Executive Summary
Every year, our team analyzes broadband access, affordability, performance, and competition across all 50 states and Washington D.C. to determine which states are leading and lagging in closing the digital divide.
Why It Matters
Our comprehensive analysis for 2025 reveals that while infrastructure deployment has improved nationwide, a devastating affordability gap threatens to leave millions of rural Americans disconnected despite available service.
Key Findings
- New Jersey ranks #1 overall with near-universal access and the nation’s best network performance
- Alaska ranks dead last with only 0.2% of residents having access to affordable broadband plans
- The affordability gap exceeds 30% in multiple rural states, meaning service exists but remains financially out of reach
- Fiber deployment doesn’t always guarantee better outcomes—states with lower fiber coverage often outperform fiber-rich states
- Download speeds now average 107.3 Mbps nationally, but 26 million Americans still lack basic broadband access
The 2025 State Rankings
Top 10 Best States for Broadband
| Rank | State | Overall Score | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | 96.9 | Perfect performance scores across all metrics |
| 2 | Maryland | 95.5 | Exceptional upload speeds and low latency |
| 3 | Delaware | 94.5 | 141.6 Mbps median download speed |
| 4 | Connecticut | 92.9 | 74.8% fiber coverage, highest in New England |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 91.6 | Nation’s fastest speeds at 165.3 Mbps |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 91.4 | Strong competition with 36 providers |
| 7 | Texas | 88.5 | 197 providers, second-highest nationwide |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 88.1 | 83.5% fiber coverage, second-highest nationally |
| 9 | Florida | 86.7 | Consistent performance across large geography |
| 10 | New York | 85.1 | Perfect latency score despite high density |
Bottom 10 Worst States for Broadband
| Rank | State | Overall Score | Key Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Vermont | 65.6 | Limited provider competition |
| 43 | Hawaii | 64.8 | Geographic isolation impacts performance |
| 44 | New Mexico | 64.0 | Large coverage gaps in rural areas |
| 45 | Louisiana | 62.7 | Below-average speeds and access |
| 46 | West Virginia | 61.3 | Mountainous terrain limits deployment |
| 47 | Kansas | 59.7 | 63.5% fiber but poor overall performance |
| 48 | Idaho | 55.3 | Sparse population limits investment |
| 49 | Wyoming | 54.8 | 22% affordability gap |
| 50 | Montana | 46.2 | 28% affordability gap, poor speeds |
| 51 | Alaska | 26.5 | 0.2% affordable broadband access |
The Affordability Crisis: Infrastructure Without Access
The Hidden Digital Divide
Our analysis uncovered a troubling reality: broadband infrastructure exists in many areas but remains financially inaccessible to residents. This affordability gap—the difference between physical availability and access to reasonably priced plans—exceeds 20% in five states:
- Alaska: 74.0% gap (74.2% have infrastructure, only 0.2% have affordable options)
- North Dakota: 30.6% gap
- South Dakota: 30.1% gap
- Montana: 28.0% gap
- Wyoming: 22.1% gap
This finding challenges the conventional wisdom that building infrastructure alone will close the digital divide. In Alaska, three-quarters of residents technically have broadband available, but pricing makes it effectively nonexistent for all but the wealthiest households.
Regional Disparities Persist
Northeast Dominance: Eight of the top 10 states are in the Northeast, benefiting from:
- Dense populations that justify infrastructure investment
- Higher median incomes enabling competitive markets
- Proximity between population centers reducing deployment costs
Rural West Struggles: Eight of the bottom 10 states are west of the Mississippi River, hampered by:
- Vast geographic distances increasing infrastructure costs
- Sparse populations limiting provider competition
- Lower median incomes reducing purchasing power
The Fiber Paradox: More Isn’t Always Better
High Fiber, Low Performance
Our analysis reveals a counterintuitive finding: states with extensive fiber networks don’t necessarily deliver better broadband outcomes. Several states with 60%+ fiber coverage rank in the bottom half nationally:
- Kansas: 63.5% fiber coverage, ranks 47th overall
- Hawaii: 63.2% fiber coverage, ranks 43rd overall
- Nebraska: 68.8% fiber coverage, ranks 29th overall
- North Dakota: 66.6% fiber coverage, ranks 24th overall
Low Fiber, High Performance
Conversely, states with limited fiber deployment achieve top-tier rankings through robust cable and fixed wireless networks:
- California: 39.7% fiber coverage, ranks 18th overall
- Illinois: 33.3% fiber coverage, ranks 19th overall
Competition and Market Dynamics
Provider Landscape
The number of broadband providers varies dramatically by state, from 203 in Iowa to just 15 in Delaware and Hawaii. However, our analysis finds no strong correlation between provider count and overall broadband quality.
Most Competitive Markets:
- Iowa – 203 providers
- Texas – 197 providers
- California – 148 providers
- Missouri – 125 providers
- Illinois – 115 providers
Despite Iowa having 13x more providers than Delaware, Delaware ranks 3rd overall while Iowa ranks 31st, suggesting that quality of competition matters more than quantity.
Performance Metrics: Speed and Latency Achievements
Speed Leaders
Download speeds have improved dramatically, with the national median reaching 107.3 Mbps. Five states now exceed 140 Mbps median speeds:
- New Hampshire – 165.3 Mbps
- Connecticut – 151.6 Mbps
- Delaware – 141.6 Mbps
- South Carolina – 137.3 Mbps
- New Jersey – 137.2 Mbps
Latency Champions
Low latency (RTT) is crucial for real-time applications. Six states achieved perfect latency scores:
- New Jersey (8.17 ms)
- New York (8.84 ms)
- Illinois (9.49 ms)
- Colorado (9.93 ms)
- Virginia (9.96 ms)
- Washington (9.98 ms)
- Upload Speed Progress
Upload speeds average 25.9 Mbps nationally, with Maryland leading at 38.4 Mbps. Five states achieved perfect upload scores, critical for remote work and content creation.
National Statistics at a Glance
| Metric | National Average | Best State | Worst State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wired/Fixed Wireless Access | 91.4% | New Jersey (98%) | Alaska (74.2%) |
| Affordable Broadband Access | 81.4% | Connecticut (97.3%) | Alaska (0.2%) |
| Fiber Coverage | 49.7% | D.C. (86.1%) | Alaska (10.2%) |
| Median Download Speed | 107.3 Mbps | New Hampshire (165.3) | Alaska (36.8) |
| Median Upload Speed | 25.9 Mbps | Maryland (38.4) | Alaska (12.7) |
| Median Latency | 23.74 ms | New Jersey (8.17) | Alaska (56.66) |
| Provider Count | 70.8 | Iowa (203) | Delaware (15) |
#1
New Jersey
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
98.0%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
97.8%
-
Median Download Speed:
137.2 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
35.2 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
8.2 ms
-
22
#2
Maryland
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
97.2%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
95.3%
-
Median Download Speed:
128.9 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
38.4 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
10.0 ms
-
49
#3
Delaware
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
97.4%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
96.0%
-
Median Download Speed:
141.6 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
34.8 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
12.2 ms
-
17
#4
Connecticut
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
97.6%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
97.3%
-
Median Download Speed:
151.6 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
30.9 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
14.3 ms
-
20
#5
New Hampshire
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
95.7%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
93.3%
-
Median Download Speed:
165.3 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
39.3 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
16.3 ms
-
27
#6
Massachusetts
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
98.7%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
97.5%
-
Median Download Speed:
120.9 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
31.9 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
12.7 ms
-
36
#7
Texas
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
94.6%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
83.5%
-
Median Download Speed:
123.4 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
34.1 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
11.8 ms
-
197
#8
Rhode Island
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
96.0%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
95.6%
-
Median Download Speed:
111.7 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
29.3 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
13.0 ms
-
16
#9
Florida
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
94.6%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
92.2%
-
Median Download Speed:
133.4 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
26.5 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
14.0 ms
-
63
#10
New York
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
94.6%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
92.2%
-
Median Download Speed:
119.5 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
23.6 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
7.8 ms
-
73
#11
Utah
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
95.4%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
88.2%
-
Median Download Speed:
116.8 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
31.9 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
22.3 ms
-
53
#12
Pennsylvania
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
94.3%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
92.8%
-
Median Download Speed:
117.7 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
26.0 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
18.1 ms
-
88
#13
California
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
95.9%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
91.6%
-
Median Download Speed:
113.6 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
21.9 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
10.2 ms
-
148
#14
District of Columbia
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
99.7%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
99.6%
-
Median Download Speed:
86.9 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
20.7 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
10.6 ms
-
17
#15
Illinois
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
95.0%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
88.3%
-
Median Download Speed:
105.9 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
24.1 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
8.7 ms
-
115
#16
Colorado
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
94.4%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
85.5%
-
Median Download Speed:
107.7 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
23.9 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
8.6 ms
-
105
#17
Virginia
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
90.5%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
81.5%
-
Median Download Speed:
101.7 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
26.9 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
9.4 ms
-
73
#18
Arkansas
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
87.1%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
73.5%
-
Median Download Speed:
117.9 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
35.7 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
21.4 ms
-
81
#19
North Dakota
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
98.0%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
67.4%
-
Median Download Speed:
115.6 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
62.4 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
28.7 ms
-
43
#20
South Carolina
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
92.8%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
86.5%
-
Median Download Speed:
137.3 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
21.8 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
25.9 ms
-
43
#21
Tennessee
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
93.3%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
88.5%
-
Median Download Speed:
115.8 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
26.7 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
33.2 ms
-
90
#22
Nevada
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
99.0%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
89.2%
-
Median Download Speed:
93.5 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
23.5 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
20.0 ms
-
48
#23
Indiana
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
93.1%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
85.1%
-
Median Download Speed:
105.8 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
23.7 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
21.9 ms
-
99
#24
Georgia
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
92.7%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
88.8%
-
Median Download Speed:
96.8 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
23.5 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
20.5 ms
-
75
#25
Washington
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
89.8%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
85.0%
-
Median Download Speed:
92.6 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
22.3 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
8.4 ms
-
85
#26
Oregon
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
90.5%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
84.7%
-
Median Download Speed:
98.6 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
22.6 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
18.2 ms
-
78
#27
Nebraska
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
92.2%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
78.8%
-
Median Download Speed:
88.9 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
34.6 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
31.2 ms
-
80
#28
Oklahoma
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
91.1%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
76.1%
-
Median Download Speed:
98.9 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
24.3 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
17.1 ms
-
95
#29
Michigan
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
91.2%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
83.2%
-
Median Download Speed:
117.0 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
20.4 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
23.0 ms
-
94
#30
Missouri
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
91.0%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
75.6%
-
Median Download Speed:
103.4 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
29.5 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
27.2 ms
-
125
#31
Iowa
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
94.5%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
78.0%
-
Median Download Speed:
86.0 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
29.3 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
25.4 ms
-
203
#32
South Dakota
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
93.2%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
63.1%
-
Median Download Speed:
110.0 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
33.8 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
32.0 ms
-
65
#33
Kentucky
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
88.4%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
80.9%
-
Median Download Speed:
111.4 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
28.3 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
35.0 ms
-
78
#34
Maine
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
87.3%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
84.5%
-
Median Download Speed:
126.6 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
20.6 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
31.4 ms
-
31
#35
Mississippi
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
82.4%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
75.8%
-
Median Download Speed:
95.8 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
35.7 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
28.4 ms
-
61
#36
North Carolina
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
88.6%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
83.9%
-
Median Download Speed:
115.5 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
18.8 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
25.7 ms
-
74
#37
Arizona
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
94.5%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
84.2%
-
Median Download Speed:
99.6 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
21.6 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
24.3 ms
-
70
#38
Ohio
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
92.3%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
87.1%
-
Median Download Speed:
111.6 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
17.6 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
29.6 ms
-
111
#39
Alabama
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
85.0%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
78.2%
-
Median Download Speed:
110.8 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
24.3 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
29.0 ms
-
68
#40
Minnesota
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
93.2%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
80.3%
-
Median Download Speed:
99.6 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
23.9 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
31.4 ms
-
115
#41
Wisconsin
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
83.1%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
71.6%
-
Median Download Speed:
111.8 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
18.3 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
18.1 ms
-
92
#42
Vermont
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
83.7%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
74.6%
-
Median Download Speed:
94.0 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
23.8 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
21.1 ms
-
33
#43
Hawaii
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
93.7%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
93.6%
-
Median Download Speed:
84.8 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
11.3 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
97.0 ms
-
12
#44
New Mexico
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
89.9%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
80.1%
-
Median Download Speed:
87.7 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
19.6 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
21.5 ms
-
60
#45
Louisiana
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
84.5%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
79.3%
-
Median Download Speed:
92.7 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
19.3 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
24.2 ms
-
52
#46
West Virginia
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
74.3%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
65.0%
-
Median Download Speed:
117.1 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
23.5 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
25.3 ms
-
55
#47
Kansas
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
92.9%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
75.1%
-
Median Download Speed:
47.4 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
16.4 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
30.7 ms
-
98
#48
Idaho
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
87.5%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
71.3%
-
Median Download Speed:
84.5 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
19.7 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
38.6 ms
-
63
#49
Wyoming
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
87.8%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
65.7%
-
Median Download Speed:
92.2 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
19.1 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
40.5 ms
-
39
#50
Montana
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
78.3%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
50.3%
-
Median Download Speed:
92.4 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
11.1 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
40.0 ms
-
49
#51
Alaska
-
Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband:
74.2%
-
Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband:
0.2%
-
Median Download Speed:
36.8 Mbps
-
Median Upload Speed:
12.7 Mbps
-
Median Round Trip Time:
56.7 ms
-
29
Policy Implications and Recommendations
1. Address the Affordability Crisis
The massive affordability gaps in rural states demand immediate policy intervention. Potential solutions include:
- Expanding subsidy programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program
- Implementing price caps in monopoly markets
- Requiring affordable tier offerings as a condition of infrastructure grants
2. Quality Over Quantity in Competition
Rather than simply counting providers, regulators should:
- Assess actual competitive dynamics in local markets
- Focus on ensuring multiple high-quality options
- Address barriers to meaningful competition
3. Regional Strategies
Different regions require different approaches:
- Rural states: Focus on affordability and basic access
- Urban states: Emphasize performance upgrades and competition
- Mid-tier states: Balance infrastructure expansion with affordability
Methodology
We score each state based on several weighted categories:
- Access to Wired or Fixed Wireless Broadband (35%)
- Access to Wired Low-Priced Broadband (30%)
- Median Round Trip Time (RTT) (10%)
- Median Download Speed (10%)
- Median Upload Speed (10%)
- Access to Fiber-Optic Service (5%)
Access:
To assess internet access, we look at three metrics: access to wired or fixed wireless broadband internet, access to low-priced broadband internet, and access to fiber-optic service.
The first two access metrics are the most highly weighted elements in our methodology (making up 65% of the total score) because they both serve as a prerequisite for anything else. If broadband internet is only available to a select few, or if it is so cost prohibitive that only a few can use it, then the quality would be of considerably less importance.
We also consider access to fiber-optic service because it is the fastest and most reliable internet technology available today.
Quality:
To assess internet quality, we analyzed download speed, upload speed, and round trip time, which is a measure of latency. Depending on what you use the internet for, any one of those three metrics could be the most important thing to you.
People who play a lot of online competitive video games may consider latency to be the most important, a live streamer or business owner might prioritize upload speed, while an everyday user who mostly uses the internet for watching streaming services could be most interested in download speeds. You can use our bandwidth calculator to find out what’s right for you.
We analyzed over 186 million speed tests from the M-Labs NDT Data Set between January 1st and June 30th, 2025 for their upload speed, download speed, and round trip time.
Scoring:
We gave every state a score from 0 to 100 for each of the six categories, and then weighted and added them together to get a final score from 0 to 100.
The three access categories are percentages that already range from 0 to 100, so we did not modify those for their score.
We calculated the three quality categories by linearly mapping each state’s median speed to a scale from 0 to 100. For each metric, we set the speed which corresponds to a score of 100 and 59 (RTT: 10 ms and 20 ms; download: 130 Mbps and 110 Mbps; upload: 35 Mbps and 28 Mbps), and we scaled the intermediate values proportionally.
This 2025 report highlights continued improvements in broadband availability but also underscores the significant regional differences in internet quality across the U.S.
Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond
As billions in BEAD funding begins flowing to states, our findings highlight critical considerations:
- Infrastructure alone won’t close the digital divide—affordability must be addressed
- Fiber-first policies may not deliver optimal outcomes—performance standards matter more
- Rural states need specialized solutions—one-size-fits-all approaches will fail
- Competition quality trumps quantity—focus on meaningful consumer choice
The 2025 rankings reveal both tremendous progress and persistent challenges. While speeds have improved and coverage has expanded, millions of Americans remain disconnected not by geography or technology, but by economics. Closing this affordability gap represents the next frontier in achieving universal broadband access.
About This Study
BroadbandNow Research produces comprehensive analyses of America’s broadband landscape to inform policymakers, journalists, and consumers. Our 2025 Best and Worst States study continues our commitment to data-driven insights that advance the goal of universal connectivity.
For more information, data requests, or media inquiries, visit broadbandnow.com/research.
Citation: BroadbandNow Research. “The Best and Worst States for Broadband 2025.” August 19th 2025.
BroadbandNow Research is the industry’s leading source of broadband availability and pricing data, helping millions of Americans find and compare internet service while advancing the national conversation on digital equity.
