Fredericksburg City County

Here are concise, high-level demographics for Fredericksburg city, Virginia (independent city; county‑equivalent). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019–2023 5‑year estimates (rounded).

• Population: ~29,800
• Age:
  • Median age: ~30
  • Under 18: ~18%
  • 65 and over: ~11–12%
• Sex:
  • Female: ~53%
  • Male: ~47%
• Race/ethnicity (share of total population):
  • White (non‑Hispanic): ~50%
  • Black or African American (non‑Hispanic): ~21%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~14%
  • Asian (non‑Hispanic): ~3–4%
  • Two or more races (non‑Hispanic): ~8–9%
  • Other (incl. Some Other Race, AIAN, NHPI): ~2–3%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~11,900
  • Average household size: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~52% of households
  • Married‑couple families: ~30% of households
  • Tenure: ~42% owner‑occupied, ~58% renter‑occupied
  • Households with children under 18: ~27%

Fredericksburg city (county‑equivalent), VA — email usage snapshot

• Population baseline: ~29,000 residents; ~22,500 adults.
• Estimated email users: ≈21,000 adults (assumes 92–95% of adults use email, in line with U.S. patterns; teens add a modest additional share).
• Age pattern (expected, vs. U.S. norms):
  • 18–29: ~98% use email
  • 30–49: ~96%
  • 50–64: ~92%
  • 65+: ~85% With a relatively young median age and the University of Mary Washington in town, usage skews high among under‑50s.
• Gender split: roughly even (no meaningful male/female gap in email adoption).
• Digital access trends:
  • Most households have a broadband subscription; a noticeable minority rely on smartphone‑only internet.
  • Strong 4G/5G coverage along the I‑95 corridor supports heavy mobile email use.
  • Public access: Central Rappahannock Regional Library branches and the university provide free Wi‑Fi/computers, helping close access gaps.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Compact city (~10.4 sq mi) with ~2,800 people per sq mi, aiding broadband build‑out.
  • Multiple fixed‑broadband options are typically available at urban addresses; speeds of 100+ Mbps are common in the core.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Fredericksburg City (independent city), Virginia

High-level takeaways vs the Virginia average

• Higher smartphone adoption and 5G use than the state overall, driven by a younger, urban population, the University of Mary Washington, and the I‑95 corridor.
• Faster median mobile speeds and denser 5G mid‑band coverage than most of Virginia outside Northern Virginia/Richmond.
• Lower share of “mobile-only” households than the statewide average due to good cable/fiber availability in the city, but heavier daytime/mobile dependence from commuters, students, and tourists.

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, based on ACS-style population, Pew-like adoption rates, and FCC coverage patterns as of 2024)

• Population base: roughly 30–32k residents; daytime population rises with commuters, hospital traffic, courts, and university activity.
• Smartphone ownership:
  • Adults: 90–95% own smartphones in Fredericksburg (a few points above the VA average), implying roughly 23k–27k adult smartphone users.
  • Teens (13–17): 85–95% adoption; adds ~2k–3k users.
  • Total resident smartphone users: approximately 25k–30k.
• Platform mix: iOS 58–65%; Android 35–42% (skews slightly more iOS than the VA average, but below Northern Virginia).
• Plan types:
  • Postpaid major-carrier lines remain the majority.
  • MVNO/prepaid share is somewhat higher than the VA average (estimate 20–25% of lines) due to students, young renters, and budget-sensitive households; Visible/Mint/Cricket/Metro are common.
• Use patterns:
  • Above‑average video/social streaming and mobile payments; strong use of messaging apps (iMessage, WhatsApp) among student and multilingual households.
  • Heavier peak-hour mobile data on weekdays along I‑95 and Route 3 due to commuting and delivery/ride‑hail activity.

Demographic factors that shape usage (how Fredericksburg differs from VA)

• Age mix: Larger 18–34 cohort (college + young professionals) than the state, raising overall smartphone and 5G adoption and eSIM uptake.
• Income/tenure: Median household income below the statewide median; more renters—this lifts MVNO adoption and month‑to‑month plans relative to the state.
• Race/ethnicity: A somewhat higher share of Black residents and a comparable or slightly higher Hispanic share than the VA average; bilingual usage is visible in app choices and content, but ownership rates are high across groups.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Carrier footprints:
  • Verizon, AT&T, and T‑Mobile all provide 4G LTE and 5G in the city; coverage is strongest along I‑95, Route 3/Plank Rd, and the downtown/UMW corridor.
  • T‑Mobile mid‑band 5G (“UC”) and Verizon C‑Band 5G are broadly present; AT&T low/mid‑band 5G is common.
• Typical outdoor performance (directional ranges; varies by block and load):
  • T‑Mobile 5G mid‑band: ~200–500 Mbps down, strong along I‑95/downtown.
  • Verizon C‑Band: ~100–300 Mbps down; stronger near commercial corridors; very good LTE fallback.
  • AT&T 5G/LTE: ~50–150 Mbps down; FirstNet available to public safety.
  • These ranges are generally higher than statewide medians, except when compared to Northern Virginia hot spots.
• Indoors and gaps:
  • Historic brick buildings downtown can attenuate signals; some venues use small cells or Wi‑Fi calling.
  • Riverfront parks, wooded areas near the battlefield parks, and building interiors with heavy masonry can see LTE/5G edges and capacity dips during events.
• Small cells/backhaul:
  • Small‑cell nodes and upgraded sectors are concentrated downtown, by UMW, medical centers, and along retail stretches of Route 3.
  • C‑Band/mid‑band upgrades since 2022 leverage fiber backhaul from regional providers; this underpins the city’s above‑average 5G speeds versus much of Virginia.
• Public and campus connectivity:
  • Robust campus Wi‑Fi at UMW and public Wi‑Fi at libraries and civic buildings reduce indoor mobile data demand.
  • Businesses downtown widely use mobile POS on LTE/5G, boosting daytime traffic.
• Fixed broadband context (why mobile‑only is lower than VA average):
  • Cable and fiber are widely available in-city, so many households offload to Wi‑Fi at home; rural parts of Virginia without comparable fixed service drive the state’s higher mobile‑only share.

Behavioral trends to watch

• Network load spikes tied to I‑95 incidents, university calendar, festivals, and tourism weekends can briefly depress speeds despite strong baseline coverage.
• eSIM adoption and line‑shifting (e.g., Visible/Mint trials) are more common among students/young professionals than the state average.
• 5G as home‑internet backup is used by small businesses and remote workers; uptake is higher than in rural Virginia.

Implications

• Marketing: Youth‑heavy segments, MVNO value propositions, and iOS‑first campaigns will overperform versus VA averages.
• Capacity planning: Prioritize mid‑band 5G capacity and indoor solutions in the historic core, hospital/campus zones, and Route 3 retail.
• Digital equity: Even with good coverage, affordability (not just availability) drives plan choice; subsidy outreach and low‑cost plans can move the needle more than pure coverage enhancements.

Quick note on geography: Fredericksburg is an independent city (not a county). Figures below refer to Fredericksburg, VA.

At-a-glance user stats (modeled estimates)

• Population base: ~30,000 residents; ~24,000 adults (18+)
• Adult social media users: ~18,000–20,000 (about 75–82% of adults)
• Smartphone access: ~88–92% of adults

Age mix of social media users (share of users)

• 13–17: 7%
• 18–24: 20% (boosted by University of Mary Washington)
• 25–34: 21%
• 35–44: 17%
• 45–54: 13%
• 55–64: 11%
• 65+: 11%

Gender breakdown (share of users)

• Women: 52–55%
• Men: 45–48%
• Nonbinary/other: <1% self-identified in surveys

Most-used platforms in Fredericksburg (share of local social media users; ranges reflect uncertainty)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–70% (very strong among 35+; city news/groups)
• Instagram: 55–60% (skews <35; restaurants/shops/events)
• TikTok: 40–45% (students/young adults; food and local “things to do”)
• Snapchat: 35–40% (teens/college)
• Pinterest: 30–35% (DIY, home, wedding/event planning)
• LinkedIn: 25–30% (NoVA/DoD commuters, gov/contracting)
• X (Twitter): 18–22% (news, sports, transit/alerts)
• Reddit: 18–22% (regional subs; tech/gaming)
• Nextdoor: 15–20% (homeowners, neighborhood issues)

Behavioral trends to know

• Local discovery is visual and short-form: Instagram Reels/TikTok drive dining, coffee, boutiques, weekend plans; UGC and “top 5 in F’burg” lists perform.
• Facebook is the community hub: city and school updates, yard-sale groups, lost/found pets, and Marketplace; older residents rely on it for news and alerts.
• Students shape seasonality: more TikTok/Snap/Snap Map usage during UMW semesters; slight dip in summer.
• Commuter influence: Professionals tied to NoVA/DoD lean on LinkedIn and X; peak news/traffic check-ins around commute hours.
• Messaging-first service: DMs via Instagram/Messenger for reservations, quick questions, and customer service; fast replies matter.
• Peak engagement windows: Weeknights 7–10 pm, lunch (12–1), and weekend mornings for event content; weather/traffic spikes raise X/Facebook activity.
• Geo reach should extend beyond the city limits: Ads and content perform best with a 10–15 mile radius to capture Stafford/Spotsylvania audiences who frequent downtown.

Notes on methodology and confidence

• These are modeled local estimates derived from: Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. platform usage, DataReportal 2024 U.S. penetration, and ACS demographics for Fredericksburg, adjusted for the city’s younger median age and college population. Treat ranges as directional rather than exact point values.