Nassau County

Nassau County, New York – key demographics (latest Census Bureau data)

Population size

• 2023 estimate: 1,358,700 (approx.)
• Change since 2020 Census (1,395,774): −2.7%

Age

• Median age: ~42 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~19–20%

Gender

• Female: ~51.5%
• Male: ~48.5%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White, non-Hispanic: ~51%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~19%
• Black or African American: ~12%
• Asian: ~13%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%
• Other race, non-Hispanic: ~2%

Household profile

• Persons per household (avg.): ~3.0
• Family households: ~76% of households
• Married-couple families: ~58% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~33%
• One-person households: ~21%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80%

Notes and sources

• Figures are primarily from the U.S. Census Bureau: 2023 Population Estimates Program (PEP) and 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year; some household measures align with Census QuickFacts (2018–2022). Percentages are rounded.

• Population and density: 1,395,774 residents (2020 Census); land area ≈285 sq mi; ≈4,900 people per sq mi.
• Connectivity: About 93% of households have a broadband subscription (ACS Computer & Internet Use); roughly 6–7% have no home internet. Gigabit fiber/cable is widely available from Verizon Fios and Optimum; extensive public Wi‑Fi/computers via the Nassau Library System’s 54 branches.
• Estimated email users: ≈1.10 million residents (age 13+) use email, reflecting near‑universal uptake among internet users (≈95%) and high home/smartphone connectivity.
• Age distribution of email users (estimated mix, reflecting Nassau’s older skew and high broadband):
  • 18–29: 20%
  • 30–49: 33%
  • 50–64: 27%
  • 65+: 20%
• Gender split: Mirrors population—about 52% female, 48% male among email users.
• Digital access trends: Smartphone adoption exceeds 90% among adults; home broadband is the norm, with very low “smartphone‑only” access. Remote/hybrid work, telehealth, school portals, and county services sustain heavy daily email reliance. Overall, Nassau’s high income, suburban density, and near‑universal fixed broadband underpin one of the state’s strongest email engagement profiles.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Nassau County, NY (2024 snapshot)

Size of the user base

• Population: about 1.4 million residents; roughly 480–500 thousand households.
• Active mobile phone users: approximately 1.2–1.3 million people (about 85–90% of residents), reflecting near-universal adoption among adults and high teen adoption.
• Households with a smartphone: high-90s share. Nassau’s smartphone-in-household rate is several points above the New York State average, consistent with affluent suburban counties.
• Households with a cellular data plan (any device): upper-80s to around 90%, also above the statewide average.

Demographic profile of usage

• Age
  • 18–34: near-universal smartphone adoption (≈98%).
  • 35–64: mid- to high-90s.
  • 65+: high-80s to around 90%, several points higher than the statewide 65+ average; local seniors adopt smartphones at higher rates because of income, healthcare portals, and family connectivity.
• Income
  • ≥$75k: essentially universal smartphone access; multiple lines per household are common.
  • <$35k: smartphone adoption remains very high, but these households are more likely to rely on mobile plans for primary connectivity than higher-income peers.
• Race/ethnicity and language
  • Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and foreign-born households in Nassau show smartphone adoption rates broadly on par with the county average and above the statewide averages for the same groups, narrowing digital divides seen elsewhere in New York.
• Phone-only vs. landline
  • Wireless-only telephony (no landline) is the norm among working-age adults; the share is slightly lower than the statewide figure because of Nassau’s older age structure, but continues to climb yearly.
• Mobile-only internet at home
  • A minority of households rely solely on mobile data for home internet; this share is lower than the statewide average because fiber and cable broadband are widely available and affordable bundles are common.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage
  • 4G LTE: countywide coverage across all national carriers, including dense corridors (I‑495/LIE, Northern/Southern State Parkways, Meadowbrook/Wantagh) and LIRR rights-of-way.
  • 5G: mid‑band 5G from all three national carriers covers virtually all populated areas; small-cell densification has been deployed in downtowns (e.g., Mineola, Hempstead, Garden City) and around major retail and campus environments.
  • Millimeter-wave 5G: targeted hotspots in high-traffic zones (transit hubs, commercial centers, stadiums/arenas, and malls such as Roosevelt Field) for capacity offload.
• Capacity and speeds
  • Typical mid‑band 5G performance is triple‑digit Mbps down with low tens of Mbps up in most town centers; peak speeds are higher where mid‑band channels are wide and small-cell density is greatest.
  • Seasonal and event-driven congestion appears along coastal/bayfront areas (Long Beach, Atlantic Beach, Point Lookout) on peak summer weekends; carriers routinely augment with temporary cells and added spectrum carriers.
• Reliability and resiliency
  • Post‑Sandy hardening, more aggressive backup power, and fiber backhaul upgrades improved uptime versus prior years; macro sites along evacuation and commuter routes have prioritized restoration protocols.
• Backhaul and fiber
  • Extensive fiber from Verizon and wide cable plant from Optimum underpins robust cellular backhaul; this is a key reason Nassau’s mobile capacity and consistency exceed many upstate counties.
• Permitting and siting
  • Suburban zoning leads to a mix of macro sites on rights‑of‑way and stealth installations on public facilities; municipal small‑cell frameworks have enabled steady, block‑by‑block densification since 5G mid‑band launches.

How Nassau differs from New York State overall

• Higher adoption: Smartphone presence in households and adult mobile usage are a few percentage points higher than the state average, with particularly strong adoption among adults 65+.
• Less mobile-only internet at home: Reliance on cellular as the sole home connection is lower than the statewide rate due to strong Fios/Optimum footprints and competitive pricing.
• Better 5G capacity coverage: Mid‑band 5G availability and small‑cell density are broader and more consistent than in rural/upstate areas, yielding higher median speeds and fewer dead zones.
• Commute-centric usage: Heavy LIRR and parkway commuting produces pronounced daytime mobile traffic patterns, driving targeted buildouts at stations (e.g., Mineola, Hicksville) and along rail corridors—patterns less prominent outside the downstate metro.
• Smaller demographic gaps: Income and infrastructure reduce racial/ethnic and language-based disparities seen elsewhere in the state, pushing usage metrics closer together across groups.

Key takeaways

• Nassau is a high-adoption, high-capacity mobile market with nearly universal adult smartphone use and countywide 5G coverage.
• The county’s strong wireline broadband reduces mobile-only home internet dependence relative to the state overall.
• Infrastructure investment focuses on capacity (mid‑band 5G and small cells) and resiliency, with targeted improvements in coastal leisure areas and commuter nodes.

Nassau County, NY social media snapshot (2025)

Core user stats

• Population: About 1.4 million residents, with a slightly older-than-U.S.-average median age (~42). Roughly 51% female, 49% male. Household broadband access is above 90%, reflecting high connectivity and smartphone adoption.
• Implication: A large, well-connected suburban audience with strong family, school, and community ties that shape platform and content preferences.

Most-used platforms (estimated share of Nassau adults who use each platform)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 45–50%
• WhatsApp: 28–35%
• TikTok: 28–33%
• Snapchat: 25–30%
• LinkedIn: 32–38%
• X (Twitter): 22–28%
• Pinterest: 30–36%
• Nextdoor: 20–26%
• Reddit: 18–23% Method note: Estimates apply current U.S. adoption rates (Pew Research Center, 2024) to Nassau’s older, higher-income suburban mix; LinkedIn and Nextdoor skew slightly higher than national average, TikTok/Snapchat slightly lower.

Age patterns

• Teens (13–17): Near-universal YouTube; heavy Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok; Facebook minimal except for school/team groups.
• 18–34: YouTube 90%+; Instagram 70–80%; TikTok 55–65%; Snapchat 50–60%; Facebook ~60%.
• 35–54: Facebook 70–80% and Instagram 50–60% dominate; YouTube 80–90%; LinkedIn 35–45%; TikTok 25–35% (mostly short local news/restaurant content).
• 55+: Facebook 60–70% for community and family; YouTube 70–80% for news/how‑to; Instagram 30–40%; Nextdoor 25–35%; TikTok 10–20%.

Gender breakdown

• Overall social media audience is roughly balanced by gender (county is slightly female‑majority). Women over-index on Facebook (especially Groups), Instagram, Pinterest, and Nextdoor; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X. WhatsApp usage is strong across genders in multilingual/immigrant households.

Behavioral trends

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups and Nextdoor drive hyperlocal chatter (schools, youth sports, town services, permits, beaches/parks, safety). Events, fundraisers, and PTA updates perform strongly.
• Dining and local commerce: Instagram and TikTok are primary for discovering restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, boutiques, and health/fitness studios; short-form video and Reels of menus, seasonal specials, and behind-the-scenes content outperform static posts.
• Home and services: Facebook/Instagram ads and neighborhood posts convert well for home services (HVAC, landscaping, roofing, contractors), with strong weekday evening and weekend afternoon engagement.
• Professional and education: LinkedIn is above-average for white‑collar recruiting, local healthcare/education roles, and SMB B2B services.
• Messaging: WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are widely used for school and community coordination; WhatsApp is common in multilingual households.
• Timing: Peaks around early commute (7–9 a.m.), lunch (12–2 p.m.), and late evening (8–10 p.m.); weekends favor errands, family activities, and event discovery.

Key takeaways

• Facebook and YouTube remain the Nassau reach pillars; Instagram is essential for visual/local lifestyle; LinkedIn and Nextdoor punch above national weight; TikTok growth is steady but moderated by older demographics.
• Content tied to schools, neighborhoods, and local dining/services earns the highest engagement and conversions.