{"id":4083,"date":"2025-06-06T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nurseagence.com\/?p=4083"},"modified":"2025-06-14T11:47:32","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T11:47:32","slug":"the-15-best-demographic-examples-questions-to-use-in-your-next-survey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nurseagence.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/06\/the-15-best-demographic-examples-questions-to-use-in-your-next-survey\/","title":{"rendered":"The 15 best demographic examples & questions to use in your next survey"},"content":{"rendered":"
Demographic questions might seem personal, but they\u2019re essential if you want to truly understand your customers. Asking about things like age, location, gender, ethnicity, or job status helps you segment your audience and tailor your message to what matters most.<\/span><\/p>\n Gathering this information is a little tricky. I\u2019m not lining up to tell brands my life story. That\u2019s why the best demographic survey questions get the job done quickly without being a chore to answer. In this post, I\u2019ll cover everything you need to know about demographic questions and how to ask them well. I\u2019ve also compiled 15 examples you can steal for your next survey.<\/p>\n Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n A demographic is a measurable characteristic that describes a person or group. Common demographics include:<\/p>\n Demographic data is essential for understanding your customer base. By piecing together many demographic (and behavioral<\/a>) data points, you can segment your customer base into meaningful groups.<\/p>\n Understanding the traits and qualities of your customer base helps you create a clearer picture of the types of customers you serve. That way, you can personalize messaging and offer products and services that genuinely meet their needs.<\/p>\n This insight is gold for your marketing, product, sales, and service teams. But gathering data that\u2019s valuable doesn\u2019t come without challenges.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Collecting demographic information sounds simple, but it’s a sensitive practice that raises privacy concerns and requires walking a fine line between inquiring about personal details and being invasive.<\/p>\n I wouldn\u2019t walk up to a stranger on the street and say, \u201cHey, what ethnicity are you?\u201d So, what makes it okay to do that in a survey? Well, that\u2019s the tricky part. Asking demographic questions requires respect and transparency, but the results are invaluable when done right.<\/p>\n Data privacy is a deal-breaker for many people, and it\u2019s only getting more important over time. I reviewed our 2024 Consumer Trends Report<\/a>, and the following privacy stats jumped out at me:<\/p>\n I don\u2019t even like giving out my phone number or email unless I have to, and I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not alone in that sentiment. If I\u2019m going to give away my demographic data to a brand, they must earn my trust first.<\/p>\n Demographics are facts. They are the measurable characteristics of a person or group that help you segment your customer base and craft personalized messaging. Stereotypes, on the other hand, are overgeneralized traits assigned to groups, often rooted in bias, not data.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the difference:<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to blur the line between demographics and stereotypes. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to ask respectful questions and avoid making unfair assumptions when interpreting the data.<\/p>\n Demographics help you understand your customers\u2019 needs based on real facts, not generalizations. That means you can craft marketing messaging that actually resonates.<\/p>\n For example, I run a musical instrument backline rental company, which means I rent amps, guitars, and drums for artists who perform in my city. At first, I thought I would craft my messaging towards the players, so I hyped up the technical specs, tonal quality, and vintage lore.<\/p>\n However, I quickly realized that the players weren\u2019t the ones finding my website and making rental requests. It was the managers. And, they couldn’t care less about vintage tubes and nitrocellulose finishes. They just wanted to know about reliability, availability, brand names, and if I could deliver on time.<\/p>\n This insight completely changed how I approached my marketing messaging. After rewriting the copy on my site to highlight logistics, flexibility, and fast service, I\u2019ve seen an uptick in rental requests.<\/p>\n Unlike stereotypes, which rely on lazy assumptions, using demographics well requires effort. You\u2019ve got to ask the right questions, analyze the data, and use it to build a buyer persona<\/a> that reflects the people who are interacting with your business.<\/p>\n Pro tip<\/strong>: Want an easier way to crunch the numbers on your survey responses? Check out HubSpot\u2019s Reporting Dashboard<\/a> to create custom dashboards and turn your data into actionable insights.<\/p>\n I\u2019m pretty skeptical about giving away my personal information. I\u2019ll only share it with brands I know and trust, and I believe that a company’s treatment of my personal data indicates how they view me as a customer. As it turns out, 81% of people agree with me<\/a>.<\/p>\n The risks of sharing personal data online are very real. Plenty of bad actors are willing to sell your data without your consent, and all it takes is one breach. It\u2019s happened to me, and if you\u2019ve ever received a spam call or robocall<\/a>, it\u2019s probably happened to you, too.<\/p>\n Recently, I received an email from Ring, the doorbell camera company, thanking me for signing up for an account and asking me to verify my email address. The thing is, I don\u2019t own a Ring doorbell, and I definitely didn\u2019t sign up for an account. I promptly contacted their support line, and days later, I still haven\u2019t heard back.<\/p>\n Now, this probably isn\u2019t Ring\u2019s fault. Someone probably pulled my email off some dark web list and tried to use it to make an account. Why? I don\u2019t know. But Ring’s lack of responsiveness and transparency killed my confidence. I won\u2019t willingly give them my personal data anytime soon, let alone buy a doorbell cam.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why asking for demographic information isn\u2019t something you can rush. You\u2019ve got to earn trust with your customers over time, but I believe it’s worth the effort. Done right, you will forge strong customer relationships and gain insights that lead to better products, messaging, and customer experience overall.<\/p>\n Want to learn more about demographics and market research? Grab our free Market Research<\/a> Templates kit<\/a> to map your audience like a pro.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Using demographic questions can help you better understand your audience, improve communication strategies, and maximize the effectiveness of your marketing budget. Below, I\u2019ll review common demographic questions, their importance, and how to ask them.<\/p>\n Gender is a fundamental demographic, but asking about it requires careful handling. While this information is valuable, it shouldn\u2018t come at the expense of your customers\u2019 comfort.<\/p>\n Avoid using the word \u201csex,\u201d and always include inclusive options and a \u201cprefer not to say\u201d option.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cWhat gender do you identify as?\u201d<\/p>\n Age is a standard demographic question that should be included in every demographic survey. Knowing your audience\u2019s age reveals many characteristics that can aid your targeting and segmentation.<\/p>\n The best way to ask this question is in a multiple-choice format that uses age ranges for each answer. Some customers may feel uncomfortable revealing their exact age, so this structure allows them to participate while protecting their personal information.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cHow old are you?\u201d<\/p>\n Pro tip<\/strong>: Age data reveals which generations your respondents belong to, which may be of particular interest to your marketing and strategy teams.<\/p>\n Understanding your audience\u2019s ethnicity helps paint a picture of their cultural backgrounds, social influences, and values. This information is valuable in targeting, but it\u2019s essential to approach this demographic question with sensitivity and inclusivity in mind.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cHow would you describe your ethnicity? (Select all that apply.)\u201d<\/p>\n Pro tip<\/strong>: Ensure this is a multi-select question, not just a multiple-choice question where respondents can only pick one option. This includes bi- and mixed-race people and will enrich your data.<\/p>\n Audience location data is a core demographic question that reveals regional trends and attitudes and can help you identify market expansion opportunities. The level of locational granularity you require will depend on your business. Local businesses will want to know the cities and towns people are from, while global companies are more likely to be concerned with the country and\/or state of residence.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cWhere is your current place of residence?\u201d<\/p>\n Your audience\u2019s educational background can reveal insights about how they think, make decisions, and the types of products and services they value. Understanding their highest level of education helps build a comprehensive buyer persona.<\/p>\n Include options for trades and apprenticeships. Some of your customers may have chosen a different career path outside of traditional academia, and it’s essential to be inclusive of those people.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cWhat is the highest level of education you have completed?\u201d<\/p>\n Marital status is an informative demographic question that can reveal much about your respondent’s priorities and needs. It\u2019s beneficial for targeting if your product is related to family life or might require joint decision-making based on budgeting or shared experiences.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cWhat is your marital status?\u201d<\/p>\n 7. Family and Dependents<\/strong><\/p>\n Asking about marital status reveals a lot about your respondents, but supplementing that with information about family and dependents paints a fuller picture of their needs, behaviors, pain points, and values.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cHow many children or dependents do you have?\u201d<\/p>\n Your customers\u2019 living situations can tell you a lot about their mobility, lifestyle, and spending priorities. For example, homeowners are typically more settled and have longer-term needs compared to renters.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cWhich of the following describes your living situation?\u201d<\/p>\n Annual household income helps you understand your customers\u2019 buying power. This figure is a sum of the combined earnings of everyone living in a single residence, like spouses and family members.<\/p>\n For many, income can be a sensitive topic, so I recommend including a \u201cPrefer not to say\u201d option to respect privacy.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cWhat is your annual household income?\u201d<\/p>\n Pro tip<\/strong>: Test out different income ranges depending on your target market. If the range is too wide, the data isn\u2019t as valuable, and too narrow an income range can feel a little intrusive.<\/p>\n Employment status contextualizes your audience’s financial situation, lifestyle, and needs. Paired with income data, it can reveal more information about purchasing power and help you personalize your messaging.<\/p>\n For example, I\u2019m a self-employed individual with special needs for software and tax services. Apparently, online advertisers are intimately aware of this (I\u2019m getting a lot of TurboTax Ads).<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cWhat is your current employment status?\u201d<\/p>\n Asking about your customers\u2019 voter registration status can give you a sense of their level of civic engagement. People who are registered to vote are more likely to be engaged in their communities and be responsive to political or social messaging.<\/p>\n This is a sensitive topic, so I recommend treading carefully and omitting it unless you stand to gain invaluable insights that directly support your goals.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cAre you registered to vote in ____?\u201d<\/p>\n Political affiliation is one of the most sensitive demographic questions you can ask. However, it can reveal much about your audience’s values and greatly inform your messaging strategy.<\/p>\n If your brand touches on social issues and cause-based marketing, this question can be valuable for crafting messages that resonate with your customers. If not, I recommend handling this question with care and always making it optional.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cWhich of the following groups do your political views align with?\u201d<\/p>\n Language is an essential demographic question for obvious reasons. You can\u2019t speak to your customers if there\u2019s a language barrier.<\/p>\n Beyond that, understanding your audiences\u2019 language(s) reveals important cultural details that can indicate values, preferences, and communication preferences.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cWhich languages do you speak fluently? (Check all that apply)\u201d<\/p>\n Place of birth offers context to your audience\u2019s background, especially when paired with location and language data.<\/p>\n For example, two people might live in the U.S., but someone born in China will likely have different needs, values, preferences, and expectations than someone born and raised in the States. Without place of birth data, these details sometimes fall through the cracks.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cWhere were you born?\u201d<\/p>\n Last but not least in the \u201ctread lightly\u201d category of demographic questions is religion. Religious affiliation reveals powerful insights into your audiences’ values, beliefs, and lifestyle choices, which helps you craft messaging that resonates.<\/p>\n I recommend only including it if you must, and as always, make it optional.<\/p>\n Example: <\/strong>\u201cWhat is your religious affiliation, if any?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Demographic questions help you develop accurate buyer personas: detailed profiles that power targeted marketing campaigns, effective sales tactics, and support experiences that delight customers.<\/p>\n These personas reflect your customers\u2019 backgrounds, needs, and pain points, giving you a competitive edge when connecting with them. However, the benefits of demographic information aren\u2019t just for marketing teams.<\/p>\n When I worked at HubSpot Support, knowing our personas inside and out helped me better understand customers’ needs, resulting in smoother calls and increased satisfaction. For example, one type of persona I often worked with was the IT professional, who was sharp, technical, and confident in troubleshooting. When I got on the phone with a techy customer, I knew I could reliably ask them to \u201cinspect element\u201d on a page without inciting panic.<\/p>\n Here are a few key benefits of using demographic questions in your surveys:<\/p>\n Creating a buyer persona will help you understand customers\u2019 habits, needs, pain points, and motivations. With these insights, you can:<\/p>\n The more accurate your buyer personas are, the better you can understand and serve your customers’ needs. These insights will help you develop new products your customers want, improve service to make their lives easier, and personalize your marketing messaging so it strikes a chord every time.<\/p>\n Demographic data brings another level of insight to your surveys. Instead of just seeing what\u2019s <\/em>happening, demographic data can give you the who<\/em> and the why<\/em>.<\/p>\n For example, if you notice a dip in sales, diving into the demographic data might show that Gen Z customers in the Northeast are falling off. These insights let you adjust your strategies surgically, saving time and money.<\/p>\n Demographic surveys provide a deeper understanding of your customers. If you plan to launch a new product or service, the demographics of your existing customer base will help you target your efforts to those most likely to respond.<\/p>\n Demographic information can also reveal new opportunities.<\/p>\n HubSpot\u2019s 2024 Consumer Trends Report<\/a> showed that while 55% of respondents are tightening their budgets, that number jumps to 68% for Baby Boomers. If you\u2019ve done your demographics homework and discovered that a decent chunk of your customers are Boomers, that could be the cue to adjust your product’s positioning and pricing.<\/p>\n Understanding your audience\u2019s demographics can help you create more relevant content that people want to engage with. That could mean better social captions, blog posts that customers find genuinely helpful, personalized offers, or emails that don\u2019t get immediately binned. The result? Increased customer engagement and more sales.<\/p>\n As a former HubSpot support rep, I have to give you a support-related example:<\/p>\n HubSpot\u2019s 2024 Consumer Trends Report<\/a> found that Gen Z preferred sending a direct message to receive support, whereas Boomers vastly preferred calling in. No surprises there.<\/p>\n If your demographics show that most of your customers are Gen Z, investing in an omni-channel customer support solution with powerful messaging features<\/a> could delight your customers and your support team.<\/p>\n Now that we understand the importance of demographic survey questions, the next step is to put them to work. Using a Customer Feedback Software<\/a> tool like ours, you can:<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n
What is a demographic?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Challenges With Getting and Using Demographics<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Navigating Expectations of Privacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Avoiding Stereotypes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Using Demographics for Targeted Messaging<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Building Trust to Collect Demographic Information<\/strong><\/h3>\n
1. Gender<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
2. Age<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
3. Ethnicity<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
4. Location<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
5. Education Level<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
6. Marital Status<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
\n
8. Living Status<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
9. Annual Household Income<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
10. Employment Status<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
11. Voting Status<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
12. Political Views<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
13. Language<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
14. Place of Birth<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
15. Religion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Benefits of Demographic Questions in Surveys<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Better buyer personas.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
2. Better understanding of business trends.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Better understanding of your target audience.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Enhanced customer engagement.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
\n