Williamsburg City County

Note: In Virginia, Williamsburg is an independent city (a county-equivalent for federal statistics). Figures below refer to Williamsburg city, VA.

Population size

• 15,425 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age (2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates)

• Median age: ~23 years
• Under 18: ~6%
• 18–24: ~49–50%
• 25–44: ~18%
• 45–64: ~12%
• 65+: ~14%

Gender (2019–2023 ACS)

• Female: ~53%
• Male: ~47%

Racial/ethnic composition (2019–2023 ACS; Hispanic is any race)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~64%
• Black or African American: ~16%
• Asian: ~7%
• Hispanic/Latino: ~9%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Other (including American Indian/Alaska Native, NHPI): ~1%

Household data (2019–2023 ACS)

• Households: ~4,800
• Family households: ~48% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~52%
• Average household size: ~2.2
• Average family size: ~2.9
• Group quarters population (e.g., dorms): roughly one-third of residents, reflecting the large college population

Key insight

• Williamsburg’s demographics are dominated by college students, producing a very young age profile, a high share living in group quarters, and a larger proportion of nonfamily households than typical communities.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Williamsburg City County, VA (county-equivalent independent city; 2023 pop ≈15,590; density ≈1,700/sq mi)

Estimated email users (adults 18+): ≈13,500 (≈95% of adults). Age distribution of email users (est. counts, share of adult users):

• 18–24: ≈6,900 (≈51%) — driven by the College of William & Mary student population
• 25–44: ≈2,400 (≈18%)
• 45–64: ≈2,150 (≈16%)
• 65+: ≈2,000 (≈15%)

Gender split among email users: ≈52% female, 48% male, mirroring local demographics.

Digital access and trends:

• ≈93% of households have a computer; ≈89% have a home broadband subscription (ACS-based local estimates).
• ≈15% of households are smartphone-only for internet access, reflecting a sizable student presence.
• Public and institutional connectivity is strong (libraries, municipal facilities, and extensive campus Wi‑Fi), supporting near-universal email adoption among young adults and high usage among seniors.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Compact city with concentrated residential and campus areas supports robust fixed-broadband coverage and broad 4G/5G mobile service from national carriers, enabling reliable, frequent email use across most of the city.

Mobile phone usage in Williamsburg (independent city), Virginia — 2025 snapshot

Market size and user estimates

• Resident base: 15.4k people (2020 Census). Williamsburg’s median age is about 24 (vs ~39 statewide), reflecting the College of William & Mary’s presence.
• Estimated resident smartphone users: 13.4k–14.1k
  • Basis: adult smartphone adoption ~90–93% (higher for 18–29); teen adoption >90%; Williamsburg’s age mix is skewed heavily to 18–24.
• Active lines per resident are elevated (multiple SIMs/eSIMs, wearables, hotspots), so total resident mobile lines likely exceed population (line-to-population ratio ~105–120%).
• Student footprint: William & Mary’s enrollment (~9–10k total) drives seasonal surges in device density, app usage, and 5G load near campus and downtown.

Demographic usage profile (how Williamsburg differs from Virginia)

• Age
  • 18–24 share is far higher than the state average. Smartphone ownership in this cohort exceeds 95%, with heavier daily screen time, app installs, and data consumption than older groups.
  • 65+ share is smaller than statewide; the local impact of lower-senior smartphone adoption is muted compared with Virginia overall.
• Platform and devices
  • iOS share is higher than the Virginia average due to student dominance. Estimates:
    • Overall adults: iOS ~65–70%, Android ~30–35%
    • Ages 18–24: iOS 80%+
  • eSIM uptake is higher (international students and frequent device churn).
  • Wearables (cellular watches) and secondary lines are more common than statewide norms.
• Plans and spending
  • Unlimited data plans dominate among students and young professionals; prepaid and value MVNOs (Visible, Metro, Cricket, Google Fi) have above-average share versus the Virginia average because of price sensitivity and short-term residency.
  • International calling/messaging (e.g., WhatsApp) and short-term eSIM plans see elevated use.
• Data consumption
  • Estimated monthly mobile data per smartphone: 22–30 GB (vs ~17–22 GB statewide), with higher peaks around the academic calendar and events. Wi‑Fi offload is also substantial due to campus and hospitality networks.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage and radio access
  • All three national operators (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) provide citywide 5G, with low‑band for coverage and mid‑band for capacity:
    • T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz (n41) mid‑band widely present
    • Verizon C‑band (3.7 GHz) active across the area
    • AT&T 3.45 GHz/C‑band footprint plus Band 14 (FirstNet) for public safety
  • 4G LTE remains universal fallback, with carrier aggregation in busy corridors.
• Speeds and capacity
  • Typical outdoor 5G median downloads in town: roughly 100–200 Mbps, with higher peaks near campus and along primary arterials; indoor speeds vary with building materials (historic brick can attenuate signal).
  • Capacity is strengthened by mid‑band 5G density over a small geographic area and fiber backhaul to macro sites serving campus/downtown corridors.
• Small cells and venues
  • Denser small‑cell and sectorized coverage around the William & Mary campus, Merchants Square, Richmond Rd/University corridors, and shopping areas than the Virginia average for a locality of this size.
  • Venue Wi‑Fi (campus eduroam and hospitality/retail) meaningfully offloads traffic during peak hours and events.
• Public safety and resilience
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) is available; priority and preemption support emergency services. Carriers have hardened sites along evacuation/transport routes (I‑64, VA‑199).
• Coverage pain points
  • Conservation and historic areas (Colonial National Historical Park/Colonial Parkway, Jamestown Island vicinity) can show sparser macro coverage and lower throughput.
  • Some older, thick‑walled buildings downtown benefit from Wi‑Fi calling for consistent indoor service.

Key ways Williamsburg differs from the state average

• Much younger user base drives:
  • Higher smartphone and iOS penetration
  • Greater monthly mobile data usage and more unlimited plans
  • Higher adoption of eSIM, international messaging, and secondary devices
• Network experience skews faster in core areas due to concentrated mid‑band 5G and small‑cell density over a compact footprint, though parklands create more pronounced localized dead zones than typical urban Virginia.
• Prepaid/MVNO share is higher than statewide norms because of student-driven price sensitivity and shorter plan tenures.
• Wi‑Fi offload is above average thanks to campus and dense hospitality networks, influencing when and where cellular networks peak.

Quantified takeaway

• Resident smartphone users: 13.4k–14.1k
• iOS share: 65–70% overall; 80%+ among 18–24
• Typical 5G median speeds in town: 100–200 Mbps outdoors, lower indoors without Wi‑Fi calling
• Monthly mobile data per smartphone: 22–30 GB (vs 17–22 GB statewide)
• Plan mix: majority unlimited; prepaid/MVNO materially above the state share

Implications

• Capacity planning should prioritize mid‑band 5G and small cells near campus, downtown, and event venues, plus indoor solutions for historic structures.
• Retail mix that emphasizes student‑friendly unlimited plans, eSIM activation, and international options will outperform state-average product strategies.
• Public information should continue to steer users toward Wi‑Fi calling in historic buildings and set expectations for service variability in protected park areas.

Williamsburg, VA social media snapshot (2025)

Overall usage

• Residents using at least one social platform (13+): ~85%
• Daily social media users (13+): ~70%
• Device mix: ~95% primarily mobile; short‑form vertical video is the dominant format

Age-group usage (share of residents in each group who use social media)

• 13–17: ~92%
• 18–24: ~96% (college-driven)
• 25–34: ~90%
• 35–49: ~82%
• 50–64: ~72%
• 65+: ~56%

Gender breakdown

• Users by gender: ~52% women, ~48% men
• Platform skews:
  • Women: higher on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
  • Men: higher on YouTube, Reddit, X (Twitter), LinkedIn

Most-used platforms in Williamsburg (share of residents 13+ who use the platform)

• YouTube: ~85%
• Facebook: ~65%
• Instagram: ~55%
• TikTok: ~45%
• Snapchat: ~40%
• Pinterest: ~31%
• LinkedIn: ~28%
• Reddit: ~22%
• X (Twitter): ~21%
• Nextdoor: ~18%

Behavioral trends to know

• Student-centric patterns: Extremely high 18–24 activity elevates Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat usage; heavy Stories/Reels, campus groups, and peer-to-peer discovery of events, housing, and student services.
• Local information flows: Facebook Groups and Nextdoor are key for neighborhood updates, city services, school/PTA and HOA chatter; Facebook Marketplace widely used for furniture, bikes, and short-term student moves.
• Hospitality and tourism content: Strong engagement with Instagram Reels and TikTok showcasing Colonial Williamsburg, food/coffee, live music, and seasonal events; UGC and creator collabs influence dining and attractions.
• News and civic engagement: Facebook Groups and Reddit threads drive local news discussion, city council items, road/parking updates, and university-related issues.
• Work and careers: LinkedIn is active around William & Mary recruiting cycles, internships, and regional employers; YouTube used for how‑to and professional learning.
• Timing: Peaks evenings (8–11 pm) and weekends; campus calendar (move-in, Homecoming, Commencement) produces sharp engagement spikes.

Notes

• Figures are 2025 estimates for Williamsburg’s resident population 13+, derived by applying the latest Pew Research Center social platform adoption rates (2024–2025) to the city’s age profile; percentages are rounded for clarity.