Moore County

Moore County, Texas – key demographics

Population

• Total population: 20,940 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~20,9xx (U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program)

Age

• Median age: ~32 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~33%
• 65 and over: ~10%

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49% (ACS 2018–2022)

Race and ethnicity (mutually exclusive where noted)

• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~60–65%
• White, non-Hispanic: ~30–35%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~2%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~1%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~2% (2020 Census/ACS)

Households

• Number of households: ~6.6–6.9k (ACS 2018–2022)
• Average household size: ~3.2 persons
• Family households: ~75–80% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~45%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~65–70%

Insights

• Moore County is majority Hispanic with a relatively young age profile and larger-than-average household sizes, reflecting a high share of family households.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data); American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (2023).

Moore County, TX snapshot (2025)

• Population and density: ≈21,000 residents across ~900 sq mi; ~23 people per sq mi. Most residents cluster in Dumas, with smaller hubs in Sunray and Cactus.
• Estimated email users: ~14,000 residents (roughly 85–90% of adults, including most teens 13–17 who are online).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: 8%
  • 18–34: 29%
  • 35–54: 35%
  • 55–64: 15%
  • 65+: 13%
• Gender split among email users: ~51% male, 49% female, mirroring county demographics.
• Digital access and trends:
  • ~78% of households have a home broadband subscription; ~13% lack home internet.
  • ~19% are smartphone‑only households, elevating reliance on mobile email.
  • Cable and emerging fiber serve Dumas/Sunray/Cactus; rural areas lean on fixed wireless and satellite. 5G coverage from major carriers is strongest along US‑87/287 and in town centers.
  • Public access: libraries and schools provide Wi‑Fi and device lending that broaden email access. Insights: Email is near‑universal among working‑age adults, with the highest engagement in the 18–54 cohorts. Connectivity gaps are concentrated in low‑density ranchland, where smartphone‑only usage sustains email access despite fewer wired options.

Mobile phone usage summary for Moore County, Texas (2023–2024)

User estimates

• Population and households: ~21,400 residents; ~6,900 households.
• Active smartphone users: ≈14,400 residents (derived from adult share and age-specific adoption).
• Households with at least one smartphone: ≈6,200 (about 90% of households).
• Internet subscription patterns (ACS-based county estimates):
  • Any home internet subscription: ~76–78% of households (Texas ≈88%).
  • Cellular data plan in household (smartphone/tablet) used for internet: ~72–75% of households (Texas ≈68–70%).
  • Cellular data–only internet (no fixed broadband): ~24% of households (Texas ≈15–17%).
  • No internet subscription: ~18% of households (Texas ≈11%).

Demographic breakdown and usage implications

• Ethnicity: Majority Hispanic/Latino (≈60%); Non-Hispanic White ≈30%; other groups ≈10%. Higher share of bilingual and immigrant households correlates with elevated smartphone dependence and prepaid plans.
• Age: Younger than Texas overall (median low 30s; under-18 ≈30%). Near-universal smartphone use among 18–34; lower but rising among 65+ (≈70–75%). Younger profile boosts overall mobile usage despite lower income.
• Income and education: Median household income in the upper-$50Ks and below-state bachelor’s attainment. These factors contribute to higher mobile-only internet reliance and lower fixed broadband adoption than the state average.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon provide countywide 4G LTE with low-band 5G across population centers (Dumas, Sunray, Cactus) and along US‑87/287. Outside towns, LTE fallback and signal variability are common.
• 5G capacity: Low-band 5G is widespread; mid-band 5G (capacity/speed) is concentrated in and near Dumas and along primary corridors, with more limited reach in outlying agricultural areas compared with Texas metros.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): 5G home internet is available to many addresses in Dumas/Cactus (more from T-Mobile; selective from Verizon). It is a key substitute where cable/fiber are absent or unaffordable.
• Wireline context: Cable and some fiber exist in town areas; coverage thins quickly outside municipal limits. This patchiness pushes higher-than-average cellular-only internet use.

How Moore County differs from Texas overall

• More mobile-dependent: Cellular-only internet households are roughly 7–9 percentage points higher than the state, reflecting both infrastructure gaps and cost sensitivity.
• Lower fixed-broadband take-up: Home internet subscription rates trail the Texas average by about 10–12 points, despite similar smartphone presence in households.
• Coverage quality gap: All three national carriers are present, but mid-band 5G capacity is less ubiquitous than in urban Texas, yielding lower median speeds and more frequent LTE fallback outside towns.
• Younger, Hispanic-majority user base: The county’s younger, largely Hispanic population sustains high smartphone adoption but uses mobile data as a primary connection more often than the state norm.

Bottom line Moore County’s mobile ecosystem is characterized by near-ubiquitous smartphone presence, elevated reliance on cellular data as the primary home connection, and adequate corridor coverage with thinner capacity away from towns. The county diverges from Texas mainly through higher mobile-only internet use and lower fixed-broadband adoption, driven by demographic and infrastructure realities rather than a lack of carrier presence.

Moore County, TX social media snapshot (2025, modeled from latest Census/ACS demographics and Pew Research 2024 platform adoption rates)

Topline user stats

• Population: ≈21,000; adults (18+): ≈14,000
• Adults using at least one social platform: ≈10,000–11,000 (≈72–78% of adults)
• Language/culture context: majority Hispanic community (≈55–60%), implying above-average WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram usage and strong demand for bilingual content

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adults; approximate user counts)

• YouTube: 80–83% (≈11,200–11,600)
• Facebook: 65–70% (≈9,100–9,800)
• Instagram: 45–50% (≈6,300–7,000)
• TikTok: 30–35% (≈4,200–4,900)
• Snapchat: 25–30% (≈3,500–4,200)
• WhatsApp: 28–32% (≈3,900–4,500) — elevated by Spanish-speaking households
• X (Twitter): 20–22% (≈2,800–3,100)
• Reddit: 18–20% (≈2,500–2,800)
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (≈1,100–1,700)

Age group usage patterns (local expectations based on national-age adoption applied to county)

• Teens (13–17): near-universal YouTube; heavy Instagram/TikTok; Snapchat for daily messaging; Facebook mainly for school/teams and family
• 18–29: ≈95% on social; Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat dominant; YouTube ubiquitous; Facebook still used for groups/events
• 30–49: ≈85–90% on social; Facebook and Instagram core; YouTube for how-to and local info; WhatsApp common in bilingual households
• 50–64: ≈75–80% on social; Facebook and YouTube primary; growing Instagram Reels consumption
• 65+: ≈55–60% on social; Facebook and YouTube lead; light Instagram; minimal TikTok

Gender breakdown

• Overall user base roughly mirrors adult population (≈50% female, ≈50% male)
• Skews by platform: women over-index on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube/Reddit/X; WhatsApp balanced in Spanish-speaking households

Behavioral trends and engagement cues

• Community-first content: school athletics, church events, city notices, youth activities, and local fundraisers outperform generic posts
• Bilingual communication: Spanish-first or bilingual captions, flyers, and videos materially lift reach and shares
• Private/closed spaces: Facebook Groups and WhatsApp group chats drive coordination for schools, youth sports, churches, and buy/sell; post there in addition to public pages
• Video-native habits: short vertical video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) with faces, captions, and local landmarks performs best; 15–45 seconds is the sweet spot
• Timing: engagement peaks evenings (7–10 pm CT) and weekends; midday micro-spikes around lunch and school pickup
• Local commerce: Facebook Marketplace and group listings remain the go-to for promotions, hiring in trades, and service referrals
• Trust signals: real names, recognizable local locations, Spanish/English clarity, and consistent replies in comments/DMs increase conversion

Notes on method

• Figures are planning-grade estimates: 2024 Pew Research platform adoption rates by age applied to Moore County’s population structure from recent Census/ACS; WhatsApp slightly adjusted upward to reflect the county’s large Hispanic population.