Denver County

Denver County, Colorado (City & County of Denver) — key demographics

Population size

• 2023 population estimate: ~713,000 (U.S. Census PEP)
• 2020 Census: 715,522

Age (ACS 2018–2022)

• Median age: ~34.9 years
• Under 18: ~18%
• 18–64: ~69%
• 65 and over: ~13%

Gender (ACS 2018–2022)

• Female: ~49.6%
• Male: ~50.4%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022; mutually exclusive where possible)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~54%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~29%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~9%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~4%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: ~0.2%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3–4%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~323,000
• Average household size: ~2.27
• Family households: ~44% of households (avg. family size ~3.0)
• Households with children under 18: ~22%
• Tenure: owner-occupied ~49.5%; renter-occupied ~50.5%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 Population Estimates Program; 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey).

Denver County, CO email usage (estimates)

• Estimated users: ~580k–610k residents use email (about 81–85% of the total ~715k population). Basis: high adult email adoption (≈92–96%) plus strong teen adoption (≈85–90%).
• Age penetration: 18–29 ≈98%; 30–49 ≈97%; 50–64 ≈93–95%; 65+ ≈85–90%. Older adults remain the least connected but are closing the gap.
• Gender split: Near parity (≈50/50); no meaningful difference in email adoption by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • Internet at home: Roughly 92–95% of households have an internet subscription (urban, high-adoption profile).
  • Smartphone-only access: ~15–20% of households rely primarily on mobile data.
  • Connectivity: Most neighborhoods have cable broadband; fiber (e.g., Quantum Fiber/Lumen, select areas) is expanding; robust 5G from major carriers.
  • Public access: Denver Public Library branches offer free Wi‑Fi, devices, and training; city digital-equity programs target affordability and skills.
  • Affordability: The 2024 wind-down of the federal ACP may increase risk of disconnections for low-income households.
• Local density/connectivity facts: Denver’s urban density supports extensive cable/fiber buildouts and strong mobile coverage; fixed broadband speeds commonly support HD video and telework, though adoption lags in lower-income and some older households.

Sources: Synthesized from ACS/Census locality patterns and Pew internet adoption benchmarks.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Denver County, CO is higher, more 5G‑centric, and more “mobile‑only” than Colorado overall. Denver’s younger, renter‑heavy, and more densely built environment drives above‑average smartphone adoption and stronger reliance on cellular data for home internet. At the same time, the county shows sharper within‑county disparities by income and race/ethnicity than the statewide average.

User estimates (order‑of‑magnitude, based on 2023–2024 U.S. urban patterns, ACS device/Internet indicators, and Pew Research smartphone adoption rates; use for planning, not compliance):

• Total population: ~715,000; adults (18+): ~570,000.
• Adult smartphone users: ~510,000–525,000 (≈ 90% adoption in a dense urban county; typically a few points higher than the Colorado statewide rate).
• Adults who are wireless‑only for voice (no landline): roughly 75–80% in Denver vs ~70–75% statewide.
• Smartphone‑dependent for home internet (no fixed broadband at home; rely primarily on mobile data): estimated 18–22% of adults in Denver vs ~12–16% statewide. Highest among lower‑income renters and younger adults.
• 5G device penetration among smartphone users: ~80–85% in Denver vs ~75–80% statewide, reflecting faster upgrade cycles in the urban core.
• Prepaid/MVNO share of lines: modestly higher in Denver than statewide (driven by price‑sensitive households and eSIM/MVNO availability), while employer‑paid postpaid lines are also significant downtown; net effect is a more polarized mix than the state average.

Demographic breakdown (directional differences vs Colorado overall):

• Age:
  • 18–34: Near‑universal smartphone ownership; noticeably higher likelihood of mobile‑only internet. Denver skews younger than the state, lifting overall mobile usage.
  • 55+: Ownership and 5G device rates are higher in Denver than statewide due to better retail access, device financing, and senior‑focused digital literacy programs.
• Income:
  • <200% of the federal poverty level: Markedly higher smartphone‑dependence and prepaid/MVNO use than statewide; cost of living and renting correlate with skipping home broadband.
  • Middle/high income: Strong 5G device uptake; many carry two lines (work + personal) in central business districts.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Hispanic and Black residents (larger shares in Denver than statewide averages) show very high smartphone adoption but elevated smartphone‑dependence for home internet relative to White, non‑Hispanic residents.
• Housing tenure:
  • Renters (a majority in many Denver neighborhoods) are substantially more likely to be mobile‑only for internet and to churn carriers, compared with owner‑occupied households prevalent in suburban/rural parts of the state.

Digital infrastructure points most relevant to mobile usage:

• Coverage and capacity:
  • All three national carriers provide countywide 5G with dense mid‑band deployments (T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz; Verizon and AT&T C‑band) and targeted mmWave in the central business district and major venues (e.g., downtown corridors and stadium/arena districts). This density is higher than typical Colorado counties.
  • Thousands of permitted small cells on city streets improve indoor performance in multifamily buildings; Denver’s small‑cell density exceeds most of the state.
• Venues and transit:
  • Robust DAS/5G in sports venues, convention spaces, and Denver International Airport; free, high‑capacity public Wi‑Fi at DIA, libraries, and the 16th Street Mall corridor complements cellular offload. Transit corridors (RTD light rail/bus hubs) have focused upgrades relative to the state at large.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Strong fiber presence for mobile backhaul (municipal conduit and multiple private fiber operators), enabling higher 5G capacity and faster rollout cadences than many Colorado counties.
• Emergency and enterprise:
  • Broad FirstNet Band 14 presence for public safety; growing private LTE/CBRS footprints in multifamily/industrial sites add localized indoor coverage options uncommon in rural counties.

How Denver differs from Colorado overall (key trends):

• Higher smartphone adoption and faster 5G device turnover, buoyed by younger demographics and dense retail/support ecosystems.
• Greater reliance on mobile as primary home internet among renters and lower‑income households; the state’s digital‑divide narrative is more urban intra‑neighborhood in Denver versus urban‑rural statewide.
• Denser 5G mid‑band and mmWave buildout, more small cells, and better venue coverage, yielding higher median and peak speeds than the state average.
• More dynamic carrier mix: elevated MVNO/prepaid usage alongside substantial corporate postpaid footprints; statewide patterns are steadier and skew more postpaid.
• Lower landline retention and faster erosion of legacy services than the state average.

Notes and next steps for precision:

• For hard numbers, pull the latest ACS (table S2801: Computer and Internet Use) for Denver County vs Colorado, plus CDC/NCHS wireless‑only telephone estimates (NHIS) and Pew Research smartphone adoption by demographics. FCC mobile coverage maps and carrier filings detail 5G bands and deployment timelines.

Below is a concise, Denver‑focused snapshot. Where local data aren’t directly published, figures are modeled from Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. usage benchmarks, adjusted for Denver’s younger, highly educated profile and Colorado’s high internet adoption. Treat percentages as reasonable estimates, not absolutes.

Overall user stats (adults 18+ in Denver County)

• Social media penetration: ~82–86% use at least one platform monthly; ~64–68% use daily.
• Estimated user base: roughly 460k–500k adult users (of ~560k–590k adults).
• Average platforms per user: ~3–4.

Age mix of Denver social media users

• 18–29: ~25–28% of users; 95%+ use social; heaviest daily use, most multi‑platform.
• 30–49: ~40–43% of users; near‑universal use; strong across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram; rising TikTok.
• 50–64: ~20–22% of users; Facebook and YouTube dominant; moderate Instagram/Nextdoor.
• 65+: ~10–12% of users; Facebook and YouTube primary; light Instagram/Nextdoor.

Gender breakdown

• Overall users: ~52% women, ~48% men (women slightly more likely to use Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest; men over‑indexed on YouTube/Reddit/X). Nonbinary users present but a small share in available surveys.

Most‑used platforms in Denver (monthly reach, adults)

• YouTube: ~83–86%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Instagram: ~50–56%
• TikTok: ~35–40% (heavy daily use among 18–29)
• LinkedIn: ~32–37% (Denver’s white‑collar workforce lifts this)
• Pinterest: ~30–34% (skews female)
• Snapchat: ~26–30% (younger skew)
• X (Twitter): ~20–24%
• Reddit: ~20–24%
• Nextdoor: ~22–28% (strong in homeowner/parent neighborhoods; hyperlocal use)

Behavioral trends to know

• Local discovery is visual and mobile: Instagram and TikTok drive restaurant, brewery, music, and outdoor‑rec discovery; Reels/shorts outperform static posts.
• Hyperlocal conversation: Facebook Groups and Nextdoor anchor neighborhood talk (public safety, housing, snow/parking, school updates, lost/found pets); quick spikes during weather events.
• Outdoor/active lifestyle content over‑indexes: trail days, ski weekends, dogs, fitness; user‑generated posts and micro‑influencers perform well for local brands.
• Event‑driven peaks: High engagement around festivals, sports (Nuggets, Broncos, Avs), openings/closings, and transit/I‑70 news; Reddit’s r/Denver and X see real‑time chatter.
• Professional networking: Above‑average LinkedIn usage; recruiting, tech/startup news, and civic/urban policy discussions perform well.
• Messaging and ephemeral habits: Snapchat and Instagram DMs/Stories are key among 18–34; community info often spreads via private shares rather than public posts.
• Marketplace/utilitarian use: Facebook Marketplace and Buy/Sell/Trade groups are popular for bikes, outdoor gear, furniture; Nextdoor for services and neighborhood referrals.
• Timing: Engagement clusters evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; lunch‑hour upticks on weekdays; weather swings (snow days, extreme heat) reliably move local conversation.

Notes on sources and method

• Based on Pew Research Center Social Media Use (2024), NTIA/ACS internet adoption for CO, and Denver’s demographic profile (ACS). Local platform shares are modeled estimates; for campaign planning, validate with platform ad‑tools audience estimates or a short local survey.