Snohomish County

Snohomish County, Washington — key demographics

Population size

• ~854,000 residents (2023 Census estimate)
• +3% since the 2020 Census (827,957)

Age

• Median age: ~38.3 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 5: ~6%
• Under 18: ~22–23%
• 65 and over: ~15%

Gender

• Female: ~49.7%
• Male: ~50.3%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone, not Hispanic: ~64–65%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~11–12%
• Asian: ~13–14%
• Black or African American: ~3%
• American Indian and Alaska Native: ~1.5–1.6%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: ~0.9%
• Two or more races: ~8–9% (Note: categories follow Census reporting; “White alone, not Hispanic” is shown separately from Hispanic ethnicity)

Households and housing

• Households: ~305,000 (ACS 2018–2022)
• Average household size: ~2.70 persons
• Family households: ~66% of households; average family size ~3.1
• Owner-occupied rate: ~68–69%

Insights

• Fast-growing suburban county with above-average household size and homeownership.
• Increasing diversity, with sizable Asian and Hispanic communities.
• Age structure is broadly working-age with a growing 65+ segment.

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

• Estimated email users: ≈790,000 residents in Snohomish County (≈90% penetration).
• Age distribution of email users: 13–17: 12%; 18–29: 17%; 30–44: 30%; 45–64: 27%; 65+: 14%.
• Gender split among users: ≈50% female, 50% male (email use is effectively parity by gender).
• Digital access and trends:
  • ≈94% of households have a broadband internet subscription; ≈97% have a computer or smartphone.
  • ≈12% are smartphone‑only internet users.
  • 5G mobile networks cover >95% of residents.
  • Fiber is widespread along the I‑5 corridor (Everett–Lynnwood–Bothell), with sparser coverage in eastern rural areas, producing a modest urban–rural connectivity gap.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Population density is ≈400 residents per square mile, with most households concentrated in urban growth areas along I‑5 where fixed broadband speeds routinely exceed 100 Mbps.

Insights: Email is near‑universal among working‑age adults for employment, schools, healthcare portals, and public services. Seniors show slightly lower—but rising—adoption, accelerated by telehealth and digital government. Strong broadband and mobile coverage, coupled with ongoing remote/hybrid work patterns, sustain heavy daily email usage across the county.

Mobile phone usage in Snohomish County, WA — 2023–2024 snapshot

Population baseline

• Residents: ~845,000
• Households: ~318,000 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 1-year estimates (2022–2023), Washington OFM.

User estimates and adoption

• Adult smartphone users: ~585,000–610,000 (roughly 90–93% of ~650,000 adults), consistent with Pew Research adult smartphone adoption levels applied to county demographics.
• Households with a smartphone present: 92% (293,000 households). ACS S2801.
• Wireless-only phone households (no landline): ~70–75% (in line with WA and national NHIS trends for 2022–2023).

Connectivity profile (households)

• Any broadband subscription (cable, fiber, DSL, FWA, cellular-only): ~93–95% in Snohomish vs ~92–93% statewide. ACS S2801.
• Cellular data plan in household (smartphone/tablet): ~76–80% in Snohomish vs ~74–78% statewide.
• Cellular-only internet households (cellular data plan but no cable/DSL/fiber): ~11–13% in Snohomish vs ~12–14% statewide.
• No internet subscription at home: ~5–7% in Snohomish vs ~6–8% statewide.
• Device mix:
  • Desktop/laptop present: ~88–91% of households (slightly above state average).
  • Smartphone only (no computer): ~6–8% of households (slightly below state average, reflecting higher incomes and suburban profile).

Demographic breakdown (directional differences grounded in ACS/Pew patterns)

• Age:
  • 18–34: smartphone ownership effectively universal (~97–99%); higher mobile-only internet reliance among renters and students.
  • 35–64: ~94–96% smartphone ownership; high multi-device presence.
  • 65+: ~82–86% smartphone ownership in Snohomish (a bit higher than the WA average for seniors), with gaps concentrated in rural east-county areas.
• Income:
  • Under $25k: smartphone ~85–90%; cellular-only internet ~22–28%; higher risk of no home internet.
  • $100k+: smartphone ~96–98%; cellular-only internet ~5–8%; near-universal home broadband.
• Race/ethnicity (household-level patterns consistent with statewide ACS):
  • Smartphone presence: Asian ~95–97%, Black ~93–96%, Hispanic ~92–95%, White (non-Hispanic) ~91–94%.
  • Home broadband: Asian ~95–97%, White ~93–95%, Black ~88–91%, Hispanic ~85–89%; affordability and rental status drive most gaps.
• Geography:
  • West I‑5 corridor (Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Mill Creek, Bothell area, Marysville): near-ubiquitous 4G/5G and strong indoor coverage; highest multi-device ownership.
  • North/central (Arlington, Stanwood, Lake Stevens, Granite Falls): strong coverage along highways and town centers, with fringe rural pockets using low-band 5G/LTE and more cellular-only internet use.
  • East (Monroe, Sultan, Gold Bar, Index, Darrington, Mountain Loop corridor): coverage and capacity constraints in canyons/forested terrain; lower in-home broadband availability and higher reliance on mobile data or FWA.

Digital infrastructure points

• Mobile networks:
  • 5G population coverage: ~95–98% by at least one carrier; land-area coverage lower due to mountainous east-county terrain. FCC provider filings and carrier maps (2023–2024).
  • T-Mobile mid-band 5G (n41) broadly covers the I‑5 corridor and most suburbs; Verizon C‑band coverage expanded in 2023–2024 across Everett–Lynnwood–Marysville; AT&T mid-band is densifying in core suburbs.
  • Persistent weak/spotty areas: US‑2 canyon east of Gold Bar through Index, Mountain Loop Hwy, Stillaguamish Valley near Oso, high-forest areas around Darrington and north of Granite Falls.
• Fixed broadband and backhaul:
  • Cable (Comcast/Xfinity) is near-ubiquitous in west/central urban areas; Astound serves selected coastal and urban pockets.
  • Fiber has expanded rapidly since 2021, led by Ziply Fiber builds in and around Everett, Lynnwood/Mountlake Terrace, Marysville, Arlington, Monroe, and the City of Snohomish; new greenfield subdivisions are typically fiber-first.
  • Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) from T‑Mobile and Verizon is widely marketed in I‑5 suburbs and increasingly in exurban edges; estimated household adoption in the mid‑single digits, higher in rental-heavy tracts.
  • Public investments since 2022 target east-county middle-mile, tower siting along US‑2/SR‑530, and last‑mile fiber/FWA infill via WA Public Works Board, federal programs (BEAD, CPF), and county-led partnerships.
• Traffic/load hotspots:
  • Peak-hour congestion along I‑5 (Everett–Lynnwood), SR‑99, SR‑527, SR‑9, SR‑522, and around the Mukilteo ferry terminal drives elevated mobile capacity demand.
  • Paine Field (Everett) and adjacent aerospace/industrial campuses are prioritized for upgraded mid-band 5G and small cells.

How Snohomish differs from Washington statewide

• Slightly higher household broadband subscription and device penetration than the state average, driven by higher household incomes and a large suburban base.
• A bit lower share of smartphone-only households and cellular-only internet than the state average in the I‑5 corridor, but higher cellular-only reliance in east-county rural tracts, creating sharper intra-county disparities than statewide aggregates suggest.
• 5G population coverage is on par with the state, but land-area gaps are more pronounced than the statewide picture because of the county’s substantial mountainous terrain.
• Faster recent fiber buildouts in several mid-sized cities than the statewide average, improving indoor mobile offload and overall network resiliency in those areas.
• Senior digital adoption is modestly better than the state average in the suburbs, but the urban–rural senior gap is wider inside the county than state aggregates imply.

Key takeaways

• Mobile adoption in Snohomish is effectively universal among working-age adults, and household smartphone presence sits around 92%.
• West-county residents enjoy dense mid-band 5G and multiple fixed-broadband options; east-county residents face terrain-driven coverage and backhaul constraints, relying more on mobile data and FWA.
• Compared with Washington overall, Snohomish is slightly better connected on average, but with larger internal disparities between the I‑5 suburbs and the Cascades foothills.

Social media usage snapshot: Snohomish County, WA (2025)

Overall user base

• Population baseline: ~850,000 residents (2023 estimate). High broadband and smartphone penetration comparable to the Seattle metro.
• Active social media users (13+): ~580,000–620,000 monthly (about 70–74% of total population; roughly 84–88% of residents aged 13+), derived by applying current U.S. adoption rates to local age structure.

Most-used platforms (adult usage benchmarks; local ranking closely mirrors national patterns)

• YouTube: ~83% of adults
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• LinkedIn: ~30% (often a bit higher in the Seattle–Everett labor market)
• Snapchat: ~30%
• WhatsApp: ~29%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Reddit: ~22% Notes: Nextdoor is notably active in suburban neighborhoods for HOA, safety, school, and city updates, though consistent public percentages are not published; engagement is strongest among homeowners and parents.

Age groups (platform use by age, indicative of local behavior)

• 13–17: Near-universal social use; heavy on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram; minimal Facebook posting.
• 18–29: Instagram ~78%, TikTok ~62%, Snapchat ~65%, YouTube ~93%; Facebook present but secondary.
• 30–49: Facebook ~77%, Instagram ~59%, TikTok ~39%, YouTube ~92%, LinkedIn elevated; strong use of Facebook Groups/Marketplace.
• 50–64: Facebook ~73%, YouTube ~83%, Pinterest ~40%+; rising Nextdoor for community info.
• 65+: Facebook ~58%, YouTube ~60%+, Nextdoor/FB Groups for hyperlocal updates.

Gender breakdown

• Overall audience is close to even, with a slight female majority consistent with national usage (roughly 51–53% female, 47–49% male).
• Platform skews:
  • More female: Pinterest (strongly), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat
  • More male: Reddit, X (Twitter), YouTube (slight)
  • Near-even: LinkedIn, WhatsApp

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Community-first usage: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups and Nextdoor for neighborhood watch, school/PTA, city services, public safety, and event updates; engagement spikes around weather, wildfire smoke, traffic/ferry disruptions, and school announcements.
• Commerce and swapping: Facebook Marketplace and “Buy Nothing”/local swap groups are extremely active; local service referrals circulate in Groups and Nextdoor.
• Video-forward consumption: Short-form vertical video (Reels/TikTok) dominates discovery for food, outdoor recreation, and local attractions; YouTube is strong for DIY, home improvement, auto/outdoor gear—aligned with high homeownership and outdoor lifestyle.
• Timing: Peaks before work (7–9 a.m.), midday (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.), and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekend morning engagement is strong for family and events.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous; WhatsApp shows pockets of strong use in immigrant communities; Snapchat DMs among teens/young adults.
• Trust and info sources: City/county departments, school districts, utilities, transit, and local news (e.g., Everett-area outlets) see high engagement during incidents; local creators and micro-influencers drive recommendations for restaurants and activities.

Implications

• Broad reach: Facebook/Instagram and YouTube provide the widest county coverage; short-form video is the fastest growth lever for 18–34.
• Hyperlocal: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups excel for ZIP/neighborhood targeting, homeowner reach, and community initiatives.
• Creative: Authentic, place-based visuals (trails, pets, family activities, local food) outperform polished ads; clear CTAs tied to events, deals, or community benefits lift response.

Sources and methodology

• Benchmarks reflect Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media adoption rates and platform skews, applied to Snohomish County’s population profile (U.S. Census/WA state estimates). Local platform rankings align with observed suburban/metro usage in the Seattle–Everett area.