Dupage County

Key demographics – DuPage County, Illinois (latest Census/ACS estimates; figures rounded)

• Population size: ~930,000 (2023)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~40 years
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 65 and over: ~17%
• Sex (ACS “sex” variable): ~50.8% female, ~49.2% male
• Race/ethnicity (mutually exclusive; Hispanic shown separately):
  • Non-Hispanic White: ~64%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~15%
  • Non-Hispanic Asian: ~14%
  • Non-Hispanic Black: ~5%
  • Non-Hispanic Two or more races/Other: ~2%
• Households:
  • ~345,000 households
  • Average household size: ~2.7
  • Family households: ~69% of households (married-couple families ~54%)
  • With children under 18: ~31%
  • One-person households: ~23%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 (5-year) and Population Estimates Program (2023). Percentages and counts rounded for readability.

Overview (DuPage County, IL)

• Estimated email users: roughly 700,000–730,000 residents. Basis: ~930k population; ~78% adults; ~92% of U.S. adults use email (Pew). Including teens lifts total into low 700k range.
• Age: Email adoption is very high across ages but dips among seniors.
  • 18–29: ~95%+
  • 30–49: ~97%
  • 50–64: ~94%
  • 65+: ~85–90% Result: user base skews toward 30–64 due to both population share and high adoption.
• Gender split: Approximately even (men ≈ women), with negligible difference in usage (Pew).
• Digital access trends:
  • About 94% of households have a broadband subscription and ~96% have a computer (ACS, recent years).
  • Strong mobile access; extensive 5G coverage from major carriers; high smartphone adoption (nationally ~90%).
  • Ongoing fiber expansion (e.g., AT&T Fiber) alongside cable broadband (e.g., Xfinity) supports high email reliability and usage.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ≈ 2,700–2,800 residents per square mile across ~336 square miles.
  • Over 330,000 households; robust library and municipal Wi‑Fi footprints augment access. Net: DuPage’s high broadband penetration and device access make email nearly ubiquitous, with only a modest age-related gap among residents 65+.

Below is a concise, decision-ready snapshot of mobile phone usage in DuPage County, IL, with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns. Figures are best-available estimates synthesized from recent ACS (Types of Computers/Internet Subscriptions), NTIA, Pew, FCC filings/coverage maps, and metro Chicago market data. Use ranges as planning guides and validate with the latest ACS 5‑year tabulations for final decisions.

At‑a‑glance user estimates (DuPage County)

• Adult smartphone users: roughly 660,000–700,000 (about 92–95% of ~720,000 adults)
• Households with at least one smartphone: about 310,000–325,000 (≈92–95% of ~340,000 households)
• “Cellular‑only” internet households (mobile data plan with no other home internet): about 24,000–31,000 (≈7–9% of households), notably lower than Illinois overall (≈14–18%)

How DuPage differs from Illinois (key trends)

• Lower dependence on mobile‑only internet: County rates are roughly half the statewide share. Most DuPage residents pair smartphones with home broadband and Wi‑Fi, reducing mobile data reliance.
• Higher smartphone adoption among seniors: Adoption among 65+ is several points higher than the Illinois average; the county’s income/education profile narrows the age gap.
• Smaller digital divide by income/education: Gaps persist but are less pronounced than statewide. Even lower‑income areas in DuPage show more fixed broadband uptake than similar communities elsewhere in Illinois.
• Heavier Wi‑Fi offload and device bundling: High home broadband penetration (cable/fiber) drives more app use over Wi‑Fi and family plan adoption, dampening per‑user cellular data dependence compared with statewide norms.
• More uniform coverage/capacity: Being a dense suburban county, DuPage has fewer coverage dead zones than downstate/rural Illinois and benefits from extensive 5G mid‑band overlays.

Demographic breakdown (directional differences vs. state)

• Age
  • 18–34: Near‑universal smartphone adoption (~98–99%), similar to IL.
  • 35–64: Very high adoption (~95–98%), slightly above IL.
  • 65+: About 80–85% adoption in DuPage (a few points higher than IL). Cellular‑only internet among seniors is materially lower than statewide.
• Income
  • < $35k: Mobile‑only internet is elevated but generally in the high‑teens to low‑20s percent in DuPage, versus ~30%+ statewide.
  • ≥ $100k: Near‑universal smartphone adoption; mobile‑only internet typically in the low single digits in DuPage, several points below IL.
• Education
  • HS or less: Higher likelihood of mobile‑only than county average, but still below IL’s comparable group.
  • Bachelor’s+: Near‑universal smartphones; mobile‑only share in low single digits, lower than IL.
• Race/ethnicity (relative patterns)
  • Hispanic and Black households: Higher mobile‑only reliance than DuPage’s overall average, but meaningfully lower than Illinois’ group averages.
  • White and Asian households: High smartphone adoption; mobile‑only usage in low single digits to low teens, below statewide rates for these groups.

Digital infrastructure notes (what stands out in DuPage)

• 5G coverage and capacity: AT&T, T‑Mobile, and Verizon provide near‑ubiquitous 5G across the county. Mid‑band 5G (C‑band/n41) is widely deployed along major corridors (I‑88, I‑355, IL‑59, Roosevelt Rd), supporting strong median speeds and indoor coverage relative to many Illinois counties.
• Dense backhaul: Multiple long‑haul and metro fiber providers (e.g., AT&T, Comcast, Zayo, Crown Castle and others) track the tollways, Metra lines, and commercial corridors, feeding robust cell‑site backhaul. Proximity to Chicago’s data‑center/IXP ecosystem keeps latency low.
• Small‑cell densification: Notable concentrations around high‑traffic retail and downtown districts (e.g., Naperville, Oak Brook, Wheaton, Downers Grove), contributing to more consistent mid‑band performance than typical downstate markets.
• Public safety and resiliency: Strong FirstNet/NG911 support and redundant fiber rings common to the Chicago metro underpin network resiliency, a differentiator from many Illinois counties.
• Public/anchor connectivity: Libraries, schools, and park districts broadly offer Wi‑Fi and device/hotspot lending; these programs help keep mobile‑only rates lower than statewide averages.

Implications for planning and outreach

• Optimize for Wi‑Fi offload and multi‑device households: Expect high app usage but lower mobile data dependence at home; ensure seamless handoff and in‑building coverage.
• Targeted inclusion efforts: Focus subsidies, device support, and digital literacy in specific lower‑income and LEP pockets (e.g., parts of Addison, Glendale Heights, West Chicago) where mobile‑only reliance is concentrated.
• Capacity more than coverage: Investments that add sectorization/small cells near employment/retail nodes will yield more benefit than broad coverage expansions.

Sources and methods (for validation)

• U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 (S2801 Types of Computers/Internet Subscriptions; PUMS for demographic breakouts), NTIA Internet Use Survey, Pew Research Center (smartphone adoption), FCC 5G/C‑band filings and carrier coverage disclosures, metro‑Chicago fiber maps and market reports.
• Notes: Figures are modeled county estimates triangulated from the above; use the latest ACS 5‑year release for exact county percentages and to refresh the cellular‑only household share.

Here’s a concise, locally oriented snapshot. Where local, platform-level data aren’t published, figures are estimated by applying recent U.S. averages (Pew Research Center, 2024; Pew Teens, 2023) to DuPage County’s adult population. Treat them as directional, not exact.

Quick context

• Population: ~930,000 (DuPage County). Adults (18+): ~720,000.
• Social media reach (any platform): roughly 70–80% of adults → about 500,000–575,000 adults use at least one platform.

Most‑used platforms among adults (estimated share and user counts)

• YouTube: ~83% → ~600k users
• Facebook: ~68% → ~490k
• Instagram: ~47% → ~340k
• TikTok: ~33% → ~240k
• LinkedIn: ~30% → ~215k
• Snapchat: ~30% → ~215k
• Pinterest: ~30% → ~215k
• X (Twitter): ~27% → ~195k
• Reddit: ~22% → ~160k
• WhatsApp: ~21% → ~150k
• Nextdoor: notable in suburbs; likely high neighborhood penetration, but no reliable county‑level percent. Usage concentrated among homeowners and HOAs.

Age patterns (who uses what, most to least)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube (≈95%), TikTok and Snapchat lead daily use; Instagram strong; Facebook low. Heavy short‑video creation/consumption; messaging via Snapchat/Instagram DMs.
• 18–29: Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok dominate; Reddit/X niche but meaningful; Facebook secondary (Groups/Marketplace still used).
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube nearly universal; Instagram strong; TikTok rising; LinkedIn above average (career mobility); Nextdoor used by homeowners; WhatsApp for family/intl ties.
• 50–64: Facebook, YouTube core; Pinterest/Nextdoor meaningful; Instagram moderate; TikTok growing for entertainment/how‑to content.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube lead; Nextdoor and Pinterest for local info and hobbies; Instagram/TikTok lower but growing.

Gender skews (based on U.S. patterns; DuPage overall is ~51% female)

• More female: Pinterest (heavily), Instagram (slight), Facebook (slight), TikTok (slight).
• More male: Reddit (strong), X/Twitter (moderate), YouTube (slight).
• Balanced: LinkedIn, Snapchat (near parity but younger‑female tilt).

Behavioral trends in DuPage (suburban, family‑ and career‑oriented)

• Facebook Groups are central for schools, youth sports, park district activities, and city/township updates; Marketplace is a top local buying/selling channel.
• Nextdoor use for neighborhood alerts, contractor recommendations, lost/found, HOA communication; spikes around weather events and municipal notices.
• Instagram is key for local restaurants, boutiques, fitness studios, and creators; Stories/Reels drive discovery; UGC and reviews influence dining and services.
• TikTok growth in younger adults and families for food recs, home/DIY, hyperlocal “things to do” content; cross‑posting to Instagram Reels common.
• YouTube is the default “how‑to” and product research platform across ages; local service providers use Shorts for quick tips and credibility.
• LinkedIn over-indexes vs. rural areas due to a large white‑collar workforce; used for hiring, B2B outreach, and community leadership visibility.
• Messaging: Snapchat (teens/20s) and WhatsApp (multilingual and international families) are important backchannels; many local businesses field DMs for customer service.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings and weekends; weekday early‑morning/late‑evening checks common among commuters.
• Privacy/brand safety: Higher sensitivity to safety, schools, and taxes drives strong engagement with civic content; misinformation concerns elevate the role of official pages.

Notes and method

• Platform percentages are U.S. adult usage rates (Pew, 2024) multiplied by DuPage’s ~720k adults to yield estimated local counts; teen patterns from Pew Teens (2023).
• Actual local shares vary by city (Naperville, Wheaton, Elmhurst, etc.), homeownership, and language communities.