Frederick County

Here are concise, recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics for Frederick County, Virginia (county only; excludes the independent City of Winchester). Data vintages noted.

Population

• Total population: 91,419 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~95,000 (Census Population Estimates Program)

Age

• Median age: ~41 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~23% (ACS 2018–2022)
• 65 and over: ~17% (ACS 2018–2022)

Sex

• Female: ~50.5% (ACS 2018–2022)
• Male: ~49.5% (ACS 2018–2022)

Race and ethnicity (shares; ACS 2018–2022)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~79–80%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9–10%
• Black or African American: ~5%
• Asian: ~2%
• Two or more races: ~5%
• Other (including American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander): ~1%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~35,000
• Average household size: ~2.7
• Family households: ~72% of households
• Married-couple families: ~57% of households
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~76%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (2023).

Frederick County, Virginia (excludes City of Winchester) has roughly 95,000 residents. Using Pew Research’s ~90–92% email adoption among U.S. adults and typical age structure, an estimated 65,000–70,000 county residents use email.

Age distribution (usage rates, applying national benchmarks locally):

• 18–29: ~95%
• 30–49: ~95%
• 50–64: ~90%
• 65+: ~85% Use remains nearly universal under 65, with a modest drop among seniors.

Gender split: Roughly even (men and women show negligible differences in email use in national surveys).

Digital access and connectivity:

• ACS data indicate high device and broadband adoption; about 85–90% of households subscribe to broadband, and >90% have a computer/smartphone.
• Smartphone‑only internet households are roughly 10–15%, which can shift email to mobile.
• FCC maps show strong cable/fiber along the I‑81/Winchester suburban corridor; rural western/northern areas rely more on DSL, fixed‑wireless, or satellite.
• Outdoor 4G/5G coverage is widespread; fixed broadband speeds/choices diminish in lower‑density areas.

Local density/context: Population density is roughly 200–230 people per square mile; growth clusters near Winchester and major highways, which correlates with better fixed broadband and higher email engagement.

Sources: Pew Research Center, U.S. Census Bureau (ACS), FCC broadband maps.

Below is a county-level overview built from publicly available patterns (Pew Research Center on device ownership, CDC/NCHS “wireless-only” household data, FCC Broadband Map trends through 2024) and typical demographics for Frederick County, VA. Because official, county-specific mobile adoption counts aren’t published, the figures are modeled estimates; ranges reflect reasonable assumptions from those sources. Winchester is an independent city and not included except where noted, though it influences coverage and traffic.

Topline user estimates (Frederick County)

• Population baseline: roughly 95,000–105,000 residents; about 75–77% are adults (18+).
• Smartphone users: about 70,000–80,000 residents
  • Adults: 64,000–73,000 (assumes 88–92% adult smartphone ownership)
  • Teens (13–17): ~6,000–7,000 (smartphone ownership ~95%)
• Adults living in wireless-only (no landline) households: roughly 50,000–55,000
  • Rationale: wireless-only share in exurban/rural counties tends to be slightly above the U.S. average (high-60s to low-70s percent of adults), and above Virginia’s denser metro-heavy average.

How Frederick County differs from Virginia overall

• Higher reliance on mobile as primary voice and, increasingly, as primary home internet:
  • Wireless-only households and cellular fixed wireless access (FWA) penetration are both higher than the statewide average, reflecting more exurban/rural areas and pockets with limited or costly wired broadband.
• Coverage variability is more topography-driven:
  • Strong 5G/4G along I-81/US-11, VA-7, and US-50 corridors and around denser subdivisions; more 4G-only or weak-signal pockets toward the George Washington National Forest and in hollows/ridges—issues that matter less in flatter, denser parts of eastern Virginia.
• Daytime network load skews to freight and commuters:
  • The I-81 freight corridor, warehousing/logistics, and out-commuting toward Northern Virginia produce time-of-day and corridor-centric capacity spikes that are less pronounced in many Virginia metros.
• Slightly lower senior smartphone adoption than the state average:
  • The county’s older age mix means a somewhat bigger gap in 65+ ownership and proficiency relative to Virginia’s Northern Virginia-led baseline.
• Prepaid and budget plans likely above the state share:
  • Exurban/rural markets typically show higher prepaid/MVNO use than Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

Demographic usage patterns (modeled)

• Age
  • 18–34: Near-universal smartphone use; heavy app/social/video; higher use of mobile payments and navigation for commuting.
  • 35–64: High smartphone ownership; strong reliance on mobile for work coordination (construction, trades, logistics, healthcare).
  • 65+: Ownership lags younger groups; texting, video calling, and telehealth are key use cases. Device upgrade cycles are longer than the state average.
• Income and plan type
  • Greater use of prepaid/MVNO offerings (e.g., Straight Talk, Visible, Cricket, Metro) compared with Virginia’s metro cores; family plans still common in newer subdivisions.
  • Hotspotting and cellular FWA used to bridge gaps or avoid high wired costs, more than statewide.
• Race/ethnicity and language
  • Hispanic households often show higher mobile-only reliance (voice and data) than non-Hispanic White households; this pattern likely holds locally and is more pronounced than in affluent Northern Virginia suburbs.
• Work patterns
  • Logistics, distribution, manufacturing, and field services boost demand for reliable corridor coverage, rugged devices, ELD/telematics, and dispatch apps.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Macro coverage
  • All three nationals (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) provide 4G LTE countywide with strongest service along I-81/US-11, VA-7, and US-50, plus around schools, hospitals, and retail nodes.
  • Mid-band 5G (T-Mobile 2.5 GHz; Verizon/AT&T C-band) is common in and around high-density corridors and newer subdivisions; mmWave is limited to select small cells (if any) near dense retail or venues.
  • Western and northwestern fringes show terrain-limited zones where service falls back to LTE or weak indoor coverage—more common than in much of eastern Virginia.
• Backhaul and fiber
  • Regional fiber follows the I-81 spine; multiple carriers provide backhaul into Winchester and adjacent growth areas, improving 5G capacity near the corridor.
• Fixed broadband interplay
  • Cable and fiber are strong in and around denser neighborhoods; outside of those, DSL or no wired option persists, raising reliance on:
    • T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Verizon 5G/LTE Home in many serviceable zones
    • Starlink and other satellite options in harder-to-serve pockets
  • This mix pushes a higher share of households to treat mobile as their primary or backup home internet compared to the Virginia average.
• Public safety
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage generally tracks the major corridors and population centers; volunteer fire/EMS and sheriff’s coverage needs keep pressure on fill-in sites and in-building solutions at schools and public facilities.
• Infrastructure development
  • New or upgraded monopoles and small-cell infill prioritize commuter arteries and growth subdivisions; co-location on existing structures is common to reduce permitting times.

Trends to watch

• Continued growth of cellular FWA where fiber buildouts lag, sustaining above-state mobile reliance.
• Capacity upgrades along I-81/US-11 to manage freight, telematics, and commuter peaks.
• Gradual improvement in indoor coverage in new construction via C-band/2.5 GHz and Wi‑Fi calling; some valleys will still need additional sites or repeaters.
• Digital inclusion efforts targeted at seniors and lower-income households, aiming to narrow the gap in advanced smartphone use and telehealth readiness.

Method notes and caveats

• Estimates use county population ranges, typical age shares, Pew smartphone ownership (adults ~90%; teens ~95%), and CDC/NCHS wireless-only household shares adjusted slightly upward for exurban/rural characteristics. Exact counts would require carrier data or a county survey.

Below is a concise, county-focused snapshot using the latest available U.S./Virginia patterns applied to Frederick County’s population. Exact, county-only platform stats aren’t publicly reported; figures are best-available estimates with reasonable ranges.

Quick snapshot

• Population baseline: ~96,000 residents; ~74,000 adults (18+).
• Adults using at least one social platform: ~80–85% (≈59k–63k adults).
• Daily social users: ~60–65% of adults (≈44k–48k).

Most-used platforms (adult penetration; local estimates)

• YouTube: ~80–85% of adults (≈60k+)
• Facebook: ~65–70% (≈48–52k)
• Instagram: ~45–50% (≈33–37k)
• Pinterest: ~30–35% (≈22–26k)
• TikTok: ~30–35% (≈22–26k)
• Snapchat: ~28–32% (≈21–24k)
• LinkedIn: ~28–32% (≈21–24k)
• WhatsApp: ~27–30% (≈20–22k)
• X (Twitter): ~20–23% (≈15–17k)
• Reddit: ~20–23% (≈15–17k)
• Nextdoor: ~18–20% (≈13–15k; higher in HOA/subdivision neighborhoods)

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): 90%+ use at least one platform. Heavy on TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; minimal Facebook.
• 18–29: ~95%+ on social. Top: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat; Reddit/X for news/sports/gaming.
• 30–49: ~85–90%. Top: Facebook (Groups, Marketplace), Instagram, YouTube; rising TikTok/Reels; Nextdoor in family neighborhoods.
• 50–64: ~75–80%. Top: Facebook and YouTube; Pinterest strong (especially among women); Nextdoor for HOA/safety.
• 65+: ~50–60%. Facebook most common; YouTube for how-tos/church streams; some Nextdoor; lower Instagram/TikTok.

Gender breakdown (tendencies)

• Overall usage is near even M/F.
• Women: more likely daily on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; strong engagement with school, faith, parenting, buy/sell groups.
• Men: more likely on YouTube, Reddit, X; higher engagement with local politics, sports, tech, autos/outdoors.
• Messaging: Women favor Messenger and group chats for coordination; Men skew to Discord/Reddit chat for hobbies/gaming.

Notable behavioral trends in Frederick County

• Community info flows through Facebook Groups and Nextdoor: school closings, I‑81 traffic, weather alerts, lost/found pets, neighborhood watch. Facebook Events is the default for local happenings (markets, youth sports, festivals).
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace and local “yard sale” groups are very active (furniture, tools, farm/outdoor gear). Instagram drives discovery for boutiques, salons, and eateries; posts often cross-shared to Facebook.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for tutorials, product research, and local church/organization streams; Reels/Shorts/TikTok for quick local highlights (restaurants, hiking, wineries).
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (commute/school run), lunch, and evenings; weather/school announcements create sharp, short spikes.
• Civic chatter: County services, schools, and local elections are discussed mostly in Facebook Groups; tone can polarize around growth, taxes, and development.
• Advertising response: Offers, giveaways, and event promos perform well; effective geo-targeting clusters around Winchester/Stephens City corridors and major retail nodes.

Method and sources

• Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2023 estimates (applied to Frederick County, VA).
• Platform/user rates: Pew Research Center Social Media Use (2023–2024) and similar national/Virginia benchmarks, applied proportionally to local adult population. Actual local rates may vary by ±5–10 points depending on neighborhood broadband and demographics.