Internet in 84% of U.S. homes

Dec. 13, 2017
According to the Leichtman Research Group, 84% of U.S. households get an Internet service at home, compared to 83% in 2012 and 74% in ...

According to the Leichtman Research Group, 84% of U.S. households get an Internet service at home, compared to 83% in 2012 and 74% in 2007. Broadband accounts for 98% of households with Internet service at home, and 82% of all households get a broadband Internet service, an increase from 76% in 2012 and 53% in 2007.

In addition, 75% of adults access the Internet on a smartphone, up from 44% in 2012. Overall, 68% of households now get Internet service both at home and on a smartphone, an increase from 59% in 2014 and 42% in 2012.

The findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,203 households throughout the United States and are part of a new LRG study, "Broadband Internet in the U.S. 2017." This is LRG's 15th annual study on the topic.

Other findings indicate:

  • 16% of households only get Internet service at home, compared to 41% in 2012.
  • 42% not online at home access the Internet on a smartphone, representing 7% overall.
  • 91% of all households access the Internet either at home and/or on a smartphone, compared to 85% in 2012.
  • 91% with annual household Incomes greater than $50,000 get broadband at home, compared to 72% with annual household incomes of less than $50,000.
  • 85% of households use at least one laptop or desktop computer; 93% of this group get an Internet service at home.
  • 63% of those not online at home do not use a laptop or desktop at home.

"The percentage of households that have an Internet service at home is similar to what it was five years ago. Yet, increasingly the home Internet service is broadband, and it has also become more common for home Internet service to be paired with Internet service on a smartphone," said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for LRG. "Over two-thirds of households now get Internet service at home and on a smartphone."