There has been a longstanding digital divide in the United States, and its implications are only growing more profound with each passing year. As the world becomes increasingly digitized, many Americans without a reliable internet connection are at greater risk of becoming economically, and even socially, isolated – a trend exacerbated by the pandemic.
A recent report from the advocacy company Broadband Now found that the number of Americans who live in areas where internet access is not available may be as high as 42 million – and that number does not include those who could have internet access but cannot afford it.
Internet access varies across the country, and some states are far better connected than others. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where the most people lack internet access.
Depending on the state, the share of households with no internet access ranges from 6.4% to over 20%. Nationwide, 11.8% of households do not have internet access. The states where households are most likely to have internet access are located in the West and along the East Coast and tend to have large urban and suburban populations. The states with the lowest connectivity rates, meanwhile, are concentrated in the South and typically have large rural populations.
According to Census data, Americans 65 and older are slightly less likely than younger demographic groups to own a computer or live in a household with an internet connection. In most of the 10 states where the largest share of households do not have an internet connection, the share of the population who are at least 65 years old exceeds the 15.9% share of Americans who are that age. (Here is a look at the U.S. cities with the oldest populations.)
States where households are more likely to be connected to the internet also tend to be better off economically, with lower than average unemployment and higher than average incomes. In contrast, the states with the lowest connectivity rates tend to have higher rates of poverty and joblessness. (Here is a look at the cities with the strongest economies in 2022.)
Click here to see the states where the most people lack internet access.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
50. Utah
> Households with no internet access: 6.4%
> Households with at least one computer: 87.5% (the highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 11.0% (the lowest)
> Median household income: $74,197 (12th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.6% (5th lowest)
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49. Washington
> Households with no internet access: 7.3%
> Households with at least one computer: 84.9% (3rd highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.4% (13th lowest)
> Median household income: $77,006 (9th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.8% (20th lowest)
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48. Colorado
> Households with no internet access: 7.8%
> Households with at least one computer: 85.0% (2nd highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 14.2% (5th lowest)
> Median household income: $75,231 (11th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.6% (18th lowest)
47. New Hampshire
> Households with no internet access: 8.3%
> Households with at least one computer: 84.5% (4th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 17.7% (9th highest)
> Median household income: $77,923 (7th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.7% (6th lowest)
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46. California
> Households with no internet access: 8.7%
> Households with at least one computer: 82.8% (7th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 14.3% (6th lowest)
> Median household income: $78,672 (6th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.1% (7th highest)
45. Oregon
> Households with no internet access: 8.8%
> Households with at least one computer: 83.2% (6th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 17.5% (12th highest)
> Median household income: $65,667 (18th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.4% (19th highest)
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44. Maryland
> Households with no internet access: 8.9%
> Households with at least one computer: 83.3% (5th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.3% (8th lowest)
> Median household income: $87,063 (the highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.1% (23rd lowest)
43. Massachusetts
> Households with no internet access: 9.3%
> Households with at least one computer: 82.2% (8th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.2% (23rd lowest)
> Median household income: $84,385 (3rd highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.1% (22nd lowest)
42. New Jersey
> Households with no internet access: 9.7%
> Households with at least one computer: 82.1% (9th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.0% (21st lowest)
> Median household income: $85,245 (2nd highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.8% (13th highest)
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41. Delaware
> Households with no internet access: 9.8%
> Households with at least one computer: 78.2% (25th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 18.7% (6th highest)
> Median household income: $69,110 (16th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.8% (12th highest)
40. Minnesota
> Households with no internet access: 9.9%
> Households with at least one computer: 81.6% (11th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.5% (14th lowest)
> Median household income: $73,382 (13th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.8% (8th lowest)
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39. Hawaii
> Households with no internet access: 9.9%
> Households with at least one computer: 80.7% (15th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 18.8% (5th highest)
> Median household income: $83,173 (4th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.3% (14th lowest)
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38. Connecticut
> Households with no internet access: 10.1%
> Households with at least one computer: 80.8% (14th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.9% (15th highest)
> Median household income: $79,855 (5th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.0% (8th highest)
37. Alaska
> Households with no internet access: 10.3%
> Households with at least one computer: 80.8% (13th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 12.1% (2nd lowest)
> Median household income: $77,790 (8th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.8% (2nd highest)
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36. Wyoming
> Households with no internet access: 10.5%
> Households with at least one computer: 80.5% (18th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.3% (23rd highest)
> Median household income: $65,304 (20th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.3% (15th lowest)
35. Idaho
> Households with no internet access: 10.6%
> Households with at least one computer: 81.7% (10th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.8% (18th lowest)
> Median household income: $58,915 (17th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.2% (13th lowest)
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34. Arizona
> Households with no internet access: 10.8%
> Households with at least one computer: 80.6% (17th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 17.7% (10th highest)
> Median household income: $61,529 (23rd lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.8% (11th highest)
33. Florida
> Households with no internet access: 11.1%
> Households with at least one computer: 80.2% (19th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 20.5% (the highest)
> Median household income: $57,703 (14th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.4% (20th highest)
32. Rhode Island
> Households with no internet access: 11.2%
> Households with at least one computer: 78.1% (23rd lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.9% (16th highest)
> Median household income: $70,305 (15th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.5% (17th highest)
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31. Virginia
> Households with no internet access: 11.2%
> Households with at least one computer: 80.6% (16th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.5% (17th lowest)
> Median household income: $76,398 (10th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.5% (17th lowest)
30. Nevada
> Households with no internet access: 11.3%
> Households with at least one computer: 79.9% (20th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.8% (20th lowest)
> Median household income: $62,043 (25th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.5% (3rd highest)
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29. Vermont
> Households with no internet access: 11.3%
> Households with at least one computer: 81.6% (12th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 19.0% (4th highest)
> Median household income: $63,477 (23rd highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.8% (7th lowest)
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28. Nebraska
> Households with no internet access: 11.4%
> Households with at least one computer: 78.3% (25th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.4% (11th lowest)
> Median household income: $63,015 (25th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.4% (2nd lowest)
27. Illinois
> Households with no internet access: 11.7%
> Households with at least one computer: 78.1% (24th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.4% (10th lowest)
> Median household income: $68,428 (17th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.9% (10th highest)
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26. Maine
> Households with no internet access: 11.8%
> Households with at least one computer: 79.6% (21st highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 20.3% (2nd highest)
> Median household income: $59,489 (19th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.0% (10th lowest)
25. North Dakota
> Households with no internet access: 11.9%
> Households with at least one computer: 78.4% (24th highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 14.8% (7th lowest)
> Median household income: $65,315 (19th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.0% (the lowest)
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24. New York
> Households with no internet access: 12.0%
> Households with at least one computer: 78.6% (23rd highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.2% (25th highest)
> Median household income: $71,117 (14th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.7% (14th highest)
23. Wisconsin
> Households with no internet access: 12.1%
> Households with at least one computer: 78.0% (22nd lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.7% (20th highest)
> Median household income: $63,293 (24th highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.5% (4th lowest)
22. Texas
> Households with no internet access: 12.2%
> Households with at least one computer: 76.3% (15th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 12.5% (3rd lowest)
> Median household income: $63,826 (21st highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.3% (25th lowest)
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21. Kansas
> Households with no internet access: 12.3%
> Households with at least one computer: 77.7% (21st lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.5% (15th lowest)
> Median household income: $61,091 (21st lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.0% (11th lowest)
20. Michigan
> Households with no internet access: 12.5%
> Households with at least one computer: 76.2% (14th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 17.0% (14th highest)
> Median household income: $59,234 (18th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.0% (9th highest)
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19. Georgia
> Households with no internet access: 12.6%
> Households with at least one computer: 77.7% (20th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 13.8% (4th lowest)
> Median household income: $61,224 (22nd lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.5% (15th highest)
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18. Ohio
> Households with no internet access: 12.7%
> Households with at least one computer: 75.7% (13th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.7% (19th highest)
> Median household income: $58,116 (15th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.3% (25th highest)
17. Iowa
> Households with no internet access: 13.0%
> Households with at least one computer: 76.5% (17th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.6% (21st highest)
> Median household income: $61,836 (24th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.9% (9th lowest)
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16. Montana
> Households with no internet access: 13.2%
> Households with at least one computer: 79.0% (22nd highest)
> Population age 65 and older: 18.5% (7th highest)
> Median household income: $56,539 (11th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.1% (12th lowest)
15. Pennsylvania
> Households with no internet access: 13.2%
> Households with at least one computer: 76.7% (18th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 17.9% (8th highest)
> Median household income: $63,627 (22nd highest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.3% (21st highest)
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14. South Dakota
> Households with no internet access: 13.3%
> Households with at least one computer: 76.9% (19th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.3% (24th highest)
> Median household income: $59,896 (20th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.5% (3rd lowest)
13. Missouri
> Households with no internet access: 13.4%
> Households with at least one computer: 75.1% (12th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.6% (22nd highest)
> Median household income: $57,290 (13th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.5% (16th lowest)
12. North Carolina
> Households with no internet access: 13.6%
> Households with at least one computer: 76.4% (16th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.2% (25th lowest)
> Median household income: $56,642 (12th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.3% (22nd highest)
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11. Indiana
> Households with no internet access: 13.9%
> Households with at least one computer: 74.7% (11th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.4% (12th lowest)
> Median household income: $58,235 (16th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.7% (19th lowest)
10. South Carolina
> Households with no internet access: 15.2%
> Households with at least one computer: 73.5% (10th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 17.7% (11th highest)
> Median household income: $54,864 (10th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.5% (18th highest)
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9. Kentucky
> Households with no internet access: 15.3%
> Households with at least one computer: 71.3% (6th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.1% (22nd lowest)
> Median household income: $52,238 (7th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.3% (23rd highest)
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8. Oklahoma
> Households with no internet access: 15.3%
> Households with at least one computer: 71.3% (7th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.5% (16th lowest)
> Median household income: $53,840 (8th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.0% (21st lowest)
7. Tennessee
> Households with no internet access: 15.4%
> Households with at least one computer: 72.5% (9th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.2% (24th lowest)
> Median household income: $54,833 (9th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.3% (24th highest)
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6. Alabama
> Households with no internet access: 16.9%
> Households with at least one computer: 68.9% (5th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.8% (17th highest)
> Median household income: $52,035 (6th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.5% (16th highest)
5. West Virginia
> Households with no internet access: 17.7%
> Households with at least one computer: 68.6% (4th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 19.8% (3rd highest)
> Median household income: $48,037 (2nd lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.5% (4th highest)
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4. Louisiana
> Households with no internet access: 17.8%
> Households with at least one computer: 68.4% (3rd lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.3% (9th lowest)
> Median household income: $50,800 (4th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.5% (5th highest)
3. Arkansas
> Households with no internet access: 18.3%
> Households with at least one computer: 67.7% (2nd lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.7% (18th highest)
> Median household income: $49,475 (3rd lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.2% (24th lowest)
2. New Mexico
> Households with no internet access: 18.5%
> Households with at least one computer: 71.8% (8th lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 17.5% (13th highest)
> Median household income: $51,243 (5th lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.5% (6th highest)
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1. Mississippi
> Households with no internet access: 20.7%
> Households with at least one computer: 64.2% (the lowest)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.8% (19th lowest)
> Median household income: $46,511 (the lowest)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 7.1% (the highest)
Methodology
To identify the states where the most people lack internet access, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. States are ranked on the share of households without an internet connection.
We also reviewed ACS data on the share of households with at least one desktop or laptop computer, the population aged 65 and up, median household income, and poverty. All data in this story are five-year estimates.
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