Hunterdon County

Key demographics for Hunterdon County, New Jersey (U.S. Census Bureau; primarily 2020 Census and 2018–2022 ACS 5-year estimates)

Population size

• Total population: 128,947 (2020 Census)
• Trend: Essentially flat since 2010; minimal net change

Age

• Median age: ~46.7 years
• Under 18: ~21–22%
• 65 and over: ~20–21%
• Insight: Older age profile than New Jersey overall

Gender

• Female: ~50.7–50.9%
• Male: ~49.1–49.3%

Racial/ethnic composition

• Non-Hispanic White: ~82–83%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~6–7%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~6–7%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~2–3%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2–3%
• Insight: Predominantly non-Hispanic White with growing Asian and Hispanic populations

Household data

• Households: ~49,000–50,000
• Average household size: ~2.55–2.60
• Family households: ~69–70% of households
• Married-couple households: ~55–60% of all households
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~80–83%
• Households with children under 18: ~28–31%
• Insight: High homeownership and a majority of households are married-couple families, consistent with a suburban, higher-income profile

Notes: Figures rounded; ACS percentages and counts reflect 2018–2022 5-year estimates, which provide stable county-level measures.

Hunterdon County, NJ (2025 snapshot)

• Population: ~129,000; adults (18+): ~102,000.
• Email users: ~92,600 adults (≈91% penetration). Including teens would place total resident email users near 100,000.
• By age (adult email users):
  • 18–34: ~21,600
  • 35–54: ~33,500
  • 55–64: ~17,100
  • 65+: ~20,400
• Gender split: Female ~47,500; Male ~45,100 (usage rates are essentially parity).
• Digital access:
  • Households: ~49,000; ~96% have a broadband subscription; ~97% have a computer; ~7% are smartphone‑only.
  • Smartphone adoption among adults: ~90%+; home Wi‑Fi is near‑ubiquitous in populated boroughs.
  • Work‑from‑home: ~20–25% of workers, sustaining heavy email reliance for employment and schooling.
• Trends and connectivity:
  • Population density ~300 people/sq mi (lower than NJ average), yet fixed broadband coverage is extensive; cable passes the vast majority of residences and fiber (e.g., Fios) is available in many town centers and suburbs, with small rural pockets using fixed‑wireless or satellite.
  • 5G coverage from major carriers blankets primary corridors (I‑78, US‑22, NJ‑31), improving mobile email reliability.

Notes: Counts are derived from recent ACS/NJ benchmarks and Pew email adoption rates applied to Hunterdon’s age mix, yielding actionable, county‑specific estimates.

Mobile phone usage in Hunterdon County, New Jersey — summary with estimates, demographics, and infrastructure, emphasizing county-versus-state differences

Topline user estimates

• Population and households: ~130,000 residents; ~49,000 households (U.S. Census 2023 estimates).
• Smartphone users (people): ~100,000–110,000 residents actively using a smartphone in 2024.
  • Basis: ACS “Computer and Internet Use” shows very high smartphone penetration in affluent NJ counties; applying ~93–96% adult smartphone adoption plus high teen adoption (mid-to-high 80s%) to Hunterdon’s age structure yields ~105,000 users.
• Active mobile connections (lines/SIMs): ~170,000–195,000.
  • Basis: CTIA-style device-per-capita ratios typically 1.3–1.5 in suburban U.S. counties; Hunterdon’s multi-device households skew toward the high end.

Demographic breakdown (how Hunterdon differs from New Jersey overall)

• Age:
  • Median age is higher in Hunterdon (mid‑40s) than NJ overall (around 40). Seniors’ smartphone adoption is high but a few points lower than prime working ages.
  • Result: overall adoption remains very high, but the share of non‑users is more concentrated among 70+ than statewide.
• Income and education:
  • Higher household incomes and education levels than the NJ average correlate with:
    • More multi‑line plans per household (smartphone + tablet + connected car).
    • Lower reliance on “mobile‑only” internet at home than the statewide rate.
      • Estimate: 8–11% of Hunterdon households are mobile‑only vs roughly the mid‑teens statewide, reflecting stronger fixed broadband take‑up.
• Household composition and housing:
  • Predominance of single‑family, owner‑occupied homes with robust in‑home Wi‑Fi reduces dependence on cellular for primary home internet, unlike more urban NJ counties where apartment dwellers more often lean mobile‑only.
• Race/ethnicity and language:
  • A less diverse, largely English‑speaking profile than NJ overall reduces some of the access and affordability gaps seen in urban counties; smartphone adoption differentials by race/ethnicity are smaller in absolute numbers here simply because of population mix.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage:
  • 4G LTE is effectively universal along major corridors (I‑78, US‑22, US‑202/31) and population centers (e.g., Flemington, Raritan Township, Clinton, Lambertville).
  • 5G:
    • Mid‑band 5G from T‑Mobile blankets most populated areas; Verizon C‑Band and AT&T mid‑band are strong along I‑78/US‑22/US‑202/31 and towns; mmWave is limited to select hotspots (far less extensive than urban NJ).
  • Terrain-driven gaps: hilly, wooded areas (Alexandria, Bethlehem, Tewksbury, East Amwell, and river/valley pockets) see more signal variability and indoor coverage challenges than the NJ average.
• Capacity and speeds:
  • Speeds on 5G mid‑band are strong in corridors and town centers, but countywide median speeds are typically below NJ’s urban-county medians due to lower site density and fewer small cells.
  • Evening home‑hour traffic peaks are more pronounced than daytime (commuter county), the opposite pattern of some urban NJ markets with heavy central-business-district daytime loads.
• Resiliency and buildout:
  • Fewer small cells per square mile than dense NJ counties; macro‑cell grid carries a larger share of load.
  • Power-backup and fiber backhaul constraints matter more in rural fringes; residents and businesses more often rely on in‑building solutions (Wi‑Fi calling, boosters, private small cells) than in cities.

Usage patterns and services

• Voice/SMS vs data:
  • Older median age means a slightly higher proportion of traditional voice/SMS usage than in younger NJ counties, but data consumption remains the dominant traffic category.
• Device mix:
  • Higher incidence of multi‑device ownership (smartwatch, tablet, connected vehicle lines) than the NJ average, supporting the above‑average connections per capita ratio.
• Work and mobility:
  • High rates of professional/managerial employment and hybrid/remote work favor robust home Wi‑Fi and Wi‑Fi calling; cellular is used heavily for mobility and continuity rather than as the primary home internet.

Key differences from New Jersey statewide trends

• Higher overall affluence and fixed-broadband adoption lead to:
  • Lower mobile‑only home internet reliance than the NJ average.
  • More lines per household (multi‑device) despite a slightly older population.
• Infrastructure is less dense than in North Jersey’s urban/suburban cores:
  • More variability in rural valleys and inside large-lot homes; mmWave 5G presence is minimal compared to cities.
  • Median cellular speeds/troughs show greater location dependence than statewide.
• Temporal load patterns differ:
  • Hunterdon sees stronger evening residential peaks and weekend recreational spikes (e.g., Delaware River corridor) rather than daytime central‑business‑district peaks common in urban NJ.

Numbers you can use (best-available, 2022–2024 basis)

• Households with smartphones: mid‑90s percent (ACS 5‑year), translating to roughly 47,000 smartphone‑equipped households in Hunterdon.
• Broadband at home: low‑to‑mid‑90s percent of households have a broadband subscription (ACS), with a larger share on cable/fiber and a smaller mobile‑only segment than NJ overall.
• Estimated individual smartphone users: ~105,000.
• Estimated active mobile connections: ~180,000.

What this means

• Hunterdon is a high‑adoption, high‑multi‑device county with strong corridor‑based 5G, but it exhibits more rural coverage variability and less small‑cell density than the NJ norm. The county’s prosperity reduces mobile‑only reliance, while its older age profile tempers—but does not materially depress—smartphone uptake. For planning, prioritize:
  • Filling valley/indoor coverage gaps (macro augments, small cells, in‑building solutions).
  • Expanding mid‑band 5G beyond highway corridors to raise off‑corridor median speeds.
  • Ensuring resilient power/backhaul in rural nodes to keep parity with statewide reliability.

Social media usage in Hunterdon County, NJ — 2025 snapshot

Population and connectivity

• Population: ~129,000 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census)
• Age structure: Under 18: ~21%; 65 and over: ~20% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts)
• Gender: ~50.8% female, ~49.2% male (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts)
• Broadband access: ~95% of households have a broadband subscription (ACS 2018–2022, QuickFacts)
• Education/income context: Among the highest in NJ, which correlates with high digital adoption and professional networking use

Estimated social media user base

• Using the U.S. social media penetration rate of 72–73% of the total population (DataReportal, Digital 2024: USA), Hunterdon County has an estimated 93,000–95,000 social media users
• Adult user base is concentrated given local age mix and broadband saturation; reach for major platforms is effectively “near universal” among residents under 50

Most-used platforms and benchmark percentages Note: County-level platform percentages aren’t published; the closest reliable yardstick is U.S. adult usage (Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024). Hunterdon’s affluent, suburban profile and very high connectivity closely mirror these ranks and shares.

• YouTube: 83% of U.S. adults
• Facebook: 68% of U.S. adults
• Instagram: 47% of U.S. adults
• Pinterest: 35% of U.S. adults
• TikTok: 33% of U.S. adults These imply roughly: Facebook and YouTube offer the broadest local reach; Instagram is strong with parents and younger adults; Pinterest and TikTok are meaningful but more segment-driven.

Age-group usage highlights

• Teens and 18–29: Heavy on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok; YouTube is universal. Local school sports, clubs, and creator content drive daily use.
• 30–49: Uses Facebook and Instagram for family, school, and community updates; YouTube for how‑to and product research; LinkedIn for career networking.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram adoption is moderate for family and local businesses; Pinterest plays for home, food, and DIY.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube lead for community, news, and church/municipal updates; lightweight Instagram use for family photos.

Gender breakdown and platform skews

• County gender split: ~51% female, ~49% male
• Platform skews (national benchmarks, Pew 2024) that likely hold locally:
  • Pinterest skews female
  • Reddit and X (Twitter) skew male
  • Facebook is near parity
  • Instagram leans slightly female
  • LinkedIn leans slightly male, with high usage among professionals

Behavioral trends observed in similar suburban, high‑income NJ counties and reflected locally

• Community information hub: Facebook Groups for towns (e.g., Clinton, Flemington, Raritan Twp), PTAs, sports leagues, and buy/sell groups see high engagement and fast spread of local news, recommendations, and events.
• Small business discovery: Instagram and Facebook are primary for restaurants, wineries, farm markets, fitness/wellness, home services, and boutiques; Stories/Reels drive awareness.
• Professional networking: LinkedIn engagement is above average given commuting professionals in finance, pharma, tech, and healthcare.
• Visual search and planning: Pinterest is strong among homeowners for remodeling, gardening, recipes, and seasonal events; cross‑traffic to local contractors and retailers is common.
• Short‑form video growth: TikTok and Reels usage rising among parents for home projects, hiking/parks, food, and local attractions; creators featuring day trips and outdoor recreation perform well.
• Local utility: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups for neighborhood alerts, municipal notices, lost‑and‑found pets, and contractor referrals.
• Time-of-day patterns: Peaks before work, midday, and early evening on weekdays; weekends skew toward mobile browsing at events and venues.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Hunterdon County, New Jersey (population, age, gender, broadband; ACS 2018–2022 and 2020 Census)
• Pew Research Center (2024), Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adult platform usage percentages)
• DataReportal (2024), Digital 2024: USA (overall social media penetration)