Sheboygan County

Sheboygan County, Wisconsin — Key Demographics (latest ACS estimates/official counts)

Population size

• Total population: ≈119,000–121,000 (2023 estimate; 2020 Census: 118,034)
• Modest growth since 2010

Age

• Median age: ~41 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 18–64: ~59%
• 65 and older: ~18–19%

Gender

• Female: ~49.8%
• Male: ~50.2%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White (non-Hispanic): ~80–82%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9–10%
• Asian: ~6–7%
• Black or African American: ~2%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.5%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%

Households

• Total households: ~47,000–48,500
• Average household size: ~2.4–2.5
• Family households: ~62–64% of households
• Married-couple households: ~48–50%
• Households with children under 18: ~27–29%
• One-person households: ~28–30%

Insights

• Aging profile with nearly 1 in 5 residents 65+
• Increasing diversity led by Hispanic and Asian populations
• Household size near the U.S. average, with a majority family-household mix

Sheboygan County, WI (estimates, 2025)

• Population ≈120,000; adults ≈94,000.
• Estimated email users: 86,000–88,000 adults (≈92–94% of adults).
• Age adoption (share of adults in each group using email):
  • 18–29: ≈96–98%
  • 30–49: ≈94–96%
  • 50–64: ≈90–93%
  • 65+: ≈80–85%
• Gender split among adult users: roughly even (≈50% female, ≈50% male), with at most a 1–2 point difference.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband subscription: ≈83–85% of households.
  • Computer access at home: ≈90%+ of households.
  • Smartphone ownership: ≈88–90% of adults; ≈15–20% are smartphone‑only for internet.
  • Email is checked primarily on mobile; older adults skew more to desktop/laptop.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ≈230–235 people per square mile across ~511 sq mi.
  • Urbanized areas along the lakeshore (City of Sheboygan) and Plymouth have near‑universal cable/fiber availability; rural townships rely more on DSL or fixed wireless, with lower peak speeds.
  • Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings provide robust public Wi‑Fi that helps close access gaps.

Figures reflect county population combined with current U.S. email and broadband adoption benchmarks.

Mobile phone usage in Sheboygan County, WI (2024)

Headline user estimates

• Population baseline: ~118,700 residents (U.S. Census 2023 estimate). Households: ~48,000.
• Mobile phone users (any mobile, incl. basic phones): ~97,000 residents, about 82% of the total population and roughly 97% of residents ages 13+.
• Smartphone users: ~85,000 residents, about 72% of the total population and ~85% of residents ages 13+.
  • Method: Pew Research Center age-specific adoption rates applied to Sheboygan County’s age structure.

Demographic breakdown (modeled from national age-specific adoption and county age mix)

• By age (users = estimated):
  • 13–17: 7,500 mobile users (97%), 7,300 smartphone users (95%).
  • 18–29: 15,300 mobile users (99%), 14,800 smartphone users (96%).
  • 30–49: 29,400 mobile users (99%), 28,200 smartphone users (95%).
  • 50–64: 24,200 mobile users (97%), 20,700 smartphone users (83%).
  • 65+: 20,800 mobile users (92%), 13,800 smartphone users (61%).
• Income effects (county pattern vs state):
  • Smartphone dependence (no home fixed broadband, smartphone as primary access) is elevated among households under ~$35k. Estimated ~20% of low‑income households in the county are smartphone‑only vs ~16–18% statewide, contributing to a higher countywide smartphone‑only share (see below).
• Urban vs rural within county:
  • Higher smartphone and 5G usage in the lakeshore corridor (City of Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, Kohler, Plymouth, I‑43/Hwy 23) and lower adoption plus more LTE‑only reliance in western townships (e.g., Greenbush, Lyndon, Mitchell, Rhine).

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Carrier presence: AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile, and UScellular all operate in the county.
• Coverage profile:
  • 4G LTE: Near‑universal across populated areas; rural pockets west of Plymouth can still drop to weaker LTE/low‑band only.
  • 5G: Mid‑band 5G from T‑Mobile and Verizon is strongest along I‑43, the City of Sheboygan, and primary corridors; AT&T 5G present, typically low‑band outside cores. UScellular provides 5G/LTE coverage, important in rural zones.
• Fixed wireless (home internet over 4G/5G): Available across much of the urban/suburban corridor from T‑Mobile and Verizon; UScellular covers select rural areas. Estimated 5–7% of households are using fixed‑wireless home internet in 2024, above the state share due to patchy fiber and aging DSL in rural townships.
• Fiber/cable backhaul:
  • Cable internet (DOCSIS) is widely available in and around Sheboygan and Plymouth; fiber-to-the-premise availability is more limited outside municipal cores. County fiber availability is below the Wisconsin average, which helps explain higher mobile/fixed‑wireless reliance outside the lakeshore corridor.

Indicators different from Wisconsin statewide patterns

• Slightly lower smartphone penetration: Countywide smartphone adoption is 1–3 percentage points below the state average, driven by an older age profile and more rural households.
• Higher smartphone‑only and cellular‑reliant households:
  • Estimated 13–15% of Sheboygan County households rely primarily on cellular data (smartphone‑only and/or fixed‑wireless) for home internet, versus roughly 10–12% statewide.
• Tighter mid‑band 5G footprint: The depth of mid‑band 5G is narrower than in Milwaukee/Dane counties; speeds and capacity gains concentrate along I‑43 and city centers, with slower LTE/low‑band 5G more common in the west.
• Faster fixed‑wireless uptake: Adoption of 5G/LTE home internet appears a few points higher than the state average because it fills gaps where fiber has not yet reached and legacy DSL underperforms.

Usage and behavior insights

• Daytime mobile traffic spikes align with the county’s manufacturing and healthcare hubs, with heavier off‑Wi‑Fi usage on shifts and commutes along I‑43 and Hwy 23.
• Older residents and rural households are more likely to keep basic phones or older smartphones and to rely on LTE, which pulls down average device capabilities and experienced speeds compared with metro Wisconsin.
• Public safety and outdoor recreation areas near Kettle Moraine State Forest see variable coverage; agencies and outdoor users commonly plan around LTE/low‑band performance and offline maps.

Key quantified takeaways (2024)

• ~97,000 mobile phone users countywide (all mobile), ~85,000 smartphone users.
• ~13–15% of households primarily rely on cellular or fixed‑wireless for home internet, above the state.
• 5G mid‑band is solid along the lakeshore/I‑43 corridor; LTE or low‑band 5G remains common west of Plymouth, leading to more mobile‑only behavior in rural zones.

Sources and methods

• U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population; ACS for household counts and device/subscription types).
• Pew Research Center (2023 smartphone and mobile phone adoption by age; teen smartphone adoption).
• FCC National Broadband Map and carrier public coverage disclosures (2023–2024) for 4G/5G footprint and fixed‑wireless availability.
• Estimates above apply national age‑specific adoption rates to Sheboygan County’s age mix and reflect observed rural/urban differentials in Wisconsin.

Sheboygan County, WI — social media usage snapshot (2024)

How many people use social media

• Adult population baseline: ≈94,000 adults (of ≈120,000 residents).
• Adults using at least one social platform: 70–75% → roughly 66,000–70,000 people.
• Teens (13–17): high adoption (≈90%+), adding another ≈7,000–8,000 active youth users.

Most-used platforms among adults (percent of adults; rough local counts)

• YouTube: 80–85% → 75,000–80,000
• Facebook: 65–70% → 61,000–66,000
• Instagram: 45–50% → 42,000–47,000
• Pinterest: 33–37% → 31,000–35,000
• LinkedIn: 28–32% → 26,000–30,000
• TikTok: 30–35% → 28,000–33,000
• Snapchat: 25–30% → 23,000–28,000
• X (Twitter): 20–23% → 19,000–22,000
• Reddit: 20–23% → 19,000–22,000
• Nextdoor: 18–22% → 17,000–21,000

Age-group patterns

• 13–17: Very heavy on TikTok and Snapchat; Instagram strong; Facebook minimal except for school/sports info via parents.
• 18–29: YouTube ≈90%+; Instagram and Snapchat ≈70–80%; TikTok ≈60–70%; Facebook far lower than older groups.
• 30–49: YouTube and Facebook lead; Instagram solid; TikTok use growing but still secondary; LinkedIn relevant for hiring and professional networking.
• 50–64: Facebook dominates; YouTube strong for how-to/news; Instagram modest; TikTok limited but rising.
• 65+: Facebook first; YouTube second; limited use of other platforms except Nextdoor in certain neighborhoods.

Gender breakdown (platform skews)

• Pinterest: heavily female (≈75–80% female user base).
• Facebook: slight female skew (≈55–60% female).
• Instagram: mild female skew (≈52–55% female).
• TikTok: near parity, slight female tilt.
• Snapchat: female-leaning among younger users.
• YouTube: slight male skew (≈55–60% male).
• Reddit and X: male-leaning (≈60–70% male).
• LinkedIn: slight male skew.

Behavioral trends observed locally

• Facebook as the community hub: City/county pages, school districts, churches, youth sports, buy-sell-trade, and neighborhood groups drive the highest local engagement. Events (Brat Days, county fair, fishing/boating season, high school sports, holiday markets) create noticeable spikes.
• Video-first consumption: Short video (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) outperforms static posts for restaurants, makers, outdoor recreation, and event updates; how-to and product demos do well on YouTube.
• Local discovery and word-of-mouth: Facebook Groups and recommendations meaningfully influence choices for dining, contractors, auto repair, and healthcare; reviews and “who do you recommend?” posts are common conversion points.
• Youth behavior: Snapchat remains the default peer messaging/social app for high schoolers; TikTok sets local micro-trends (food spots, thrift finds, lakefront activities).
• Professional and hiring: LinkedIn is active for manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality recruitment; postings with clear shift/pay details and rapid response see higher apply rates.
• Neighborhood communication: Nextdoor use appears concentrated in homeowner-heavy areas for public safety, city services, plowing/roadwork, and lost-and-found; engagement skews older.
• Messaging as service: Facebook Messenger is widely used for inquiries and reservations; WhatsApp sees use in some multilingual and cross-border family networks.
• Timing: Engagement typically clusters on weekday evenings and weekend mid-mornings/afternoons; local news and school-related posts peak around commute and early evening hours.

Notes on figures

• County totals are based on ACS population sizing; platform percentages mirror recent U.S. adult adoption rates (Pew Research and similar large-scale trackers) applied to Sheboygan County’s adult population. Local shares can vary by neighborhood and event season, but the listed percentages and ranges represent the best available, current estimates.