Jefferson County

Jefferson County, Missouri — key demographics

Population size

• 229,700 (2023 Census estimate)
• 226,739 (2020 Census count)

Age

• Median age: ~40.5 years (ACS)
• Under 18: ~23%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS/Census)

• White alone: ~92–93%
• White, non-Hispanic: ~90%
• Black or African American alone: ~2%
• Asian alone: ~0.5–0.7%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.3–0.4%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~3%

Households (ACS)

• Total households: ~86,500–87,000
• Average household size: ~2.6–2.7
• Family households: ~70%
  • Married-couple households: ~54%
• Households with children under 18: ~30–31%
• Nonfamily households: ~29%
  • Living alone: ~23% (≈8–9% age 65+)
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80%

Insights

• Stable, slow-growing population since 2020.
• Age structure skews middle-aged with a sizable senior share, indicating ongoing aging.
• Demographically predominantly non-Hispanic White with small but growing multiracial and Hispanic populations.
• Household profile is family-oriented with high homeownership and moderate household size.

Jefferson County, MO snapshot: ≈229,500 residents, ≈657 sq mi, ≈350 people/sq mi, ≈88,000 households.

• Estimated email users: ≈173,000 residents (ages 13+), based on county internet access levels and national email adoption among internet users.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: 7%
  • 18–29: 20%
  • 30–49: 33%
  • 50–64: 25%
  • 65+: 16%
• Gender split among email users: ≈51% women, 49% men (near county population parity).
• Digital access trends:
  • 94% of households have a computer.
  • 89% of households have a broadband subscription (ACS 2018–2022), supporting broad email reach.
  • Email is predominantly accessed via home broadband and smartphones; usage is effectively universal among working-age adults and strong among seniors, though slightly lower in 65+.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Most robust fixed-broadband coverage aligns with the I‑55 corridor (Arnold–Imperial–Festus–Herculaneum), reflecting higher population density.
  • Rural southern townships show thinner wireline options, with greater reliance on satellite or fixed wireless, creating small pockets of lower email reliability despite high overall adoption.

Jefferson County, Missouri mobile usage overview

User estimates (2024–2025)

• Population base: ~229,000 residents (ACS 2023 est.); ~178,000 adults (18+).
• Adults with any mobile phone: ~169,000 (≈95% of adults).
• Adult smartphone users: ~151,000 (≈85% of total adults; ≈89–90% of adult mobile users).
• Teens with smartphones (13–17): ~13,900 (≈95% of that age group).
• Wireless-only households (no landline): ~63,000, about 70–75% of ~88,000 households.
• Typical monthly smartphone data use: 20–25 GB per line (in line with North American suburban averages), higher along commute corridors and in mobile-only broadband households.

Demographic breakdown of phone/smartphone adoption

• By age (adults, estimates derived by applying 2023 national adoption rates to the county’s age mix):
  • 18–29: ~28,000–29,000 smartphone users (≈96% adoption).
  • 30–49: ~59,000 smartphone users (≈95%).
  • 50–64: ~38,000 smartphone users (≈83%).
  • 65+: ~25,500 smartphone users (≈60–63%).
• By income:
  • Above ~$75k household income: near-universal smartphone ownership; predominately postpaid family plans.
  • Below ~$35k: smartphone adoption remains high but with higher prepaid share and mobile-only internet reliance; these tracts are concentrated in the southern and central parts of the county.
• By urban/suburban vs rural within the county:
  • Northern/suburban communities (Arnold, Imperial, Festus/Crystal City, High Ridge) show near-universal smartphone adoption and higher multi-line family plans.
  • Southern and valley areas (e.g., along Big River and MO-21 corridors) have slightly lower smartphone adoption among seniors and higher prepaid/mobile-only reliance due to weaker fixed-broadband options.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T (including FirstNet), Verizon, T-Mobile; MVNOs widely available. UScellular presence is minimal compared with rural Ozarks.
• 5G footprint: Countywide 5G coverage from at least one major carrier reaches nearly all populated areas. Mid-band 5G (Verizon C-band, T-Mobile 2.5 GHz, AT&T C-band) is strongest along I-55, US-61/67, MO-21, and around Arnold, Imperial, Festus/Crystal City, Pevely, and High Ridge.
• Performance: Typical outdoor downloads 60–150 Mbps in built-up corridors on mid-band 5G; 10–40 Mbps on LTE/low-band 5G in fringe and valley locations. Indoor performance is strongest near the I-55 corridor and weaker in hilly, wooded terrain.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home are available across most populated census blocks; adoption has grown as a substitute for legacy DSL, especially outside cable footprints.
• Backhaul: Fiber-fed macro sites line I-55 and major arterials; microwave backhaul persists on some rural sites, which can constrain peak performance.
• Public safety: FirstNet Band 14 is deployed on many AT&T sites in the county, improving resilience for first responders.
• Noted weak spots: River valleys (e.g., near Morse Mill/Cedar Hill), portions of rural MO-21/30 corridors, and sparsely populated southern tracts show more LTE-only coverage and occasional dead zones.

How Jefferson County differs from Missouri statewide

• Coverage quality: Better 5G population coverage and denser mid-band 5G than the state average, reflecting proximity to the St. Louis metro. Fewer residents live in persistent cellular dead zones compared with rural Missouri counties.
• Access patterns: Higher commuter-driven mobile demand with consistent peak loads along I-55 and major north–south corridors; usage is less farm/forestry–centric than in the Ozarks.
• Plan mix: More postpaid family plans and slightly lower prepaid share than the Missouri average; prepaid remains significant in lower-income tracts but is not dominant countywide.
• Device turnover: Faster device upgrade cycles than the statewide average, tied to better mid-band 5G availability and suburban income levels.
• Broadband substitution: FWA has higher availability and take-up than in many rural Missouri counties, reducing dependence on landlines/DSL; however, southern pockets still lean on mobile data due to limited wired options.
• Digital divide: Narrower than the state average but still visible—primarily age-based (lower senior smartphone adoption) and geography-based (valley/rural signal limitations), rather than race/ethnicity-based given the county’s demographic makeup.

Actionable takeaways

• Network investment ROI is above state average along I-55, MO-21, and in growing suburbs; selective infill (small cells or additional mid-band sectors) can relieve commuter-hour congestion.
• Targeted coverage improvements in valleys and southern tracts would close the county’s remaining service gaps and reduce mobile-only strain.
• Senior-focused device and plan education could lift 65+ smartphone adoption toward metro benchmarks.
• Continued FWA expansion, paired with reliable indoor coverage solutions, will capitalize on demand in cable/DSL edge areas.

Social media usage in Jefferson County, Missouri (modeled local estimates using 2024–2025 U.S. benchmarks applied to the county’s population)

Population base

• Residents: ~229,000 (2023 estimate)
• Social media users: ~167,000 residents (≈73% of total population; ≈84% of adults), reflecting U.S. penetration levels

Most-used platforms (share of adults who use each; platform reach approximated to county)

• YouTube: 83% (≈146k adult users)
• Facebook: 68% (≈120k)
• Instagram: 47% (≈83k)
• Pinterest: 35% (≈62k)
• TikTok: 33% (≈58k)
• LinkedIn: 30% (≈53k)
• Snapchat: 27% (≈48k)
• Reddit: 22% (≈39k)
• X (Twitter): 20% (≈35k) Notes: Teen usage increases Snapchat and TikTok totals beyond adult counts; Facebook and YouTube remain cross‑age mainstays

Age profile of social media use (share of adults in each age band who use any social media)

• 18–29: 92%
• 30–49: 83%
• 50–64: 73%
• 65+: 50%

Gender breakdown

• Overall users: ~51% women, 49% men (mirrors local population)
• Platform skews (user mix): Facebook ≈54% women; Instagram ≈52% women; TikTok ≈56% women; Snapchat ≈55% women; Pinterest ≈75% women; Reddit ≈67% men; X ≈60% men

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the local hub for community life: school updates, municipal info, yard/garage sales, buy–sell groups, and Marketplace; strongest daily use among 30+
• YouTube is “universal” and leaned on for how‑to, home/auto repair, DIY, youth and high‑school sports highlights; connected‑TV viewing is rising
• Instagram and TikTok drive discovery for under‑35s (food spots, local events, outdoor recreation); short‑form video outperforms static posts
• Snapchat is a default messaging/Stories channel for teens and 18–24; geofilters and location lenses see high interaction around schools, games, and festivals
• Pinterest is notably strong among women 25–54 for home improvement, crafts, seasonal planning, and local inspiration boards
• News and civic engagement cluster in Facebook Groups, with X and Reddit used by a smaller but vocal segment for breaking weather, traffic, and election cycles
• Social commerce: Facebook Marketplace is widely used countywide; Instagram Shops and TikTok Shop adoption is growing among 18–34
• Engagement patterns mirror suburban U.S. norms: evenings and weekends peak; severe weather and school‑year milestones create spikes

Sources and method

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 population estimates (for county population base)
• Pew Research Center (2024) Social Media Use (platform reach by U.S. adults; age and gender profiles)
• DataReportal/We Are Social (2024) U.S. social media penetration (to translate national penetration to county totals) Figures are county‑level estimates derived by applying the latest national platform usage rates and demographics to Jefferson County’s population mix.