Saint Lucie County

Key demographics – Saint Lucie County, Florida

Population size

• Total population: 329,226 (2020 Census)
• 2023 population estimate: about 376,000 (U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program), up roughly 14% since 2020

Age

• Median age: about 46 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~25%

Gender

• Female: ~52%
• Male: ~48%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2023 1-year, shares sum to ~100%)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~49%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~19%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~24%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~2%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~5%
• Other (including American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander), non-Hispanic: ~1%

Households

• Total households: about 142,000
• Average household size: ~2.6 persons
• Family households: ~68% of households; married-couple households: ~47%
• Households with children under 18: ~28%
• Tenure: owner-occupied ~76%; renter-occupied ~24%

Insights

• Rapid growth since 2020 driven largely by in-migration.
• Older-adult share (65+) is well above the U.S. average, influencing healthcare, housing, and services demand.
• Racial/ethnic diversity is significant, with nearly one-quarter of residents identifying as Hispanic/Latino.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2023 Population Estimates; 2023 American Community Survey 1-year). Figures rounded for clarity.

• Estimated adult email users: ~255,000 in Saint Lucie County (2023 pop ≈375,000; ≈81% adults; ≈91% of adults use the internet; ≈92% of internet users use email).
• Age distribution of adult email users: 18–24: 10%; 25–44: 32%; 45–64: 33%; 65+: 25%. The county’s older age profile shifts a larger share into 45–64 and 65+ versus national norms.
• Gender split: ~52% female, ~48% male among email users, mirroring the county’s sex ratio.
• Digital access and trends (ACS S2801):
  • 93% of households have a computer.
  • 87% have a broadband subscription at home.
  • ~12% are cellular-data-only households (smartphone-only internet). Email reach is strong countywide, but mobile-first reading is common in these homes.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ≈655 people per square mile (high along the Port St. Lucie–Fort Pierce corridor).
  • Urbanized east-county neighborhoods enjoy the broadest cable/fiber availability; lower-density western areas have fewer wireline options, increasing reliance on mobile networks.

Implication: Email is a near-universal channel locally, with the largest active cohorts aged 25–64 and a meaningful mobile-first segment that benefits from short, lightweight, responsive designs.

Saint Lucie County, FL — Mobile phone usage snapshot (most recent public data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2018–2022; state comparisons are Florida-wide from the same source; population baseline from 2022 ACS)

User estimates

• Population baseline: ~361,000 residents; ~82% are 18+.
• Estimated adult smartphone users: ~270,000 (assumes ~90% adult smartphone ownership, aligned with national adult rates and local household device indicators).
• Household-level mobile adoption (ACS S2801):
  • Households with a smartphone: ~91–92% in Saint Lucie vs ~93% statewide.
  • Households with a cellular data plan (for a smartphone/other mobile device): ~77% in Saint Lucie vs ~79% statewide.
  • Households using cellular data plan as their only internet subscription (mobile-only internet): ~10% in Saint Lucie vs ~8% statewide.
  • Households with any broadband subscription: ~86% in Saint Lucie vs ~88% statewide.

Demographic breakdown and how it shapes usage

• Age structure: Saint Lucie’s 65+ share is several points higher than Florida overall (county ~25–26% vs state ~21%), which correlates with:
  • Slightly lower household smartphone and broadband adoption than the state average.
  • Higher share of mobile-only internet in lower-income senior households seeking simpler, lower-cost plans.
• Income and housing:
  • Median household income is modestly below the Florida median, aligning with higher reliance on prepaid plans and mobile-only internet among renters and cost-sensitive households (notably in and around Fort Pierce).
• Race/ethnicity:
  • A diverse mix (notably sizable Black and Hispanic communities) supports strong mobile-first app usage for communication, work, and education; community-level programs and multilingual services see above-average mobile engagement compared with fixed broadband channels.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 5G availability: All three national carriers (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) provide countywide 5G coverage, with mid‑band 5G concentrated in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, along I‑95/Florida’s Turnpike/US‑1, and commercial corridors. Western agricultural areas lean more on low‑band 5G/LTE.
• Capacity patterns:
  • Urban/suburban nodes (St. Lucie West, Tradition, US‑1 retail corridors) show strong capacity and dense small‑cell augmentation relative to rural tracts.
  • Seasonal population surges and rapid in‑migration drive ongoing sector splits and small‑cell builds, particularly around new housing and logistics hubs.
• Backhaul and fixed access context:
  • Cable and fiber broadband are widely available in incorporated areas, but pockets lacking affordable wired options correlate with the county’s higher mobile‑only share than the state.
  • Public Wi‑Fi and institutional connectivity (schools, libraries, government) are important complements for households without fixed broadband, reinforcing mobile-first behavior.

Trends that differ from Florida state-level norms

• Slightly lower household smartphone and broadband adoption than the state average despite rapid population growth, reflecting an older age profile and income mix.
• Higher dependence on mobile-only internet than the state, indicating that cellular data is filling affordability and availability gaps in fixed broadband.
• Faster demand growth on cellular networks than statewide averages due to in‑migration and new subdivisions in Port St. Lucie/St. Lucie West, necessitating accelerated densification compared with similar Florida counties.
• More pronounced urban–rural performance split: strong mid‑band 5G in the Port St. Lucie–Fort Pierce corridor versus low‑band reliance and sparser capacity in western tracts.

Key takeaways

• Approximately nine in ten households have smartphones, but Saint Lucie trails Florida slightly on both smartphone and broadband adoption while exceeding the state in mobile‑only internet use.
• An older, cost‑sensitive demographic mix and pockets of limited/less‑affordable fixed broadband push higher reliance on cellular data.
• Continued 5G densification in growth corridors and targeted digital‑inclusion efforts (affordable fixed service options and device support for seniors and low‑income renters) would most effectively narrow the county’s gaps versus state-level patterns.

Social media usage in Saint Lucie County, FL (2025)

Snapshot

• Adults using at least one social platform monthly: 82% (modeled local estimate)
• Smartphone ownership among adults: 89%; home broadband subscription: 88% (ACS-based local estimate)
• Primary access: mobile-first (≈90% of social use on smartphones)

Age and gender profile of adult social media users (share of users)

• 18–29: 18%
• 30–44: 27%
• 45–64: 35%
• 65+: 20%
• Gender: 54% female, 46% male

Most-used platforms among adults in Saint Lucie County (share of adults; modeled local estimates)

• YouTube: 80%
• Facebook: 66%
• Instagram: 39%
• WhatsApp: 27%
• TikTok: 26%
• Pinterest: 27%
• Snapchat: 19%
• X (Twitter): 16%
• Nextdoor: 18%
• LinkedIn: 22%

Use frequency and engagement

• Daily use among platform users: Facebook ~70%, Instagram ~63%, Snapchat ~65%, TikTok ~60%, YouTube ~54%
• Typical peaks: 7–9 a.m. and 6–9 p.m. ET; weather events and school/municipal announcements drive sharp surges

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the default local network: strong engagement in community groups (HOAs, schools, buy/sell, events) and Marketplace; older and family audiences dominate
• YouTube is widely used for local how‑to content, home improvement, fishing/boating, church services, and high school sports highlights
• Instagram and TikTok growth centers on millennials and younger families for local food, beaches, and weekend activities; short‑form video outperforms static posts
• WhatsApp has above‑average use for family/ethnic networks (notably Spanish and Caribbean communities) and microbusiness customer messaging
• Nextdoor is relied on for neighborhood alerts, contractor referrals, and hurricane prep/recovery updates
• Messaging-first customer service is common: Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp drive appointment requests and quick quotes for home, health, beauty, and auto services
• Seniors are highly active on Facebook groups and Nextdoor; Pinterest remains popular among women for home, crafts, and lifestyle
• Local news and public safety content over-indexes; storm season significantly lifts reach and sharing across Facebook and Nextdoor
• Effective ad tactics: geo-targeting around Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Tradition; click‑to‑call, lead forms, and event RSVPs outperform link-outs; vertical video and UGC-style creative lift CTRs

Method note

• Figures are 2025 modeled local estimates derived from Saint Lucie County’s age/gender composition (ACS) and platform adoption/frequency by age from recent U.S. studies, adjusted for Florida-specific patterns (e.g., higher WhatsApp and neighborhood‑app use).