Special Report
The City With the Best Internet Access in Every State
Published:
Last Updated:
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.
Cities and urban areas tend to be better connected than rural parts of the country, and in most states, there is at least one city where over 95% of households have internet access. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the city in every state where the most people have internet access.
Among the cities on this list, the share of households without an internet connection ranges from 10.4% to just 1.3%. Each of these places are better connected than both their state as a whole, and the country – as nationwide, 11.8% of households do not have internet access.
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 cities on this list, the share of the population who are at least 65 years old is below the corresponding statewide share. (Here is a look at the U.S. cities with the oldest populations.)
Places with higher rates of internet connectivity also tend to be better off economically, with lower than average unemployment and higher than average incomes. And in the majority of the cities on this list, median household incomes are higher than the statewide median, and unemployment rates are lower. (Here is a look at the cities with the strongest economies in 2022.)
Click here to see the city where the most people have internet access in each state.
Click here to see our detailed methodology
Alabama: Madison
> Households with no internet access: 2.8% (Alabama: 16.9%)
> Households with at least one computer: 91.1% (Alabama: 68.9%)
> Population age 65 and older: 12.5% (Alabama: 16.8%)
> Median household income: $94,214 (Alabama: $52,035)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.0% (Alabama: 5.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 23
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Alaska: Anchorage
> Households with no internet access: 6.1% (Alaska: 10.3%)
> Households with at least one computer: 84.4% (Alaska: 80.8%)
> Population age 65 and older: 11.2% (Alaska: 12.1%)
> Median household income: $84,813 (Alaska: $77,790)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.9% (Alaska: 6.8%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 3
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Arizona: Gilbert
> Households with no internet access: 2.3% (Arizona: 10.8%)
> Households with at least one computer: 93.9% (Arizona: 80.6%)
> Population age 65 and older: 9.6% (Arizona: 17.7%)
> Median household income: $99,154 (Arizona: $61,529)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.1% (Arizona: 5.8%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 38
Arkansas: Bella Vista
> Households with no internet access: 5.8% (Arkansas: 18.3%)
> Households with at least one computer: 90.4% (Arkansas: 67.7%)
> Population age 65 and older: 31.5% (Arkansas: 16.7%)
> Median household income: $71,258 (Arkansas: $49,475)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.7% (Arkansas: 5.2%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 19
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California: Aliso Viejo
> Households with no internet access: 2.2% (California: 8.7%)
> Households with at least one computer: 93.4% (California: 82.8%)
> Population age 65 and older: 8.5% (California: 14.3%)
> Median household income: $118,540 (California: $78,672)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.5% (California: 6.1%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 298
Colorado: Parker
> Households with no internet access: 1.8% (Colorado: 7.8%)
> Households with at least one computer: 95.0% (Colorado: 85.0%)
> Population age 65 and older: 9.0% (Colorado: 14.2%)
> Median household income: $114,802 (Colorado: $75,231)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.4% (Colorado: 4.6%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 31
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Connecticut: Norwalk
> Households with no internet access: 6.9% (Connecticut: 10.1%)
> Households with at least one computer: 86.5% (Connecticut: 80.8%)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.1% (Connecticut: 16.9%)
> Median household income: $89,486 (Connecticut: $79,855)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.5% (Connecticut: 6.0%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 24
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Delaware: Newark
> Households with no internet access: 7.0% (Delaware: 9.8%)
> Households with at least one computer: 85.8% (Delaware: 78.2%)
> Population age 65 and older: 13.3% (Delaware: 18.7%)
> Median household income: $60,767 (Delaware: $69,110)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 7.1% (Delaware: 5.8%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 3
Florida: Weston
> Households with no internet access: 2.0% (Florida: 11.1%)
> Households with at least one computer: 96.7% (Florida: 80.2%)
> Population age 65 and older: 10.7% (Florida: 20.5%)
> Median household income: $113,032 (Florida: $57,703)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.0% (Florida: 5.4%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 150
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Georgia: Johns Creek
> Households with no internet access: 1.3% (Georgia: 12.6%)
> Households with at least one computer: 97.2% (Georgia: 77.7%)
> Population age 65 and older: 10.4% (Georgia: 13.8%)
> Median household income: $125,862 (Georgia: $61,224)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.0% (Georgia: 5.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 44
Hawaii: East Honolulu
> Households with no internet access: 4.8% (Hawaii: 9.9%)
> Households with at least one computer: 91.4% (Hawaii: 80.7%)
> Population age 65 and older: 26.7% (Hawaii: 18.8%)
> Median household income: $139,487 (Hawaii: $83,173)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 2.8% (Hawaii: 4.3%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 9
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Idaho: Rexburg
> Households with no internet access: 2.5% (Idaho: 10.6%)
> Households with at least one computer: 91.9% (Idaho: 81.7%)
> Population age 65 and older: 5.1% (Idaho: 15.8%)
> Median household income: $33,278 (Idaho: $58,915)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 8.3% (Idaho: 4.2%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 13
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Illinois: Naperville
> Households with no internet access: 2.4% (Illinois: 11.7%)
> Households with at least one computer: 93.5% (Illinois: 78.1%)
> Population age 65 and older: 12.5% (Illinois: 15.4%)
> Median household income: $127,648 (Illinois: $68,428)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.2% (Illinois: 5.9%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 89
Indiana: Fishers
> Households with no internet access: 2.0% (Indiana: 13.9%)
> Households with at least one computer: 94.9% (Indiana: 74.7%)
> Population age 65 and older: 9.5% (Indiana: 15.4%)
> Median household income: $108,361 (Indiana: $58,235)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.0% (Indiana: 4.7%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 39
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Iowa: Ankeny
> Households with no internet access: 5.1% (Iowa: 13.0%)
> Households with at least one computer: 88.4% (Iowa: 76.5%)
> Population age 65 and older: 10.0% (Iowa: 16.6%)
> Median household income: $89,484 (Iowa: $61,836)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 2.6% (Iowa: 3.9%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 18
Kansas: Leawood
> Households with no internet access: 2.4% (Kansas: 12.3%)
> Households with at least one computer: 94.6% (Kansas: 77.7%)
> Population age 65 and older: 22.3% (Kansas: 15.5%)
> Median household income: $156,538 (Kansas: $61,091)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 2.2% (Kansas: 4.0%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 15
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Kentucky: Independence
> Households with no internet access: 4.7% (Kentucky: 15.3%)
> Households with at least one computer: 83.3% (Kentucky: 71.3%)
> Population age 65 and older: 9.6% (Kentucky: 16.1%)
> Median household income: $79,929 (Kentucky: $52,238)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.1% (Kentucky: 5.3%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 15
Louisiana: Prairieville
> Households with no internet access: 4.9% (Louisiana: 17.8%)
> Households with at least one computer: 90.3% (Louisiana: 68.4%)
> Population age 65 and older: 10.6% (Louisiana: 15.3%)
> Median household income: $99,722 (Louisiana: $50,800)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.0% (Louisiana: 6.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 18
Maine: South Portland
> Households with no internet access: 7.2% (Maine: 11.8%)
> Households with at least one computer: 86.0% (Maine: 79.6%)
> Population age 65 and older: 18.6% (Maine: 20.3%)
> Median household income: $67,198 (Maine: $59,489)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.8% (Maine: 4.0%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 4
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Maryland: Ilchester
> Households with no internet access: 1.9% (Maryland: 8.9%)
> Households with at least one computer: 94.8% (Maryland: 83.3%)
> Population age 65 and older: 8.8% (Maryland: 15.3%)
> Median household income: $123,438 (Maryland: $87,063)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 2.7% (Maryland: 5.1%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 52
Massachusetts: Amherst Town
> Households with no internet access: 2.6% (Massachusetts: 9.3%)
> Households with at least one computer: 94.0% (Massachusetts: 82.2%)
> Population age 65 and older: 8.0% (Massachusetts: 16.2%)
> Median household income: $56,906 (Massachusetts: $84,385)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 10.8% (Massachusetts: 5.1%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 64
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Michigan: Forest Hills
> Households with no internet access: 3.7% (Michigan: 12.5%)
> Households with at least one computer: 94.0% (Michigan: 76.2%)
> Population age 65 and older: 14.4% (Michigan: 17.0%)
> Median household income: $130,646 (Michigan: $59,234)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 1.8% (Michigan: 6.0%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 45
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Minnesota: Chanhassen
> Households with no internet access: 2.6% (Minnesota: 9.9%)
> Households with at least one computer: 93.4% (Minnesota: 81.6%)
> Population age 65 and older: 12.2% (Minnesota: 15.5%)
> Median household income: $124,184 (Minnesota: $73,382)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 2.4% (Minnesota: 3.8%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 42
Mississippi: Madison
> Households with no internet access: 3.2% (Mississippi: 20.7%)
> Households with at least one computer: 93.1% (Mississippi: 64.2%)
> Population age 65 and older: 14.0% (Mississippi: 15.8%)
> Median household income: $119,855 (Mississippi: $46,511)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 2.4% (Mississippi: 7.1%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 14
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Missouri: Wildwood
> Households with no internet access: 2.0% (Missouri: 13.4%)
> Households with at least one computer: 96.4% (Missouri: 75.1%)
> Population age 65 and older: 17.1% (Missouri: 16.6%)
> Median household income: $135,177 (Missouri: $57,290)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 2.5% (Missouri: 4.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 28
Montana: Bozeman
> Households with no internet access: 4.0% (Montana: 13.2%)
> Households with at least one computer: 91.3% (Montana: 79.0%)
> Population age 65 and older: 10.0% (Montana: 18.5%)
> Median household income: $59,695 (Montana: $56,539)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.5% (Montana: 4.1%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 6
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Nebraska: Bellevue
> Households with no internet access: 7.0% (Nebraska: 11.4%)
> Households with at least one computer: 85.2% (Nebraska: 78.3%)
> Population age 65 and older: 13.8% (Nebraska: 15.4%)
> Median household income: $70,647 (Nebraska: $63,015)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.3% (Nebraska: 3.4%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 6
Nevada: Summerlin South
> Households with no internet access: 3.4% (Nevada: 11.3%)
> Households with at least one computer: 90.9% (Nevada: 79.9%)
> Population age 65 and older: 26.0% (Nevada: 15.8%)
> Median household income: $99,424 (Nevada: $62,043)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.8% (Nevada: 6.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 14
New Hampshire: Dover
> Households with no internet access: 6.7% (New Hampshire: 8.3%)
> Households with at least one computer: 88.4% (New Hampshire: 84.5%)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.7% (New Hampshire: 17.7%)
> Median household income: $74,833 (New Hampshire: $77,923)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.2% (New Hampshire: 3.7%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 5
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New Jersey: Ridgewood
> Households with no internet access: 3.1% (New Jersey: 9.7%)
> Households with at least one computer: 94.7% (New Jersey: 82.1%)
> Population age 65 and older: 13.8% (New Jersey: 16.0%)
> Median household income: $178,958 (New Jersey: $85,245)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.1% (New Jersey: 5.8%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 39
New Mexico: Rio Rancho
> Households with no internet access: 6.4% (New Mexico: 18.5%)
> Households with at least one computer: 86.0% (New Mexico: 71.8%)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.8% (New Mexico: 17.5%)
> Median household income: $66,733 (New Mexico: $51,243)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.4% (New Mexico: 6.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 11
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New York: Ithaca
> Households with no internet access: 3.6% (New York: 12.0%)
> Households with at least one computer: 90.5% (New York: 78.6%)
> Population age 65 and older: 5.8% (New York: 16.2%)
> Median household income: $38,019 (New York: $71,117)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.9% (New York: 5.7%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 61
North Carolina: Wake Forest
> Households with no internet access: 2.3% (North Carolina: 13.6%)
> Households with at least one computer: 91.5% (North Carolina: 76.4%)
> Population age 65 and older: 10.8% (North Carolina: 16.2%)
> Median household income: $100,162 (North Carolina: $56,642)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.6% (North Carolina: 5.3%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 38
North Dakota: West Fargo
> Households with no internet access: 5.2% (North Dakota: 11.9%)
> Households with at least one computer: 88.3% (North Dakota: 78.4%)
> Population age 65 and older: 8.8% (North Dakota: 14.8%)
> Median household income: $87,674 (North Dakota: $65,315)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 1.2% (North Dakota: 3.0%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 6
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Ohio: Upper Arlington
> Households with no internet access: 2.8% (Ohio: 12.7%)
> Households with at least one computer: 93.3% (Ohio: 75.7%)
> Population age 65 and older: 16.7% (Ohio: 16.7%)
> Median household income: $124,688 (Ohio: $58,116)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 2.5% (Ohio: 5.3%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 59
Oklahoma: Broken Arrow
> Households with no internet access: 4.9% (Oklahoma: 15.3%)
> Households with at least one computer: 87.2% (Oklahoma: 71.3%)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.5% (Oklahoma: 15.5%)
> Median household income: $74,070 (Oklahoma: $53,840)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.9% (Oklahoma: 5.0%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 15
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Oregon: Aloha
> Households with no internet access: 3.0% (Oregon: 8.8%)
> Households with at least one computer: 90.2% (Oregon: 83.2%)
> Population age 65 and older: 11.0% (Oregon: 17.5%)
> Median household income: $75,856 (Oregon: $65,667)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.2% (Oregon: 5.4%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 22
Pennsylvania: State College
> Households with no internet access: 4.4% (Pennsylvania: 13.2%)
> Households with at least one computer: 92.8% (Pennsylvania: 76.7%)
> Population age 65 and older: 5.6% (Pennsylvania: 17.9%)
> Median household income: $38,076 (Pennsylvania: $63,627)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.0% (Pennsylvania: 5.3%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 23
Rhode Island: Warwick
> Households with no internet access: 10.4% (Rhode Island: 11.2%)
> Households with at least one computer: 81.8% (Rhode Island: 78.1%)
> Population age 65 and older: 20.7% (Rhode Island: 16.9%)
> Median household income: $73,285 (Rhode Island: $70,305)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.6% (Rhode Island: 5.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 6
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South Carolina: Goose Creek
> Households with no internet access: 5.0% (South Carolina: 15.2%)
> Households with at least one computer: 83.7% (South Carolina: 73.5%)
> Population age 65 and older: 11.7% (South Carolina: 17.7%)
> Median household income: $74,730 (South Carolina: $54,864)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.7% (South Carolina: 5.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 19
South Dakota: Sioux Falls
> Households with no internet access: 7.7% (South Dakota: 13.3%)
> Households with at least one computer: 80.4% (South Dakota: 76.9%)
> Population age 65 and older: 12.7% (South Dakota: 16.3%)
> Median household income: $61,738 (South Dakota: $59,896)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 2.8% (South Dakota: 3.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 3
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Tennessee: Brentwood
> Households with no internet access: 2.6% (Tennessee: 15.4%)
> Households with at least one computer: 95.7% (Tennessee: 72.5%)
> Population age 65 and older: 13.5% (Tennessee: 16.2%)
> Median household income: $160,174 (Tennessee: $54,833)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 1.9% (Tennessee: 5.3%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 27
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Texas: Flower Mound
> Households with no internet access: 1.9% (Texas: 12.2%)
> Households with at least one computer: 96.4% (Texas: 76.3%)
> Population age 65 and older: 10.2% (Texas: 12.5%)
> Median household income: $139,703 (Texas: $63,826)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.6% (Texas: 5.3%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 117
Utah: Lehi
> Households with no internet access: 1.8% (Utah: 6.4%)
> Households with at least one computer: 96.3% (Utah: 87.5%)
> Population age 65 and older: 5.6% (Utah: 11.0%)
> Median household income: $101,429 (Utah: $74,197)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.0% (Utah: 3.6%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 30
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Vermont: Burlington
> Households with no internet access: 8.1% (Vermont: 11.3%)
> Households with at least one computer: 85.7% (Vermont: 81.6%)
> Population age 65 and older: 10.8% (Vermont: 19.0%)
> Median household income: $55,461 (Vermont: $63,477)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.2% (Vermont: 3.8%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 1
*Because Burlington is the only eligible city in Vermont, it is on this list by default.
Virginia: Reston
> Households with no internet access: 2.3% (Virginia: 11.2%)
> Households with at least one computer: 92.3% (Virginia: 80.6%)
> Population age 65 and older: 15.8% (Virginia: 15.5%)
> Median household income: $121,563 (Virginia: $76,398)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.2% (Virginia: 4.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 37
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Washington: Issaquah
> Households with no internet access: 2.1% (Washington: 7.3%)
> Households with at least one computer: 93.1% (Washington: 84.9%)
> Population age 65 and older: 11.2% (Washington: 15.4%)
> Median household income: $122,053 (Washington: $77,006)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 3.4% (Washington: 4.8%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 44
West Virginia: Morgantown
> Households with no internet access: 6.3% (West Virginia: 17.7%)
> Households with at least one computer: 87.2% (West Virginia: 68.6%)
> Population age 65 and older: 9.4% (West Virginia: 19.8%)
> Median household income: $42,474 (West Virginia: $48,037)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 10.9% (West Virginia: 6.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 5
Wisconsin: Fitchburg
> Households with no internet access: 4.7% (Wisconsin: 12.1%)
> Households with at least one computer: 85.6% (Wisconsin: 78.0%)
> Population age 65 and older: 13.1% (Wisconsin: 16.7%)
> Median household income: $76,240 (Wisconsin: $63,293)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 2.1% (Wisconsin: 3.5%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 34
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Wyoming: Laramie
> Households with no internet access: 4.5% (Wyoming: 10.5%)
> Households with at least one computer: 90.5% (Wyoming: 80.5%)
> Population age 65 and older: 9.3% (Wyoming: 16.3%)
> Median household income: $47,463 (Wyoming: $65,304)
> 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 4.3% (Wyoming: 4.3%)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 4
Methodology
To identify the city in every state where the most people have internet access, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. Cities are ranked by the share of households without an internet connection.
We used Census “place” geographies — a category that includes incorporated legal entities and Census-designated statistical entities. We defined cities based on a population threshold – Census places needed to have a population of at least 25,000 to be considered.
Cities were excluded if data on internet access was not available in the 2020 ACS or if the sampling error associated with a city’s data was deemed too high.
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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