Report highlights American's growing dependence on connectivity

The "Internet Statistics in 2025" report from HighSpeedInternet.com provides comprehensive data about internet usage and perceptions in the United States. According to the report, internet usage has reached near-universal levels, with 97% of Americans (333.1 million people) using the internet, representing an increase of 51 million users over the past decade.

The report highlights Americans' dependency on internet access, with 25% of users unable to go more than four hours without internet access, and another 20% maxing out at 24 hours. This reliance is reflected in public perception, with 85% of Americans viewing the internet as a utility similar to electricity or water.

The national average internet speeds stand at 209.01 Mbps for downloads and 61.98 Mbps for uploads. Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida boast the fastest speeds, while Alaska, West Virginia, and Montana have the slowest. While 99.98% of areas have access to advertised broadband speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps, approximately 10 million U.S. households still lack home internet connections.

Connection types vary among Americans, with 76.3% using broadband, fiber, or DSL, and 86.8% having cellular data plans. The average monthly cost for internet service is $77, though prices vary significantly by connection type, ranging from $59 for cable internet to $121 for satellite internet. Rural residents typically pay more for lower-quality connections compared to urban and suburban users.

Device access is high, with 96% of Americans having access to a home computer and 92% to a smartphone. Notably, 9.9% of Americans rely solely on smartphones for internet access. The report also revealed that 8.25 million people are unaware of their monthly internet costs, highlighting potential issues with transparency in internet service pricing.