Sarpy County

Here are the key demographics for Sarpy County, Nebraska (latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates; values rounded for readability):

Population size and growth

• Total population: ~210,000 (2023 Population Estimates Program)
• Growth: +30%+ since 2010, among the fastest-growing counties in Nebraska

Age

• Median age: ~34
• Under 18: ~27%
• 18–64: ~62%
• 65 and over: ~11%

Gender

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (Hispanic is of any race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~73–76%
• Hispanic or Latino: ~11–13%
• Black or African American: ~5–6%
• Asian: ~3–4%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3–5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: <1% each

Households and families

• Households: ~73,000–75,000
• Average household size: ~2.7–2.8
• Family households: ~70%+
• Married-couple families: ~52–56%
• Households with children <18: ~38–41%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~66–70%

Insights

• Sarpy County is young (median age several years below the U.S. and Nebraska medians), family-oriented, and rapidly growing.
• Racial/ethnic diversity has been increasing, led by growth in Hispanic, multiracial, and Asian populations.

Primary sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Population Estimates; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

• Population base: ≈210,000 residents (Omaha metro; land area ≈239 sq mi; density ≈870 per sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ≈170,000 residents (ages 13+ with internet), reflecting near‑universal email use among connected adults.
• Age distribution of email users (approx.): 18–29: 24%; 30–49: 36%; 50–64: 24%; 65+: 16%. Usage remains highest in working‑age cohorts; seniors lag slightly but are still majority users.
• Gender split: ≈50% female, 50% male; email adoption shows no material gender gap.
• Digital access (ACS Computer & Internet Use, county level):
  • Households with a computer: ≈96%.
  • Households with a broadband subscription: ≈92%.
• Connectivity and access trends:
  • Fixed broadband availability is effectively countywide; FCC maps indicate ≥100/20 Mbps service for the vast majority of addresses, with gigabit cable widely available (Cox) and growing fiber footprints (e.g., Lumen/others) in Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, and Gretna.
  • Robust mobile coverage (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) with extensive 5G in the Omaha metro supports high smartphone email use and backup access.
  • Suburban growth and proximity to Omaha’s network core sustain low‑latency backhaul and high subscription rates, keeping email engagement high across all demographics.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Sarpy County, Nebraska (2024)

Executive snapshot

• Sarpy County is the state’s fastest‑growing, youngest large county and part of the Omaha metro (Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Gretna, Springfield, Offutt AFB). Its suburban density, higher incomes, and military presence translate into very high smartphone penetration, strong 5G availability, and rapid uptake of mobile-enabled services compared with Nebraska overall.

User estimates (people, devices, and usage)

• Population baseline: ~200,000–210,000 residents; adults ~150,000–160,000.
• Adult smartphone users: ~140,000–150,000 (roughly 90–94% of adults, higher than the statewide adult rate).
• Teen smartphone users (12–17): ~16,000–19,000 (very high adoption; most households with children provide a handset).
• Total individual smartphone users (all ages): ~160,000–170,000.
• Mobile data reliance:
  • Households with a cellular data plan: majority of households, consistent with suburban metro norms.
  • Mobile-only home internet (households relying solely on cellular/FWA with no cable/fiber/DSL): lower than Nebraska’s statewide share because Cox cable and fiber options are widely available in Sarpy; nonetheless, mobile-based home internet (5G fixed wireless) has surged since 2022 and is meaningfully higher than most rural counties in absolute numbers.
• Usage patterns:
  • Heavy everyday dependence for navigation, school communications, mobile banking/payments, and work communications (commuter and military populations).
  • High multi-line penetration per household (smartphone + watch + tablet), typical of suburban metros.

Demographic breakdown and adoption differentials

• Age: Sarpy’s median age is several years younger than the Nebraska average. Adoption is near-universal among 18–49, very high among 50–64, and above the state average among 65+ (income and education effects).
• Income/education: Higher household incomes and education levels than the state drive higher smartphone and premium-plan adoption, greater accessory device attachment (watches, tablets), and higher data use.
• Households with children: Above-state share; correlates with more lines per household and earlier teen adoption.
• Military/DoD community (Offutt AFB): Raises demand for unlimited plans, hotspot capability, and FirstNet/priority services; above-average device churn and security/features uptake.
• Race/ethnicity: A more diverse profile than many Nebraska counties supports strong Android and iOS adoption across segments, with minimal platform gap relative to state averages.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• 4G/5G coverage: Countywide outdoor 4G LTE coverage is effectively universal across populated areas. Mid-band 5G (e.g., n41/n77) is broadly available along I‑80, US‑75, and within cities (Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Gretna), yielding high-capacity service in neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and around schools and healthcare facilities.
• Carriers and priority services:
  • All three national carriers have dense macro coverage; 5G mid-band is widely deployed.
  • FirstNet presence supports public safety and DoD/military-adjacent users.
• Typical speeds and capacity:
  • 5G mid-band: commonly 150–300 Mbps down in populated zones, with higher peaks at off‑peak times.
  • LTE fallback: roughly 20–80 Mbps depending on sector load and distance.
  • Indoor experience is generally strong in modern construction; deep-interior coverage may rely on Wi‑Fi calling in large buildings or basements.
• Fixed connectivity backdrop:
  • Cox provides DOCSIS 3.1 cable across most populated areas, offering gigabit-class wired service.
  • Multiple fiber footprints exist in parts of the county via incumbent and competitive providers; new builds have expanded in recent years.
  • 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) from major carriers is available at a large share of addresses and has grown quickly for budget-friendly, no-contract home internet.
• Coverage constraints:
  • River bluffs and rural fringes (south/west of Gretna and along the Platte) can see localized weak spots; small cells and sector adds have reduced in-town gaps.
  • Weather-driven congestion spikes occur during severe storms when traffic shifts to mobile networks.

How Sarpy County differs from Nebraska overall

• Higher smartphone penetration: Sarpy’s adult adoption sits several points above the statewide rate due to its younger, higher-income, suburban profile.
• More 5G, better speeds: Mid-band 5G availability and median speeds are substantially higher than in rural parts of Nebraska and above the statewide average.
• Lower mobile-only reliance, higher FWA volume: Because cable/fiber are widely available, the share of households relying solely on cellular for home internet is lower than the statewide share. However, in absolute numbers, Sarpy has robust 5G FWA adoption and faster year-over-year growth than the state average.
• More lines per household: Families with children and device add-ons push per-household line counts above the state average.
• Enterprise/public-safety features: Offutt AFB and public safety agencies drive higher usage of priority networks and secure device configurations than the state at large.
• Fewer dead zones: Terrain is less challenging than much of Nebraska, and tower density is higher; coverage gaps are comparatively rare and mostly at rural edges.

Key takeaways

• Sarpy County is a high-adoption, high-capacity mobile market with near-ubiquitous 4G/5G coverage, strong mid-band performance, and rapid uptake of 5G fixed wireless.
• Demographics and the military presence elevate device penetration, multi-line households, and advanced plan features beyond statewide norms.
• Wired competition from cable and growing fiber keeps pure mobile-only home internet lower as a share than the state overall, even as FWA grows quickly in absolute terms.

Social media usage in Sarpy County, NE — concise 2025 snapshot

How many people use social media

• Adult penetration: estimated 80–85% of Sarpy County adults use at least one social platform.
• Profile: younger-than-average suburban county (large 18–44 cohort) and high smartphone reliance, which lifts usage of visual and short‑form platforms.

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; modeled from Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. adoption, adjusted for Sarpy’s younger age mix)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Instagram: ~45–50%
• TikTok: ~33–38%
• Snapchat: ~28–33%
• Pinterest: ~30–35%
• LinkedIn: ~25–30%
• X (Twitter): ~20–25%
• Reddit: ~20–25%

Age patterns (share and behavior tendencies among local users)

• Teens (13–17): Near‑universal YouTube; heavy TikTok and Snapchat; Instagram strong; Facebook relatively low. High daily time and short‑form video creation/consumption.
• Young adults (18–29): Broadest multi‑platform use; Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat lead for entertainment and messaging; Facebook still used for events/groups and Marketplace; YouTube ubiquitous.
• Adults (30–49): YouTube and Facebook dominate; Instagram common; TikTok growing for entertainment and product discovery; Pinterest used for home/family projects.
• 50+: Facebook remains primary; YouTube for news/how‑to; Instagram moderate; TikTok adoption rising but still secondary.

Gender breakdown (platform skews; local audience mirrors national patterns)

• Skews more female: Pinterest (~70% women), Facebook (slight female majority), Instagram (slight female majority), Snapchat (slight female majority), TikTok (slight female tilt).
• Skews more male: Reddit (strong male majority), X/Twitter (moderate male majority), LinkedIn (slight male majority), YouTube (slight male majority).

Behavioral trends to note

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups and Marketplace are highly active for school, youth sports, neighborhood updates, yard sales, and service recommendations.
• Short‑form video drives discovery: TikTok and Instagram Reels fuel local food, fitness, home services, and event discovery; creators repurpose content across platforms.
• Messaging as the glue: Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, and Instagram DMs serve as primary communication channels for coordinating local activities.
• Mobile‑dominant consumption: Most usage is on smartphones; prime engagement windows are weekday evenings and weekend mornings.
• Professional niche: LinkedIn engagement is meaningful for defense, tech, and healthcare professionals tied to Offutt AFB and the Omaha metro.

Method note and sources

• Figures are modeled county estimates based on: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform adoption by U.S. adults and by age) and U.S. Census Bureau ACS (Sarpy County age structure). Exact platform counts at the county level are not published; estimates align national adoption with Sarpy’s younger demographic profile to provide decision‑ready local figures.