Strafford County

Strafford County, New Hampshire — key demographics

Population

• Total population: 130,889 (2020 Decennial Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~133,000 (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 Population Estimates)

Age

• Median age: ~36–37 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Age distribution: under 18 (17–18%), 18–24 (17%), 25–44 (28%), 45–64 (23%), 65+ (~14–15%)

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50% (ACS 2018–2022)

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~87%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4%
• Asian: ~4%
• Black or African American: ~2%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, and other: <1% combined

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~50,000–51,000
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~59%
• With children under 18: ~26%
• Tenure: ~62% owner-occupied, ~38% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year estimates; Vintage 2023 Population Estimates.

Strafford County, NH snapshot (2023–2024)

• Population and density: ≈133,000 residents; ≈360 people per square mile (land area ≈369 sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ≈110,000 residents use email regularly (≈82% of total), derived from adult share and Pew-level email adoption.
• Age distribution of email users (modeled from county age mix and national adoption):
  • Under 18: ≈12%
  • 18–24: ≈16% (boosted by University of New Hampshire in Durham)
  • 25–44: ≈32%
  • 45–64: ≈25%
  • 65+: ≈15%
• Gender split among email users: ≈50.5% female, ≈49.5% male, mirroring county demographics.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Households with a computer: ≈95%
  • Households with a broadband subscription: ≈90% (up several points since 2016)
  • Mobile-only internet households: ≈12–15%
  • Post‑2020 upgrades (notably fiber buildouts in the Dover–Rochester–Somersworth area) have raised median fixed speeds; 5G covers most populated corridors (US‑4/NH‑16).
• Local connectivity/density facts: The Dover–Rochester–Somersworth tri‑city cluster concentrates population and ISP competition, supporting high broadband uptake; UNH’s campus drives heavy .edu email usage and high young‑adult connectivity.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (computer/broadband, population), land area; Pew Research (email adoption).

Mobile phone usage in Strafford County, New Hampshire — user estimates, demographics, and infrastructure, with differences from the state

User base and adoption

• Residents: about 132,000 (2023 estimate). Adults (18+): roughly 108,000.
• Adult smartphone users: approximately 99,000 (about 92% of adults), slightly higher than the statewide adult rate.
• Households with a smartphone: about 94% (ACS 2018–2022 5-year S2801), marginally above New Hampshire overall (~92%).
• Wireless-only (no landline): about three-quarters of adults live in wireless-only households in Strafford County versus roughly seven in ten statewide, reflecting stronger mobile substitution locally.
• Smartphone-only internet at home (cellular data plan but no fixed broadband): about 15% of households in Strafford County versus roughly 11% statewide, indicating higher reliance on mobile data for home connectivity.

Demographic drivers and breakdown

• Younger profile: about 16% of residents are ages 18–24 (driven by University of New Hampshire in Durham), versus roughly 9% statewide. This cohort has near-universal smartphone usage and drives heavier app-based communication and data consumption.
• Income and tenure mix: median household income is lower than the state average (county around upper‑$70Ks vs state around $90K), and about 35–36% of households rent (above the statewide share). These factors correlate with higher prepaid/MVNO adoption and greater smartphone-only internet reliance.
• Household structure: more single-adult and roommate households relative to the state, increasing the share of wireless-only and mobile-first behaviors.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 4G LTE: near-universal outdoor coverage across the Dover–Rochester–Somersworth–Durham corridor and along the Spaulding Turnpike (NH‑16) and US‑4. Weak spots persist in more rural, wooded, or hilly areas (e.g., interior parts of Barrington, Strafford, Middleton) and in some indoor locations.
• 5G availability: all three national carriers provide 5G in the population centers; mid‑band 5G (e.g., T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz, Verizon C‑band) covers most of Dover, Rochester, Somersworth, and the UNH area in Durham. Roughly 85–90% of county residents have outdoor 5G from at least one carrier, modestly higher coverage than the New Hampshire average due to urban concentration.
• Backhaul and fiber: extensive cable coverage (Comcast/Xfinity) and ongoing fiber buildouts (e.g., Consolidated’s Fidium Fiber) in Dover, Durham, and Rochester improve mobile backhaul capacity and enable small‑cell deployments near campus and downtowns.
• Public and campus Wi‑Fi: dense Wi‑Fi footprints in Durham and central Dover offload traffic from cellular during peak periods, improving effective mobile performance in those zones.

How Strafford County differs from the New Hampshire statewide pattern

• More mobile‑dependent: higher shares of wireless‑only households and smartphone‑only internet subscriptions than the state, linked to the younger, renter‑heavy population.
• Earlier and denser 5G: faster 5G buildout and higher population‑weighted 5G coverage in core corridors than the statewide average, though rural fringes still lag.
• Heavier student impact: the UNH presence lifts smartphone penetration and app‑centric usage above state norms, with more BYOD, eSIM, and prepaid/MVNO adoption.
• Slightly lower in‑home fixed broadband uptake than the state despite good infrastructure, because more households deem a cellular data plan “good enough” for everyday needs.

Implications

• Network planning: capacity needs are concentrated around the Dover–Durham–Rochester triangle and on/near the UNH campus; small‑cell and mid‑band spectrum investments yield outsized benefits.
• Digital equity: smartphone‑only households are more prevalent than statewide, so mobile‑optimized public services and low‑cost data plans matter more locally.
• Resilience: while macro coverage is strong on major corridors, targeted fills in interior rural pockets and indoor coverage enhancements would close the remaining gaps.

Strafford County, NH social media snapshot

Population baseline

• Total residents: 130,889 (2020 Census). County includes the University of New Hampshire (Durham), creating a larger-than-typical 18–24 cohort.
• Adults (18+): ~106,000 (≈81% of residents, based on Census age structure).

How many people use social media

• Any social media: ~72% of U.S. adults use at least one platform (Pew Research Center, 2024). Applied to Strafford County’s adult population, that is roughly 76,000 adult social media users.

Most-used platforms (U.S. adult usage; local rank expected to be similar)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• TikTok: 33%
• LinkedIn: 31%
• Snapchat: 27%
• Pinterest: 35%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22%
• WhatsApp: 21% Estimated adult reach in Strafford County if local adoption mirrors U.S. rates (approximate counts): YouTube ~88k; Facebook ~72k; Instagram ~50k; TikTok ~35k; LinkedIn ~33k; Snapchat ~29k; Pinterest ~37k; X ~23k; Reddit ~23k; WhatsApp ~22k.

Age-group patterns (what’s most used)

• 18–29: Heavy on YouTube (≈90%+ nationally), Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok (each ≈60%+ nationally). UNH’s presence amplifies Snapchat, Instagram Stories/Reels, and TikTok trends locally.
• 30–49: Broad multi-platform use; Facebook, YouTube, Instagram are core. LinkedIn usage is strongest in this cohort.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest sees steady use for home, crafts, and recipes.
• 65+: Facebook is the primary network; YouTube used for news, how‑tos, and entertainment.

Gender breakdown (directional; U.S. patterns reflected locally)

• Women: Higher use of Facebook, Instagram, and especially Pinterest.
• Men: Higher use of YouTube, Reddit, and X (Twitter).
• LinkedIn: Near balanced overall, with slight male skew in tech/engineering fields.

Behavioral trends in Strafford County

• Strong Facebook Groups and Marketplace activity for hyperlocal news, town updates, yard sales, rentals, and services (notably in Dover, Rochester, Somersworth).
• Student-driven content habits in Durham: fast-cycle, short‑form video (TikTok, Reels), event discovery via Instagram Stories, and heavy Snapchat messaging.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for tutorials, local sports (UNH athletics), outdoor and recreation content; TikTok/Instagram for food spots, trails, and weekend plans.
• Messaging shifts: Snapchat and Instagram DMs dominate under-30 communication; WhatsApp usage is concentrated among international students and transplants.
• Engagement timing: Evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends see the highest interaction, with surges around campus events, local festivals, and seasonal activities.

Notes on interpretation

• Percentages are from Pew Research Center’s “Social Media Use in 2024” (U.S. adults). Counts for Strafford County are estimates applying those rates to the county’s adult population.
• The local presence of a large university skews usage younger than the national average, so expect Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok to slightly outperform their U.S. baseline shares in Durham and nearby towns, while Facebook remains strongest among 35+ across the county.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (Strafford County, NH population and age structure)
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (national platform adoption and demographics)