Cabarrus County

Below are recent, high-level demographics for Cabarrus County, NC. Figures are rounded; sources are U.S. Census Bureau (2023 Population Estimate; 2019–2023 ACS 5-year; 2020 Census for cross-check).

• Population: ≈244,000 (2023 estimate)
• Age:
  • Under 18: ≈24–25%
  • 65 and over: ≈14–15%
  • Median age: ≈38
• Gender: Female ≈51%
• Race/ethnicity (share of total population):
  • White alone: ≈66–67%
  • Black or African American alone: ≈16–18%
  • Asian alone: ≈3–4%
  • Two or more races: ≈4–5%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ≈12–13%
  • White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ≈56–58%
• Household profile:
  • Households: ≈85,000
  • Persons per household: ≈2.8
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ≈72–74%
  • Housing units: ≈90–95,000

If you need exact point estimates (to one decimal) for a specific year/source, say the word and I’ll provide them.

Cabarrus County, NC snapshot (estimates)

• Email users: 160,000–180,000 residents use email regularly. Basis: ~230,000 population; ~3/4 are adults; email adoption among adults is ~85–95%, with many teens using email for school.
• Age distribution of email use:
  • 13–17: ~60–75%
  • 18–29: ~95%+
  • 30–49: ~95–98%
  • 50–64: ~85–92%
  • 65+: ~70–85%
• Gender split: Roughly even; slight female majority in the county means email users are about 51% female, 49% male.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription is typically high for suburban NC counties like Cabarrus (roughly high‑80s to low‑90s percent), with 90%+ having a computer/smartphone.
  • 10–15% of households are smartphone‑only for internet.
  • Strongest fixed broadband (cable/fiber) coverage in Concord, Kannapolis, and Harrisburg; more reliance on fixed‑wireless/satellite in rural eastern areas.
  • Robust LTE/5G along the I‑85 corridor supports mobile email use.
• Local density/connectivity facts: About ~230k residents across ~360 sq mi yields ~630 people per sq mi; the I‑85 corridor and urban centers concentrate both population and broadband infrastructure.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from national/NC adoption rates applied to Cabarrus’ population profile; treat as directional estimates.

Below is a concise, data-informed overview of mobile phone usage in Cabarrus County, NC. Figures are estimates modeled from ACS, Pew Research, FCC maps, NC Broadband Office materials, and Charlotte-metro carrier build-out patterns. Ranges reflect uncertainty and recent growth. Emphasis is on how Cabarrus differs from North Carolina overall.

Topline

• Cabarrus is a fast-growing, suburban Charlotte-metro county with higher incomes and stronger broadband availability than the NC average. As a result, smartphone adoption is slightly higher, while “smartphone-only” internet reliance is lower than statewide. 5G coverage and capacity are stronger in the Concord–Kannapolis–I‑85 corridor than in many NC counties.

User estimates (2024)

• Population context: ~225k–240k residents; adults ~170k–190k.
• Adults with a mobile phone (any kind): ~95–97% (NC: ~94–96%).
• Adult smartphone owners: ~90–94% → roughly 155k–175k adults (plus ~12k–16k teens 13–17 with smartphones), totaling ~170k–190k smartphone users countywide.
• Wireless-only households (no landline): ~74–78% (NC: ~72–75%).
• “Smartphone-only” internet users (primarily or exclusively using mobile data, no fixed home broadband): ~12–16% of adults (NC: ~16–20%). Lower than state due to higher home broadband adoption and income.
• Mobile payment/telehealth usage: modestly above NC average, driven by suburban demographics and local health system adoption.

Demographic breakdown (directional patterns)

• Age:
  • 18–34: 97–99% smartphone adoption; highest data usage; strong 5G uptake.
  • 35–64: 93–96% adoption; heavy work and navigation use tied to commuting corridors.
  • 65+: 80–86% adoption (NC: ~78–83%); gap narrows in Cabarrus due to income/education and healthcare digital tools.
• Income:
  • Top quartile: 97–99% smartphone; low smartphone-only internet (7–12%).
  • Bottom quartile: 88–92% smartphone; higher smartphone-only internet (23–28%), though still slightly lower than NC peers due to better discount broadband options and coverage.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Adoption is high across groups; Black and Hispanic residents show above-average reliance on mobile-only internet, but countywide rates are moderated by stronger fixed broadband availability than the NC average.
• Geography within county:
  • Concord–Kannapolis–I‑85 corridor: highest 5G availability and speeds; dense capacity sites.
  • Eastern/northeastern exurban tracts (toward Mount Pleasant/rural fringe): more low-band 5G/LTE, higher likelihood of mobile-only internet and occasional capacity/coverage variability indoors.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and 5G:
  • All three national carriers market 5G across the Concord–Kannapolis spine, with mid-band (C-band/n41) present in core corridors. This yields better median speeds and capacity than many NC rural counties.
  • Outside core corridors, service often falls back to low-band 5G/LTE; speeds and indoor penetration vary.
• Capacity patterns:
  • High-capacity nodes along I‑85, around major retail/event venues and business parks; small-cell density higher than typical NC suburban counties.
  • Peak-time congestion aligns with commuter traffic and event schedules (e.g., raceway/retail weekends).
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Strong fiber presence from multiple providers supports 5G backhaul; backhaul robustness is better than statewide average outside major metros.
• Public connectivity:
  • Libraries, schools, municipal centers, and downtown Concord offer Wi‑Fi that complements mobile service; school hotspot programs reduce smartphone-only dependence among students.
• Resilience/public safety:
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is established with prioritized lanes for public safety; redundancy around civic facilities is stronger than many non-metro NC counties.

Key ways Cabarrus differs from NC overall

• Higher smartphone adoption and lower smartphone-only internet reliance due to higher incomes, suburban buildout, and better fixed broadband.
• Earlier and denser mid-band 5G deployment in core corridors via Charlotte-metro spillover; above-state median mobile speeds/capacity in urbanized tracts.
• Smaller digital divide by age and income than statewide, though gaps persist in rural fringes.
• More pronounced time-of-day congestion tied to commuting and large venues; requires targeted capacity management more than in many NC peer counties.

Notes on uncertainty and method

• Estimates triangulate state and national survey rates to county demographics and metro build-out patterns. For planning, validate with the latest ACS S2801/DP02, FCC National Broadband Map (mobile), NC Broadband Office maps, and carrier crowdsource speed data for tract-level precision.

Cabarrus County, NC social media snapshot (directional, 2025)

User stats

• Residents: ≈245–250k; age 13+ ≈210–215k
• Estimated social media users: 190–210k (≈80–85% of residents 13+)
• Daily users: ≈65–72% of social users (≈125–150k) use at least once per day

Age mix (share of social media users)

• 13–17: 6–8%
• 18–29: 20–22%
• 30–49: 33–36%
• 50–64: 20–23%
• 65+: 12–15%

Gender breakdown (share of social media users)

• Female: 52–54%
• Male: 46–48%
• Note: Platform skews vary (Pinterest, TikTok slightly more female; LinkedIn slightly more male)

Most-used platforms (estimated monthly reach among local social media users)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–75%
• Instagram: 50–55%
• TikTok: 38–43% (majority under 35)
• Snapchat: 25–30% (heavy teen/young adult)
• Pinterest: 25–30% (skews female; strong home, crafts, events)
• X/Twitter: 20–25% (news, sports)
• LinkedIn: 20–25% (professionals/commuters)
• Nextdoor: 12–18% (neighborhood/HOA, hyperlocal)
• WhatsApp: 20–25% overall; higher among Hispanic households

Behavioral trends to know

• Hyperlocal communities: Strong reliance on Facebook Groups and Nextdoor for school/PTA updates, youth sports, HOA/neighborhood info, yard sales/Marketplace, and local business referrals.
• Video-first: Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts drive discovery; short, captioned, locally relevant clips perform best.
• Family and event centric: High engagement with back-to-school, youth sports, church/community service, and Charlotte Motor Speedway/event content; spikes around weekends and local festivals.
• Marketplace mindset: Heavy use of Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell/trade groups; promo codes and limited-time local offers convert well.
• Messaging > comments: Many residents DM businesses via Messenger/Instagram for hours, appointments, and quotes; fast replies matter.
• Timing: Peaks evenings 7–10 pm; secondary peaks lunchtime and weekend mid-mornings; real-time interest during high school games and major motorsports events.
• Language and culture: Growing Hispanic audience; bilingual Facebook/TikTok content and WhatsApp contact options increase reach and response.
• Trust dynamics: Recommendations in local groups (UGC, neighbor reviews) outperform polished ads; micro-influencers and community sponsors see above-average engagement.

Notes and sources

• Figures are county-level estimates extrapolated from Pew Research Center (2023–2024) U.S. adoption rates, DataReportal U.S. platform usage, and typical suburban NC patterns. For planning, validate with platform ad tools (Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, Nextdoor) targeting Cabarrus County or ZIPs in Concord, Kannapolis, and Harrisburg.