Queen Annes County

Queen Anne’s County, Maryland — key demographics

Population size

• Total population (2020 Census): 49,874
• Population estimate (July 1, 2023): approximately 51,900 (+4% since 2020)

Age

• Median age: about 45 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18 to 64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023)

• White (alone): ~86%
• Black or African American (alone): ~7%
• Asian (alone): ~1–2%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~5%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~82%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~20,500
• Average household size: ~2.6 persons
• Family households: ~70–72% of households
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~84%

Insights

• The county is modestly growing, older than the national median age, predominantly White, and characterized by high owner-occupancy and mid-sized households.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2023 Population Estimates Program).

Queen Anne’s County, MD overview

• Population and density: ~52,000 residents; ~140 people per sq mi. Highest density and connectivity on Kent Island and along the US‑50/301 corridor; sparser, more variable service in the agricultural interior.
• Estimated email users: ~39,500 residents. Assumes ~91% adoption among adults and typical U.S. teen usage, reflecting Maryland’s high connectivity.
• Age distribution of email users (share of users): • 18–29: ~19% • 30–49: ~31% • 50–64: ~27% • 65+: ~23%
• Gender split among users: ≈51% female, 49% male (email adoption is effectively parity by gender).
• Digital access trends: • Broadband: About nine in ten households maintain a broadband subscription, with cable/fiber widely available on Kent Island/Grasonville and along major corridors; fixed wireless/DSL fill gaps inland. • Devices: Mid‑ to high‑90% of households have a computer and/or smartphone; smartphone‑only access remains a minority but present in rural pockets. • Usage: Commuter ties to Annapolis–Baltimore–D.C. support heavy email reliance for work, government services, healthcare, and schools; older adults increasingly use email for telehealth and local services.

Net insight: Email penetration is broad and mature, with the highest intensity in the Bay Bridge/Kent Island corridor and modest access constraints in low‑density interior areas.

Mobile phone usage in Queen Anne’s County, MD — 2024–2025 snapshot

Topline size and penetration

• Population: approximately 52,000 residents; about 40,500–41,500 are age 13+.
• Estimated mobile phone users (any mobile phone): about 41,900 residents, or roughly 80% of the total population (≈97% of those age 13+).
• Estimated smartphone users: about 39,500 residents (≈75% of total population; ≈94% of those age 13+).
• Active mobile subscriptions (phones, tablets, watches, hotspots): 62,000–68,000 lines, assuming 1.2–1.3 lines per resident, reflecting multi‑device households and vehicle/boat hotspots along the Bay.

Demographic breakdown (estimates based on county age structure and current U.S. adoption rates)

• Teens (13–17): ~3,100 residents; smartphone adoption ≈95% → ~3,000 users.
• Young adults (18–34): ~9,400 residents; smartphone adoption ≈97% → ~9,100 users.
• Prime working age (35–64): ~22,400 residents; smartphone adoption ≈91% → ~20,300 users.
• Seniors (65+): ~8,800 residents; smartphone adoption ≈80% → ~7,100 users; any‑mobile adoption ≈92% → ~8,100 users.
• Household profile: high homeownership and above‑state median incomes translate to higher rates of multi‑line plans and connected accessories (watches, vehicle hotspots), especially in commuter households on Kent Island and the US‑50/301 corridor.

Digital infrastructure and coverage highlights

• Coverage footprint: 4G LTE is effectively countywide in populated areas; 5G coverage from the national carriers is concentrated along the US‑50/301 corridor (Kent Island, Chester/Stevensville, Grasonville/Queenstown) and in/around Centreville and Church Hill, with more variable performance in sparsely populated northern and interior agricultural zones.
• Performance pattern: mid‑band 5G (e.g., 2.5 GHz and C‑band) delivers the fastest speeds on and near the highways and town centers; low‑band 5G/LTE carries most rural coverage. mmWave is rare and limited to a few high‑traffic nodes, not a broad layer.
• Seasonal and event load: weekend/summer surges tied to Bay Bridge/Ocean City traffic and boating activity create recurrent congestion spikes on the corridor and Kent Island sectors.
• Redundancy: macro towers are the dominant layer; small‑cell density is modest outside the principal corridors. Public‑safety (FirstNet) coverage mirrors AT&T’s macro footprint and is robust along the highway and town centers.
• Fixed broadband interplay: cable/fiber is strong on Kent Island and around Centreville, but rural pockets remain reliant on LTE/5G or fixed wireless for primary internet. Mobile‑only internet households are meaningfully present in these pockets.

How Queen Anne’s County differs from Maryland statewide

• More exurban/rural usage profile: a higher share of residents rely on cellular as a primary or fallback home connection in unserved/underserved areas compared with the largely urban/suburban Maryland average.
• Older age mix: a larger 65+ share slightly depresses smartphone penetration compared with the statewide average, but overall mobile adoption remains high due to strong adoption in commuting households.
• Corridor‑driven demand: mobile data demand concentrates along US‑50/301 with pronounced seasonal/weekend peaks, a pattern more intense than in many Maryland counties; capacity planning hinges on tourism and bridge traffic more than traditional weekday commuter peaks.
• 5G deployment cadence: mid‑band 5G depth and small‑cell density trail Maryland’s urban cores; coverage is optimized for highways and town centers rather than blanket high‑capacity layers.
• Connected vehicle/boat usage: elevated use of vehicle hotspots and marine connectivity around marinas and waterways is more prominent than statewide norms and adds to the device‑per‑capita ratio.

Implications

• User base: plan for roughly 42,000 active mobile users and 62,000–68,000 lines, with multi‑line households common in the corridor communities.
• Capacity needs: prioritize mid‑band spectrum and sector splits along US‑50/301, the Bay Bridge approaches, Kent Island population centers, and summer event nodes; maintain robust low‑band layers for interior coverage.
• Inclusion: continue closing rural gaps where mobile is effectively the ISP of record; mobile‑only households are a larger slice here than in most Maryland suburbs.

Social media usage in Queen Anne’s County, MD — 2024 snapshot

Definitive local context (ACS)

• Population: ≈52,000 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 ACS estimate)
• Gender: ~50.5% female, ~49.5% male
• Median age: ~46 (older than U.S. median)
• Age structure (approx., ACS): under 18 ~22%; 18–24 ~6%; 25–44 ~24%; 45–64 ~29%; 65+ ~19–20%
• Adults (18+): ~40–41K residents

Overall social media penetration (adults)

• About 72% of U.S. adults use at least one social media platform (Pew Research Center, 2024). Applied locally, ≈29–30K adults in Queen Anne’s County use social media.

Most-used platforms (adult reach; Pew 2024 U.S. adoption rates applied to local adult population)

• YouTube: 83% of adults → ≈33–34K local adults
• Facebook: 68% → ≈27–28K
• Instagram: 47% → ≈19–20K
• TikTok: 33% → ≈13–14K
• Pinterest: 35% → ≈14–15K
• LinkedIn: 30% → ≈12K
• Snapchat: 27% → ≈11K
• X (Twitter): 22% → ≈9K
• Reddit: 22% → ≈9K
• WhatsApp: ~21% → ≈8–9K
• Nextdoor: ~20% → ≈8K Notes: These are modeled counts using Pew’s national adult adoption rates; residents often use multiple platforms, so totals exceed the adult population.

Age and gender patterns (what to expect locally, given the county’s older skew and Pew 2024 age splits)

• 18–29: Heavy on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; YouTube near-universal. Lower Facebook use than older groups, but still active for events and marketplace.
• 30–49: Multi-platform. Facebook and Instagram strong; YouTube routine. Snapchat/WhatsApp present among parents; Pinterest notable among women.
• 50–64 and 65+: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Nextdoor has traction for hyperlocal updates; Instagram is secondary; TikTok adoption growing but still modest.
• Gender: Platform mix mirrors national patterns—women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and Reddit; Instagram broadly balanced.

Behavioral trends observed in similar suburban–exurban counties and consistent with local demographics

• Community-centric usage: Strong reliance on Facebook Groups/Pages for local news, schools, youth sports, churches, HOA/neighborhood updates, and marketplace.
• Neighborhood networks: Nextdoor usage for safety alerts, contractor referrals, lost-and-found, and civic notices.
• Local commerce and lifestyle: Instagram and Facebook for restaurants, boutiques, marinas, water sports, real estate, and events; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) for promos and seasonal activities.
• Information and learning: YouTube for DIY, home improvement, boating/fishing, and county/government updates.
• Professional footprint: Higher LinkedIn activity than rural averages due to commuters to Annapolis/Baltimore/DC; effective for B2B and recruiting.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates (population, age, gender)
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (adult platform adoption rates and overall penetration)

Method note: Where county-level platform stats are not published, figures are modeled by applying Pew’s 2024 U.S. adult adoption percentages to the county’s estimated adult population from ACS.