Arlington County

Arlington County, VA — key demographics

Population size

• 238,643 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~35
• Under 18: ~16–17%
• 65 and over: ~11–12%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Racial/ethnic composition (mutually exclusive)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~60%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~17%
• Black/African American, non-Hispanic: ~9%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~10–11%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%
• Other (including American Indian, Pacific Islander), non-Hispanic: ~1%

Household data

• Households: ~109,000
• Average household size: ~2.1–2.2
• Family households: ~44%
• Married-couple households: ~35%
• One-person households: ~35–37%
• Households with children under 18: ~20–22%
• Owner-occupied rate: ~42–45%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates). Figures rounded.

Arlington County, VA snapshot (estimates; ACS 2022–2023 and Pew benchmarks):

• Population ~238,000; adults ~200,000.
• Estimated email users: ~185,000–195,000 (roughly 92–96% of adults, reflecting Arlington’s high connectivity and education levels).

Age distribution and email adoption (share of adults; likely email use):

• 18–29: 25% of adults; 95–98% use email (47–49k users).
• 30–49: 40%; 97–99% (78–79k).
• 50–64: 22%; 93–96% (41–42k).
• 65+: 13%; 85–90% (22–23k).

Gender split and usage:

• Near-even (≈49% female, 51% male); email adoption is essentially equal by gender.

Digital access trends:

• Very high home access: roughly mid‑90s% of households subscribe to broadband and ~97% have a computer (ACS Computer & Internet Use).
• Smartphone and multi-device access are common; the share with no internet is low (single digits and falling).
• Widespread provider coverage (fiber and cable) plus free Wi‑Fi in libraries and public buildings supports near‑universal connectivity.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Compact, urban county: ~26 sq mi with ~9,000 residents per sq mi.
• Dense Metrorail corridors and extensive fiber/cable plant enable strong residential and workplace connectivity.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Arlington County, VA (with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns)

Topline differences vs Virginia overall

• Near-universal 5G coverage and dense small‑cell buildout in Arlington’s urban corridors, versus more heterogeneous coverage across Virginia’s suburban and rural areas.
• Higher smartphone penetration and a larger share of adults living in wireless‑only (no landline) households than the state average, driven by a younger, highly educated, renter‑heavy population.
• Lower reliance on mobile broadband as a substitute for fixed home internet than the state average, reflecting abundant fiber/cable options and high incomes.
• Heavier work-related mobile use (federal/contractor/tech workforce) and more dual‑device ownership compared with the state overall.

User estimates (order‑of‑magnitude, rounded; based on Arlington’s adult population and national/urban adoption benchmarks circa 2023–2024)

• Adult base: roughly 200,000–210,000 adults residing in Arlington.
• Smartphone users: approximately 185,000–200,000 adults (about 92–95% penetration; higher than Virginia overall).
• Adults in wireless‑only phone households (no landline): roughly 160,000–180,000 (about 80–85% of adults; above Virginia’s statewide share).
• Households relying on mobile broadband only for home internet: on the order of 7,000–10,000 households (roughly 6–9% of households), below the statewide share given better fixed broadband availability and adoption locally.
• Work/secondary lines: a meaningful minority of residents (notably federal and contractor employees) carry a second employer‑provisioned or security‑segmented device, pushing active mobile subscriptions above the resident count.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns (what stands out locally)

• Age and life stage: Arlington skews young adult and working‑age with fewer seniors than Virginia overall. Result: very high smartphone adoption; above‑average use of mobile payments, ride‑hailing, transit, and delivery apps; strong social/video use among 25–44s.
• Education and income: Among the highest bachelor’s‑plus and median income levels in the state. Result: higher iOS/flagship device mix, postpaid plans, multi‑line family and device‑bundle uptake; strong 5G device penetration; lower prepaid share than statewide.
• Housing: Majority renters and many live in multi‑dwelling units. Result: strong indoor coverage demand, extensive small‑cell and in‑building systems; low landline attachment; Wi‑Fi offload is common.
• Diversity/immigrant communities: A sizable foreign‑born share (around one‑third). Result: higher usage of OTT messaging/calling (WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat), international plans/eSIMs, and multilingual content.
• Work patterns: High density of federal, defense, consulting, and tech jobs and significant hybrid/remote work. Result: heavier weekday daytime mobile data use in office districts (Rosslyn–Ballston, Pentagon City/National Landing), common personal‑plus‑work device behavior, and above‑average mobile hotspot tethering for on‑the‑go work.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• 5G footprint: Broad mid‑band 5G coverage from all three national carriers; mmWave/small‑cell nodes concentrated along Rosslyn–Ballston, Crystal City/Pentagon City (National Landing), and major arterials—denser than typical Virginia localities.
• Small cells and backhaul: Extensive small‑cell permitting and deployment, with plentiful fiber backhaul. The county’s ConnectArlington dark‑fiber network and regional fiber routes support carrier backhaul and enterprise connectivity.
• Private and enterprise 5G: National Landing has been an early focus for private 5G/CBRS and edge pilots serving HQ2‑adjacent offices and mixed‑use developments—uncommon relative to most Virginia jurisdictions.
• Transit and venues: WMATA Metrorail stations in Arlington, major office towers, and Reagan National Airport have robust indoor/campus coverage and DAS/5G upgrades, supporting strong indoor reliability compared with many parts of the state.
• Fixed broadband context: High availability of fiber and gigabit cable reduces pressure to use mobile as primary home internet, though 5G FWA is present and growing as a secondary option.

Notable trends to watch

• Continued densification of 5G (including mmWave) in urban corridors to improve indoor and street‑level capacity.
• Growth of private 5G/CBRS in National Landing and adjacent commercial sites, supporting enterprise and IoT use cases.
• Post‑ACP affordability shifts: with federal subsidies winding down, some lower‑income households may lean more on mobile‑only plans; Arlington’s digital equity initiatives aim to mitigate gaps.

Method note: Figures above are estimates synthesized from county demographics and recent national/urban mobile adoption benchmarks (e.g., Pew/CDC/FCC-era data through 2023–2024). For a procurement‑grade brief, pair this with the latest ACS 1‑year county tables, CDC wireless‑only household estimates, and carrier/third‑party 5G coverage and performance datasets.

Below is a concise, data‑informed snapshot. County‑level platform penetration is not directly published; percentages shown are U.S. adult usage (Pew Research Center, 2024). Arlington’s young, highly educated, professional population likely skews slightly higher on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X, and slightly lower on Facebook among under‑35s.

Population and user stats

• Population: ~240,000; median age mid‑30s; largest cohort 25–44.
• Adults using social media (estimate): roughly 75–85% of adults → about 150,000–185,000 residents.
• Broadband/smartphone adoption is high, enabling heavy daily use and multi‑platform behavior.

Age mix (directional)

• 18–29: Near‑universal social media use; heavy YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; Facebook light.
• 30–49: Heavy YouTube, Facebook, Instagram; strong LinkedIn (regional professional skew); WhatsApp common.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominant; growing Instagram; Nextdoor for local info.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube; Nextdoor for neighborhood/alerts.

Gender tendencies (directional)

• Women: Higher on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; active in neighborhood/parenting groups.
• Men: Higher on YouTube, Reddit, X; strong LinkedIn among professionals.

Most‑used platforms (U.S. adult usage; Arlington likely similar with noted skews)

• YouTube ~83%
• Facebook ~68%
• Instagram ~47%
• Pinterest ~35%
• TikTok ~33%
• LinkedIn ~30–33%
• Snapchat ~27%
• WhatsApp ~26%
• X (Twitter) ~22%
• Reddit ~22% Note: Nextdoor lacks solid national % but is notably used for hyperlocal updates in Arlington.

Behavioral trends in Arlington

• Hyperlocal info: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups for neighborhood issues, safety, schools, yard sales; quick uptake of county alerts.
• News/politics and transit: X used above average for real‑time local news, WMATA/road updates, policy chatter; Reddit for local Q&A and recommendations.
• Professional networking: LinkedIn engagement is strong (government, contractors, consulting, tech); recruiting and event promotion perform well.
• Lifestyle and local discovery: Instagram/TikTok drive restaurant, fitness, and event discovery (Reels/shorts perform best); user‑generated reviews matter.
• Community diversity: Notable WhatsApp usage among multilingual and international communities for organizing and information sharing.
• Timing: Peaks around commute times, lunch, and early evening; weekend spikes for events/food content.

Sources and notes

• Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Arlington County).
• Platform usage: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adults).
• Local skews are inferred from Arlington’s age/education/professional profile and observed regional behavior.