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Best and Worst Internet Access

By February 10, 2021November 13th, 2023Technology

The U.S. Cities with the Best and Worst Internet Access

globe showing internet access

The internet is a powerful and omnipotent presence in modern society, and quarantines have only fueled its importance.

In fact, Stanford research shows that a staggering 42% of the U.S. labor force was working from home in June of 2020. The ability to work from home has proven crucial in helping to combat the coronavirus pandemic while protecting the economy.

U.S. labor force working from home in June of 2020.

Beyond allowing us to work from home, the Internet is a primary source of entertainment, from playing video games to watching movies and enjoying game day from the comfort of the recliner.

However, it may come as a surprise that in some U.S. cities, many households are living without Internet access.

This study was conducted by the TheaterSeatStore team.

This study conducted by the TheaterSeatStore team explores the cities with the best and worst access to the Internet.

top 25 worst-connected cities

Here are the top 25 U.S. cities with the highest percentage of households without Internet access (or worst-connected cities):

  • Total households without internet access

  • Total households with internet access

internet worst map
1
01
Harlingen, Texas
30.20%
2
02
Gary, Indiana
29.30%
3
03
Pharr, Texas
28.50%
4
04
Cleveland, Ohio
27.30%
5
05
Miami, Florida
25.60%
6
06
Shreveport, Lousiana
25.50%
7
07
Flint, Michigan
24.70%
8
08
East Los Angeles, California
24.70%
9
09
Bossier City, Louisiana
24.70%
10
10
Decatur, Illinois
24.50%
11
11
Albany, Georgia
24.10%
12
12
Lawrence, Massachusetts
23.90%
13
13
Newark, New Jersey
23.70%
14
14
Trenton, New Jersey
23.70%
15
15
Camden, New Jersey
23.50%
16
16
Lynwood, California
23.10%
17
17
Hialeah, Florida
22.90%
18
18
Memphis, Tennessee
22.80%
19
19
Reading, Pennsylvania
21.60%
20
20
Mount Vernon, New York
21.10%
21
21
St.Joseph, Missouri
21.00%
22
22
Waterbury, Connecticut
20.80%
23
23
New Rochelle, New York
20.70%
24
24
Fort Smith, Arkansas
20.50%
25
25
Fall River, Massachusetts
20.30%
NO.
CITY & STATE
% of households without Internet

01

Harlingen, Texas

30.20%

6,911

Title

43.22%

15,990

02

Gary, Indiana

29.30%

8,635

Title

41.45%

20,831

03

Pharr, Texas

28.50%

6,583

Title

39.79%

16,543

04

Cleveland, Ohio

27.30%

46,890

Title

37.58%

1,24,742

05

Miami, Florida

25.60%

48,408

Title

34.41%

1,40,676

06

Shreveport, Lousiana

25.50%

18,655

Title

34.25%

54,459

07

Flint, Michigan

24.70%

9,912

Title

32.81%

30,209

08

East Los Angeles, California

24.70%

7,579

Title

32.81%

23,097

09

Bossier City, Louisiana

24.70%

6,602

Title

32.88%

20,075

10

Decatur, Illinois

24.50%

7,281

Title

32.37%

22,491

11

Albany, Georgia

24.10%

6,185

Title

31.79%

19,455

12

Lawrence, Massachusetts

23.90%

6,644

Title

31.33%

21,200

13

Newark, New Jersey

23.70%

24,250

Title

31.12%

77,905

14

Trenton, New Jersey

23.70%

6,688

Title

31.02%

21,558

15

Camden, New Jersey

23.50%

5,655

Title

30.74%

18,396

16

Lynwood, California

23.10%

3,493

Title

29.98%

11,649

17

Hialeah, Florida

22.90%

17,385

Title

29.66%

58,604

18

Memphis, Tennessee

22.80%

58,106

Title

29.59%

196,317

19

Reading, Pennsylvania

21.60%

6,331

Title

27.53%

22,994

20

Mount Vernon, New York

21.10%

5,611

Title

26.81%

20,924

21

St.Joseph, Missouri

21.00%

6,174

Title

26.58%

23,225

22

Waterbury, Connecticut

20.80%

8,739

Title

26.18%

33,374

23

New Rochelle, New York

20.70%

6,660

Title

26.02%

25,591

24

Fort Smith, Arkansas

20.50%

7,408

Title

25.72%

28,802

25

Fall River, Massachusetts

20.30%

7,676

Title

25.39%

30,223

top 25 MOST-connected cities

Here are the top 25 U.S. cities with the lowest percentage of households without Internet access (or cities with the most households having Internet access):

  • Total households without internet access

  • Total households with internet access

most connected map
1
01
Johns Creek, Georgia
100%
2
02
South Jordan, Utah
99.20%
3
03
Flower Mound, Texas
99.20%
4
04
Fishers, Indiana
99%
5
05
Naperville, Illinois
99%
6
06
Bellevue, Washington
99%
7
07
Chino Hills, California
98.70%
8
08
Wesley Chapel, Florida
98.50%
9
09
Centreville, Virginia
98.50%
10
10
San Ramon, California
98.40%
11
11
Centennial, Colorado
98.40%
12
12
The Hammocks, Florida
98.30%
13
13
Maple Grove, Minnesota
98.30%
14
14
Hillsboro, Oregon
98.30%
15
15
Cary, North Carolina
98.30%
16
16
San Clemente, California
98.20%
17
17
Yorba Linda, California
98.20%
18
18
Redmond, Washington
98.20%
19
19
Pleasanton, California
98.20%
20
20
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
98.20%
21
21
College Station, Texas
98.20%
22
22
League City, Texas
98.20%
23
23
Gilbert, Arizona
98.10%
24
24
Lehi, Utah
98%
25
25
Redondo Beach, California
97.90%
NO.
CITY & STATE
% of households without Internet

01

Johns Creek, Georgia

100%

0

Title

0%

28,638

02

South Jordan, Utah

99.20%

171

Title

0.83%

20,371

03

Flower Mound, Texas

99.20%

230

Title

0.85%

26,969

04

Fishers, Indiana

99.00%

336

Title

0.97%

34,510

05

Naperville, Illinois

99.00%

507

Title

0.98%

51,731

06

Bellevue, Washington

99.00%

606

Title

1.03%

58,710

07

Chino Hills, California

98.70%

357

Title

1.34%

26,499

08

Wesley Chapel, Florida

98.50%

319

Title

1.57%

20,266

09

Centreville, Virginia

98.50%

356

Title

1.55%

2,29,932

10

San Ramon, California

98.40%

420

Title

1.66%

25,277

11

Centennial, Colorado

98.40%

649

Title

1.64%

39,502

12

The Hammocks, Florida

98.30%

329

Title

1.7%

19,288

13

Maple Grove, Minnesota

98.30%

480

Title

1.7%

28,103

14

Hillsboro, Oregon

98.30%

657

Title

1.75%

37,428

15

Cary, North Carolina

98.30%

1,072

Title

1.68%

63,656

16

San Clemente, California

98.20%

406

Title

1.78%

22,776

17

Yorba Linda, California

98.20%

410

Title

1.84%

22,266

18

Redmond, Washington

98.20%

531

Title

1.8%

29,350

19

Pleasanton, California

98.20%

531

Title

1.86%

28,463

20

Highlands Ranch, Colorado

98.20%

652

Title

1.78%

36,429

21

College Station, Texas

98.20%

732

Title

1.85%

39,549

22

League City, Texas

98.20%

684

Title

1.78%

38,226

23

Gilbert, Arizona

98.10%

1,508

Title

1.89%

79,727

24

Lehi, Utah

98.00%

368

Title

2.03%

18,043

25

Redondo Beach, California

97.90%

545

Title

2.11%

25,815

top 10 MOST-Populated cities

How do major U.S. cities with the highest populations compare? Here are the top ten major U.S. cities with the highest percentages of households without Internet access:

  • Total households without internet access

  • Total households with internet access

most populated map
1
01
Dallas, Texas
14.10%
2
02
Chicago, Illinois
13.10%
3
03
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
13%
4
04
Houston, Texas
12.90%
5
05
New York, New York
12.60%
6
06
San Antonio, Texas
12.60%
7
07
Phoenix, Arizona
11.60%
8
08
Los Angeles, California
09.60%
9
09
Austin, Texas
08.10%
10
10
San Diego, California
05.60%
NO.
CITY & STATE
% of households without Internet

01

Dallas, Texas

14.10%

73,377

Title

16.46%

4,45,621

02

Chicago, Illinois

13.10%

1,41,260

Title

15.04%

9,39,085

03

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

13.00%

80,799

Title

14.99%

5,38,706

04

Houston, Texas

12.90%

1,13,110

Title

14.81%

7,63,394

05

New York, New York

12.60%

4,03,380

Title

14.36%

28,07,653

06

San Antonio, Texas

12.60%

64,314

Title

14.35%

4,47,959

07

Phoenix, Arizona

11.60%

68,193

Title

13.14%

5,18,685

08

Los Angeles, California

09.60%

12,64,029

Title

10.66%

1,34,871

09

Austin, Texas

08.10%

3,76,838

Title

8.77%

33,065

10

San Diego, California

05.60%

28,740

Title

5.94%

4,83,790

While there are no known U.S. cities with no Internet access at all, this infographic creates a fascinating snapshot of the worst-connected cities.

This data can help raise awareness toward creating a more accessible Internet infrastructure in the United States.

This data can help raise awareness toward creating a more accessible Internet infrastructure in the United States so more people can perform essential tasks such as working from home, applying for jobs, attending school, accessing information, enjoying entertainment such as streaming movies and television shows, playing video games, and staying connected to family and friends.