Bernalillo County

Key demographics for Bernalillo County, New Mexico

• Population size:

  • About 676,000 residents (2023 U.S. Census Bureau estimate)
  • 676,444 (2020 Decennial Census)

• Age:

  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 65 and over: ~16%
  • Median age: ~37 years
  • Source: ACS (2018–2022), Census QuickFacts

• Gender:

  • Female: ~51%
  • Male: ~49%
  • Source: ACS (2018–2022), Census QuickFacts

• Racial/ethnic composition:

  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~52%
  • White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~36%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone (NH): ~6%
  • Black or African American alone (NH): ~3%
  • Asian alone (NH): ~3%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (NH): ~0–0.1%
  • Two or more races (NH): ~5%
  • Source: ACS (2018–2022), Census QuickFacts; 2020 Census

• Household data:

  • Households: ~287,000
  • Average household size: ~2.44 persons
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~60%
  • Family vs. nonfamily households: roughly 60% family, 40% nonfamily
  • Source: ACS (2018–2022), Census QuickFacts

Notes: Figures are rounded for clarity. Primary sources include U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Census, 2023 Population Estimates Program, and American Community Survey (2018–2022) / Census QuickFacts.

Bernalillo County, NM (pop. ~680,000) — email usage snapshot

Estimated email users: ~560,000–590,000 residents (≈83–87%), derived from high internet adoption and typical U.S. email use among internet users.

Age distribution (share of email users; est.):

• 13–17: 5–6%
• 18–34: 28–30%
• 35–54: 34–36%
• 55–64: 14–15%
• 65+: 14–16% Adoption tendencies: ≈95% among 25–64, ≈85–90% among 18–24, ≈65–75% among 65+, ≈60–70% among teens.

Gender split: Near parity; usage mirrors population (~51% female, ~49% male).

Digital access and trends (ACS-style indicators, est.):

• Households with broadband: ~88–90%
• Households with a computer/smartphone: ~95–97%
• Smartphone‑only internet households: ~12–15%
• No home internet: ~8–10% Trends: Smartphone‑only access growing; broadband adoption generally stable but affordability pressures after the ACP wind‑down may dampen low‑income connectivity.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Population density ~580 people/sq mi; most residents are in Albuquerque, where cable/fiber coverage is broad.
• Lower‑density fringes (e.g., East Mountains/rural pockets) face more limited or less reliable options.
• Adoption gaps persist in lower‑income tracts despite available infrastructure.

All figures are approximate, synthesized from recent ACS-style county metrics and U.S. usage patterns.

Bernalillo County, NM: mobile phone usage snapshot (what stands out vs statewide)

User estimates

• Population and households (2023): about 675,000 people in ~280,000 households.
• Smartphone users (individuals): about 0.51–0.53 million. Method: apply national/urban adoption rates from Pew (roughly 90% adults, ~90–95% teens) to Bernalillo’s age mix.
• Households with a smartphone: roughly 92–94% of households, or about 257,000–263,000 homes. This runs several points higher than the statewide average (about 88–91%).
• Households with a cellular data plan: roughly 80–84% in Bernalillo vs about 74–78% statewide.
• “Mobile-only internet” households (rely on cellular and lack wireline broadband at home): about 10–12% in Bernalillo, materially lower than the statewide share (about 18–22%), reflecting better fixed broadband options in the metro.

Demographic breakdown (how Bernalillo differs from New Mexico overall)

• Age
  • 18–34: near-saturation smartphone ownership (~95%+), similar to statewide, but heavier use of 5G plans and higher-tier data bundles in Bernalillo due to better network performance.
  • 35–64: high adoption (~92–95%), a few points above statewide; more device upgrades and postpaid family plans in Bernalillo.
  • 65+: materially higher smartphone adoption than the state (about 78–83% in Bernalillo vs roughly low-70s statewide). Local seniors benefit from urban retail, support, and health-system apps.
• Income and education
  • Higher median income and education in Bernalillo correlate with more postpaid lines, 5G devices, and multi-line plans; statewide, lower-income and rural counties show more prepaid/MVNO reliance and smartphone-only internet use.
• Race/ethnicity and language
  • Bernalillo’s population is majority Hispanic (about half), with a smaller share of Native American residents than the state average. In Bernalillo, Hispanic households show high smartphone adoption but lower “mobile-only” reliance than in rural, majority-Hispanic counties—again due to better fixed broadband availability.
• Urban vs rural within the county
  • Within-county gaps persist: the Albuquerque core has near-universal 5G and dense capacity; parts of the West Mesa, foothills near the Sandias, and county fringes see weaker indoor coverage and more LTE fallback.

Digital infrastructure and performance (distinct from statewide)

• Coverage
  • All three national carriers provide countywide 5G across populated areas, with mid-band (2.5 GHz and C-band) broadly deployed in Albuquerque. Statewide, many rural blocks remain LTE-only or have coverage from a single carrier.
• Capacity and speeds
  • Albuquerque’s median 5G speeds are typically well above state medians (often 2–3x faster than rural county medians) due to mid-band spectrum depth and denser sites.
• Site density and backhaul
  • Highest concentration of macro towers and hundreds of small cells in the state, especially along I-25/I-40 corridors and Albuquerque’s core. Robust fiber backhaul enables mid-band 5G performance; statewide, backhaul constraints in rural areas are more common.
• Public venues and special events
  • Neutral-host DAS and small cells at key venues (e.g., airport, university/medical facilities, sports/entertainment sites). Balloon Fiesta and large events prompt temporary cells (COW/portable sites). Such infrastructure is unique in scale within New Mexico.
• Public safety
  • FirstNet (Band 14) widely available in the metro; interoperability and coverage superior to many rural counties.

Key ways Bernalillo County trends differ from New Mexico overall

• Higher smartphone and cellular data adoption, but lower reliance on “mobile-only” internet because fixed broadband is more available and affordable.
• Faster 5G rollout, denser site grid, and higher typical speeds; better indoor coverage in most populated areas.
• Seniors and lower-income households in Bernalillo are more connected than counterparts in rural counties (smaller device and connectivity gaps).
• More postpaid, multi-line, and 5G device penetration; statewide shows a higher share of prepaid/MVNO and older handsets, especially in rural areas.
• Greater presence of small cells, venue DAS, and event-specific capacity investments than anywhere else in the state.

Notes on sources and methods

• Household smartphone and cellular-plan figures are derived from the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS “Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions” (S2801, 2019–2023 5-year) for county and state, synthesized with Pew Research Center 2023–2024 device ownership rates to estimate individual users by age. “Mobile-only” estimates use ACS internet-subscription breakouts (cellular data plan without a fixed broadband subscription).
• Coverage/performance insights reflect FCC Broadband/Mobile Coverage maps (2024), carrier public 5G deployment notes (mid-band and mmWave), and independent speed-test aggregators (e.g., Ookla) indicating Albuquerque’s substantially higher median speeds vs rural New Mexico. Exact live metrics vary by location and time.

Below is a concise, decision-ready view. Note: County-level social media stats are rarely published. Figures use 2024 U.S. averages (Pew Research Center) as the best proxy, adjusted by Bernalillo County’s urban/college profile. Treat as directional estimates.

User base (Bernalillo County)

• Population ≈ 680,000; adults ≈ 520,000–540,000.
• Estimated social media users:
  • Adults: ~380,000–430,000 (about 72–80% of adults use at least one platform).
  • Teens (13–17): ~50,000–60,000, with very high social use (YouTube/Snapchat/TikTok/Instagram).
• Language/culture: A majority Hispanic/Latino population supports strong Facebook and WhatsApp use; bilingual (English/Spanish) content performs well.

Most-used platforms (percent of U.S. adults; local usage likely similar)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Snapchat: ~30%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• WhatsApp: ~29%
• X (Twitter): ~27%
• Reddit: ~22%
• Nextdoor: ~19% (often higher in homeowner-heavy neighborhoods)

Age patterns (directional)

• 13–17: YouTube near-universal; Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram dominant; Facebook minimal.
• 18–29: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat very high; YouTube universal; Facebook moderate. UNM student presence boosts IG/TikTok/Snap.
• 30–49: Facebook remains the hub; YouTube high; Instagram solid; TikTok moderate; LinkedIn relevant for professionals (UNM/Sandia/Kirtland).
• 50–64: Facebook primary; YouTube strong; Pinterest/Nextdoor moderate; Instagram lower.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube lead; Nextdoor useful for neighborhood info.

Gender tendencies (directional, per U.S. patterns)

• Women: More likely on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat; strong engagement with local groups, schools, marketplace, events.
• Men: More likely on YouTube, Reddit, X; heavier news/sports/tech consumption.

Behavioral trends in/around Albuquerque

• Community and safety: Heavy use of Facebook Groups and Nextdoor for neighborhood watch, city updates, lost/found, school and HOA info.
• Local news and alerts: Facebook and X drive breaking news, weather, traffic (I‑25/I‑40), wildfire/air-quality updates.
• Events and culture: Instagram Reels/TikTok spike around Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and major festivals; hashtags like #ABQ, #BalloonFiesta see seasonal surges.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace widely used; Instagram Shops growing for local makers; restaurant discovery via IG and TikTok.
• Civic engagement: City, county, and nonprofits get traction with short explainer videos, bilingual posts, and carousel updates.
• Content format: Short vertical video outperforms; photo carousels and Stories work well for venues, hikes, and food.
• Timing (MT, typical): Engagement peaks 7–9am, 12–1pm, and 7–10pm; weekends strong for IG/TikTok.

Practical takeaways

• To reach most adults: Facebook + YouTube; add Instagram for under-45, TikTok/Snapchat for under-30, LinkedIn for professional audiences, Nextdoor for neighborhood/homeowner reach.
• Use bilingual (EN/ES) creative; lean into short video; anchor campaigns to local events and community groups.