Tennessee among Top 10 states without home internet access
INFORMATION FROM EASY MEDIA / STUDY CONDUCTED BY EVENT DISPLAY:
New study reveals more than 6% of Tennessee homes remain offline as the U.S. digital divide persists
In 2025, having an internet connection isn’t a luxury, but the backbone of everyday life. From applying for jobs to accessing healthcare portals, paying bills, streaming classes, or simply staying in touch, being online is now as essential as electricity. Yet millions of Americans are still completely offline.
Nationwide, nearly 8 million U.S. households still don’t have any internet connection at home, not broadband, not mobile, not satellite. Not many states see the effects of this digital gap more than Tennessee, which ranks tenth in the nation in a new study, with 6.45% of homes lacking any internet access at all.
The study, conducted by Event Display using the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, set out to identify where internet access still lags and which states are struggling the most.
“Tennessee has experienced rapid population growth, but broadband expansion has not always kept pace,” said Chris Trembath, spokesperson for Event Display. “Many rural and low-income communities still struggle with limited infrastructure and affordability. For families, having reliable internet is essential, but the cost can be a barrier.”
Trembath added: “About one in fifteen homes in Tennessee have no internet at all, which affects everyday life in significant ways. Students completing schoolwork, adults applying for jobs online, and residents accessing telehealth all face obstacles. Being offline limits opportunities in education, work, and access to essential services.”
Mississippi ranks first with 10.09% of homes offline, followed by West Virginia (9.81%), Arkansas (8.75%), Louisiana (8.69%), and New Mexico (8.22%). Alabama (7.60%), Kentucky (7.04%), Pennsylvania (6.68%), and Oklahoma (6.57%) round out the top ten, showing that lack of internet access is not limited to the Deep South or rural areas. Even states with large cities and strong industries still have significant pockets of households left behind.
Full list of the states with the most households with no internet:
| Rank | State | Percentage of homes without internet access | Percentage of homes with internet subscriptions | Percentage of homes with internet access but no subscription |
| 1 | Mississippi | 10.09 | 86.6 | 3.31 |
| 2 | West Virginia | 9.81 | 87.1 | 3.09 |
| 3 | Arkansas | 8.75 | 88.5 | 2.75 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 8.69 | 88.1 | 3.21 |
| 5 | New Mexico | 8.22 | 88.8 | 2.98 |
| 6 | Alabama | 7.60 | 89.5 | 2.90 |
| 7 | Kentucky | 7.04 | 90.2 | 2.76 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 6.68 | 92.9 | 0.42 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 6.57 | 93.4 | 0.03 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 6.45 | 91.1 | 2.45 |
| 11 | Indiana | 6.43 | 90.9 | 2.67 |
| 12 | Montana | 6.32 | 91.2 | 2.48 |
| 13 | Iowa | 6.30 | 90.2 | 3.50 |
| 14 | Missouri | 6.17 | 90.9 | 2.93 |
| 15 | Ohio | 6.08 | 90.3 | 3.62 |
| 16 | South Carolina | 6.05 | 91.9 | 2.05 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 5.96 | 91.3 | 2.74 |
| 18 | Kansas | 5.95 | 91.7 | 2.35 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 5.72 | 89.1 | 5.18 |
| 20 | Michigan | 5.72 | 91.7 | 2.58 |
| 21 | Virginia | 5.58 | 92.2 | 2.22 |
| 22 | Maine | 5.55 | 92 | 2.45 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 5.53 | 91.8 | 2.67 |
| 24 | South Dakota | 5.48 | 91.1 | 3.42 |
| 25 | New York | 5.38 | 91.7 | 2.92 |
| 26 | Illinois | 5.36 | 91.8 | 2.84 |
| 27 | Wyoming | 5.33 | 90.8 | 3.87 |
| 28 | Nebraska | 5.32 | 92.2 | 2.48 |
| 29 | Georgia | 5.20 | 95.5 | -0.70 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | 5.07 | 91 | 3.93 |
| 31 | Arizona | 5.02 | 92.5 | 2.48 |
| 32 | Texas | 4.88 | 92.6 | 2.52 |
| 33 | Minnesota | 4.77 | 92.4 | 2.83 |
| 34 | Alaska | 4.65 | 93.2 | 2.15 |
| 35 | Delaware | 4.65 | 92.8 | 2.55 |
| 36 | Vermont | 4.60 | 92.3 | 3.10 |
| 37 | Connecticut | 4.58 | 92.8 | 2.62 |
| 38 | New Jersey | 4.40 | 88.8 | 6.80 |
| 39 | Maryland | 4.26 | 93 | 2.74 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 4.20 | 92.7 | 3.10 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | 4.19 | 93.9 | 1.91 |
| 42 | New Hampshire | 4.16 | 94.1 | 1.74 |
| 43 | Oregon | 4.15 | 91.2 | 4.65 |
| 44 | Idaho | 4.13 | 92.9 | 2.97 |
| 45 | Florida | 3.98 | 93 | 3.02 |
| 46 | California | 3.68 | 94.3 | 2.02 |
| 47 | Nevada | 3.56 | 94.1 | 2.34 |
| 48 | Washington | 3.48 | 94.3 | 2.22 |
| 49 | Colorado | 3.24 | 94.6 | 2.16 |
| 50 | Utah | 2.61 | 94.2 | 3.19 |
Methodology
The study examined the share of households in each state lacking internet connectivity, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) on internet subscriptions. By focusing on both fully disconnected homes and those with access but no subscription, the analysis gives a fuller picture of where Americans are still being left offline.
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