Cities large and small alike attract and keep businesses and residents mainly due to several factors: an affordable cost of living, good schools, a vibrant cultural scene, and a strong and multifaceted business base. In our virtually connected world, one more factor has vaulted to importance — reliable broadband access.

Having a high-speed Internet connection is essential in both the professional and personal realms — and especially the former. No business can run smoothly with frequent Internet disruptions. Further, a strong broadband grid allows companies to use cloud-based services rather than managing numerous applications on their network.  

Companies and individuals alike may target large cities simply because they have a reputation for well-established and dependable internet networks. Yet smaller cities are no laggards when it comes to broadband. Given their relatively lower cost of living and overall quality of life, smaller cities can often compete on an equal footing with their larger counterparts, especially during the pandemic. (These, for instance, are the 25 small cities flourishing during COVID-19.) 

To identify the American small cities with the best and most reliable internet access, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the ranking of broadband access on small cities from the Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cities 2021. (Population figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.)

By Milken’s standards, Corvalis, Oregon, south of Portland, tops the list of smaller cities with the best and most reliable Internet access. Its choice shouldn’t be surprising, considering the presence in town of HP, a software company spun off from the legendary Hewlett-Packard.

Oregon took the third spot on the list, as well. Known more for its ski resorts and mountain vistas, Bend did drop 12 slots from the 2020 overall Best-Performing Cities ranking, but still scored high for broadband.

Click here to see the small cities with the best and most reliable internet access

Sandwiched between the two Oregon cities at number two is San Rafael, California. The suburb of San Francisco likely draws its attractiveness and bandwidth from the tech mecca across the Bay. After all, every tech worker would expect the same bandwidth he or she enjoys at work. (Not anxious to go back into the office? Move to the best cities to live and work from home in 2021.)

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