average, driving mobile‑only or mobile‑primary internet use above the Virginia mean in those areas.

User estimates (order‑of‑magnitude, methodology noted)

• Population base: About 73–75k residents.
• Adult smartphone users: Roughly 48k–53k adults (assumes ~88–90% smartphone ownership among adults, consistent with Pew/ACS patterns; slightly lower in the oldest cohorts).
• Teen users (13–17): About 4–5k, with very high smartphone access (90%+), concentrated around schools in Warrenton, Bealeton, and Marshall.
• Total individual mobile users: Approximately 52k–58k people use a mobile phone daily in the county.
• Mobile‑only internet households: Likely higher in rural tracts (roughly high‑teens percent) and closer to the state average in town centers; countywide share plausibly in the mid‑teens, versus low‑teens statewide. These figures vary by census tract and should be validated against the latest ACS microdata.

Demographic breakdown and usage nuances

• Age: Fauquier skews a bit older than the Virginia average. Seniors’ smartphone adoption is improving but remains a local gap vs statewide metro areas; many seniors rely on LTE phones, larger‑text UIs, and Wi‑Fi calling. Younger families in southern/eastern tracts report near‑universal teen smartphone access.
• Income: Median household income is above the state average. That supports higher rates of multi‑line family plans, connected wearables, in‑vehicle hotspots, and paid cloud services—when coverage allows.
• Race/ethnicity and language: The county is less diverse than Virginia overall. Spanish‑speaking households are concentrated in a few tracts (e.g., Bealeton area) and show higher prepaid and WhatsApp adoption than nearby higher‑density NOVA suburbs, reflecting both plan preferences and coverage economics.
• Work/commute: A large share of residents commute to Prince William/Fairfax/DC. Mobile data use spikes during morning/evening peaks along US‑29/US‑17/I‑66, with handoff performance most consistent on Verizon/AT&T where macro sites are denser; T‑Mobile’s performance varies by sector load and mid‑band reach.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Macro coverage
  • 4G/LTE: Near‑universal along primary corridors and in towns; coverage gaps persist in the Blue Ridge foothills, forested areas, and low‑density western tracts.
  • 5G: Low‑band is fairly broad but often LTE‑like in speed. Mid‑band (C‑band on Verizon/AT&T; n41 on T‑Mobile) is concentrated in and around Warrenton and major corridors; rural mid‑band is limited compared with Virginia metros. mmWave is negligible.
• Backhaul and fiber
  • Town centers (e.g., Warrenton) have cable/fiber backhaul that supports higher‑capacity cell sites.
  • Rural fiber builds (e.g., VATI/BEAD‑supported projects involving All Points Broadband and utilities) are expanding middle‑mile/last‑mile reach; as these complete, they enable carrier upgrades and small‑cell infill. Fauquier is part of regional rural‑fiber initiatives, which should improve both home broadband and cellular backhaul over 2024–2026.
• Fixed‑wireless/home internet
  • Verizon and T‑Mobile offer LTE/5G Home Internet where signal quality/backhaul permit—take‑up is higher in unserved/underserved tracts than the state average.
  • Satellite (Starlink, Viasat, HughesNet) and outdoor CPE are common rural stopgaps; many households use Wi‑Fi calling indoors due to weak cellular.
• Public safety and resilience
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) coverage has expanded on key sites for fire/rescue and law enforcement; however, terrain still creates dead spots requiring radio and cellular redundancy.
  • Event‑driven capacity (e.g., Great Meadow/Gold Cup) often requires temporary sector optimization; congestion during large events is more pronounced than in urban Virginia where small‑cell grids are denser.
• Siting and permitting
  • Tower spacing is wider than in metros, and local siting constraints/topography slow new macro builds. Small‑cell deployment is largely limited to town cores; suburban/hamlet areas rely on macros, leading to variable indoor coverage.

What to watch (2025–2027)

• Fiber reach into rural tracts will be the biggest multiplier for mobile quality (better backhaul enables more 5G mid‑band sectors and new sites).
• Additional C‑band/n41 overlays along US‑29/US‑17 should narrow the speed gap with state metros, but deep‑rural mid‑band will remain behind statewide averages.
• Fixed‑wireless adoption may plateau in town centers as cable/fiber expand, but remain elevated in low‑density areas compared to the Virginia norm.

Notes on methodology and uncertainty

• User counts are derived from county population estimates, typical adult/teen smartphone ownership rates observed in Pew/ACS/FCC reporting, and rural vs suburban adoption patterns. For precise planning, validate with the latest ACS 1‑year tables (device and internet access), the FCC National Broadband Map (carrier and technology by location), and carrier coverage maps/drive tests.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot for Fauquier County, VA. Because platforms don’t publish county-level usage, figures are modeled by applying current U.S. adult platform adoption rates (Pew Research Center, 2023–2024) to Fauquier’s estimated adult population. Use this as directional guidance and pair with platform ad tools for precise targeting.

Baseline

• Population: ~74,000 residents (2023 est.). Adults 18+: ~58,000 (≈78%).
• Method: Percentages below are adult adoption rates; counts are estimated adults in Fauquier using each platform.

Most-used platforms (adults)

• YouTube: 83% (48k adults)
• Facebook: 68% (39k)
• Instagram: 47% (27k)
• Pinterest: 35% (20k)
• TikTok: 33% (19k)
• Snapchat: 27% (16k)
• Also notable: LinkedIn 30% (17k), X/Twitter 22% (13k), WhatsApp 21% (12k), Reddit 22% (13k)

Age-group patterns (estimates based on national usage applied locally)

• Teens (13–17): Very high YouTube use (90%+); TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram are core daily apps; Facebook minimal except for school/teams.
• 18–29: Heavy Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; YouTube near-universal; Facebook present but secondary.
• 30–49: Facebook is the hub (groups, events, Marketplace); strong YouTube; Instagram rising (Reels); Pinterest popular for home, food, wedding/kid content.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; moderate Pinterest; lighter Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: Facebook for local news/family; YouTube for how‑to and news clips; limited Instagram/TikTok.

Gender tendencies (directional)

• Women: More likely to use Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (largest gap on Pinterest). Higher engagement with local events, schools/charities, Marketplace, home/lifestyle.
• Men: More likely to use YouTube, Reddit, X/Twitter. Higher engagement with sports, automotive, outdoor, local government/issues.

Local behavioral trends to expect in Fauquier

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups are central (town updates, schools/boosters, youth sports, equestrian/4‑H, road closures, HOAs). Event pages drive attendance for wineries, fairs, farmers markets, and festivals.
• Word‑of‑mouth > ads: Recommendations and neighbor posts in groups strongly influence choices for restaurants, home services, childcare, and trades.
• Marketplace and BST (buy/sell/trade): Active for furniture, yard/landscaping tools, farm/outdoor gear, and baby/kids items.
• Short‑form video wins: Reels/TikTok outperform static posts for local food/drink, real estate (property tours, drone clips), and attractions.
• Timing: Typical suburban/exurban pattern—engagement peaks before work (≈6:30–8:30 a.m.), after dinner (≈8–10 p.m.), and weekends for event content.
• Geography: Highest density and ad efficiency around Warrenton, Bealeton, New Baltimore/Vint Hill, Marshall; more rural areas benefit from broader radius targeting and cross‑posting to multiple groups.

Data notes and confidence

• Sources: Pew Research Center platform adoption (2023–2024); U.S. Census/ACS population structure. County-level platform shares are inferred, not directly observed.
• For campaign planning, validate with: Meta/Instagram Ad Manager reach estimates, YouTube/Google Ads location reach, Snapchat/TikTok location audiences, and Nextdoor neighborhood coverage.