Belknap County

Belknap County, NH — key demographics (latest Census Bureau data)

• Population: ~65,300 (2023 estimate)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~47–48
  • Under 18: ~18%
  • 65 and over: ~24%
• Gender: ~50.5% female, ~49.5% male
• Race/ethnicity (Hispanic can be any race):
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~92–93%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ~3%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Asian: ~1–2%
  • Black/African American: ~1%
  • Other races each: <1%
• Households:
  • ~28,000 households
  • Average household size: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~63% (married-couple ~51% of all households)
  • Occupancy: ~75–76% owner-occupied; ~24–25% renter-occupied

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

Belknap County, NH snapshot (estimates, based on U.S. Census ACS and Pew Research):

• Population and density: ~63,000 residents; ~155–160 people per square mile.
• Email users: Using ~90–92% adult email adoption and the county’s older age mix, estimate 45,000–50,000 adult email users.
• Age distribution of email use:
  • 18–29: near-universal (≈98–99%)
  • 30–49: very high (≈97–99%)
  • 50–64: high (≈92–96%)
  • 65+: lower but majority (≈80–90%)
• Gender split: Minimal difference; men and women use email at roughly equal rates.
• Digital access trends:
  • Computer ownership: >90% of households.
  • Home broadband subscription: high-80s percent of households; roughly 8–12% lack home internet.
  • Smartphone-only internet: roughly 5–10% of households.
  • Gradual improvements in broadband availability; adoption rising slowly, with affordability and age the main barriers.
• Local connectivity context: More robust fixed broadband in population centers (e.g., Laconia, Belmont, Gilford); access is thinner in sparsely populated or hilly areas, which can also see patchier mobile coverage. Public libraries and community spaces help bridge access for residents without home service.

Below is a concise, evidence‑based picture of mobile phone usage in Belknap County, NH, with estimates and the main ways the county differs from statewide patterns.

How Belknap County differs from New Hampshire overall

• More seasonal volatility: Traffic and active devices surge in summer (Lakes Region tourism) and during major events (e.g., Laconia Motorcycle Week), creating short-term capacity strain uncommon in most NH counties.
• Slightly older, slightly lower‑income profile than the state average, which slows device upgrade cycles and raises prepaid share.
• More topography‑related dead zones (hills, coves, forested shorelines) and heavier reliance on Wi‑Fi calling and signal boosters.
• 5G mid‑band coverage is spottier than in southern/urban NH; low‑band 5G/LTE remains the workhorse in many towns away from highways and Laconia/Tilton.

User estimates (ranges to reflect uncertainty)

• Year‑round population base: roughly 63,000–65,000 residents.
• Active mobile phone users (unique people with a mobile line):
  • Year‑round: about 50,000–55,000 users.
  • Peak summer weekends: +15,000–30,000 additional active devices from visitors and second‑home owners.
• Smartphone ownership:
  • Adults: roughly 85–90% (about 43,000–47,000 adult smartphone users).
  • Teens (most 13–17): adoption ~85–95%, adding roughly 4,000–6,000 users.
• 5G‑capable devices:
  • Belknap: estimated 60–70% of smartphones (older population, slower upgrade cadence).
  • NH overall: generally higher, around 70–80%.
• Prepaid vs postpaid:
  • Belknap prepaid share likely a few points higher than statewide (by ~3–7 percentage points), reflecting income mix and seasonal workers.
• Platform mix:
  • iPhone share is high (New England norm), likely ~60–65%, similar to or a touch above statewide; Android skews a bit higher among prepaid/seasonal users.

Demographic patterns shaping usage

• Age: A larger 55+ segment than the NH average. Smartphone ownership is high but with more basic/older devices and persistent flip‑phone use among seniors. Heavy use of voice, SMS, and telehealth apps; lower uptake of new AR/VR or gaming.
• Income and housing: More service/tourism jobs and second‑home ownership. Year‑round residents are somewhat more price‑sensitive (prepaid, MVNOs, family plans); second‑home owners bring high‑end devices from Boston/NY markets, raising peak‑season network demand.
• Work patterns: Fewer big‑office commuters than southern NH; more small businesses and sole proprietors using mobile POS, hotspotting, and text‑based customer comms.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (county snapshot)

• Carriers present: Verizon, AT&T, and T‑Mobile all operate; Verizon/AT&T have long‑standing coverage depth; T‑Mobile has expanded low‑band 5G and selective mid‑band 5G.
• 5G footprint:
  • Mid‑band (capacity 5G) is concentrated around Laconia, Gilford, Tilton, Meredith, and major corridors (e.g., I‑93/US‑3). Coverage drops off in rural, hilly interiors and around some lake shorelines.
  • Low‑band 5G/4G LTE serves most other areas; indoor penetration varies with building materials and terrain.
• Known weak spots: Interior forested hills, portions of Gilmanton, Barnstead, Sanbornton, and coves/valleys around Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam can see spotty or indoor‑challenged service. Boaters often rely on external antennas/boosters.
• Capacity management:
  • Seasonal events (notably Laconia Motorcycle Week) can multiply network load; carriers commonly deploy temporary cells (COWs/COLTs) and add spectrum carriers to handle demand.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Mixed backhaul: cable providers plus ongoing fiber builds (e.g., Consolidated/Fidium and regional fiber expansions) improve tower backhaul and home Wi‑Fi offload but remain patchy compared with southern NH.
  • Fixed‑wireless and satellite (Starlink) fill gaps for homes/businesses in fringe areas, indirectly improving mobile experience via Wi‑Fi calling.
• Public safety:
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is established; local agencies report better reliability outdoors than indoors in some rural stations—often mitigated by in‑building solutions.

Practical implications for planning and service

• Expect stronger network and device metrics in and around Laconia/Tilton and along I‑93; plan for LTE/low‑band 5G outside town centers.
• For residents and businesses in fringe areas, prioritize Wi‑Fi calling, signal boosters with proper outside antennas, and carriers with the best local bands (Verizon/AT&T low‑band; T‑Mobile low‑band plus mid‑band where available).
• For event operators and municipalities, pre‑coordination with carriers for temporary capacity remains critical each June; SMS alerts are more reliable than data‑heavy apps during peak surges.

Data notes

• Figures are county‑level estimates synthesized from national/state adoption surveys, FCC/mobile coverage disclosures, and Belknap’s demographics and land use. For siting or procurement, verify current tower maps and carrier 5G band availability at specific addresses and venues.

Social media usage snapshot: Belknap County, NH (estimates for 2025)

Baseline

• Population: ~64,000; adults (18+): ~51,000.
• Internet access: NH has high connectivity; ~90%+ of households have broadband, so most adults can access social media.

How many use social media

• Estimated adult social media users: ~38,000–41,000 (roughly 75–80% of adults), derived from Pew Research Center US adoption rates applied to local population.

Most-used platforms (share of adults; county-adjusted estimates)

• YouTube: ~75–80%
• Facebook: ~60–65%
• Instagram: ~35–40%
• Pinterest: ~32–35%
• LinkedIn: ~25–30%
• TikTok: ~22–28% (lower than US average due to older age profile)
• Snapchat: ~20–25% (lower for same reason)
• WhatsApp: ~20–25%
• X (Twitter): ~18–22%
• Reddit: ~15–20%
• Nextdoor: ~15–20% (often higher engagement in homeowner/retiree neighborhoods)

Age group patterns (tendencies; ranges reflect US benchmarks adjusted for Belknap’s older median age)

• 18–29: YouTube 90%+, Instagram ~70–80%, Snapchat ~60–70%, TikTok ~55–65%, Facebook ~60–70%.
• 30–49: YouTube ~85–90%, Facebook ~70–75%, Instagram ~55–60%, TikTok ~35–45%, Snapchat ~25–35%.
• 50–64: Facebook ~65–70%, YouTube ~75–85%, Instagram ~25–30%, Pinterest ~35–40%, TikTok ~10–15%, Snapchat <10%.
• 65+: Facebook ~45–55%, YouTube ~55–65%, Nextdoor ~15–25%, Instagram ~10–15%, TikTok <10%.

Gender breakdown (tendencies based on US patterns)

• Skews female: Pinterest (~75% women), Facebook (slight female majority), Instagram (slight female majority), Snapchat (slight female majority), TikTok (slight female majority).
• Skews male: YouTube (slight male majority), Reddit (male-heavy), X/Twitter (male-leaning), LinkedIn (slight male tilt).
• Overall adoption is similar by gender; the bigger differences are by platform choice and content type.

Behavioral trends observed/expected locally

• Strong “local-first” usage: Facebook Groups and Pages for towns (e.g., Laconia, Gilford, Meredith), yard-sale/marketplace, lake associations, school and youth sports updates.
• Seasonal content cycles: Summer tourism (Lakes Region, boating, Laconia Motorcycle Week) drives spikes in event info, dining, lodging, and lake/boat content on Facebook and Instagram; foliage and winter sports images perform well in fall/winter.
• Marketplace and classifieds: High engagement with Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell/trade groups for vehicles, boats, outdoor gear, and home services.
• Civic/utility: Nextdoor and Facebook used for town notices, road work, lost/found pets, weather closures, and emergency updates.
• Video consumption: YouTube used for DIY, outdoor/boating maintenance, local government meetings, and product research; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) growing for restaurants, realtors, and seasonal businesses.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger and SMS dominate local business inquiries; WhatsApp used in certain service and international communities but less universal than Messenger.
• Content that performs: Hyper-local news, event reminders, coupons/deals, before/after home projects, lake/sunset visuals, and family-friendly activities. Authentic posts from owners/staff often outperform polished ads.
• Timing: Engagement is typically strongest evenings and weekends, with additional seasonal spikes around major local events and holidays.

Notes and method

• County-level platform data are rarely published. Figures above are estimates based on Pew Research Center 2023–2024 US adult platform adoption, adjusted for Belknap County’s older age profile and NH’s high internet access; population baselines from U.S. Census/ACS. Use for planning, not as precise counts.