Douglas County

Key demographics for Douglas County, Nebraska (latest Census Bureau data)

• Population

  • 2023 estimate: about 600,000
  • 2020 Census: 584,526

• Age

  • Median age: ~35 years
  • Under 18: ~24%
  • 65 and over: ~14%

• Sex

  • Female: ~50.5%

• Race/Ethnicity (Hispanic can be of any race)

  • White alone: ~75–77%
  • Black or African American alone: ~12%
  • Asian alone: ~4%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.8%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.1%
  • Two or more races: ~4–5%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~13–14%
  • White alone, not Hispanic: ~64–66%

• Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

  • Households: ~235,000
  • Persons per household: ~2.45
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~58–59%
  • Median household income (2018–2022 dollars): about $73k–$75k
  • Persons in poverty: ~10–11%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2023 Population Estimates; American Community Survey 2018–2022).

Douglas County, NE (Omaha area) snapshot — estimates based on ACS broadband data and national email-adoption rates applied to local population.

Population: ~600,000 (2023 est.).

Estimated email users: 440,000–480,000 residents age 13+.

• 13–17: ~35–40k users (high-school teens, ~80–90% adoption).
• 18–34: ~150–165k users (very high adoption, ~95%).
• 35–64: 205–225k users (92–95%).
• 65+: ~55–65k users (lower but strong, ~80–90%).

Gender split: Roughly 50/50; email usage rates are similar for men and women.

Digital access trends:

• Broadband subscription: ~88–92% of households have a home broadband plan; device access is high, with many households multi-device. An estimated 10–20% are smartphone‑only.
• Providers and tech: Cable and fiber (e.g., Cox, Quantum Fiber/Lumen) plus 5G home internet (e.g., T‑Mobile) cover most populated areas; public libraries and city facilities offer free Wi‑Fi.
• Speeds: Urban Omaha neighborhoods commonly see mid‑to‑high‑tier broadband (hundreds of Mbps), supporting routine email use, telework, and streaming.

Local density/connectivity:

• Nebraska’s most densely populated county: ~1,700–1,800 residents per sq. mi (≈600k across ~339 sq. mi), which supports extensive network build‑out and high email adoption.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Douglas County, Nebraska

Executive view

• Douglas County (home to Omaha) is the state’s most urbanized market, with higher smartphone adoption, denser 5G coverage, and greater reliance on mobile-only internet than Nebraska overall. Storefront presence from national carriers and MVNOs is markedly denser, and fixed‑wireless 5G home internet has gained meaningful traction relative to the state average.

User estimates

• Population base: roughly 600,000 residents.
• Estimated smartphone users: about 440,000–480,000.
  • Adults: ~410,000–430,000 smartphone users (higher urban adoption rates than state average).
  • Teens (13–17): ~37,000–40,000 smartphone users.
• Mobile-only internet reliance: estimated 20–25% of adults in Douglas County vs roughly mid‑teens statewide, reflecting more renters, students, and lower‑income urban households.
• Wireless-only voice (no landline): materially higher than the state average, consistent with urban markets; Douglas County likely several points above Nebraska’s statewide share.
• Fixed‑wireless access (FWA) adoption: above state average due to broad mid‑band 5G coverage and competition with cable; used as a low‑friction alternative to wired broadband in apartments and transitional housing.

Demographic patterns that differ from the Nebraska average

• Age: Younger profile in Douglas County drives higher smartphone penetration, heavier app usage, and more mobile-only households than the state average, which skews older and more rural.
• Income and housing: Higher share of renters and cost‑sensitive segments correlates with:
  • Greater MVNO/prepaid presence and churn.
  • Above‑average use of FWA and smartphone-only access in lieu of wired broadband.
• Race/ethnicity: More diverse population (larger Black, Hispanic, and immigrant communities) aligns with:
  • Above‑average mobile messaging, international calling, and social/video app intensity.
  • Higher smartphone dependence for home internet among some groups relative to statewide patterns.
• Work and lifestyle: More app-mediated mobility (rideshare, delivery, transit) and mobile payments than elsewhere in Nebraska; higher BYOD and mobile-first workflows in service, healthcare, and logistics sectors.

Usage behaviors and adoption highlights

• Video streaming, short‑form video, and social apps account for a larger share of traffic than the state average.
• Mobile payments, event ticketing, and sports/venue apps see greater use tied to downtown/arena activity.
• Enterprise and public‑sector mobility is denser (health systems, universities, logistics), boosting daytime network load in and around downtown, Aksarben/UNO, and major employment corridors.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (how Douglas County differs)

• Carrier mix and retail density:
  • All three national carriers plus DISH’s 5G network present; notably higher density of prepaid/MVNO storefronts (Metro by T‑Mobile, Cricket, Boost, etc.) than in most Nebraska counties.
• 5G footprint and performance:
  • Broad mid‑band 5G (e.g., n41 and C‑band) covers the urban core and major suburbs, with median 5G speeds typically above the statewide median.
  • More small‑cell and rooftop sites downtown and along high‑traffic corridors (I‑80, I‑480, I‑680, Dodge/West Dodge) than elsewhere in the state.
• Fixed wireless home internet:
  • 5G Home offers from multiple carriers are widely available across the metro, with stronger take‑up than the Nebraska average due to competitive pricing vs cable.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Multiple fiber providers (e.g., Cox Business, Lumen/CenturyLink, Metronet and enterprise providers) support robust backhaul; this enables denser 5G deployments than in rural Nebraska.
• Public safety and resilience:
  • NG911 integration and FirstNet presence; urban redundancy (macro + small cells + fiber rings) exceeds typical statewide redundancy.
• Coverage gaps:
  • Fewer geographic dead zones than rural counties, though capacity, not coverage, is the main constraint during events and peak hours.

What to watch

• Continued densification of mid‑band 5G and targeted small cells to manage capacity rather than fill coverage.
• Growth in FWA as a competitor to cable, particularly in multifamily housing.
• Digital equity efforts in North Omaha and select neighborhoods to reduce smartphone‑only dependence by expanding affordable wired options and device programs.
• Enterprise private 5G/Wi‑Fi 6E projects at hospitals, campuses, and logistics hubs, which are more likely here than elsewhere in the state.

Notes on method and uncertainty

• Figures are synthesized from recent national and state research (Pew, FCC/industry reports), ACS demographics, and urban market patterns; county‑specific mobile adoption is not directly measured in a single public dataset. Ranges are provided to reflect reasonable urban adjustments relative to Nebraska’s statewide averages.

Douglas County, NE social media snapshot (estimates)

At-a-glance

• Population: ~585k; adults 18+: ~440k; 13+: ~481k
• Households with broadband: roughly high 80s to ~90%
• Estimated social media users (13+): ~400–420k; adults (18+): ~360–380k
• Gender of social users: ~52–54% women, ~46–48% men (women over-index on Facebook/Pinterest; men on Reddit/X)

Most-used platforms (Douglas County adults, estimated monthly use)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 48–52%
• Pinterest: 34–38% (skews female)
• TikTok: 33–37% (skews under 35)
• Snapchat: 27–33% (very high among teens/college)
• LinkedIn: 28–32% (strong among healthcare, finance, logistics, higher ed)
• X (Twitter): 20–24%
• Reddit: 18–22%
• Nextdoor: 17–21% (strong in suburban neighborhoods/HOAs)

Age profile and usage patterns

• Teens (13–17): Very high on YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram; Facebook low except for groups/Marketplace with family.
• 18–29: Heaviest multi-platform use; Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat lead; YouTube near-universal; Facebook used for events/groups.
• 30–44: Facebook + Instagram core; YouTube for cord-cutting, parenting/home content; Pinterest strong for DIY/recipes; TikTok/Reels growing.
• 45–64: Facebook dominant (news, Marketplace, school/sports updates); YouTube; Pinterest; Nextdoor adoption rising.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube mainstays; Nextdoor for neighborhood info; limited Instagram/TikTok.

Behavioral trends (local nuances)

• Community and news: High reliance on Facebook for local TV/news pages, severe weather alerts, school closings, crime and road updates; X spikes during storms and sports.
• Groups and Marketplace: Very active Facebook Groups (neighborhoods, school activities, buy/sell/trade); Marketplace is a top local commerce channel.
• Neighborhood chatter: Nextdoor used for HOA issues, snow removal, lost pets, service recommendations.
• Event discovery: Instagram and Facebook Events for festivals, College World Series, Berkshire Hathaway weekend, concerts in the Old Market/Benson; TikTok/IG Reels for restaurant and nightlife discovery.
• Youth/college usage: Snapchat and TikTok are primary for UNO/Creighton students (messaging, stories, campus life); geofilters and short-form video drive participation.
• Professional networking: LinkedIn stronger than average for a metro of this size due to large healthcare systems, finance/insurance, logistics, and corporate HQ presence.
• Content format: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) continues to outpace static posts; DMs (Messenger/IG) increasingly replace public comments for inquiries and customer service.

Notes on method and reliability

• County-level platform data aren’t published directly; figures above are directional estimates by applying Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform usage to Douglas County’s age/sex mix (ACS) and adjusting for known local behaviors. Use for planning, not for audit-grade reporting.
• Key sources: U.S. Census/ACS (population, broadband), Pew Research Center (2024 Social Media Use), DataReportal/Similar national benchmarks.