The Best And Worst States For Internet Usage

The Top And Bottom Five

Given how important the Internet has become in our day-to-day lives, it's hard to believe some people still lack access to the Web. And yet throughout the U.S., only 80.2 percent of households are online, meaning nearly one-in-five households lack access to the Internet, according to The 2012 State New Economy Index report from The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation.

Why do we care? The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation report noted that the number of households online is a basic indicator of a state's progress toward a digital economy.

Here's our analysis of the states with the highest and the lowest percentage of households with Internet access. CRN included Internet access in its analysis of the best and worst states for starting a solution provider business. The first five states have the highest percentage of households with Internet access (No. 5 - No. 1), followed by the five states with the lowest percentage (No. 46 - No. 50).

Highest Percentage States No. 5: Oregon

In the Beaver State, 86.2 percent of all households are online.

Highest Percentage States No. 4: New Hampshire

In the Granite State, 86.4 percent of all households are online.

Highest Percentage States No. 3: Washington

In the Evergreen State, 88.4 percent of all households are online.

Highest Percentage States No. 2: Alaska

In the Last Frontier state, 88.6 percent of all households are online.

Highest Percentage States No. 1: Utah

In the Beehive State, 90.1 percent of all households are online, highest among all states.

Lowest Percentage States No. 46: West Virginia

In the Mountain State, only 72.9 percent of all households are online.

Lowest Percentage States No. 47: Tennessee

In the Volunteer State, only 72.2 percent of all households are online.

Lowest Percentage States No. 48: Kentucky

In the Bluegrass State, only 72.0 percent of all households are online.

Lowest Percentage States No. 49: Mississippi

In the Magnolia State, only 71.4 percent of all households are online.

Lowest Percentage States No. 50: Arkansas

In the Natural State, only 70.9 percent of all households are online, the lowest among all states.