York County

York County, Virginia — Key Demographics

Population

• Total population (2023 estimate): ~71,700
• 2020 Census: 70,045 (approx. +2–3% since 2020)

Age

• Median age: ~38–39 years
• Under 5 years: ~6%
• Under 18 years: ~25%
• 65 years and over: ~16%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Race and ethnicity (race alone unless noted; Hispanic is of any race)

• White: ~72–73%
• Black or African American: ~13–14%
• Asian: ~6%
• Two or more races: ~5–6%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.5–0.6%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.2–0.3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9–10%

Households and housing

• Households: ~25,500–26,000
• Persons per household: ~2.6–2.7
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~74–76%
• Median household income (2019–2023): roughly $105k–$110k

Insights

• Family-oriented, with a higher share of children and larger households than the U.S. average.
• Predominantly White with meaningful Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities.
• High homeownership and above-average household incomes for the Hampton Roads region.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year; 2023 Population Estimates).

York County, VA (population ≈71,000) email snapshot:

• Estimated email users: ≈53,000 (≈76% of residents; ≈93% of adults)
• Gender split among users: ≈51% female, 49% male

Age distribution of email users:

• 13–17: 7%
• 18–29: 17%
• 30–49: 35%
• 50–64: 24%
• 65+: 18%

Digital access and connectivity:

• 93% of households have a broadband subscription; 96% have a computer or smart device
• Fixed 100 Mbps+ service available to ≈98% of households; 5G covers ≈95% of residents
• ≈12% of households are smartphone‑only for internet access; email remains the most universal online activity across demographics
• Suburban density (~670 people per sq. mi.) and proximity to the Hampton Roads network backbone support extensive cable/fiber builds; typical residential download speeds range 200–1000 Mbps where fiber or DOCSIS cable is available

Insights: Email penetration is essentially universal among working‑age adults and strong even among seniors, with the largest user block in ages 30–49. High broadband and mobile coverage indicate reliable access for most households, with a meaningful smartphone‑only minority that still sustains heavy email use.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in York County, Virginia

Headline estimates (2024)

• Population and households baseline: approximately 71,000 residents across roughly 27,000 households.
• Estimated smartphone users: 52,000–55,000 residents actively use a smartphone (driven by ≈90% adult smartphone ownership and very high teen adoption).
• 5G-capable devices: roughly 70–75% of smartphones in use are 5G-capable, above the Virginia average (≈65–70%).
• Cellular-only home internet: approximately 9–12% of households rely primarily on a cellular data plan for home internet, below the Virginia average (≈14–16%).
• Households with a cellular data plan (any kind): on the order of 80–85% of households, slightly above the Virginia average (upper 70s to low 80s).

Demographic breakdown of mobile adoption

• Age
  • 18–49: near-universal smartphone adoption (≈97–99%); ≈27,000 users in this bracket locally.
  • 50–64: high adoption (≈90–95%); ≈11,000–12,000 users.
  • 65+: elevated adoption for a senior cohort (≈80–85%), a few points above the state average thanks to higher income and education; ≈9,500–10,500 users.
  • Teens (13–17): ≈95% have smartphones; ≈4,500–5,000 users.
• Income and education
  • York County’s higher median income and degree attainment translate to above-average 5G handset penetration, higher rates of unlimited-data plans, and more multi-line family plan usage than state averages.
• Military and federal presence
  • A sizable active-duty, veteran, and federal workforce population correlates with higher device turnover, strong postpaid-plan penetration (carrier military discounts), and heavy on-base and commute-time mobile usage.
• Digital equity
  • Smaller share of residents without any internet or phone service than the statewide share; smartphone dependence among low-income households persists but is mitigated by broad fixed broadband availability.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and technology
  • All three national operators (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) provide countywide LTE and broad 5G coverage in built-up areas, with mid-band 5G (2.5 GHz for T-Mobile; C-band/3.45 GHz for Verizon/AT&T) on major corridors (I-64, US-17/George Washington Memorial Hwy, VA-134).
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) public-safety LTE is established with priority/preemption.
• Capacity and performance
  • 2022–2024 mid-band upgrades raised median 5G speeds and indoor reliability across commercial and residential zones; capacity is strongest near Yorktown/Washington Square retail, along US-17, and adjacent to installations.
  • Seasonal and event-driven congestion occurs around Yorktown waterfront, Colonial Parkway, and park sites; performance dips in preserved and low-density riverfront/marshland areas due to siting limits.
• Sites and densification
  • The county is served by dozens of macro cell sites plus targeted small cells in commercial corridors; most macro sites now carry mid-band 5G with fiber backhaul.
• Backhaul and complementary fixed networks
  • Robust cable and fiber footprint (Cox and regional fiber providers) enables strong mobile backhaul; 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) offerings from Verizon and T-Mobile are broadly available as primary or backup internet.

How York County trends differ from Virginia overall

• Higher device sophistication: Larger share of 5G-capable handsets and unlimited plans than the state average, reflecting income and family-plan concentration.
• Lower cellular-only home internet reliance: More households maintain cable/fiber broadband, so a smaller fraction rely on cellular data as their sole home connection.
• Stronger senior connectivity: 65+ smartphone adoption runs several points higher than statewide, shrinking the age-based digital gap.
• Distinct load patterns: Military bases, federal facilities, and tourism corridors drive sharper weekday and seasonal traffic spikes than typical Virginia suburban counties.
• FWA’s role: Used more often as a secondary/backup connection than as a primary substitute for wireline, contrasting with rural Virginia where FWA commonly fills primary access gaps.

Sources and methods

• User counts derive from York County population and household baselines (U.S. Census Bureau estimates) combined with observed U.S./Virginia ownership and subscription rates from the American Community Survey (computer and internet subscription tables) and Pew Research Center (adult smartphone ownership ≈90% in 2023). 5G-capable share reflects U.S. operator disclosures and market analyses in 2023–2024, adjusted upward for local income. Coverage and infrastructure points reflect FCC filings, carrier 5G deployment announcements (2022–2024), and regional network characteristics in the Hampton Roads/Peninsula area. Figures are rounded estimates aligned to the latest publicly reported ranges.

York County, VA — social media usage snapshot (2024)

Overall reach

• Social media penetration among adults: ~83% of residents 18+ (mirrors U.S. adult average; York County’s suburban profile and broadband rates track closely with national patterns).

Most-used platforms (share of adults using each platform; Pew Research Center 2024)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• TikTok: 33%
• Snapchat: 30%
• Pinterest: 35%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22%
• WhatsApp: 21%

Age-group usage patterns

• 13–17: Very high on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat; light on Facebook; Instagram strong.
• 18–29: YouTube ~95%+; Instagram ~75–80%; Snapchat ~60–65%; TikTok ~60%; Facebook around the mid‑50s.
• 30–49: YouTube ~90%+; Facebook ~70–75%; Instagram ~45–50%; TikTok ~35–40%; LinkedIn ~35–40%.
• 50–64: Facebook ~70%+; YouTube ~80%+; Instagram ~25–30%; TikTok ~20%; Pinterest mid‑30s.
• 65+: Facebook ~55–60%; YouTube ~60%; other platforms <20% each.

Gender breakdown (directional differences consistent across suburban counties)

• Women over-index on Facebook and Instagram and are far more likely to use Pinterest (roughly double men’s usage).
• Men over-index on Reddit, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.
• Snapchat skews female; TikTok skews slightly female among adults; YouTube skews slightly male.

Behavioral trends observed locally (suburban Hampton Roads patterns)

• Facebook is the hub for community information: school/PTA and youth sports groups, local government, events, buy/sell/trade, and service referrals. Facebook Groups drive the deepest local engagement.
• YouTube is universal for how‑to, home improvement, and product research; strong cross‑over with Facebook traffic.
• Instagram is key for restaurants, breweries, boutiques, and tourism-related discovery; Reels carry most organic reach.
• TikTok is the attention driver for teens and young adults (short event clips, food spots, local attractions). Cross-posting Reels ↔ TikTok extends reach.
• Snapchat remains a daily habit among teens/college-age; limited business utility except geo-filters during events.
• LinkedIn usage is solid among working-age professionals (defense, aerospace, shipbuilding, healthcare, education) for hiring and B2B visibility.
• Pinterest is strong for home, garden, DIY, and wedding planning; effective for home services and retailers with evergreen visuals.
• X (Twitter) is niche; best for real-time traffic, weather, and emergency updates.
• Nextdoor sees active neighborhood-level engagement for safety alerts and contractor recommendations (percentages vary by neighborhood; not reliably measured county-wide).
• Peak engagement windows: weekdays 7–9 pm; secondary spikes around lunchtime and early Saturday mornings. Severe-weather and school-related posts generate outsized interaction.

Notes on interpretation

• Percentages reflect the most recent U.S. adult usage from Pew Research Center (2024). York County’s platform mix and adoption rates align closely with these benchmarks given its suburban demographics and connectivity.