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Internet Facts & Statistics 2026
By Pablo Mendoza · First published 2026-03-01 · Sources: FCC, Ookla, Census Bureau, Pew Research
Last updated: April 2026
93%
US Broadband Adoption
of US households subscribe
242 Mbps
Avg US Download Speed
median measured speed
$75/mo
Avg Monthly Cost
US average internet bill
48%
Fiber Availability
of US homes can get fiber
12M
5G Home Internet
US subscribers (est.)
24M
Digital Divide
Americans lack 100+ Mbps
US Broadband Adoption Rates
As of 2026, 93% of US households subscribe to a home broadband internet plan, up from 90% in 2023. The adoption rate has plateaued near the ceiling, with the remaining 7% split between smartphone-only households (4%) and fully unconnected households (3%). The expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in mid-2024 caused a temporary dip in low-income adoption, but state-level replacement programs have partially offset the loss. An estimated 24 million Americans still lack access to broadband at the FCC's 100/20 Mbps standard.
Average Internet Speed by State
Top 10 Fastest States
| # | State | Avg Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | 310 Mbps |
| 2 | Maryland | 298 Mbps |
| 3 | Virginia | 295 Mbps |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 290 Mbps |
| 5 | Delaware | 288 Mbps |
| 6 | Connecticut | 285 Mbps |
| 7 | New York | 282 Mbps |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 278 Mbps |
| 9 | California | 275 Mbps |
| 10 | Texas | 272 Mbps |
Top 10 Slowest States
| # | State | Avg Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 98 Mbps |
| 2 | Wyoming | 105 Mbps |
| 3 | Mississippi | 112 Mbps |
| 4 | Alaska | 118 Mbps |
| 5 | West Virginia | 122 Mbps |
| 6 | New Mexico | 128 Mbps |
| 7 | Arkansas | 132 Mbps |
| 8 | Maine | 138 Mbps |
| 9 | Idaho | 142 Mbps |
| 10 | Vermont | 148 Mbps |
Average Internet Cost by Provider
Internet pricing varies significantly by provider and technology. Fiber providers generally offer the best value per Mbps, while satellite remains the most expensive option.
| Provider | Avg Bill | Lowest Plan | Data Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber | $70/mo | $70/mo (1 Gbps) | None |
| AT&T Fiber | $65/mo | $55/mo (300 Mbps) | None |
| Frontier Fiber | $60/mo | $50/mo (500 Mbps) | None |
| Verizon Fios | $65/mo | $50/mo (300 Mbps) | None |
| T-Mobile 5G Home | $50/mo | $50/mo (≈ 200 Mbps) | Deprioritized |
| Spectrum | $55/mo | $50/mo (300 Mbps) | None |
| Xfinity | $70/mo | $35/mo (150 Mbps) | 1.2 TB |
| Cox | $72/mo | $50/mo (100 Mbps) | 1.25 TB |
| Starlink | $50/mo | $50/mo (100 Mbps) | Unlimited |
| HughesNet | $75/mo | $50/mo (25 Mbps) | 100 GB |
Prices reflect advertised rates as of April 2026. Actual costs may include equipment fees and taxes.
Fiber Availability Growth (2020–2026)
Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) availability has grown from 32% of US households in 2020 to 48% in 2026. AT&T, Frontier, and Google Fiber are the largest contributors to new fiber passings.
| Year | % of Households | Total Passings |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 32% | 48M |
| 2021 | 35% | 53M |
| 2022 | 38% | 58M |
| 2023 | 41% | 63M |
| 2024 | 44% | 68M |
| 2025 | 46% | 72M |
| 2026 | 48% | 76M |
5G Home Internet Adoption
Fixed wireless access (FWA) powered by 5G has become the fastest-growing broadband segment, reaching an estimated 12 million US subscribers in 2026. T-Mobile leads with 6.2 million subscribers, followed by Verizon at 4.1 million.
| Provider | Subscribers | Coverage % |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 6.2M | 53% |
| Verizon | 4.1M | 38% |
| Starry (select markets) | 0.3M | 4% |
| Other FWA providers | 1.4M | 15% |
Streaming & Bandwidth Usage
Average US household internet consumption reached 600 GB per month in 2026, driven by 4K streaming, cloud gaming, and multi-device households. Here's how much bandwidth common activities require:
| Activity | Recommended Speed |
|---|---|
| SD Video Streaming (720p) | 3–5 Mbps |
| HD Video Streaming (1080p) | 5–10 Mbps |
| 4K Video Streaming | 25–35 Mbps |
| Video Conferencing (Zoom/Teams) | 5–10 Mbps |
| Online Gaming | 10–25 Mbps |
| Cloud Gaming (Xbox Cloud, GeForce Now) | 35–50 Mbps |
| Smart Home (10+ IoT devices) | 10–25 Mbps |
| Large File Downloads / Cloud Backup | 50–100+ Mbps |
Remote Work Internet Requirements
With 28% of US workers fully or partially remote in 2026, reliable internet is now a workplace necessity. Upload speed is especially critical for video conferencing and file sharing.
| Work Type | Recommended Down | Recommended Up |
|---|---|---|
| General Office / Email | 25 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| Video Conferencing (frequent) | 50 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Software Developer | 100 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Video Editor / Creative | 200+ Mbps | 50+ Mbps |
| Multi-person Household (2+ WFH) | 200+ Mbps | 25+ Mbps |
Digital Divide Demographics
Broadband adoption correlates strongly with income, age, geography, and race/ethnicity. The gap has narrowed since 2020 but remains significant for low-income and elderly populations.
| Demographic Group | Adoption Rate | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Households earning < $25K/yr | 72% | −21% vs national avg |
| Households earning $25K–$50K/yr | 85% | −8% vs national avg |
| Households earning > $75K/yr | 98% | +5% vs national avg |
| Adults age 65+ | 78% | −15% vs national avg |
| Adults age 18–29 | 98% | +5% vs national avg |
| Rural households | 80% | −13% vs national avg |
| Urban households | 96% | +3% vs national avg |
| Hispanic/Latino households | 85% | −8% vs national avg |
| Black households | 83% | −10% vs national avg |
| White non-Hispanic households | 95% | +2% vs national avg |
Source: Pew Research Center Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet (2026), Census ACS 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average internet speed in the US in 2026?
The average (median) internet download speed in the United States is 242 Mbps as of Q1 2026, according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data. Upload speeds average 68 Mbps. Fiber connections average 680 Mbps, cable averages 320 Mbps, and DSL averages 52 Mbps.
How much does internet cost per month in the US?
The average US household pays $75 per month for internet service in 2026. Prices range from $50/month for basic plans (100–300 Mbps) to $80–100/month for gigabit fiber. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Starlink satellite both start at $50/month, making satellite internet more competitive than ever.
What percentage of Americans have broadband internet?
Approximately 93% of US households subscribe to a broadband internet plan as of 2026. However, about 24 million Americans (primarily in rural areas) still lack access to speeds of 100 Mbps or higher.
What is the fastest type of internet connection?
Fiber-optic internet (FTTH) is the fastest widely available technology, offering symmetrical speeds up to 8 Gbps. Cable (DOCSIS 3.1/4.0) can reach 1–2 Gbps download but with lower upload. 5G fixed wireless typically offers 100–300 Mbps. Satellite (Starlink) averages 85–220 Mbps.
How many Americans lack high-speed internet?
Approximately 24 million Americans lack access to broadband at the FCC's current 100/20 Mbps standard. This digital divide disproportionately affects rural areas, low-income households, and communities of color. The federal BEAD program has allocated $42.45 billion to address this gap.
Sources & Methodology
Statistics are compiled from the following sources: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Q3 2025, Ookla Speedtest Intelligence (Q1 2026), Pew Research Center Internet/Broadband Fact Sheets, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024), Leichtman Research Group broadband subscriber reports, and NTIA BEAD allocation data.
Average speeds represent median measured download speeds from Ookla consumer-initiated tests, filtered to wired connections. Provider pricing reflects publicly advertised rates, not promotional or bundled pricing. Adoption rates use the Pew Research Center's definition of "broadband subscriber" (any home internet plan above dial-up speeds).
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Mendoza, Pablo. "Internet Facts & Statistics 2026." InternetNearMe.ai, updated 2026-03-27. https://internetnearme.ai/reports/internet-facts-statisticsAPA format: Mendoza, P. (2026). Internet Facts & Statistics 2026. InternetNearMe.ai. https://internetnearme.ai/reports/internet-facts-statistics