Chaffee County Local Demographic Profile
To ensure accuracy, which data vintage would you like?
- Latest ACS 5-year (2019–2023, recommended for small counties)
- 2020 Decennial Census
- 2023 Population Estimates (for total population only)
I’ll provide: total population, median age and broad age groups, sex split, race/ethnicity percentages, number of households, average household size, and owner vs. renter occupancy.
Email Usage in Chaffee County
Chaffee County, CO email usage (estimates)
- Users: ≈17,000 residents use email regularly (about 80–85% of all residents; ~90% of adults). County population ≈21,000.
- Age distribution of email users (reflecting an older-than-average county):
- Under 18: ~5–7%
- 18–34: ~20–22%
- 35–64: ~48–50%
- 65+: ~25–28% Adoption by age: ~90% for 18–64, ~80–88% for 65+, majority of teens use email for school.
- Gender split: Roughly even (≈50% female, 50% male among users), mirroring population.
- Digital access trends:
- Household broadband subscription is high for a rural county (roughly mid‑80% of households); computer access ~90%+. Many rely on smartphones as primary internet.
- Connectivity is strongest in Salida and Buena Vista; outlying areas use fixed wireless and satellite due to terrain.
- Mobile LTE/5G coverage is best along US‑285/US‑50 corridors; mountainous areas have gaps.
- Local density/connectivity facts:
- Low population density (~21 people per square mile) and rugged topography increase last‑mile costs and variability in speeds.
- Public libraries and community spaces provide free Wi‑Fi and devices, helping close access gaps.
Method: Estimates combine ACS population structure with national email adoption by age (Pew) and rural broadband patterns.
Mobile Phone Usage in Chaffee County
Summary: Mobile phone usage in Chaffee County, Colorado
Headline estimates
- Residents and users
- Population: roughly 20–22k people; about 16–18k adults (18+).
- Adult smartphone owners: approximately 14–16k (about 84–90% of adults). This is a few points lower than Colorado’s overall rate due to Chaffee’s older age profile and rural terrain.
- Any mobile phone (smartphone or feature): about 92–96% of adults.
- Mobile-only internet households
- Estimated 16–22% of households rely primarily on a cellular data plan for home internet (vs roughly low-teens statewide). This mobile-only share rises in outlying areas where cable/fiber is limited.
Demographic breakdown (how usage differs from the state)
- Age
- Chaffee has a larger 65+ share (about 26–28% vs ~15% statewide). Smartphone adoption among seniors is high but still lagging younger adults, pulling down the county’s overall adoption a few points relative to Colorado.
- Younger adults (18–34) adopt at near-saturation; seasonal workers and remote professionals further push very high smartphone penetration in the 18–44 bracket.
- Income and education
- Median household income is below the state average and a larger rural working class contingent increases the likelihood of mobile-only internet plans and hotspot use for home connectivity.
- College attainment is slightly below the Colorado average, another correlate of slightly lower smartphone and 5G device uptake among older segments—but younger, remote-worker in‑migrants help offset this in town centers.
- Race/ethnicity and language
- Hispanic/Latino share is smaller than the state average (roughly low‑teens vs low‑20s statewide). This means fewer language-access barriers than in Front Range metros; however, seasonal workforces can create short-term multilingual needs, especially in service and recreation sectors.
Digital infrastructure and coverage patterns (what’s distinctive)
- Terrain-driven coverage gaps
- LTE/5G coverage is strong in and around Salida and Buena Vista and along US‑50 and US‑285. Canyons and high-country drainages (e.g., Browns Canyon, Chalk Creek, Cottonwood Pass approaches, east/west sides of Monarch Pass) have persistent dead zones or weak signal. This terrain effect is more pronounced than Colorado overall.
- 5G footprint
- Low‑band 5G from the national carriers is present in town centers and along main corridors; mid‑band 5G (faster) is more limited and spotty than along the Front Range. Millimeter-wave is effectively absent. Net: 5G is available but with smaller, less contiguous footprints than the state’s metro areas.
- Tower density and backhaul
- Fewer macro sites per square mile than the state average; siting on public lands and rugged topography constrains new towers. Backhaul is a mix of fiber in town cores and microwave on ridge sites, which can limit peak capacity compared with urban Colorado.
- FirstNet and public safety
- AT&T FirstNet Band 14 buildouts have improved coverage along US‑50/US‑285 and in towns, but off‑corridor gaps remain; public safety still relies on radio systems and satellite in backcountry. This reliance on multimodal comms is more pronounced than statewide norms.
- Seasonal load swings
- Summer tourism and events (rafting, trailheads, Monarch Mountain traffic) create sharp, recurring peaks where active devices in hot spots can exceed resident demand by 1.5–3x, causing congestion that is less common in Colorado’s larger metros with denser infrastructure.
- Wi‑Fi offload and fixed alternatives
- In-town venues and lodging provide significant Wi‑Fi offload. Outside town grids, limited cable/fiber pushes some households to use phone hotspots or fixed wireless. Satellite (e.g., Starlink) adoption in outlying areas reduces pressure on mobile for home broadband but doesn’t remove the need for voice/SMS coverage on roads and trails.
Usage patterns vs state-level trends
- Slightly lower overall adult smartphone ownership than the Colorado average, driven by a larger senior population, but near‑universal adoption among working‑age adults mirrors the state.
- Higher dependence on mobile data for primary home internet outside town cores, exceeding the statewide mobile-only share.
- More variable real‑world performance due to terrain and lower tower density; average speeds and indoor reliability trail the state’s metro counties.
- Bigger day‑to‑day volatility in network load from tourism and seasonal workers, leading to congestion in specific cells even where signal exists.
- Emergency communication behaviors differ: residents are more likely to enable Wi‑Fi calling at home, carry offline maps, and plan for dead zones—habits less common in the Front Range.
Notes on method and uncertainty
- Estimates triangulate the latest ACS for population/households and internet subscription types, Pew Research for age‑based smartphone adoption, and FCC/mobile carrier coverage patterns typical of rural mountain counties in Colorado. Because no single source publishes precise county-level smartphone ownership, figures are presented as ranges reflecting Chaffee’s demographics and terrain relative to statewide benchmarks.
Social Media Trends in Chaffee County
Here’s a concise, decision-ready snapshot. Because county-level platform stats aren’t publicly reported, figures are modeled from 2024 U.S. usage (Pew Research) and adjusted for Chaffee County’s older-leaning, rural/mountain profile. Treat as directional estimates.
Population and user base
- Residents: ≈20,000 (older than U.S. average)
- Adults (18+): ≈16,000
- Estimated adult social media users: 12,000–13,000 (75–80% adult penetration; slightly below U.S. ≈82% due to age mix)
Age groups (estimated adult usage rates)
- 18–29: 90–95%
- 30–49: 85–90%
- 50–64: 70–75%
- 65+: 48–55%
- Teens (13–17, for context): 85–95% on at least one platform; Snapchat/Instagram/TikTok dominant
Gender breakdown (share of adult social users)
- Female: 52–55%
- Male: 45–48% Note: Women over-index on Facebook/Instagram/Nextdoor; men over-index on YouTube/Reddit.
Most-used platforms (Chaffee County adults, estimated “use”)
- YouTube: 80–82%
- Facebook: 70–75%
- Instagram: 38–45%
- TikTok: 22–28%
- Snapchat: 20–25%
- LinkedIn: 22–28% (professional/remote workers, outdoor industry)
- X (Twitter): 14–18%
- Reddit: 14–18%
- WhatsApp: 12–18% (notably among Spanish-speaking and seasonal workers)
- Nextdoor: 20–28% (higher in Salida/Buena Vista neighborhoods)
Behavioral trends to know
- Facebook is the local hub: community groups (buy/sell/trade, lost & found, schools), events, emergency info (wildfire/road closures/river flows), and Marketplace.
- Seasonal patterns: engagement spikes late spring–early fall (rafting, hiking, festivals) and winter weekends (Monarch Mountain). Off-season content leans community updates and deals.
- Visual storytelling matters: Instagram and YouTube for outdoor lifestyle, guides, events, and local brands; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) gaining with 18–34 service/hospitality workers.
- Teen/young adult comms: Snapchat for day-to-day messaging; TikTok discovery for food, gear, and activities.
- Neighborhood/localization: Nextdoor usage for hyperlocal notices, HOA talk, lost pets; strongest in denser areas of Salida/BV.
- Messaging: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous; WhatsApp pockets among Latino communities and seasonal/guest workers.
- Info-seeking: YouTube for DIY/outdoor skills, gear reviews, vanlife/overlanding content; Facebook for quick answers; Reddit for niche outdoor and travel threads.
- Timing: Mobile-first. Peaks before/after shift changes (7–8:30 a.m., noon, 5–9 p.m.); weekend mid-morning also strong.
- Trust/UGC: High engagement with local faces—guides, shop owners, nonprofits, and micro-influencers; authenticity and service information outperform polished ads.
- Ads that work: Geo-targeted Facebook/Instagram for events/promos; short vertical video for younger adults; lead-gen for outfitters/lodging timed to tourist windows.
Method note
- Based on 2024 Pew Research Center U.S. platform usage, adjusted for Chaffee County’s older median age and rural context; population from recent Census/ACS estimates. For campaign planning, validate with page insights, platform Ads Manager reach estimates, and local group analytics.
Table of Contents
Other Counties in Colorado
- Adams
- Alamosa
- Arapahoe
- Archuleta
- Baca
- Bent
- Boulder
- Broomfield
- Cheyenne
- Clear Creek
- Conejos
- Costilla
- Crowley
- Custer
- Delta
- Denver
- Dolores
- Douglas
- Eagle
- El Paso
- Elbert
- Fremont
- Garfield
- Gilpin
- Grand
- Gunnison
- Hinsdale
- Huerfano
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Kiowa
- Kit Carson
- La Plata
- Lake
- Larimer
- Las Animas
- Lincoln
- Logan
- Mesa
- Mineral
- Moffat
- Montezuma
- Montrose
- Morgan
- Otero
- Ouray
- Park
- Phillips
- Pitkin
- Prowers
- Pueblo
- Rio Blanco
- Rio Grande
- Routt
- Saguache
- San Juan
- San Miguel
- Sedgwick
- Summit
- Teller
- Washington
- Weld
- Yuma