Hancock County

Hancock County, West Virginia — key demographics

Population

• 2023 population estimate: ~27,900 (down from 29,095 in 2020)
• 2020 Census: 29,095

Age

• Median age: ~45.7 years
• Under 18: ~18%
• 18–64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (Hispanic can be of any race)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~91%
• Black or African American: ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Asian: ~0.4%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2%
• Other (incl. NHPI/Some other race): ~0.2%

Households and housing

• Total households: ~12,300
• Average household size: ~2.24
• Family households: ~60% of all households; married-couple households: ~48%
• Households with children under 18: ~24%
• Nonfamily households: ~40%; living alone: ~34% (about 14% age 65+ living alone)
• Housing units: ~13,800; occupancy: ~76% owner-occupied, ~24% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 Population Estimates Program for total population; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and household/housing). Insights: The county is experiencing gradual population decline, has an older age profile than the U.S. overall, is predominantly non-Hispanic White, and features small household sizes with high owner-occupancy.

Hancock County, WV (2023 est. pop. ~28.5k)

• Estimated email users: ~21,000 residents (≈74% of total; ≈83% of adults), derived from county population and national internet/email adoption rates.
• Age distribution (share of adults using email):
  • 18–29: ~96%
  • 30–49: ~97%
  • 50–64: ~93%
  • 65+: ~82%
  • Teens (13–17): ~85% use email; functional use is common for school/work sign‑ups.
• Gender split among email users: ≈51% female, 49% male (county is ~51% female; email adoption is essentially even by gender).
• Digital access trends:
  • ~84% of households have a broadband subscription; ~10% are mobile‑only; ~6% have no home internet.
  • Smartphone access is widespread and supports regular email checking; desktop/laptop access remains common for work/school.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Smallest WV county by land area, with population concentrated along the Ohio River/US‑22 corridor, yielding relatively high address density for cable availability.
  • Cable broadband coverage is extensive in towns; fiber is present in pockets and expanding; 4G/5G mobile coverage is strong along primary corridors.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population; ACS Computer & Internet Use 2018–2022) and Pew Research Center (2024 digital adoption/email usage).

Mobile phone usage in Hancock County, West Virginia — 2025 snapshot

Population baseline

• Population: ~27,900 (2023 Census estimate), with ~22,600 adults (18+)
• Households: ~12,100; median age is older than the state average, with a relatively high 65+ share

User estimates

• Adult cellphone users (any mobile phone): ~21,700 (≈96% of adults)
• Adult smartphone users: ~19,100 (≈84% of adults)
• Teen smartphone users (ages 13–17): ~1,400 (≈95% of teens)
• Total smartphone users (adults + teens): ~20,500
• Active mobile lines (phones, tablets, watches, hotspots): ~25,000
• Wireless-only households (no landline telephone): ~8,500 (≈70% of households)

Demographic breakdown (smartphone users)

• Ages 18–34: ~5,600 users (≈95% adoption in this cohort)
• Ages 35–64: ~9,900 users (≈88% adoption)
• Ages 65+: ~3,500 users (≈65% adoption)
• By income and education: smartphone adoption is high across all groups, but seniors on fixed incomes are more likely to use basic phones; younger working-age adults skew toward unlimited and 5G-capable plans
• By race/ethnicity: the user base mirrors county composition (predominantly White non-Hispanic), with no material deviation in ownership by race visible at county scale

Digital infrastructure points

• Network footprint: All three national carriers (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) operate natively in the county. 4G LTE is effectively universal along the Ohio River towns and primary corridors (US‑22, WV‑2), with service extending across ridgelines and into most residential areas
• 5G availability:
  • Low‑band 5G: countywide in populated areas for all carriers
  • Mid‑band 5G (capacity layers such as T‑Mobile n41 and Verizon/AT&T C‑band): established along the US‑22 corridor and in/around Chester, Newell, and New Cumberland, with spillover from the Pittsburgh market buildouts
• Backhaul and latency: Proximity to the Pittsburgh metro fiber ring supports robust cell-site backhaul; practical mobile latency is lower and more consistent than in central/southern WV’s mountainous counties
• Terrain effects: River bluffs and narrow valleys still create localized weak spots, notably in ravines and around Tomlinson Run State Park and other low-lying creek valleys; in these areas 4G generally persists but with reduced throughput and occasional call reliability issues
• Cross-border continuity: Seamless coverage into Ohio and Pennsylvania means commuters and shoppers rarely encounter domestic roaming or service gaps at bridges and border roads
• Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): 5G home internet from Verizon and T‑Mobile is widely offered in towns and along US‑22/WV‑2, with variable availability in outer hollows

How Hancock County differs from West Virginia statewide

• Higher adoption: Adult smartphone adoption (~84%) runs a few points above the statewide average, despite an older age profile, due to stronger mid‑band 5G presence and cross‑market competition from the Pittsburgh area
• Better capacity coverage: Mid‑band 5G is present across the main population centers and travel corridors, whereas many WV counties still rely predominantly on low‑band 5G or LTE. This translates to more consistent high-throughput service for video, telehealth, and work apps
• Fewer no‑service pockets: The county’s river-valley topography and denser road network yield fewer persistent dead zones than the state’s central/southern highlands
• More wireless-only households: Wireless-only telephone adoption (~70%) is slightly above the statewide share, reflecting stronger cellular reliability and the appeal of FWA in places where wired broadband choices are limited outside the larger towns
• Competitive balance: Carrier performance is more evenly matched than in many rural WV counties, encouraging plan switching and faster uptake of 5G devices

Method notes

• Counts are modeled from 2023 Census population and household estimates for Hancock County, combined with recent national/rural adoption rates from Pew/CDC for cellphone, smartphone, and wireless‑only households, adjusted to local age structure. Figures are rounded for clarity and represent best-available estimates for 2025 planning.

Hancock County, WV — Social media usage snapshot (2024)

Population baseline

• Total residents: ~29,000 (2020 Census). Adult residents (18+): ~23,500–24,500.

Overall adoption by age (share using at least one social platform)

• 18–29: 95%+
• 30–49: ~90%+
• 50–64: ~80–85%
• 65+: ~60–70% This yields roughly 19,000–21,000 adult social media users countywide.

Most-used platforms among adults (share of all adults; county-adjusted from Pew national rates, accounting for older age mix)

• YouTube: 76–82%
• Facebook: 66–72%
• Instagram: 32–38%
• TikTok: 24–30%
• Pinterest: 28–32%
• Snapchat: 20–24%
• LinkedIn: 15–20%
• X (Twitter): 14–18%

Age-group patterns

• 18–29: Very high on YouTube (90%+), Instagram (70%+), TikTok (60–70%), Snapchat (60%+); Facebook ~40–50%.
• 30–49: YouTube (85–90%), Facebook (70–75%), Instagram (45–55%), TikTok (30–40%).
• 50–64: Facebook (65–70%), YouTube (70–80%), Instagram (25–35%), TikTok (15–20%).
• 65+: Facebook (50–60%), YouTube (55–65%), other platforms low (<15–20%).

Gender breakdown

• Overall user base: ~53% female, ~47% male (driven by an older population skew and platform preferences).
• Platform skews: Pinterest heavily female; Facebook modestly female-leaning; YouTube, X slightly male-leaning; Instagram and TikTok modestly female-leaning.

Behavioral trends

• Facebook as the community backbone: Heavy use of Groups for local news, school sports, church/community events, and Marketplace buying/selling.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube is the default for how‑to, local sports clips, and streaming; short‑form TikTok/Instagram Reels growth strongest under 35.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is the primary channel for contacting local businesses, clubs, and municipal offices; WhatsApp usage remains niche.
• Posting vs. lurking: Older adults engage via comments/reactions on local issues; younger users post more stories/shorts and use private DMs/Snaps.
• Peak usage windows: Evenings (roughly 6–9 pm) and weekend afternoons show the highest engagement; mobile dominates the traffic mix.
• Platform breadth: Most adults maintain 1–2 active platforms (typically Facebook plus YouTube); ages 18–29 commonly use 3–4 (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat).

Notes on methodology and sources

• Figures are county-level estimates derived by applying Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. platform adoption rates and Edison Research (The Infinite Dial) social media usage to Hancock County’s age/sex structure from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census and recent ACS). Percent ranges reflect adjustment for the county’s older age profile.