Delaware County

Key demographics: Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Population

• Total: ~576,800 (2020 Census); ~575,000 (2023 population estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~39 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and older: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~52%
• Male: ~48%

Race/ethnicity

• White alone: ~63%
• Black or African American alone: ~26%
• Asian alone: ~6%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5–6%
• White, non-Hispanic: ~60% (Note: Hispanic can be of any race; totals may not sum to 100% due to rounding.)

Households

• Total households: ~224,000
• Average household size: ~2.55
• Family households: ~61% of households (married-couple families ~43%)
• Households with children under 18: ~28%
• One-person households: ~28%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023).

Delaware County, PA email usage (estimates)

• Users: 450,000 residents use email regularly, based on county population (576k) and typical U.S. adoption by age.
• Age mix of email users:
  • 13–17: ~6%
  • 18–34: ~29%
  • 35–49: ~24%
  • 50–64: ~24%
  • 65+: ~17%
• Gender split: Roughly mirrors the population (~52% female, ~48% male). Nonbinary identities are undercounted in most surveys.
• Digital access trends:
  • Broadband: About 90–93% of households have a broadband subscription; computer access ~95% (ACS trend levels for similar suburbs).
  • Mobile: Most adults own smartphones; roughly 10–15% of households are smartphone‑only for home internet.
  • Speeds/availability: Cable and fiber footprints cover most populated areas; fixed broadband at 100/20 Mbps+ is widely available, supporting reliable email.
  • Public access: Libraries, schools, and campuses (e.g., Swarthmore, Widener) provide extensive Wi‑Fi options.
• Local density/connectivity: Delaware County is densely populated (~3,000 people per sq. mile), adjacent to Philadelphia, with strong 4G/5G coverage reported across major corridors (I‑95/US‑1/SEPTA rail), contributing to high connectivity and email adoption.

Below is a concise, decision-ready snapshot of mobile phone usage in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, with emphasis on how local patterns diverge from statewide trends.

Topline user estimates

• Population base: ~575,000 residents (2023 est.).
• Estimated smartphone users: 450,000–500,000 individuals.
  • Method: county population by age x national/PA adoption rates (Pew Research for adults and teens; ACS household smartphone availability).
• Estimated mobile-only home internet households (cellular data with no wireline at home): ~34,000–40,000 (roughly 16%–19% of ~210k–215k households).
• Estimated active mobile subscriptions (including secondary lines, wearables, hotspots): ~630,000–690,000 (roughly 1.1–1.2 lines per resident, consistent with national ratios).

Demographic breakdown (directional)

• Age:
  • 18–49: near-universal smartphone adoption (≈95%–98%).
  • 50–64: high adoption (≈85%–92%).
  • 65+: elevated versus PA average, but still the lowest segment (≈75%–82%). Delaware County’s seniors are a few points higher than state seniors, reflecting suburban income/education and proximity to services.
• Income:
  • Households under $35k show much higher mobile-only home internet reliance (≈25%–35%). This is concentrated in parts of Chester, Upper Darby, Darby/Collingdale/Colwyn, Yeadon.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Overall smartphone ownership is high across groups; however, Black and Hispanic households are more likely than White households to be mobile-only for home internet. Because Delaware County’s Black and immigrant populations are above the state average, the county’s overall mobile-only share runs higher than Pennsylvania’s.
• Household/education:
  • Higher educational attainment zones (Radnor, Swarthmore, Haverford) skew toward multi-device, multi-line households and lower mobile-only reliance.
  • Areas with more renters and recent immigrants show heavier smartphone dependence and prepaid/MVNO usage.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• 5G coverage: Countywide mid-band 5G (T-Mobile 2.5 GHz; Verizon/AT&T C-band) is broadly available, with dense coverage along I-95, I-476, US‑1, and major commercial corridors and boroughs.
• Performance: Median 5G speeds are typically above statewide medians due to dense site grids and ample mid-band spectrum in the Philadelphia market. Indoor performance is generally strong in post-2010 small-cell build areas; older masonry rowhouse blocks can see variability.
• Network density: Higher macro-site and small-cell density than most PA counties, especially around campuses, medical centers, malls, and SEPTA rail corridors.
• Remaining weak spots: Western low-density and heavily wooded areas (e.g., near Ridley Creek State Park and parts of Edgmont/Thornbury) and some riverfront industrial strips can exhibit pockets of weaker service or capacity at peak times.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): Verizon 5G Home and T‑Mobile Home Internet are widely marketed; adoption is growing as an alternative where fiber isn’t present or cable prices are high.
• Wireline backdrop: Extensive cable (Comcast) across the county; Verizon Fios available in many but not all municipalities. Where Fios is absent, FWA/mobile-only reliance is noticeably higher.
• Public/digital inclusion: Libraries and schools have run hotspot lending and device programs that mitigate gaps, especially for students.

How Delaware County differs from Pennsylvania statewide

• Higher smartphone penetration: A few points above the PA average, driven by suburban/urban mix, higher incomes, and transit/commuter behaviors.
• Larger mobile-only segment: Roughly 16%–19% of households vs. low‑teens statewide, influenced by higher shares of renters, lower-income households in specific municipalities, and strong 5G/FWA availability.
• Denser 5G build and faster typical speeds: The Philadelphia metro buildout yields better mid-band coverage and capacity than most of PA’s rural and small-metro counties.
• Fewer true coverage gaps: More continuous corridor coverage and more small cells; remaining gaps are localized rather than countywide.
• Stronger FWA competition: FWA is a viable substitute in more neighborhoods compared with many PA counties, nudging up mobile data reliance.

Notes on sources and method

• Estimates synthesize: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 county population; ACS S2801 “Computer and Internet Use” for household smartphone and cellular data), Pew Research Center (adult and teen smartphone adoption), FCC Broadband Data Collection (5G/wireline availability), and industry indicators (CTIA connections per capita, public carrier coverage statements). Exact local figures can vary year to year; figures above are rounded ranges intended for planning.

Social media usage in Delaware County, PA (short snapshot, 2025)

How many users (estimate)

• Population ≈ 575k; adults ≈ 450k.
• Using national adoption rates as a proxy (Pew Research Center, 2024), an estimated 320k–350k adults in the county use at least one social platform. Including teens likely puts total users around 350k–380k.
• Note: County-level platform shares aren’t published; figures below apply U.S. adult shares to Delaware County’s population profile.

Most-used platforms among adults (proxy: U.S. averages)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47–50%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33–35%
• LinkedIn: ~28–30%
• Snapchat: ~27–30%
• X (Twitter): ~22–23%
• Reddit: ~22%
• Nextdoor: ~18–20% (often higher in suburban neighborhoods)

Age patterns (tendencies)

• Teens (13–17): Heavy on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram; minimal Facebook.
• 18–29: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat lead; YouTube universal; Facebook moderate.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram common; TikTok rising; LinkedIn for career.
• 50–64 and 65+: Facebook and YouTube strongest; Nextdoor usage common for neighborhood info; Instagram moderate.

Gender tendencies (platform-level, U.S. patterns)

• Skews female: Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok (slight).
• Skews male: Reddit, X (Twitter); LinkedIn slightly.
• Near parity: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.
• Implication: Visual commerce and community updates perform well with women; tech/newsy content performs well with men; broad messages fit Facebook/Instagram.

Behavioral trends seen in suburban Delaware County communities

• Hyperlocal groups: Strong reliance on Facebook Groups and Nextdoor for township updates, school notices, youth sports, yard sales, lost-and-found, and public safety alerts.
• Local news and civic engagement: High Facebook referral traffic to local outlets (e.g., Delco Times, Philly-area publishers); active discourse around school boards, zoning, and elections. Meeting streams and recap posts perform well.
• Events and small business: Facebook Events and Instagram Stories are primary for discovery (festivals, restaurants, fitness studios, farmers markets). UGC and short video drive attendance.
• Marketplace behavior: Facebook Marketplace and group-based buying/selling are active; seasonal spikes (moving season, back-to-school, holidays).
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (commute/school runs), lunchtime, and evenings; weekends favor community events and family activities.
• Messaging: FB Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram DMs are heavily used for coordination (teams, parent groups, volunteer orgs).
• Creators/micro-influencers: Local photographers, food reviewers, and school-sports accounts on Instagram and TikTok have outsized reach for announcements and fundraisers.
• Ad performance notes: Geofenced Facebook/Instagram ads and boosted posts for a 3–8 mile radius around town centers tend to outperform broader targeting; Nextdoor Local Deals effective for services (contractors, pet care, tutoring).

Method and sources

• Population: U.S. Census Bureau (Delaware County, PA QuickFacts, 2023 estimates).
• Platform shares: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adult usage). Nextdoor reach from recent national estimates.
• Figures are proxies mapped to Delaware County’s demographics; exact county-level platform percentages are not directly published.