Sussex County

Sussex County, Delaware – key demographics

Population size

• 2023 population estimate: about 258,000 (U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates)
• 2020 Census: 237,378 (roughly 9% growth since 2020)

Age

• Median age: about 50 years (ACS)
• 65 years and over: about 31%
• Under 18: about 19%
• Under 5: about 5%

Gender

• Female: about 51–52%
• Male: about 48–49%

Race/ethnicity (mutually exclusive; ACS)

• Non-Hispanic White: about 75%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): about 12%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): about 10%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): about 1%
• Two or more races and other (non-Hispanic): about 2%

Households

• Households: about 102,000–104,000 (ACS 2018–2022)
• Average household size: about 2.3–2.4 persons
• Family households: around 60–65% of households
• Households with children under 18: roughly 20–25%
• One-person households: roughly 25–30%

Key insights

• Rapid growth since 2020, driven largely by in-migration
• Older-than-average age profile with nearly one-third aged 65+
• Smaller household sizes consistent with a large retiree population

• Population and users: Sussex County has 252,000 residents; ~82% are adults (206,000). Applying typical U.S. adult internet use (93%) and email use among internet users (92%) yields ≈177,000 adult email users. Including teens lifts total email users to roughly 190,000.
• Age mix of email users (share of users): 18–34: ~23%; 35–54: ~31%; 55–64: ~20%; 65+: ~26% (older skew reflects Sussex’s retiree-heavy profile, with slightly lower adoption among 65+ than younger cohorts).
• Gender split among users: ~52% female, ~48% male, mirroring the county’s population.
• Digital access: About 87% of households subscribe to broadband at home; ~95% have a computer or smartphone, with ~13% relying on smartphone-only internet. Email access is near-universal among connected households and heavily used for healthcare, government services, and commerce.
• Connectivity and density facts: Land area ~936 sq mi; density ~270 people/sq mi, with denser coastal/US-113 corridors enjoying gigabit cable and fiber, while pockets of western rural areas remain upgrade targets. Delaware received ~$108M in BEAD funding to expand high-speed internet, with active buildouts benefiting Sussex’s remaining DSL/satellite-reliant zones. Mobile 4G covers nearly all populated areas; 5G is concentrated along major corridors.

Mobile phone usage in Sussex County, Delaware: summary, estimates, and how it differs from state-level

Core user estimates

• Population base: ~250,000 residents (2023 U.S. Census Bureau estimates). Older age profile: median age ~51.5 years (ACS 2022), with ~29–30% aged 65+, versus ~20% statewide.
• Adult smartphone users: ~175,000–180,000 adults, based on an estimated ~86% adult smartphone ownership in Sussex (lower than Delaware’s ~90%, reflecting the county’s older age mix). That implies roughly 25,000–30,000 adults without smartphones (feature phone or no mobile).
• Total mobile lines: ~290,000–300,000 active cellular connections in-county, applying the U.S. average of ~1.18 wireless connections per resident (CTIA 2023). A material share of these connections are non‑phone (tablets, hotspots, IoT).
• Smartphone-only internet households: higher than the state average. Sussex is best characterized in the mid‑teens percent of households relying primarily or exclusively on a cellular data plan for home internet (ACS S2801 patterns, rural counties), compared with low‑teens statewide. This aligns with lower wireline broadband availability in parts of inland Sussex.

Demographic patterns shaping mobile usage (vs Delaware overall)

• Age structure: Sussex’s older population depresses overall smartphone penetration and slows device replacement cycles, but smartphone ownership among 65+ has risen sharply (Pew Research Center puts 65+ smartphone ownership in the mid‑70s percent range in 2023), reducing the gap year over year.
• Rurality and income mix: Western/inland Sussex (Laurel–Seaford–Bridgeville, Millsboro hinterland) shows greater reliance on mobile data and fixed wireless access (FWA) in lieu of cable/fiber, contributing to more smartphone‑only households than in New Castle and statewide.
• Seasonal dynamics: Coastal towns (Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Bethany, Fenwick, Dewey, Ocean View) see pronounced summer surges in devices and data traffic that Sussex experiences far more than the state’s inland counties, driving carrier capacity augments and small‑cell deployments along DE‑1.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and 5G:
  • All three nationwide carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T‑Mobile) provide countywide LTE, with 5G widely available along DE‑1, US‑113, and US‑13 and in/around coastal population centers. Mid‑band 5G (T‑Mobile n41; Verizon/AT&T C‑band) is densest along the beaches and major corridors, with more low‑band 5G or LTE inland.
  • Compared to Delaware overall, Sussex has more patchy indoor coverage in farm belts and forested areas (e.g., edges of Redden State Forest, areas west of Georgetown and north of Laurel/Seaford) due to lower tower density and foliage/terrain. Median mobile speeds in these interior zones tend to trail state averages, especially indoors.
• Capacity management:
  • Carriers regularly add temporary capacity and small cells during peak tourist season on the coastal strip—this seasonal densification is a Sussex‑specific pattern not seen to the same degree in New Castle or Kent.
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage enhancements for public safety are visible across coastal communities and evacuation routes, improving resilience during storms.
• Backhaul and last‑mile interplay:
  • State ARPA‑funded fiber builds (2022–2025) led by the Delaware Broadband Office disproportionately target Sussex’s rural blocks, improving backhaul for towers and enabling additional 5G capacity inland over time. Sussex thus shows faster improvement in rural mobile performance than the state’s urbanized north, where such gaps were smaller to begin with.
• Home connectivity substitution:
  • T‑Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home are broadly marketed in Sussex’s coastal and corridor‑adjacent areas; uptake is notably higher in the county’s rural ZIPs relative to the state average. This FWA availability reinforces mobile‑centric usage for households without robust cable/fiber options.

How Sussex differs from statewide trends

• Slightly lower adult smartphone penetration and slower upgrade cadence, driven by a much older age profile.
• Higher share of smartphone‑only and mobile‑reliant households due to rural wireline gaps.
• Greater seasonal variability in network load and localized coastal densification.
• Wider inland performance variance (coverage/speeds) than the statewide average, with improvements tied to ongoing fiber backhaul builds and new 5G mid‑band sectors.

Notes on sources and method

• Population and age structure: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates) and ACS 2022 (median age, 65+ share).
• Smartphone ownership levels: Pew Research Center Mobile Fact Sheets (most recent through 2023), applied to Sussex’s age mix to derive county estimates.
• Connections per capita: CTIA 2023 national wireless connections per resident (~1.18) applied to Sussex population to estimate total active lines.
• Coverage and 5G: FCC/National Broadband Map 2023–2024 carrier filings and publicly announced C‑band/n41 deployments; local observations of corridor/coastal densification patterns.
• Broadband/FWA context: Delaware Broadband Office ARPA/last‑mile initiatives (2022–2025) and carrier availability maps for FWA.

All figures are the best available point‑in‑time estimates using 2022–2024 data; Sussex‑specific usage differs most from the state in age‑driven adoption, rural mobile reliance, and pronounced seasonal network dynamics.

Short breakdown: Social media usage in Sussex County, DE (2024)

What the numbers represent

• County-level figures below are modeled local estimates using Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social platform reach applied to Sussex County’s older-leaning age profile from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2023). They are suitable for planning and benchmarking.

Headline metrics

• Population context: ≈250,000 residents; older median age (upper 40s); strong seasonal tourism.
• Adults using the internet: ~90%.
• Adults using at least one social media platform: ~73%.
• Daily social media use among users: ~70%.

Most-used platforms (share of adults)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• TikTok: 33%
• Pinterest: 35%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• WhatsApp: 29%
• Snapchat: 27%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22%
• Nextdoor: ~20% (not in Pew core list; based on national neighborhood-app adoption)

Usage by age (share of adults in each group using any social media)

• 18–29: ~84% (platform mix skewed to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat)
• 30–49: ~81% (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram lead; TikTok growing)
• 50–64: ~73% (Facebook and YouTube dominant; Pinterest, LinkedIn secondary)
• 65+: ~45% (Facebook and YouTube heavily favored; limited TikTok/Snapchat)

Gender breakdown

• County adult population is slightly more female; social media users similarly skew female by a few points.
• Platform tendencies: women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X. Instagram is balanced to slightly female; LinkedIn skews male in usage frequency.

Behavioral trends observed locally

• Facebook is the community backbone: heavy use of Groups for HOAs, school and county updates, storm/traffic alerts, lost-and-found, and Marketplace for resale. Older residents engage most here.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for news, DIY, and long-form local content; Instagram Reels/TikTok for beaches, dining, events, and real estate.
• Seasonality is pronounced: May–September sees higher posting and engagement tied to Rehoboth/Lewes/Bethany tourism, hospitality jobs, beach traffic, and events; off-season emphasizes local government, schools, and services.
• Hyperlocal discovery: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups drive referrals for home services, healthcare, and contractors; reviews and neighbor recommendations strongly influence purchase decisions.
• Messaging patterns: Facebook Messenger is common across ages; WhatsApp is used within immigrant and hospitality communities for work coordination and community news.
• Content that performs: timely road/closure alerts, storm prep, local deals, festival guides, restaurant openings, home improvement tips, and healthcare/access updates. Visuals of coastline and seasonal activities outperform text-only posts.
• Timing: engagement typically peaks early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evening (6–9 p.m.); weekends are best for leisure and tourism content; real-time spikes occur during weather events and school/county announcements.
• Ads and conversion: Facebook/Instagram deliver cost-effective reach for events, restaurants, and services; LinkedIn is effective for healthcare, education, and skilled trades recruiting; Nextdoor drives high-intent leads for neighborhood services.
• Language and inclusivity: Spanish-language posts and bilingual assets improve reach with growing Hispanic communities; accessibility (captions, readable fonts) improves response among older users.

Sources and method

• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform reach among U.S. adults).
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 (population, age structure, broadband access).
• Localization applies national usage rates to Sussex County’s age distribution; platform-specific percentages reflect adult reach and are suitable as planning baselines for the county.