Atlantic County

Atlantic County, New Jersey — key demographics Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5‑year estimates)

• Population size: 274,534 (2020 Census). ACS 2019–2023 places the county at roughly the same order (~274k).
• Age:
  • Median age: ~41 years
  • Under 18: ~21%
  • 18–64: ~61%
  • 65 and over: ~18%
• Gender:
  • Female: ~52%
  • Male: ~48%
• Racial/ethnic composition (Hispanic is of any race):
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~53%
  • Black or African American: ~16%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ~21%
  • Asian: ~7%
  • Two or more races: ~3%
  • Other races: ~1%
• Household data:
  • Households: ~107,000
  • Average household size: ~2.6
  • Family households: ~66% of households
  • Married-couple households: ~43% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~30%
  • One-person households: ~29% (about 12% are 65+ living alone)
  • Tenure: ~65–66% owner-occupied; ~34–35% renter-occupied

Note: Figures are rounded for clarity. For a specific year or tighter margins, specify whether you prefer ACS 1‑year, ACS 5‑year, or Population Estimates Program.

Atlantic County, NJ — email usage snapshot (estimates)

• Estimated email users: 190,000–220,000 residents. Basis: county population ~275k and high adult internet/email adoption typical for NJ.
• Age mix of email users:
  • 18–34: ~27–30%
  • 35–54: ~34–37%
  • 55–64: ~14–16%
  • 65+: ~18–22% (Teens use email far less; most of the user base is adult.)
• Gender split: Roughly mirrors county demographics, ~52% female, 48% male among users.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household internet/broadband subscription: mid-to-high 80% range; smartphone ownership is widespread.
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~15–20%, reflecting cost-conscious users and renters.
  • Post-2020 increases in telework/telehealth and use of school portals have reinforced routine email use across age groups.
• Local density/connectivity:
  • Most residents cluster along the AC Expressway/Route 40–322 corridor (Egg Harbor Twp, Galloway, Pleasantville, Atlantic City), where cable broadband is densest and 4G/5G coverage is strong.
  • Western Pinelands townships (e.g., Buena Vista, Mullica, Hammonton outskirts) are lower-density with more reliance on mobile, fixed wireless, or satellite when wired speeds lag. Notes: Figures are derived by applying national/NJ adoption rates to Atlantic County’s population and age structure (ACS/Census).

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Atlantic County, New Jersey

Snapshot and user estimates

• Population: roughly 270–280k residents.
• Residents with a mobile phone: about 240k–255k (≈87–92% of all residents), reflecting very high adult and teen ownership but lower penetration among some seniors and young children.
• Smartphone users: about 210k–225k residents (≈76–82% of the population).
• Mobile-only internet households (no fixed home broadband): estimated 22k–28k households, higher than the statewide share. The end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in 2024 likely pushed this higher as some households dropped fixed service.

How Atlantic County differs from statewide trends

• More mobile-dependent households: Countywide reliance on smartphones as a primary internet connection is meaningfully higher than the New Jersey average, driven by lower median incomes, higher renter rates in Atlantic City/Pleasantville, and seasonal/shift work patterns.
• Larger prepaid/MVNO share: Price sensitivity and credit constraints increase the use of prepaid and MVNO plans compared with the state overall.
• Sharper seasonal load spikes: Summer tourism (beaches, Boardwalk) and marquee events (e.g., the Atlantic City Airshow) create pronounced, recurring mobile traffic surges; carriers deploy temporary cells (COWs/COLTs) more often than in inland NJ counties.
• Coverage uneven inland: The Pinelands/Pine Barrens and low-density western townships have more dead zones and weaker indoor coverage than typical for New Jersey, which is otherwise one of the best-covered states.
• Unique enterprise/venue footprint: Casinos, the Convention Center, and the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center drive heavy indoor systems, private LTE/5G (CBRS) pilots, and Wi‑Fi offload not seen at the same scale in most NJ counties.
• Location-sensitive app usage: Sports betting and casino apps (with strict geofencing) lead to above-average use of location services and venue Wi‑Fi/cellular handoffs in Atlantic City—niche behaviors less prominent statewide.

Demographic patterns affecting mobile use

• Income: Median household income in Atlantic County is well below the NJ median. This correlates with:
  • Higher mobile-only internet use
  • Slower device upgrade cycles (more refurbished/older devices)
  • Greater use of budget carriers and data-capped plans
• Age: The county skews slightly older than NJ overall, raising the share of basic or mid-tier smartphones and family plans; however, Atlantic City’s urban core skews younger and more mobile-first.
• Race/ethnicity: Atlantic County has a higher share of Black residents and a comparable share of Hispanic residents versus statewide. These communities show higher smartphone dependence for internet access than NJ averages, particularly among renters and lower-income households.
• Work patterns: Hospitality and shift work increase off-peak and overnight network usage relative to the state profile.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Macro coverage: Verizon, AT&T, and T‑Mobile provide strong 4G/5G along the coast, the Garden State Parkway, the Atlantic City Expressway, US‑30/US‑322, and population centers (Atlantic City, Pleasantville, Egg Harbor Twp., Galloway, Hammonton).
• 5G specifics:
  • Mid‑band 5G (Verizon C‑band; T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz; AT&T C‑band) is widespread along the shore corridor and major roads, delivering typical 200–400 Mbps in good conditions.
  • High-band/mmWave nodes are limited and venue-focused (Boardwalk/casino districts and select dense blocks), used to handle event crowds and indoor capacity.
• Indoor systems and small cells:
  • Casinos, resorts, the Convention Center, hospital campuses (e.g., AtlantiCare), Stockton University facilities, and retail corridors run extensive DAS/small-cell deployments, often with 5G upgrades and Wi‑Fi 6/6E offload.
  • These venue systems make Atlantic City’s indoor connectivity stronger than many NJ downtowns despite older building stock.
• Rural/wildland gaps:
  • Western townships and Pinelands areas face stricter siting rules and lower tower density, producing more drop zones and slower LTE fallback than the NJ norm.
• Public safety and alerts:
  • County 9‑1‑1 supports wireless E‑911 and text‑to‑911; Wireless Emergency Alerts are widely used for coastal flooding, storms, and evacuation notices.
  • FirstNet (AT&T) and carrier “frontline” platforms are present for planned events and emergencies.
• Enterprise/private networks:
  • The FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center (adjacent to ACY airport) is an active testbed user of CBRS and private LTE/5G—an unusual asset that elevates the county’s private-network footprint versus most NJ counties.

What to watch through 2026

• Post‑ACP affordability: Without a restored subsidy, expect a further shift toward mobile-only access, prepaid plans, and heavier public/venue Wi‑Fi use.
• Capacity vs. seasonality: Continued densification (small cells, mid‑band spectrum) around the Boardwalk and beach towns to handle summer peaks.
• Inland coverage infill: Incremental new sites and carrier aggregation to reduce Pine Barrens dead zones, subject to Pinelands Commission constraints.
• Venue tech upgrades: Casinos and convention spaces migrating to Wi‑Fi 6E/7 and 5G DAS, improving indoor speeds and reliability beyond state averages for similar-sized venues.

Atlantic County, NJ social media snapshot (estimates)

How many users

• Population: ~275,000 (2023 est.).
• Estimated social media users: ~195,000–205,000 (70–75% penetration, in line with U.S. averages).

Most-used platforms among adults (Percentages reflect U.S. adult usage; Atlantic County patterns typically mirror these.)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~50%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Snapchat: ~30%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• LinkedIn: ~33%
• X (Twitter): ~27%
• WhatsApp: ~26%
• Reddit: ~22%
• Nextdoor: ~20% Local note: Facebook Groups and Nextdoor tend to over-index for neighborhood, school, and municipal updates; Instagram/TikTok over-index for hospitality, events, and seasonal “shore” content.

Age groups (who uses what)

• Under 30: Heaviest on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; YouTube nearly universal. Facebook is used, but not the primary posting platform.
• 30–49: Multi-platform. Facebook for community/family, Instagram for lifestyle, YouTube for how-to/entertainment; growing TikTok use.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; moderate Instagram/Pinterest; light TikTok/Snapchat.
• 65+: Facebook first, YouTube second; limited use of newer platforms. Tip: Expect summer influx of younger and visiting users driving spikes on Instagram/TikTok.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Slight female majority among active users overall (roughly 52–54% F / 46–48% M), driven by higher female use of Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest; Reddit, X, and YouTube skew more male.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: High engagement in local Facebook Groups (town, school, storm and traffic updates, events). Nextdoor used for hyperlocal services and safety.
• Seasonal spikes: May–September surge for shore towns and Atlantic City nightlife; weekend peaks for events, dining, beaches, and casino promos.
• Visual discovery: Instagram Reels and TikTok drive decisions for restaurants, festivals, and entertainment; user-generated content and short videos outperform static posts.
• Deals and events convert: Giveaways, limited-time offers, and live music/event calendars get strong shares and comments.
• News and alerts: Many follow The Press of Atlantic City, municipal pages, police/fire, and NJ weather accounts; X is used for real-time traffic and storm updates.
• Messaging layers: Facebook Messenger is common; WhatsApp is popular in multilingual and hospitality circles for group coordination.
• Time-of-day: Quick morning scan, lunchtime scroll, and 6–10 pm primetime; weekend afternoons/evenings are peak for event content.

Notes and sources

• County-level platform stats aren’t published; figures are estimated by applying U.S./NJ benchmarks to local population.
• Key references: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use (2024); DataReportal Digital 2024: USA; U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2023) for population baselines.
• For campaign planning, validate local reach using platform ad tools (Facebook/Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube) with Atlantic County geotargeting.