Deschutes County

Key demographics — Deschutes County, Oregon (latest Census Bureau data; figures rounded)

• Population
  • 2023 population estimate: ~224,000 (up from 198,253 in 2020 Census)
• Age
  • Median age: ~42
  • Under 18: ~21%
  • 65 and over: ~22%
• Sex
  • Female: ~50.5%
  • Male: ~49.5%
• Race/ethnicity (mutually exclusive; Hispanic may be of any race)
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~84–85%
  • Hispanic or Latino: ~9–10%
  • Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~4–5%
  • Asian, non-Hispanic: ~1–2%
  • Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~0.5–1%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~0.8–1%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: ~0.1–0.2%
• Households and housing
  • Households: ~90,000–95,000
  • Average household size: ~2.4–2.5
  • Family households: ~60–65% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~25–30%
  • One-person households: ~25–30%
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~67–70%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Population Estimates Program (PEP) for total population; 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year/2019–2023 ACS 5-year (tables DP05, S0101 for age/sex; DP02 for households; DP04 for housing).

Deschutes County, OR email usage (estimates)

• Estimated email users: 165k–185k residents. Based on national email adoption (90%+ of adults, ~85% of teens) applied to the county’s age mix.
• Age distribution of users: 13–17: ~6%; 18–29: ~16%; 30–49: ~35%; 50–64: ~27%; 65+: ~16%.
• Gender split: roughly even (about 49–51% either way).
• Digital access trends: About 9 in 10 households have internet at home, mostly broadband (cable/fiber/DSL). An estimated 12–15% are smartphone‑only for home internet; roughly 6–8% report no home internet. Device ownership is widespread; senior connectivity is improving but trails mid‑life adults.
• Local density/connectivity: Population density is roughly 70–75 people per square mile, with most residents concentrated in the Bend–Redmond corridor. Urban areas offer multiple 100 Mbps+ options and expanding fiber; outer rural areas (e.g., around La Pine, Sisters, and eastern tracts) have more gaps and rely more on fixed wireless or satellite.

Notes: Figures are modeled from recent American Community Survey internet‑access indicators, Pew Research email adoption by age, and Deschutes County demographics; treat as directional estimates rather than precise counts.

Below is a concise, data-informed picture of mobile phone usage in Deschutes County, Oregon, emphasizing where local patterns diverge from statewide trends. Figures are estimates synthesized from recent ACS “Computer and Internet Use” tables (S2801 and related, 2022–2023 releases), FCC broadband/mobile filings, carrier build‑out announcements, and regional planning sources. Because some indicators are not published at fine county detail, ranges are provided.

Key takeaways unique to Deschutes County

• Faster growth and seasonality: Subscriber counts and data traffic grow faster than the state average due to rapid in‑migration and strong tourism. Seasonal peaks around Bend–Sunriver–Mt. Bachelor exceed typical Oregon counties.
• 5G ahead in the urban core, larger rural gap: Bend/Redmond have earlier, denser mid‑band 5G than many non‑I‑5 counties, but south/western tracts (La Pine area, Cascade Lakes corridor) trail, making the urban–rural gap inside the county wider than Oregon’s average gap.
• Higher device density, narrower age gap: Higher incomes/education and a tech‑oriented workforce narrow the smartphone adoption gap between older and younger adults compared to the state overall.

User estimates (2023–2024)

• Household smartphone presence: About 92–96% of households have at least one smartphone. With roughly 90–100k households, that’s approximately 83–96k smartphone‑equipped households. This is at or slightly above Oregon’s average.
• Adult smartphone users: Roughly 160–175k adults use smartphones (about 89–94% of the 18+ population). This rate is a touch higher than the statewide adult average, driven by a relatively affluent, college‑educated population.
• Households with a cellular data plan: About 70–80% report a cellular data subscription (often in addition to fixed broadband), similar to or a bit above Oregon’s average.
• Mobile‑only internet households: Countywide roughly 9–14% rely primarily on cellular for home internet. The county average is near Oregon’s overall rate, but the internal spread is larger:
  • Bend/Redmond: lower mobile‑only share (about mid‑single to low‑teens percent) because cable/fiber options are common.
  • La Pine, Sisters, Tumalo, and outlying areas: higher mobile‑only reliance (often mid‑teens to 20%+ in some tracts), reflecting more limited fixed options and cost sensitivity.
• Device density: 2.3–2.8 smartphones per household on average in Bend/Redmond (multi‑adult, remote‑work households), modestly above the statewide average; lower densities in rural tracts.

Demographic patterns

• Age:
  • 18–34: Near universal smartphone adoption (≈97–99%), on par with Oregon.
  • 35–64: Very high adoption (≈93–97%), slightly above state average.
  • 65+: Higher than the Oregon average (≈80–85% vs. upper‑70s statewide), reflecting tech‑savvy retirees and better affordability. The age‑based adoption gap is smaller than statewide.
• Income and education:
  • Above‑average household income and bachelor’s degree attainment correlate with more devices per household, higher 5G handset penetration, and greater use of hotspotting for hybrid/remote work—more pronounced than the statewide pattern.
• Housing tenure and ethnicity:
  • Renters and Hispanic/Latino households show higher mobile‑only internet reliance than owner‑occupied and non‑Hispanic white households, consistent with statewide patterns; however, fixed options in Bend dampen mobile‑only rates for renters compared with renters in many rural Oregon counties.
• Commuters and remote workers:
  • A higher share of remote/hybrid workers than the Oregon average increases daytime data use in residential and mixed‑use areas and raises the utility of unlimited and premium‑tier mobile plans.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and capacity:
  • Bend–Redmond–Tumalo–Sunriver corridor: All three national carriers offer 5G, with T‑Mobile’s 2.5 GHz “Ultra Capacity” widely present and Verizon/AT&T mid‑band (C‑band/3.45 GHz) active in most populated areas. This puts the urban core ahead of many non‑I‑5 Oregon counties for mid‑band 5G depth.
  • Rural and recreation areas: LTE remains dominant with pockets of weak signal and capacity constraints along Cascade Lakes Hwy, parts of US‑20 west toward Santiam Pass, and south of Sunriver/La Pine—more pronounced than the statewide average due to terrain and federal land.
• Densification and backhaul:
  • Ongoing site additions and sector upgrades along US‑97, OR‑20, and OR‑126. Multiple fiber backhaul providers (e.g., TDS/BendBroadband, Lumen/CenturyLink, regional/long‑haul carriers) support rapid 5G upgrades around Bend/Redmond. Backhaul scarcity is still a limiting factor in outer tracts.
• Public safety and resiliency:
  • FirstNet buildouts and hardening of macro sites have improved coverage for fire response. Wildfire seasons and Public Safety Power Shutoffs create outage risks in rural zones; temporary cells (COWs/COLTs) are used during peak tourism and incidents—these surge deployments are more frequent than the Oregon average.
• Public/enterprise Wi‑Fi:
  • Dense Wi‑Fi in downtown Bend, the Old Mill District, and resorts helps offload cellular traffic during events; this offload infrastructure is heavier than typical for counties east of the Cascades.

How Deschutes differs from Oregon overall

• Adoption is slightly higher across most age groups, with a notably smaller 65+ gap.
• 5G mid‑band depth in the main urban corridor is ahead of many Oregon counties outside the I‑5 spine, but intra‑county disparities are sharper.
• Seasonal demand spikes (tourism, events, ski season) and wildfire‑related surges are larger drivers of network planning than in the average Oregon county.
• A bigger share of remote/hybrid workers than the state average translates into higher daytime data use in residential neighborhoods and stronger demand for premium unlimited plans and hotspot features.
• Mobile‑only internet reliance averages out near the state rate, but the spread between urban and rural tracts is wider than the statewide spread.

Data notes and confidence

• Household smartphone and cellular‑plan presence rely on ACS survey data; individual user counts are inferred from adult population and adoption rates. Ranges reflect measurement error and year‑to‑year variation.
• Coverage and 5G details are based on carrier build‑out patterns and federal filings through 2024; precise tower counts by carrier are not publicly consistent across sources.
• For planning or investment decisions, validate with the latest ACS 1‑year tables (S2801), FCC Broadband Data Collection maps, and carrier engineering maps for Bend/Redmond and La Pine/Sisters tracts.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot for Deschutes County, OR. Because platform publishers rarely release county-level data, figures are modeled from the county’s age mix (ACS) and Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social-media adoption rates; treat them as informed estimates.

At-a-glance user stats

• Estimated total social media users: 155k–170k (includes adults and teens 13–17)
• Adults (18+) who use social media: roughly 75–83% (≈145k–160k people)
• Teens (13–17) who use social media: ~90–95% (≈9k–11k people)

Age mix of adult users (share of adult social-media users)

• 18–29: ~18–20%
• 30–49: ~36–38%
• 50–64: ~26–28%
• 65+: ~16–18%

Gender breakdown (overall users)

• Female: ~51–53%
• Male: ~47–49% Notes: Women skew higher on Facebook and Pinterest; men skew higher on Reddit and YouTube. Overall distribution tracks the county’s near 50/50 split.

Most-used platforms among adults in Deschutes County (estimated penetration)

• YouTube: ~80–82%
• Facebook: ~66–68%
• Instagram: ~39–42%
• Pinterest: ~33–35% (strong female skew)
• LinkedIn: ~29–31%
• TikTok: ~28–31% (lower than national average due to older age mix)
• Snapchat: ~20–23%
• X (Twitter): ~21–22%
• Reddit: ~18–19%
• Nextdoor: ~15–20% (strong in suburban neighborhoods) Note: Percentages reflect likely “use” (ever or typical use) among adults, derived from Pew 2024 U.S. benchmarks adjusted for Deschutes’ older-than-average profile.

Behavioral trends to know

• Hyperlocal info hubs: Facebook Groups and Nextdoor are primary channels for neighborhood news, wildfire/smoke and road updates, school/parks info, lost/found pets, and buy/sell/trade.
• Outdoor lifestyle content over-indexes: Instagram Reels, YouTube, and TikTok see strong engagement for hiking, MTB, ski/snow/surf, fly-fishing, vanlife, and travel itineraries. UGC featuring trails (and dogs), breweries, and scenic spots performs best.
• Seasonal spikes:
  • Spring–summer: trail/lake content, event promos, tourism and hospitality.
  • Winter: Mt. Bachelor conditions, snow reports, gear and road safety.
  • Late summer/fall: wildfire/smoke updates; emergency info posts surge.
• Community + authenticity: Local causes, sustainability, volunteerism, and small-business stories drive comments and shares more than polished ads.
• Shopping and discovery:
  • Facebook/Instagram for local business discovery, events, and restaurants.
  • Pinterest for home, garden, DIY, and trip ideas.
  • YouTube for how-to, gear reviews, real estate tours, and local creators.
• Younger cohorts (18–34): Heavier on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat; respond to short-form video, creator collabs, and location-tagged content.
• Older cohorts (50+): Heavier on Facebook and Nextdoor; respond to practical info, community updates, and events.

Sources and method

• U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) for Deschutes County age/sex distribution (latest available).
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. platform adoption by age/sex). Local platform percentages are modeled by applying Pew age-specific adoption rates to Deschutes’ age profile; Nextdoor estimate reflects suburban/older skew.