Durham County

Here are key demographics for Durham County, North Carolina (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey 1-year unless noted):

• Population: ~330–335k (2020 Census: 324,833)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~35–36 years
  • Under 18: ~20–21%
  • 65 and over: ~12–13%
• Sex:
  • Female: ~52%
  • Male: ~48%
• Race/ethnicity (Hispanic of any race):
  • Non-Hispanic White: ~40–41%
  • Black or African American (NH): ~35–36%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ~14–15%
  • Asian (NH): ~5–6%
  • Two or more races (NH): ~3–4%
  • Other (NH, including AIAN, NHPI): ~1% or less
• Households:
  • Number of households: ~130–135k
  • Average household size: ~2.3–2.4
  • Family households: ~54–56% of households
  • Tenure: ~50–52% owner-occupied; ~48–50% renter-occupied

Notes: Figures are rounded; ACS estimates carry margins of error. For precise point estimates, consult the ACS 2023 1-year tables for Durham County, NC.

Durham County, NC — estimated email usage snapshot

• Estimated users: 250–265k residents use email regularly. Basis: ~333k population (2023), ~78% adults, plus most teens; 90–95% adoption among adults and high adoption among teens (Pew-style national rates applied locally).
• Age profile (share using email, estimates from national patterns):
  • 18–29: ~97–99%
  • 30–49: ~96–98%
  • 50–64: ~90–95%
  • 65+: ~85–90%
• Gender split: Roughly even; women are ~51% of the population and email use is similar by gender (no meaningful gap in national data).
• Digital access trends:
  • ~88–92% of households subscribe to home internet; device access is widespread (computer/smartphone in most homes).
  • 10–15% of households are likely smartphone‑only for internet.
  • Email is accessed primarily via smartphones and webmail; daily use is common among working‑age adults.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ≈1,100 per sq. mile; most residents live in the City of Durham, supporting strong broadband coverage.
  • Gigabit fiber is widely available (e.g., Google Fiber, AT&T Fiber), with multiple cable/fixed‑wireless options.
  • Public libraries and community centers provide free Wi‑Fi/computers, helping bridge gaps in lower‑income or rural fringes.

Sources: ACS internet/computer access indicators and Pew Research email adoption benchmarks, applied to Durham’s population.

Below is a concise, decision-focused snapshot of mobile phone usage in Durham County, North Carolina, emphasizing how it differs from the statewide picture.

Headline estimates (Durham County)

• Adult smartphone users: roughly 245,000–265,000. Basis: adult population in the mid‑260k range and urban-county smartphone ownership typically in the low‑to‑mid 90% range (higher than the NC average).
• Households relying primarily on mobile data (smartphone hotspot or cellular home internet instead of wireline broadband): about mid‑teens percent in Durham, slightly lower than NC overall due to strong fiber availability but still material because of renters, students, and lower‑income households.
• Wireless‑only phone use (no landline): very common and likely a bit higher than the statewide rate given Durham’s younger/renter profile.

How Durham differs from North Carolina overall

• Higher adoption and device stacking: Durham’s urban, higher‑income, and university/tech mix pushes smartphone ownership and multi‑device usage (phone + tablet + wearables) above the state average.
• Smaller but persistent digital divide: Gaps by income and age exist, but are narrower than statewide. However, “mobile‑only” internet reliance is more concentrated among lower‑income, Black, and Hispanic residents than among White residents—mirroring national patterns.
• More advanced 5G footprint and utilization: Mid‑band 5G from all three national carriers is dense across Durham city and Research Triangle Park, with faster median speeds and more indoor 5G availability than the NC average.
• Greater eSIM and MVNO uptake: A larger share of students, knowledge workers, and international residents translates into higher eSIM use, dual‑line setups (work/personal), and MVNO adoption than in most NC counties.
• Post‑ACP shift: With the federal Affordable Connectivity Program ending in 2024, Durham’s robust local networks kept overall connectivity high, but some cost‑sensitive households appear to have shifted toward mobile‑only plans or prepaid options—less visible in high‑fiber suburban NC counties with lower rental churn.

Demographic patterns (Durham focus)

• Age: Near‑universal smartphone ownership among 18–29 and strong usage among 30–49; seniors (65+) show higher adoption than the NC average thanks to better device access/support and health‑system digital engagement, but still lag younger cohorts in app breadth and data‑heavy use.
• Race/ethnicity: Smartphone ownership among Black and Hispanic residents is comparable to White residents, but dependence on mobile data (vs home broadband) is higher—driven by income, housing stability, and plan affordability.
• Income: Under $35k households are much more likely to be smartphone‑first or mobile‑only; middle/higher‑income households tend to pair smartphones with fiber at home and use Wi‑Fi offload heavily.
• Students and renters: Durham’s large student/renter base favors prepaid, flexible, and eSIM plans; churn and seasonal line activations are higher than statewide norms.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• 5G coverage:
  • T‑Mobile: Extensive 2.5 GHz mid‑band coverage across Durham and RTP; standalone 5G widely available.
  • Verizon: Strong C‑band (n77) overlay in core corridors; capacity densification near major venues and along I‑40/NC‑147.
  • AT&T: Mid‑band 5G present with added capacity around campuses, hospitals, and RTP; 3.45 GHz augmenting C‑band in select sectors.
• Fiber backbones: AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber are broadly available in the city and key suburbs, with multi‑gig tiers common—well above NC average fiber penetration. This supports heavy Wi‑Fi offload and carrier small‑cell siting.
• Private and enterprise networks: RTP campuses and hospitals increasingly use CBRS/private LTE/5G for IoT and secure mobility, a differentiator from most NC counties.
• Public access: Libraries, community centers, and school programs maintain hotspot lending and public Wi‑Fi, softening the ACP sunset impact more effectively than in many NC localities.
• Coverage nuances: Urban core and RTP enjoy excellent capacity; parts of northern/eastern fringe areas can still see mid‑band 5G drop‑offs and rely more on low‑band LTE/5G for reach.

Usage trends to watch

• Continued growth in mobile‑only households among cost‑sensitive renters post‑ACP, even as fiber availability remains strong.
• Rising dual‑SIM/eSIM use, especially among students and international professionals.
• More fixed‑wireless (5G home internet) adoption in fiber‑light pockets and among price‑conscious households.
• Healthcare and education apps sustaining higher‑than‑state mobile engagement (telehealth, campus apps, transit, and payments).

Bottom line Durham County is more smartphone‑saturated, more 5G‑enabled, and more digitally dense than North Carolina overall. The county’s tech, university, and healthcare ecosystem lifts adoption and speeds, while its renter and lower‑income segments keep mobile‑only reliance higher than you’d expect given the strong fiber footprint—making affordability and plan flexibility pivotal drivers of usage.

Below is a concise, planning-ready snapshot. County-level social media figures aren’t directly published, so percentages are estimates derived from recent U.S. benchmarks (e.g., Pew Research Center, DataReportal) adjusted for Durham’s younger, university/tech-heavy profile. Numbers refer to adults unless noted.

Overall penetration

• Estimated adults using at least one social platform: 70–75% (higher among 18–34; lower among 65+)
• Durham skew: Slightly higher adoption of Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn than U.S. average due to Duke/NCCU and RTP workforce

Most‑used platforms (estimated share of adults)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Instagram: ~45–55% (likely toward the high end locally)
• TikTok: ~30–40% (likely toward the high end locally, especially 13–34)
• LinkedIn: ~30–40% (above national average in Durham’s context)
• Snapchat: ~25–35% (concentrated under 30)
• Pinterest: ~25–30% (skews female, 25–54)
• X/Twitter: ~20–25% (news, sports, civic voices)
• Reddit: ~20–25% (students/tech; r/triangle and campus subs)
• Nextdoor: ~15–25% of households (neighborhood info; 30+)

Age patterns (directional)

• 13–24: Near‑universal use; TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram dominant; YouTube daily; Facebook minimal
• 25–34: YouTube + Instagram/TikTok core; LinkedIn strong; Reddit notable; Facebook used for events/Marketplace
• 35–49: Facebook + YouTube anchor; Instagram secondary; Nextdoor for hyperlocal; Pinterest for home/family
• 50–64: Facebook primary; YouTube growing; Pinterest/Nextdoor common; Instagram moderate
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube main; Nextdoor for neighborhood updates; WhatsApp for family ties

Gender tendencies (directional)

• Women: Higher likelihood on Facebook (Groups/Marketplace), Instagram (Stories/Reels), Pinterest, Nextdoor
• Men: Higher likelihood on YouTube, Reddit, X/Twitter; slightly more Discord/Gaming communities

Behavioral trends specific to Durham

• Strong student and RTP influence: Above‑average LinkedIn use (recruiting, industry news), Reddit for tech/student life, rapid uptake of new features (Reels/Shorts)
• Local discovery is video‑led: Short‑form video (IG Reels/TikTok/YouTube Shorts) drives decisions on restaurants, arts, music, and events (DPAC, American Tobacco Campus, Durham Bulls)
• Community/civic engagement: Active neighborhood groups (Facebook, Nextdoor) around safety, development, schools, transit; X used by journalists/advocates for real‑time updates
• Commerce: Heavy Facebook Marketplace and Buy Nothing group activity; Instagram DMs for customer service at local SMBs
• Content timing: Evenings (7–10 pm) and lunch hours perform well; weekend afternoons spike for event content

Notes and caveats

• Percentages reflect best-available U.S. benchmarks mapped to Durham’s demographics; actual local figures may vary by ±5–10 points.
• Teens (13–17) are included qualitatively; most platform percentages refer to adults.