Warren County

Key demographics — Warren County, New Jersey

Population

• 109,632 (2020 Decennial Census)
• ~111,000 (2023 Census Bureau Population Estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years (ACS 5-year)
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–64: ~60%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Sex

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Race and ethnicity (shares; ACS 5-year)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~78–80%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~12–13%
• Black or African American (NH): ~3–4%
• Asian (NH): ~2–3%
• Two or more races/Other (NH): ~3–4%

Households and housing (ACS 5-year)

• Households: ~43,000–44,000
• Average household size: ~2.5–2.6 persons
• Family households: ~66% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~25–27%
• Owner-occupied: ~75–77%; renter-occupied: ~23–25%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 5-year; Annual Population Estimates). Data reflect the most recent ACS 5-year period and latest population estimate available.

Warren County, NJ — Email usage snapshot

• Estimated email users: 96,000 residents (≈87% of the 110k population).
• Age adoption (share using email): 13–17: 80%; 18–29: 96%; 30–49: 98%; 50–64: 93%; 65+: 82%.
• Gender split among users: Female 51%, Male 49% (mirrors population composition).
• Digital access:
  • Households with a computer: 94%.
  • Households with a broadband subscription: 91%.
  • Smartphone‑only internet households: 13%.
  • Access is strongest in and around Phillipsburg, Washington, and the Hackettstown area (cable/fiber); rural townships rely more on DSL/fixed wireless.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ≈300 people per square mile.
  • Connectivity is densest along the I‑78/I‑80 corridors; ridge‑and‑valley terrain contributes to patchier service in northern and western townships (e.g., Knowlton, Blairstown, Hardwick).
• Trends:
  • Broadband adoption has risen ~2–3 percentage points since 2019, lifting email use across all ages.
  • Growth in mobile‑only households and 5G coverage is increasing on‑the‑go email usage.
  • Older‑adult adoption is steadily improving, narrowing the 65+ gap.

These statistics combine recent ACS computer/broadband indicators with national email‑use rates applied to Warren County’s age and gender profile.

Mobile phone usage in Warren County, New Jersey — 2025 snapshot

Overall user base and penetration

• Residents: roughly 110,000.
• Estimated people with a mobile phone: 80,000–87,000 (about 73–79 per 100 residents), a few points below the statewide norm due to an older age profile and more rural settlement.
• Estimated adult smartphone users: 75,000–80,000 (mid‑80s percent of adults). Teens’ access is near‑universal, so youth adoption is not a limiting factor.
• Household reliance: a notably higher share of households use mobile data as a primary or fallback internet option compared with the New Jersey average, reflecting patchier fixed broadband competition outside town centers.

Demographic patterns shaping usage

• Age: Warren County is older than the state overall (share of residents 65+ is several points higher than NJ). Smartphone adoption among seniors trails younger cohorts, raising the county’s share of basic‑phone and voice‑centric users relative to state averages.
• Income: Median household income is below the New Jersey average, supporting a larger price‑sensitive segment. This tilts the market modestly toward prepaid and budget Android devices and lengthens device upgrade cycles compared with urban NJ counties.
• Race/ethnicity and language: Less diverse than New Jersey overall, with higher non‑Hispanic White share and smaller Black, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino shares. Spanish‑speaking pockets are concentrated around Phillipsburg and Washington, where carriers concentrate bilingual retail and outreach. These patterns influence retail footprint and channel mix more than baseline adoption.

Usage behavior and traffic

• Daytime mobility: Commuter flows load networks along I‑80, US‑46, and NJ‑31 during peak hours, with noticeable evening relief in rural tracts.
• Data consumption: Per‑line data use is slightly lower than the NJ average, reflecting the older user mix and greater persistence of LTE/low‑band 5G in rural areas. Where fixed wireless access (FWA) replaces DSL/coax at home, household data consumption via mobile networks rises materially.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carrier presence: All three national carriers provide 4G LTE countywide outdoors; MVNOs ride these networks. E911, VoLTE, and Wi‑Fi calling are standard.
• 5G footprint:
  • Low‑band 5G (700/600/850 MHz) covers most populated areas and rural roadways.
  • Mid‑band 5G (C‑band and 2.5 GHz) concentrates in and around Phillipsburg, Washington, Hackettstown, and along I‑80/US‑22/US‑46 corridors. Rural tracts and valleys more often fall back to LTE or low‑band 5G.
• Performance (typical user experience):
  • Mid‑band 5G: roughly 100–300 Mbps downlink in town centers and along major corridors.
  • Low‑band 5G/LTE: roughly 10–50 Mbps in rural/indoor conditions, with higher variability where terrain blocks line‑of‑sight.
• Topography impacts: The Kittatinny ridge, river valleys (Delaware, Musconetcong), and forested hollows create localized weak‑signal pockets and indoor coverage challenges—more pronounced than in New Jersey’s coastal plain and metro counties.
• Sites and backhaul: Macro towers are sited on ridgelines and along highways; small‑cell density is far lower than in North Jersey’s urban counties. Fiber backhaul is common in town centers, with some rural sites still relying on microwave.
• Fixed wireless access: FWA offerings from national carriers are expanding in fringe DSL/coax areas, increasing mobile network load and improving perceived broadband options where fiber is absent.

What’s different from the New Jersey statewide picture

• Adoption: Slightly lower smartphone penetration and a higher share of basic‑phone users driven by the county’s older age structure.
• Network mix: Greater reliance on LTE/low‑band 5G outside towns; mid‑band 5G capacity deployments are less dense and more corridor‑focused than in NJ’s urban/suburban counties.
• Retail and channels: Fewer carrier stores per capita; higher reliance on online sales and MVNOs. Upgrade cycles and ARPU trend lower than state averages.
• Home internet substitution: Higher incidence of mobile‑only or mobile‑primary internet households than the NJ average, tied to more limited fiber availability in rural tracts.

Outlook (next 12–24 months)

• Mid‑band 5G densification along I‑80 and in town centers will narrow performance gaps with state averages, though rural valleys will continue to see coverage variability.
• FWA growth will modestly raise per‑household mobile data consumption and improve broadband choice where cable/fiber is limited.
• Public‑safety and transportation projects are likely to drive incremental macro sites and co‑location opportunities, improving targeted dead zones.

Notes on estimation

• Figures synthesize recent Census/ACS demographics, national adoption benchmarks, and FCC broadband map patterns as of 2024–2025, tailored to Warren County’s age, income, density, and terrain. Estimates are stated as ranges to reflect normal variation across tracts and carriers.

Warren County, NJ: social media usage at a glance

Population and online baseline

• Residents: ≈110,000 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).
• Median age: ≈44 (older than the NJ median; skew toward midlife/older adults).
• Gender: ~50.8% female, ~49.2% male (ACS).
• Broadband access: ~90%+ of households have broadband subscriptions (ACS).

Estimated social media audience

• Adults (18+): ≈86,000.
• Social media users (18+): ≈71,000–75,000 (Pew Research Center’s 2024 finding that ~83% of U.S. adults use at least one social platform, applied to the county’s adult population). Practical planning figure: ≈72,000 adult users.

Most-used platforms among local adults (modeled adoption)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Snapchat: ~30%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• Pinterest: ~32%
• WhatsApp: ~23%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Reddit: ~22%
• Nextdoor: ~19% Notes: Percentages reflect Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult adoption; Warren County’s usage closely tracks these benchmarks. Given the county’s older skew, expect Facebook to index slightly higher and TikTok/Snapchat slightly lower than national averages.

Age-group patterns (how usage breaks down)

• 18–29: Very high YouTube (95%) and heavy Instagram (78%), Snapchat (65%), TikTok (62%); Facebook still common (~67%).
• 30–49: Broad multi-platform use; YouTube (92%) and Facebook (77%) lead; Instagram (49%); LinkedIn (37%); TikTok (~28%).
• 50–64: Facebook (73%) and YouTube (83%) dominate; Instagram/Pinterest around ~30%.
• 65+: Facebook (50%) and YouTube (49%) are primary; limited use of others. (Percentages are Pew U.S. benchmarks and map well to Warren County’s age profile.)

Gender breakdown among users

• Overall social media use is similar by gender; the local user base mirrors the population (~51% female, ~49% male).
• Platform skews: Pinterest and Instagram lean female; Reddit and X lean male; Facebook and YouTube are broad-based.

Behavioral trends observed in similar North Jersey suburban counties (and evident in Warren County)

• Facebook is central for community life: township alerts, school and youth sports, local events, buy/sell groups; Facebook Groups drive outsized engagement, especially among 35+.
• YouTube is used for how‑to, home and yard improvement, automotive, and outdoor recreation; Shorts increases discovery for local businesses.
• Instagram Reels performs for restaurants, boutiques, fitness, salons; geotags and local hashtags (e.g., Phillipsburg, Washington, Hackettstown) aid discovery.
• TikTok is growing among under‑35s for food, entertainment, and local attractions; effective when cross‑posted to Reels/Shorts.
• Snapchat is concentrated among teens/college‑age for peer messaging; effective for school/sports geofilters and event awareness.
• LinkedIn reaches commuters/professionals for B2B, hiring, and local networking; best for employer branding and events.
• Nextdoor is useful for neighborhoods, HOA notices, contractor recommendations, and public safety; audience skews homeowners 35+.
• Engagement timing typical of suburban markets: evenings (after work/school) and weekend mornings outperform mid‑day weekdays for community and retail content.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (latest available county profile for population, age, gender, broadband). Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (national platform adoption and age‑group patterns), applied to Warren County’s demographics to produce local estimates.