Dodge County

Here are concise, recent estimates for Dodge County, Wisconsin.

Population

• Total: ≈89,000 (2023 estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~42
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Sex

• Male: ~54%
• Female: ~46% (Note: Multiple state correctional facilities in the county skew the sex ratio toward males.)

Race/ethnicity

• White alone: ~87%
• Black or African American alone: ~6%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1%
• Asian alone: ~1%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~8%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~80%

Households

• Total households: ~36,000–37,000
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~64% (about half are married-couple families)
• Households with children under 18: ~26–27%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~70%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2019–2023 5-year) and Population Estimates Program (2023). Estimates rounded for clarity.

Dodge County, WI (pop. 89k) is moderately rural (100 people/sq. mile). Applying U.S. email-adoption rates to local demographics:

Estimated email users

• Total users: ~66–72k (mostly adults; excludes most incarcerated residents).
• Adult users (18+): ~62–67k.

Age distribution (adoption rates; share of local residents using email)

• 13–17: ~85–95% → ~4.5–5.5k users.
• 18–34: ~95–98% (near-universal among students/early career).
• 35–64: ~96–99% (workforce-dominant).
• 65+: ~80–90% (growing but below younger cohorts).

Gender split

• Civilian email users are roughly balanced (~50/50). The county’s population skews slightly male due to multiple state prisons, but incarcerated residents have limited conventional email access.

Digital access and connectivity

• ~80–85% of households subscribe to broadband; ~90%+ have a computer. About 10–12% are smartphone‑only; roughly 1 in 10 households lack home internet.
• Fixed broadband at baseline speeds (25/3 Mbps) is widely available (>90–95%), with strongest coverage in and around Beaver Dam, Waupun, Juneau, and along major corridors; rural townships see more DSL/fixed‑wireless reliance and fewer fiber options.

Notes: Figures synthesize 2020 Census/ACS patterns for Dodge County with Pew/FCC email and internet adoption benchmarks; treat as estimates.

Mobile phone usage in Dodge County, Wisconsin — 2025 snapshot (estimates)

Headline user estimates

• Population base: about 89,000 residents; roughly 69,000 adults (18+).
• Adults with any mobile phone: 66,000–67,000 (95–97% of adults; near-universal, similar to WI overall).
• Adult smartphone users: 56,000–58,000 (about 81–84% of adults), a few points lower than the statewide average (WI ≈ 85%).
• Households using only wireless/VoIP for voice (no landline): 25,000–28,000 households (about 70–76%), broadly in line with or slightly above statewide due to landline abandonment.
• Households relying on cellular data as their primary/only home internet: about 3,700–4,800 (roughly 10–13% of households), higher than the statewide share (WI typically ~8–10%).

Demographic patterns (how Dodge County differs from Wisconsin overall)

• Age
  • 18–34: near-saturation smartphone adoption (≈93–96%), comparable to state.
  • 35–54: high adoption (≈88–92%), slightly below state by ~1–2 points.
  • 55–64: 80–85%, a few points below state; more budget/prepaid plans and slower upgrade cycles.
  • 65+: 60–70%, several points below state; higher prevalence of basic/feature phones and shared family plans.
• Income
  • Under $50k: higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans and cellular-only home internet; hotspot use for work/school more common than statewide.
  • $50k–$100k: broadly similar to state, but with more “good enough” LTE plans and less device churn than in metro WI.
  • $100k+: parity with state on 5G device ownership; slightly lower use of multi-line premium bundles than in Milwaukee/Madison suburbs.
• Geography within the county
  • Beaver Dam, Watertown-area, Waupun corridor: stronger 4G and mid-band 5G, usage patterns close to state averages.
  • Rural towns and around Horicon Marsh: more coverage variability and indoor signal issues; higher share of cellular-only home internet and external antennas/boosters.
• Race/ethnicity and language
  • The county’s population is predominantly non-Hispanic White with a smaller, younger Hispanic community; Hispanic households show above-average smartphone dependence for internet access, consistent with statewide and national patterns.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and performance
  • 4G LTE is broadly available; pockets of weak or unreliable service persist in low-density areas and near wetlands/marshland.
  • 5G is present along main corridors (US‑151, WI‑26, WI‑33) and in/near Beaver Dam and Watertown; coverage is spottier in rural tracts. Median 5G speeds lag the statewide median, reflecting fewer sites and more band‑n use of low-band 5G.
• Carriers and plans
  • All three national networks serve the county; T‑Mobile’s low/mid‑band 5G footprint tends to reach farther into rural areas, while Verizon/AT&T show strong LTE reliability. MVNO/prepaid uptake is higher than the state average.
• Backhaul and towers
  • New fiber builds since 2020 (state/BEAD-style grants) have improved backhaul to some towers, but tower density per square mile is lower than in metro counties, limiting capacity and indoor penetration.
• Public and anchor connectivity
  • Schools and libraries commonly provide Wi‑Fi and hotspot lending; this softens homework gaps where fixed broadband is weak and contributes to higher mobile dependence than the state average.
• Emergency services
  • E911 and FirstNet coverage is generally good along highways and in towns; response agencies still note dead zones in fringe rural areas, a persistent rural issue not as prevalent statewide.

Trends that diverge from the Wisconsin statewide picture

• Slightly lower smartphone penetration overall, with the gap concentrated among residents 55+.
• Higher share of households relying on cellular as their primary home internet.
• More prepaid/MVNO usage and longer device replacement cycles.
• 5G availability exists but with lower median speeds and more fallbacks to LTE than in metro counties.
• Greater use of external antennas/boosters and Wi‑Fi offload (schools/libraries) to compensate for spotty fixed broadband or indoor signal.

Notes on method and confidence

• Figures are modeled from recent national and Wisconsin patterns (Pew, ACS S2801/S2802 device and subscription trends, FCC mobile coverage filings) adjusted for Dodge County’s rural mix and age profile. For precise point-in-time values, verify with:
  • ACS 5‑year table S2801 (cellular data plan and device access) at the county level.
  • FCC Broadband Data Collection maps for mobile coverage and technology by provider.
  • Wisconsin PSC broadband grant reports for recent fiber/backhaul builds in Dodge County.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot for Dodge County, WI. Figures are estimates derived from Pew Research’s 2024 U.S. social media use and adjusted for the county’s older, more rural profile. Treat county-level percentages as directional, not exact.

Overall user stats (2025 est.)

• Population: ~89,000; adults (18+) ~69,000
• Adult social media penetration: ~70–75% (≈48–52k adults)
• Teens (13–17) using social media: ~90–95% (≈5–5.5k teens)
• Total 13+ users: roughly 52–58k residents

Most-used platforms (adult reach; monthly, est.)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~70–75% (tends higher than U.S. average in rural/older areas)
• Instagram: ~40–45%
• Pinterest: ~30–35% (skews female)
• TikTok: ~25–30% (higher among under-35)
• Snapchat: ~20–25% (concentrated under-30)
• LinkedIn: ~20–25% (concentrated among college-educated/professionals)
• X/Twitter: ~15–20%
• Nextdoor: ~5–10% (patchy coverage outside larger towns)

Age-pattern highlights

• 13–17: Very high YouTube (95%), TikTok (60–70%), Snapchat (60–70%), Instagram (60%); Facebook minimal.
• 18–29: YouTube and Instagram dominant; Snapchat/TikTok strong; Facebook still meaningful but not leading.
• 30–49: Facebook + YouTube lead; Instagram moderate; TikTok growing; Pinterest strong among parents.
• 50–64: Facebook is the hub; YouTube strong; others modest.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube primarily; minimal on TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Women: Slightly more likely to be daily users overall; over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; strong engagement with community groups, school/faith, local events.
• Men: Over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X; strong engagement with local sports, outdoors, autos, trades content.

Local behavioral trends

• Heavy Facebook Groups usage for hyperlocal info: school updates, church/club activities, county fair, youth sports, road closures, lost-and-found pets, and buy/sell/trade.
• Facebook Marketplace is a top utility (farm and garden, tools, vehicles, household items).
• Event-driven spikes: Dodge County Fair, hunting season, severe weather, elections, school year milestones.
• Video-first consumption: short-form clips (Reels/Shorts) outperform static posts; live video for meetings, games, and announcements sees strong pickup.
• Community trust is comment-driven: recommendations and testimonials matter more than polished creative; “local faces” and before/after posts outperform stock content.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default for families and local businesses; Snapchat dominates teen messaging; WhatsApp usage is moderate and higher among Hispanic/immigrant communities.
• Timing: Evenings (roughly 7–9 pm) and early mornings see above-average engagement; midday weekday posts underperform.
• Ad/organic implications:
  • Best broad reach: Facebook (News Feed + Groups) and YouTube.
  • Younger reach: Instagram + TikTok; Snapchat for high school audiences.
  • Targeting works well around Beaver Dam, Waupun, Horicon, Mayville, Juneau; radius-based geotargeting of 10–20 miles is common for service businesses.
  • Practical, value-forward messages (promos, availability, responsiveness) beat abstract branding.

Notes and sources

• Percentages are county-scaled estimates from Pew Research Center’s 2024 social media adoption patterns, adjusted for Dodge County’s age/urbanicity mix. For planning, validate with page insights/ad platform reach estimates and local surveys.