Richmond City County

Richmond city (county-equivalent), Virginia — key demographics

Population

• Total population: 229,108 (2023 estimate, U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program)

Age

• Median age: ~33.8 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~19%
• 65 and over: ~12%

Gender

• Female: ~52%
• Male: ~48%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022; race alone unless noted)

• Black or African American: ~45%
• White: ~44%
• Asian: ~3–4%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~8%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~41%

Households and housing (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: 107,804
• Average household size: 2.22
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~42–44%
• Renter-occupied: ~56–58%
• Median household income (in 2022 dollars): ~$64,000
• Persons in poverty: ~20%

Insights

• Young, urban profile with a median age in the mid-30s and a majority-renter housing market.
• Racial composition is split primarily between Black and White residents, with a growing Hispanic population.
• Income and poverty levels indicate notable economic diversity across neighborhoods.

Richmond City County, VA snapshot (2023–2024 est.)

• Estimated email users: ~176,000 adults (18+) out of ~188,000 adults; ~150,000 check email daily.
• Age distribution of adult email users:
  • 18–29: ~45,000 (25%)
  • 30–49: ~64,000 (36%)
  • 50–64: ~42,000 (24%)
  • 65+: ~26,000 (15%)
• Gender split: Female 52% (92,000 users); Male 48% (84,000 users). Usage rates are effectively equal by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • ~82% of households have a broadband subscription; an additional ~17% are smartphone‑only for home internet.
  • Overall adult internet adoption is ~90%+, supporting near‑universal email reach among working‑age adults.
  • Access gaps persist in lower‑income tracts (notably parts of the East End and Southside) where home broadband falls to ~70–75%, increasing reliance on mobile data and public Wi‑Fi.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population ~230,000 over ~62 sq mi (≈3,700–3,900 people/sq mi).
  • Extensive cable and growing fiber coverage (e.g., Xfinity, Verizon Fios) plus wide 5G Home availability (T‑Mobile/Verizon); libraries and public facilities provide free Wi‑Fi. Insight: Richmond’s young median age (~34) and office/government/university workforce drive strong email dependence; the main constraint is household broadband affordability, not interest or skills.

Mobile phone usage in Richmond City County, Virginia — 2024 snapshot

Executive summary

• Richmond’s younger age profile, lower median household income, and higher poverty rate than Virginia overall translate into higher reliance on smartphones as a primary internet access tool, a larger prepaid/MVNO footprint, and heavier 5G utilization in dense urban corridors.
• All three nationwide carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) provide broad 5G coverage across the city, with mid-band 5G underpinning strong mobile performance and expanding fixed wireless access (FWA) for home internet.

User estimates

• Adult smartphone users: 165,000–170,000 residents. Method: apply Pew Research Center’s 2023 U.S. adult smartphone ownership rate (90%) to Richmond’s adult population (roughly four-fifths of ~230,000 residents), yielding ≈166,000 adult smartphone users.
• Smartphone-only internet users: ≈34,000–38,000 adults. Method: apply Pew’s 2023 estimate that ~19% of U.S. adults are “smartphone-only” (no home broadband) to Richmond’s adult base; given Richmond’s lower incomes and higher poverty than the state average, the local share likely skews slightly above the U.S./state average.
• Prepaid/MVNO adoption: higher than the Virginia average, reflecting income and age mix; this shows up in stronger presence of brands like Metro by T-Mobile, Cricket (AT&T), and Verizon Value/MVNOs in city retail and dealer channels.

Demographic context (drivers of mobile behavior)

• Population: ~230,000 (City of Richmond; independent city).
• Age: median age ~34, younger than Virginia’s ~38, implying above-average smartphone penetration and heavier app-centric usage (social, streaming, gig economy).
• Income and poverty: median household income ~58–60k vs Virginia ~87k; poverty ~20% vs ~10% statewide. These gaps correlate with higher smartphone-only connectivity and larger prepaid share.
• Race/ethnicity: Richmond is more diverse than the state average (roughly mid-40% Black, low-to-mid-40% White, high-single-digit Hispanic/Latino, low-single-digit Asian). Nationally, digital equity research shows higher mobile-only reliance among Black and Hispanic households, consistent with observed patterns in the city.
• Housing: higher renter share and household turnover than statewide norms, which increases propensity to rely on mobile plans/FWA rather than fixed wireline contracts.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• 5G coverage: Citywide 5G from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, with extensive mid-band overlays:
  • T-Mobile: 2.5 GHz (n41) “Ultra Capacity” 5G widely deployed in the urban core and along major corridors.
  • Verizon: C-band (n77) active across most of the city since 2022, with capacity densification downtown and near campuses/venues; limited mmWave at select downtown/event locations.
  • AT&T: 5G (including mid-band) deployed citywide, with targeted 5G+ capacity nodes in high-traffic areas.
• Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): Both Verizon 5G Home and T‑Mobile 5G Home are broadly marketed within city ZIP codes, providing a mobile-network alternative to cable/DSL for cost-sensitive and transient households.
• Public and institutional Wi‑Fi: robust footprints in libraries, schools, universities (notably VCU), and transit hubs help offload mobile traffic and support digital inclusion.
• Backhaul and densification: downtown, campus, and event districts show higher macro/small-cell density to handle peak loads (commuter hours, events, weekends), reinforcing dependable mid-band 5G performance.

How Richmond differs from Virginia overall

• Higher smartphone-only reliance: Because the city’s incomes are lower and poverty is higher than the state average, a larger share of households depend on smartphones/FWA instead of wireline broadband. This increases average monthly mobile data usage per line relative to the statewide mix.
• Younger, more app-centric behavior: The younger median age supports higher engagement with video streaming, mobile gaming, and ride-hailing/food delivery apps than the Virginia average, driving heavier downlink demand in evenings and weekends.
• Larger prepaid/MVNO footprint: Budget sensitivity and renter mobility shift a larger slice of subscribers to prepaid and value MVNOs compared with statewide suburban markets, influencing ARPU and churn dynamics locally.
• Network utilization patterns: More concentrated daytime and event-driven loads (downtown, VCU, medical and government complexes) than typical suburban Virginia markets, prompting more aggressive small-cell/capacity planning.
• Faster 5G adoption curve: Dense urban morphology, strong mid-band overlays, and effective FWA marketing contribute to above-average 5G device penetration and usage relative to statewide rural/suburban areas.

Key statistics at a glance

• Estimated adult smartphone users: ~166,000 (Pew 2023 adoption applied to Richmond’s adult base).
• Estimated smartphone-only adults: ~34,000–38,000 (Pew 2023 smartphone-only share applied; likely modestly higher locally than statewide due to income/poverty).
• Median age: ~34 (Richmond) vs ~38 (Virginia).
• Median household income: roughly $58–60k (Richmond) vs ~$87k (Virginia).
• Poverty rate: ~20% (Richmond) vs ~10% (Virginia).
• 5G coverage: three-carrier mid-band 5G across the city; FWA widely available and growing.

Sources and methods

• Demographics/economics: U.S. Census Bureau (Decennial Census; American Community Survey 1‑year releases through 2023).
• Mobile ownership and smartphone-only trends: Pew Research Center, Mobile Fact Sheets (2023).
• Network coverage/capabilities: FCC filings, carrier public coverage disclosures, and widely reported C‑band/n41 deployment timelines.
• Estimates are derived by applying nationally benchmarked adoption rates to Richmond’s adult population and by contextualizing with local demographic differentials relative to Virginia.

Richmond City County, VA — social media usage snapshot

Overall reach

• Adults active on at least one major platform: approximately 80–85% (mirrors U.S. adult usage; driven by YouTube at 83% and Facebook at 68%; Pew Research Center, 2024)

Most-used platforms (share of adults who use; Pew 2024, U.S. benchmarks that closely reflect Richmond’s urban/college profile)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• Pinterest: 35%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• TikTok: 33%
• Snapchat: 30%
• WhatsApp: 29%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22%
• Nextdoor: ~20%

Age-group patterns (local behavior aligns with national, with Richmond’s 18–34 skew pushing Instagram/TikTok slightly higher and Facebook slightly lower in that cohort)

• 18–29: Very high daily use; heavy on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; Facebook comparatively low
• 30–49: Broad multi-platform use; Facebook, YouTube, Instagram lead; LinkedIn and WhatsApp active among professionals/parents
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Pinterest and LinkedIn meaningful; Instagram moderate
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube primary; Nextdoor and Facebook Groups used for neighborhood info; limited Instagram/TikTok

Gender breakdown (Pew 2024)

• Pinterest skews female (about 50% of women vs ~20% of men use it)
• Reddit skews male (~29% of men vs ~15% of women)
• LinkedIn slight male skew; X/Twitter skews male; Facebook and Instagram near-parity; TikTok/Snapchat lean slightly female

Local behavioral trends

• Neighborhood information and services: Strong reliance on Facebook Groups and Nextdoor for hyperlocal updates (e.g., Fan, Church Hill, Museum District, West End, Southside), lost-and-found, public safety, city services, and HOA matters
• Events and culture: Instagram Reels/Stories and TikTok drive discovery for festivals, food and drink, arts, and VCU-related happenings; YouTube for long-form recaps and music/arts content
• News and civic engagement: Facebook and X for local news and politics via outlets like Richmond Times-Dispatch, VPM, NBC12, 8News; Facebook Groups for school and city policy discussions
• Business discovery and reviews: Instagram and TikTok for restaurants, shops, and attractions; WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger for customer communication; LinkedIn for B2B, hiring, and nonprofit outreach
• Student and young-professional influence: VCU and nearby colleges sustain high creator activity and short-form video consumption; Snapchat and TikTok are core for under-30 communication and trends
• Homeowners and families: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups central for recommendations, contractors, childcare, and yard/estate sales; Pinterest for home, DIY, and recipes

Implications for outreach in Richmond

• Broad reach: Facebook/Instagram and YouTube cover the majority of adults
• Under-35 engagement: TikTok and Snapchat are essential; Instagram Reels performs strongly
• Neighborhood targeting: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups are the most effective for hyperlocal campaigns
• Professional audiences: LinkedIn is effective for state government, healthcare, higher ed, and nonprofit sectors

Notes: Percentages shown are from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult survey; Richmond’s usage patterns closely mirror these due to its urban, college-influenced demographics.