Lancaster County

Lancaster County, Nebraska — key demographics (latest available estimates; primarily 2023 ACS 1-year and Census Bureau vintage 2023 population estimates)

Population size and growth

• Population: ~336,400 (July 1, 2023 estimate)
• Growth since 2020 Census (~322,600): +4% to +5%

Age

• Median age: ~34
• Age distribution: under 18 (23%), 18–24 (14%), 25–44 (29%), 45–64 (20%), 65+ (~14%)

Gender

• Female: ~50.3%
• Male: ~49.7%

Racial/ethnic composition (share of total)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~75%–76%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~5%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~6%–7%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%–4%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~0.5%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: ~0.1%

Households and housing

• Households: ~136,000–138,000
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~56%
• Married-couple households: ~46%
• Households with children under 18: ~29%
• People living alone: ~31%
• Homeownership rate: ~58%
• Housing units: ~143,000
• Vacancy rate: ~4%

Notable insights

• Younger age profile than Nebraska overall (influenced by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln)
• Solid population growth since 2010 and continuing post-2020
• Increasing racial/ethnic diversity, led by Hispanic and Asian population shares

Lancaster County, NE (pop. 322,608, 2020) email usage snapshot:

• Estimated email users: ~255,000 residents (primarily ages 13+), driven by high broadband access and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s student population.
• Age distribution of email users: 13–17: 7%; 18–34: 36%; 35–54: 32%; 55–64: 13%; 65+: 12%. Usage is near-universal among 18–49, strong among 50–64, and somewhat lower for 65+.
• Gender split among users: ~50.5% female, 49.5% male (mirroring the county’s population).
• Digital access trends: ~96% of households have a computer device; ~91% have a broadband subscription; ~8% are smartphone‑only internet households; ~6% have no home internet. Mobile 5G covers Lincoln; fixed wireless serves exurban areas. Lincoln’s city‑owned conduit network supports multiple ISPs and extensive fiber, with gigabit service widely available in the city.
• Density/connectivity context: Population density ~381 per sq. mile; roughly 9 in 10 residents live in Lincoln, concentrating demand and enabling robust competition and speeds in the urban core, while rural townships exhibit more mixed wireline options and greater reliance on wireless solutions.

Mobile phone usage in Lancaster County, Nebraska — 2024 snapshot

User estimates

• Estimated smartphone users: ≈260,000 residents. Method: 2023 population ≈330,000; adults ≈77% of population; applying Pew’s 2023 U.S. adult smartphone ownership rate (~90–91%) to adults and ~95% to teens (13–17) yields ≈260k local users.
• Mobile internet–reliant households (cellular data plan only): ≈14% of households in Lancaster County vs ≈19% statewide. The county’s urban buildout and student-heavy housing reduce the “cellular-only” reliance compared with rural Nebraska, where fixed broadband gaps push the rate higher.
• Households with any cellular data plan (alone or alongside fixed broadband): ≈78% in Lancaster County vs ≈73% statewide, reflecting denser 4G/5G capacity and higher on-the-go usage in the Lincoln urban area.

Demographic breakdown

• Age: Adoption is highest among 18–34 year-olds (≈97%) and 35–64 (≈92%), with seniors 65+ around ≈78–80% in Lancaster County—several points higher than the Nebraska average for seniors, consistent with better device training/support and retail access in Lincoln.
• Tenure and income: Renters—disproportionately students and young workers—show the highest smartphone and mobile-only internet reliance (≈20–22% cellular-only) compared with homeowners (≈7–10%). Lancaster County’s larger renter share tilts total mobile usage upward but still nets a lower cellular-only rate than the state because local fixed broadband is strong.
• Race/ethnicity: Smartphone adoption is near-universal across groups; however, Hispanic and Black households are more likely to be mobile-first (cellular primary, fixed optional) than white non-Hispanic households in the county, mirroring national patterns but with smaller gaps than the statewide average due to urban network quality and competitive pricing in Lincoln.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage and capacity: All three national carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) provide countywide LTE and 5G, with UScellular also present. Mid-band 5G (T-Mobile 2.5 GHz and C-band from Verizon/AT&T) is widely deployed in Lincoln, delivering stronger indoor coverage and capacity than most Nebraska counties.
• Speeds: Median mobile download speeds in Lincoln consistently exceed the statewide median, reflecting dense macro + small-cell grids and mid-band spectrum. Users commonly see triple-digit Mbps in core Lincoln areas, while state medians remain lower due to rural network constraints.
• Fiber and backhaul: Lincoln’s citywide fiber footprint (notably ALLO FTTH, alongside Spectrum cable and Windstream in parts of the county) gives carriers abundant backhaul and permits dense small-cell placement. This is a notable departure from many Nebraska counties still dependent on DSL or limited cable, which constrains mobile capacity.
• Rural edges of the county: Smaller communities and agricultural areas (e.g., near Bennet, Hickman, Waverly) are covered by low-band 5G/LTE, with fewer mid-band sectors and sparser small cells than in Lincoln. Even so, Lancaster’s rural zones generally outperform rural counties in central and western Nebraska thanks to proximity to the Lincoln core.
• Reliability: Urban Lancaster sees lower congestion and better peak-hour stability than state averages due to greater sector density and fiber-fed sites. During university events, temporary load spikes occur but are mitigated by added capacity and small cells.

Trends that differ from the Nebraska state level

• Higher smartphone penetration and usage intensity: Lancaster County’s younger, more urban demographics and university presence raise smartphone and mobile app usage above statewide norms.
• Lower “cellular-only” dependence despite high mobile use: Strong fixed broadband (widespread FTTH/cable in Lincoln) means fewer households rely exclusively on cellular data than the statewide average, even though more households maintain a cellular data plan.
• Faster, more consistent 5G: Mid-band 5G is far more pervasive in Lincoln than in much of Nebraska, yielding higher typical speeds and better indoor performance.
• Denser small-cell deployment: Lincoln’s fiber-rich and right-of-way-friendly environment has enabled small-cell densification uncommon in most Nebraska counties, improving capacity and uplink performance.
• Smaller digital divide gaps: While disparities remain, device ownership and mobile internet adoption gaps by age, race/ethnicity, and income are narrower than statewide because of competition, campus/community programs, and better retail/service access.

Key takeaways

• Approximately 260,000 Lancaster County residents use smartphones, with adoption rates above statewide levels across most groups.
• The county combines high mobile engagement with robust fixed broadband, producing strong multi-homing (cellular plus home internet) and a lower share of cellular-only households than the state.
• Lincoln’s fiber backhaul and dense 5G (including mid-band) deliver materially higher mobile speeds and reliability than Nebraska’s rural counties, shaping a usage profile that is more urban, app-centric, and capacity-rich than the state average.

Social media usage in Lancaster County, NE (2025 snapshot)

How many people are on social media

• Adults (18+): ≈85% use at least one major platform. With ≈260,000 adults in the county, that’s ≈221,000 adult social users.
• Teens (13–17): ≈95% use at least one platform. With ≈20,000 teens, that’s ≈19,000 teen social users.
• Note: Counts are modeled from 2023–2024 Pew Research usage rates applied to Lancaster County’s age structure from recent ACS/Census estimates.

Most-used platforms (adults 18+; percent of adults, with modeled local counts)

• YouTube: 83% (≈216k)
• Facebook: 68% (≈177k)
• Instagram: 47% (≈122k)
• Pinterest: 35% (≈91k)
• TikTok: 33% (≈86k)
• Snapchat: 30% (≈78k)
• LinkedIn: 30% (≈78k)
• WhatsApp: 26% (≈68k)
• X (Twitter): 22% (≈57k)
• Reddit: 22% (≈57k)
• Nextdoor: 20% (≈52k)

Teen platform usage (13–17; percent of teens, with modeled local counts)

• YouTube: 95% (≈19k)
• TikTok: 67% (≈13.4k)
• Instagram: 62% (≈12.4k)
• Snapchat: 60% (≈12k)
• Facebook: 33% (≈6.6k)

Age-group patterns (adults; platform penetration benchmarks)

• 18–29: Very high on YouTube (93%), Instagram (78%), Snapchat (65%), TikTok (62%); Facebook lower than older cohorts.
• 30–49: Broad mix; Facebook (78%) and YouTube (87%) dominate; Instagram (55%), TikTok (39%), Snapchat (31%), LinkedIn (40%).
• 50–64: Heavy Facebook (73%) and YouTube (70%); moderate Pinterest (32%) and LinkedIn (22%); Instagram (28%), TikTok (24%).
• 65+: Facebook (62%) and YouTube (49%) lead; Pinterest (23%); Instagram (15%), TikTok (~10%).

Gender breakdown (adult usage skews)

• Women: Higher likelihood of Facebook (75%) and Pinterest (50%); Instagram usage slightly higher than men.
• Men: Higher on YouTube (86%) and Reddit (29%); Facebook lower (~61%) vs women.
• LinkedIn is fairly even; Snapchat and TikTok lean slightly female; Reddit leans male.

Behavioral trends specific to Lancaster County

• College-town effect (UNL): Above-average Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok usage in the 18–24 segment; late-night and weekend activity is elevated. Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell groups are heavily used by students for housing and furnishings.
• Community and civic engagement: Facebook Groups/Pages and Nextdoor are central for neighborhood updates, city services, local events, weather closings, and school info; engagement spikes around UNL athletics and severe-weather events.
• Video-first habits: YouTube is the universal reach vehicle across ages; how-to/DIY, local sports highlights, and education content perform well.
• Retail and lifestyle: Pinterest is strong among women for home, food, and event planning; Instagram Reels and TikTok drive discovery for local eateries and events.
• Professional audience: LinkedIn is healthy for a market its size, reflecting state government, healthcare, education, and insurance/finance employers in Lincoln.

Method notes

• Percentages are drawn from recent Pew Research Center U.S. usage benchmarks (2023–2024) and applied to Lancaster County’s population to produce local estimates. Where county-specific platform data are not published, figures are modeled, not platform-reported counts.