Pasco County

Pasco County, Florida — key demographics (latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates)

Population size

• Total population: 622,000 (2023 estimate)
• Growth since 2010: +34% (from ~464,000 in 2010)

Age

• Median age: 45.0 years
• Under 18: 20.0%
• 18 to 64: 54.5%
• 65 and over: 25.5%

Gender

• Female: 51.4%
• Male: 48.6%

Racial/ethnic composition (mutually exclusive)

• White, non-Hispanic: 65%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): 20%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 6%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: 3%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 5%
• Other (incl. American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander), non-Hispanic: 1%

Household data

• Total households: 251,000
• Average household size: 2.49
• Family households: 64% of households
• Married-couple families: 49% of households
• Households with children under 18: 25%
• Households with someone age 65+: 39%
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 77%

Insights

• Rapid growth and an older-leaning age profile (one-quarter 65+).
• High homeownership and predominance of family and married-couple households.
• Increasing diversity, with roughly one in five residents identifying as Hispanic/Latino.

Pasco County, FL overview

• Population and density: ≈622,000 residents (2023 est.); ≈830 people per sq. mile.
• Estimated email users: ≈480,000 residents (≈77% of population), derived from adult internet/email adoption and teen usage rates.
• Age distribution of email users (estimate): 13–17 ≈6%; 18–34 ≈19%; 35–54 ≈31%; 55–64 ≈19%; 65+ ≈25%. High usage among working-age adults; strong but slightly lower adoption among 65+.
• Gender split (estimate): ≈52% women, 48% men, mirroring county demographics.
• Digital access and trends:
  • ≈89% of households have a broadband subscription, implying roughly 224,000 of ≈252,000 households are online.
  • Fixed broadband ≥100/20 Mbps available to ≈95–97% of addresses; coverage gaps persist in rural north/east tracts.
  • ≈13% of households are smartphone‑only, supporting heavy mobile email use.
  • Ongoing cable/fiber upgrades (e.g., Spectrum gigabit, Frontier fiber buildouts) are lifting speeds and closing gaps, boosting email adoption among seniors and lower‑income users.
• Local connectivity facts: Dense, well‑served corridors include Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, and New Port Richey; exurban areas show lower subscription rates despite nominal availability.

Mobile phone usage in Pasco County, FL — summary with county-specific contrasts to statewide patterns

Scale and user estimates

• Population base: ~620,000 residents (2023). Older age profile than Florida overall (median age mid‑40s; roughly 1 in 4 residents is 65+).
• Active smartphone users: approximately 480,000–520,000 residents (about 88–92% of adults). This runs a bit below Florida’s statewide adult smartphone adoption (roughly low‑90s%) because Pasco’s age structure skews older.
• Mobile connections: roughly 690,000–750,000 active cellular connections in the county (about 1.1–1.2 lines per resident), aligning with Florida’s high multi‑device norm but slightly under the densest urban counties.
• Mobile‑only internet households: estimated 15–18% of households rely primarily on a cellular data plan (no wireline broadband at home), marginally above Florida’s statewide share (generally low‑ to mid‑teens). This is concentrated in lower‑income tracts west of US‑19 and rural pockets north/east of SR‑52.

Demographic usage patterns (how Pasco differs from Florida)

• Age: Seniors (65+) make up a larger share in Pasco (~26% vs ~21% statewide). This reduces overall smartphone penetration and 5G device penetration a few points versus Florida averages, and raises the share of voice/SMS‑first usage. Telehealth and patient‑portal usage via phones among seniors is growing faster year over year than the state average off a lower base.
• Income and education: West Pasco’s lower‑income corridor (notably along US‑19 and in parts of Hudson/New Port Richey) shows above‑average “smartphone‑only” reliance and higher prepaid adoption compared with Florida overall. In contrast, higher‑income suburbs (Wesley Chapel, Trinity, parts of Land O’ Lakes) over‑index on multi‑device households, hotspot use, and 5G device ownership.
• Race/ethnicity: Hispanic residents (roughly high‑teens percent share countywide) are younger on average and skew mobile‑first for everyday internet access at rates comparable to Florida’s Hispanic population, but the county’s overall older age mix keeps countywide smartphone adoption slightly below the state.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Macro coverage: All three national carriers provide countywide LTE and 5G. Mid‑band 5G is strongest along I‑75, the SR‑54/56 corridor (Wesley Chapel–Trinity), Suncoast Parkway (SR‑589), and the US‑19 spine. Rural northeast (near Dade City and Trilby) and parts of central/northern SR‑52 still fall back to LTE/low‑band 5G more often than Florida’s metro counties.
• Capacity upgrades: C‑band (Verizon/AT&T) and 2.5 GHz mid‑band (T‑Mobile) have been actively deployed since 2022 across Tampa Bay, with notable density in Wesley Chapel/Wiregrass, Trinity, and commercial nodes along SR‑54/56. Millimeter‑wave remains limited to small commercial zones and event venues.
• Backhaul and fiber: Rapid suburban build‑out has driven robust fiber backhaul along SR‑54/56, I‑75 interchanges, and Suncoast Parkway. The “Connected City” developments in Wesley Chapel (e.g., Epperson, Mirada) feature gigabit fiber that underpins strong 5G performance and dense small‑cell siting. Ongoing FTTH expansions by major ISPs in south/west Pasco improve offload and indoor coverage; rural north/east lags more than the Florida average.
• Public/enterprise demand drivers: Logistics/industrial growth near I‑75/SR‑52 and medical campuses in Wesley Chapel create daytime capacity hotspots. County traffic signal and corridor fiber projects along SR‑54/56 and US‑19 provide dark‑fiber/transport opportunities that have accelerated small‑cell and backhaul deployment relative to many Florida peer counties.

Key trends versus the Florida baseline

• Slightly lower overall smartphone and 5G device penetration due to a larger senior population, but faster year‑over‑year growth in senior smartphone use than the state average.
• Higher mobile‑only internet reliance in specific west‑Pasco and rural census tracts than Florida overall, reflecting income and housing mix.
• A pronounced intra‑county split: southern/suburban Pasco matches or exceeds Florida metro‑area 5G capacity and speeds, while rural northeast coverage and capacity trail the statewide metro norm more than in many counties.
• Network investment is tightly aligned to new housing and commercial growth corridors, producing faster capacity improvements in Pasco’s south/central zones than the typical Florida county with less greenfield development.

Bottom line Pasco County’s mobile landscape is characterized by near‑universal smartphone access with a modest adoption gap versus Florida overall, a higher‑than‑average pocket of mobile‑only households, and a two‑speed infrastructure story: metro‑grade 5G capacity in the fast‑growing south/central corridors and more persistent LTE/low‑band dependence in rural north/east areas. These differences from the statewide picture are driven primarily by age distribution, income/geography splits, and concentrated fiber‑backed build‑outs along SR‑54/56 and I‑75.

Social media usage in Pasco County, FL — 2025 snapshot

Scope and sources

• Figures below combine the latest county demographics (U.S. Census/ACS) with current U.S. adult social media usage rates from Pew Research (2023–2024) to produce localized, policy-grade estimates for Pasco County (Tampa Bay MSA). Where county-specific platform data are not published, platform shares mirror the national adult baseline, which track closely in suburban Florida counties.

User stats (adults)

• Overall social media penetration: ≈ 80% of adults use at least one social platform.
• Internet/smartphone access: ~90% smartphone ownership; ~85–90% of households with broadband (Pasco tracks near Florida averages).

Most-used platforms (share of adults; best local point estimates)

• YouTube ~83%
• Facebook ~68%
• Instagram ~47%
• TikTok ~33%
• Pinterest ~35%
• LinkedIn ~30%
• Snapchat ~27%
• Reddit ~22%
• X (Twitter) ~22%
• WhatsApp ~21%
• Nextdoor ~19% Notes: Facebook and YouTube are the clear reach leaders for Pasco; Instagram is the third major reach channel; TikTok is the fastest-growing short‑form video channel; Nextdoor over-indexes in HOA/suburban neighborhoods typical of Pasco.

Age groups (usage patterns and relative intensity)

• 13–17: High on Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube; light on Facebook.
• 18–24: Near-universal YouTube; heavy Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok; moderate Facebook.
• 25–34: Broad mix; Instagram and YouTube lead; TikTok strong; Facebook used for groups/Marketplace.
• 35–44: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram steady; TikTok growing.
• 45–54: Facebook and YouTube primary; Instagram moderate; TikTok emerging.
• 55–64: Facebook and YouTube strong; Instagram light; TikTok limited but rising.
• 65+: Facebook is the anchor network; YouTube widely used; limited Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat. Benchmarks: By age nationally, YouTube usage ranges ≈60% (65+) to >90% (under 50); Facebook ≈50% (65+) to ~75% (30–49); Instagram ≈15% (65+) to ~75–80% (18–29); TikTok ≈10% (65+) to ~60% (18–29). Pasco skews slightly older than the U.S., so tilt toward Facebook/YouTube is amplified locally.

Gender breakdown (platform skew)

• Female: Over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; strong participation in neighborhood/parent/teacher and buy/sell groups.
• Male: Over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X; higher engagement with sports, tech, finance, and local government content.
• Overall county gender split is roughly balanced (slight female majority), which marginally favors Facebook/Pinterest reach.

Behavioral trends in Pasco

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups and Nextdoor are central for HOA updates, school news, lost-and-found pets, local services, and storm/hurricane information. Facebook Marketplace is a high-traffic local commerce channel.
• Short-form video lift: TikTok and Instagram Reels drive discovery for restaurants, events, real estate, fitness, and trades; creators favor “before/after” and neighborhood spotlights.
• Utility content on YouTube: High engagement with DIY, home improvement, automotive, fishing/boating, and recordings/clips of local government meetings or school board issues.
• Messaging backbone: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous for community coordination; WhatsApp use is steady in multilingual and service-industry circles.
• Seasonal/event spikes: Storm seasons and school-year milestones trigger sharp increases in local news group activity and information sharing.
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (6–9 a.m.) and evening (6–10 p.m.); weekend afternoons show strong marketplace and events traffic.

Practical implications

• For broad reach, lead with Facebook + YouTube; add Instagram for under‑45s and TikTok for incremental under‑35 reach.
• Use Groups/Nextdoor for hyperlocal targeting (zip/HOA/school) and Marketplace for demand capture.
• Prioritize short, vertical video and community-relevant topics; pair with Messenger/WhatsApp CTAs for response-driven campaigns.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (latest release); Pew Research Center, Social Media Use (2023–2024). Figures represent best-available localized estimates aligned to Pasco County’s demographic profile within the Tampa Bay MSA.