Dubuque County

Key demographics — Dubuque County, Iowa

Population

• 99,266 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age

• Under 5 years: ~5.9%
• Under 18 years: ~22.3%
• 65 years and over: ~18.5%
• Median age: ~38.5 years

Sex

• Female: ~50.6%
• Male: ~49.4%

Race/ethnicity

• White alone: ~91%
• Black or African American alone: ~2.5%
• Asian alone: ~1.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.3%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%
• Two or more races: ~2.9%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2.8%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~89%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~39,200
• Average household size: ~2.44
• Family households: ~63% of households
• Married-couple households: ~49%
• One-person households: ~28%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year estimates. Figures rounded.

Email usage in Dubuque County, IA (estimates)

• Population ~99,000; density ~160 people/sq mi. Adults ~77–78k.
• Email users: ~70–75k adults (about 90–95% of adults use email, applying national rates locally).
• By age (share using email): 18–29 ≈ 98%; 30–49 ≈ 96–98%; 50–64 ≈ 92–94%; 65+ ≈ 80–88% (most non‑use is among older adults).
• Gender split: essentially even, mirroring the county’s ~51% female / 49% male population among users.
• Digital access: Recent ACS data indicate roughly mid‑80s% of Dubuque County households subscribe to broadband (~33–35k of ~39–41k households). Smartphone ownership is widespread (>80% of adults), and a noticeable minority are smartphone‑only at home.
• Connectivity patterns: City of Dubuque has the highest broadband adoption and email engagement; rural townships show more gaps and lower speeds, relying more on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. Public libraries, schools, and community centers provide free Wi‑Fi/device access that supports email use.
• Trend: Gradual improvements in home broadband and 5G coverage, increasing fiber availability in populated areas, and continued digital inclusion efforts help narrow rural and senior gaps.

Below is a concise, data-informed overview. Figures are estimates derived from 2023–2024 national adoption benchmarks (Pew Research Center), ACS population structure, carrier coverage disclosures, and typical urban–rural adjustments for Iowa. Use as planning ranges rather than point-precise counts.

Headline snapshot (Dubuque County, IA)

• Population: ~99–100k (city of Dubuque is the core; surrounding townships are rural and hilly).
• Estimated mobile phone users (any cellphone): ~78k–83k residents.
• Estimated smartphone users: ~70k–76k residents.
• Network environment: Solid multi-carrier 4G/5G in the city and along US‑20/61/151; mixed performance in rural bluffs and river valleys.

User estimates and usage

• Any cellphone (adults + teens): Assume ~96% adult cellphone ownership and ~95% among teens → ~78k–83k users countywide.
• Smartphones: Assume ~86–90% adult smartphone ownership and ~95% among teens → ~70k–76k smartphone users.
• Mobile-only home internet (smartphone as primary connection): City neighborhoods ~15–20%; rural townships ~20–25%. County average likely a bit above Iowa’s large-metro average, but below the most rural Iowa counties.

Demographic patterns (how usage skews)

• Age:
  • 18–29: Near-saturation smartphone ownership; heavy app, video, and campus-driven data demand (three colleges in the city).
  • 30–64: High smartphone penetration; strong BYOD and employer-issued device presence (healthcare, manufacturing, logistics).
  • 65+: Lower but rising smartphone adoption; more basic-phone retention than younger cohorts; telehealth usage growing.
• Income/education:
  • Lower-income urban tracts display higher “mobile-only” reliance and prepaid uptake versus suburban Asbury/Key West areas.
  • College student presence increases upgrade cadence and 5G device mix in the city versus rural townships.
• Geography (urban vs. rural):
  • City of Dubuque: Denser 5G mid-band coverage, better indoor performance, and multiple home 5G/FWA options.
  • Rural bluffs/valleys (e.g., Sherrill, Balltown, Zwingle): More LTE/low-band 5G, occasional signal shadowing; external antennas/boosters more common.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • County is predominantly White with smaller Black and Hispanic communities concentrated in the city; these neighborhoods show higher mobile-only internet reliance than nearby suburban tracts.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Carriers: AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile all present. Mid-band 5G is strongest in/around the city and along highways; mmWave is limited/venue-specific.
• Terrain: Mississippi River bluffs introduce dead zones and handoff challenges not typical of flatter central Iowa counties.
• Corridors and nodes: Best performance along US‑20/61/151; densest site grids near downtown Dubuque, hospitals, college campuses, and commercial areas (Asbury/Key West).
• Fixed alternatives impacting mobile use:
  • Cable and growing fiber footprints in the city/suburbs reduce mobile-only dependence for many households.
  • 5G Home/Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) from T‑Mobile/Verizon is broadly available in the city and some suburbs; patchier in rural areas but often used where DSL is weak.
• Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T) coverage prioritized for responders; county emergency communications benefit from LTE/VoLTE but rural in-building coverage can still be variable.

How Dubuque County differs from Iowa statewide trends

• More mid-band 5G density than most rural Iowa counties, but less than Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, or Iowa City metros.
• Higher student and commuter device density creates peak-time congestion pockets (downtown, campuses, medical centers) more than a typical Iowa county of similar size.
• Terrain-driven coverage gaps are more pronounced than in Iowa’s flatter regions; residents more likely to use boosters/external antennas in valleys.
• Slightly higher share of mobile-only internet in specific urban low-income tracts, yet lower countywide mobile-only dependence than Iowa’s most rural counties due to city cable/fiber options.
• Cross-border effects: Proximity to Illinois/Wisconsin sites across the Mississippi means more inter-market handoffs/edge-of-market behavior than interior Iowa counties.
• Device mix skews newer in the city (student/enterprise influence) compared with rural Iowa averages, aiding 5G uptake and higher median speeds in town.
• Enterprise/industrial fleets (manufacturing, healthcare) contribute a larger slice of total lines than in many rural counties, tilting network choice toward carriers with stronger enterprise footprints.

Planning implications

• Prioritize rural valley/bluff fill-in and along secondary roads for reliability gains that move the county above Iowa rural norms.
• Expand mid-band 5G sectors and small cells around campuses, hospitals, and downtown to alleviate peak congestion.
• Pair infrastructure with targeted affordability and digital skills programs in city tracts showing higher mobile-only reliance to narrow intra-county gaps.

Below is a concise, county-level snapshot using Dubuque County’s demographic profile combined with national/state usage norms (primarily Pew Research Center 2023–24 and Midwestern patterns). Exact platform counts aren’t publicly reported at the county level, so figures are modeled estimates.

Topline user stats

• Active social media users: roughly 60,000–70,000 residents (about 80–85% of adults; teens push the total upward).
• Multi-platform behavior: typical adult uses 2–3 platforms; teens/young adults 3–5.
• Posting vs. lurking: older adults disproportionately consume/reshare; younger users create short-form video and Stories/Snaps.

Most-used platforms (estimated share of adult residents)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 65–72% (highest daily-use platform locally)
• Instagram: 40–55%
• Snapchat: 30–45% (dominant among teens/20s)
• TikTok: 28–40% (fast growth; strongest under 35)
• Pinterest: 25–35% (skews women, home/food/crafts)
• LinkedIn: 20–30% (professionals, healthcare/education/manufacturing managers)
• X/Twitter: 15–22% (news/sports-heavy)
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (neighborhood/utilitarian use; not universal)

Age patterns (share using at least one platform; platform skews)

• Teens (13–17): 90–95%; YouTube ~95, Snapchat/TikTok 70–85, Instagram 60–75; Facebook low.
• 18–29: 95%+; YouTube ~95, Instagram/Snapchat 70–80, TikTok 45–60, Facebook 55–65.
• 30–49: 85–90%; Facebook 70–80, YouTube 85–90, Instagram 50–60, TikTok/Snapchat 30–40, LinkedIn 30–40.
• 50–64: 70–80%; Facebook 65–70, YouTube 70–80, Pinterest 30–40, Instagram 25–35, TikTok 15–25.
• 65+: 50–60%; Facebook 55–60, YouTube 55–60; others typically 10–20.

Gender breakdown (tendencies among local users)

• Women: slightly more likely overall; over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; high participation in Groups, school/church pages, Marketplace.
• Men: over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X; follow sports, outdoor/recreation, local news; more long-form video consumption.
• Overall split among local social users likely near 52% women / 48% men (reflects age-weighted population).

Notable behavioral trends in Dubuque County

• Community-centric use: heavy reliance on Facebook Groups and Pages for schools, boosters, churches, youth sports, and civic updates.
• Marketplace culture: strong buy/sell/trade activity; DMs to finalize transactions; weekend morning spikes.
• Event-driven spikes: county fair, school-year milestones, parades/festivals, weather closures, construction/road conditions along key corridors.
• Local news discovery: Facebook first; YouTube clips and short-form video growing; X used by a smaller news-savvy segment.
• Small business marketing: Facebook and Instagram for reach; Reels/shorts for promotions; boosted posts common among retailers, salons, restaurants.
• Youth behavior: Snapchat for messaging and streaks; TikTok/Instagram Reels for creation; YouTube for how-tos, gaming, and sports highlights.
• Older adult behavior: Facebook for community updates and grandkids’ content; higher reshare rates; cautious adoption of TikTok/Instagram.
• Time-of-day patterns: morning commutes and late evenings see engagement peaks; weather events drive real-time surges.
• Cross-border “Tri-State” influence: content and groups regularly include nearby WI/IL communities; regional services and events co-mingle.

Notes

• Figures are estimates adapted from national/state research to Dubuque County’s age mix and rural–small metro context. For campaign planning, validate with platform ad tools or local panel data.