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The Fastest and Slowest Metros for Internet in 2024

We analyzed all US metro areas to determine which ones have the fastest and slowest internet speeds

The median internet speed among US metro areas is 105.8 Mbps—a 38.3% increase from 2022, when the median was 76.5 Mbps. But the difference between the fastest and slowest metros is a whopping 167.7 Mbps.

If you’re running into trouble with slow speeds for remote work, streaming, or online gaming, you could find the fastest internet provider in your area. But you might have better luck moving to a new metro with faster internet.

Using proprietary speed test data from HighSpeedInternet.com, we analyzed all metropolitan statistical areas in the US and Puerto Rico to determine which ones have the fastest and slowest internet speeds. You can read more about our methodology at the end of this report.

Bar chart showing the US metro areas with the fastest and slowest internet speeds in 2024.

US metro areas with the fastest and slowest internet

 

Metro areas with the fastest internet speeds

The Clarksville-Hopkinsville metro area, crossing the state border between Tennessee and Kentucky, tops the list with a median download speed of 189 Mbps—that’s 83.2 Mbps faster than the median internet speed among all metros. 

Among all 278 metro areas we analyzed, a total of 160 had median download speeds of 100 Mbps or faster—which is considered a good speed for downloading large files, streaming high-definition video on multiple devices or online gaming.

Metro areas with the slowest internet speeds

Columbia, Missouri, had the slowest median speed by far, coming in at 21.3 Mbps. The next slowest was Rocky Mount, North Carolina, with 27.4 Mbps. Of all the metros we analyzed, 118 of them had median download speeds slower than 100 Mbps.

Metro areas with the most improved internet speeds

In addition to 2023 internet speeds, we also analyzed speeds from the same period in 2022 to find out which metro cities have improved the most or least.

Of all the US metros, a total of 128 improved their median internet speeds by more than 50% and 12 of them improved by more than 100%. Only four metro cities had a percentage growth of zero or less. In other words, 274 metros have improved in the past 12 months.

Line chart showing the US metro areas that have the most improved internet speeds from 2022 to 2023

Metro areas with the least improved internet speeds

On the other end of the spectrum, only 25 metros improved by less than 20%. Just one remained unchanged, and only three metro areas saw a decline in speeds year-over-year.

The least improved metro—Anchorage, Alaska—aligns with our recent report on the US states with the fastest and slowest internet speeds. In that report (which uses the same methodology), we found Alaska to be the state with the slowest median internet speeds. We also found that most of the slowest states were more rural, such as Montana.

Line chart showing the US metro cities that have the least improved internet speeds from 2022 to 2023

How much internet speed do you need?

If it seems like you can’t catch a break when it comes to internet or Wi-Fi in your area, fear not. We have several resources that can help make sure you’re getting the fastest speeds possible in the price range that is right for you. If you share Wi-Fi with multiple people, or among multiple internet-connected devices, you’ll want to first figure out what speed is best for you

Next, use our zip code look-up below to find out which providers are available in your area. We break it down by speed, price, perks, ratings, and more—so you can find the connection that best suits your lifestyle.

Shopping around for new internet?

Enter your zip code below to see which providers are available in your area.

 

How do you get faster internet speeds?

The internet speeds you can get depend most heavily on what’s available in your area. Internet providers have to make big investments to build fast fiber-optic networks and 5G networks, and some communities end up underserved.

But there’s still a lot you can do to boost your home internet speeds. Here are some recommendations.

Complete rankings: Every metro area’s median internet speed, from fastest to slowest

See below the full list of all 278 US metropolitan areas we analyzed, along with their rankings and pertinent statistics. The following list is organized by median 2023 speed—if you’re looking for a specific city or state, use the Command+F (or Ctrl+F) function to search for it.

Rank (fastest to slowest internet speeds)Metropolitan area2023 median download speed (Mbps)2022 median download speed (Mbps)Year-over-year growthRank (most to least improved)
1Clarksville-Hopkinsville, TN-KY189.0101.486.4%21
2Jacksonville, NC188.9111.170.1%49
3Chattanooga, TN-GA186.4115.461.5%73
4Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL180.5120.449.9%130
5Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA179.887.2106.3%9
6El Paso, TX178.3126.241.4%173
7Myrtle Beach, SC175.998.977.8%38
8Daytona Beach, FL173.897.378.6%35
9Sarasota-Bradenton, FL171.0110.954.2%105
10Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL171.0135.526.2%238
11Orlando, FL171.0111.753.0%111
12Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL167.195.874.3%43
13Killeen-Temple, TX164.992.977.5%39
14Huntsville, AL164.0103.958.0%88
15Las Cruces, NM162.779.3105.2%10
16Decatur, AL160.475.9111.4%8
17Dover, DE159.497.363.9%62
18Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, FL157.191.871.1%48
19Bryan-College Station, TX156.789.774.7%41
20Jacksonville, FL155.295.562.6%66
21Yuma, AZ154.6109.141.7%169
22Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA153.994.063.7%64
23West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL153.198.255.9%97
24Knoxville, TN151.092.263.8%63
25Panama City, FL149.4100.448.7%142
26Hartford, CT149.083.578.4%37
27Wilmington, NC148.291.162.5%67
28San Antonio, TX147.3109.734.2%206
29Nashville, TN146.999.547.6%148
30Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL146.498.249.0%137
31Punta Gorda, FL146.2108.834.4%205
32Barnstable-Yarmouth, MA144.892.756.2%96
33Fort Collins-Loveland, CO144.497.747.8%146
34Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC144.488.563.2%65
35Naples, FL144.085.768.0%57
36Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA143.590.758.2%87
37Pittsfield, MA143.574.093.8%19
38Victoria, TX142.970.3103.4%12
39Jackson, TN142.985.567.0%58
40Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX142.7101.041.2%174
41Fort Walton Beach, FL142.388.361.3%74
42Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD141.5101.639.2%181
43Elmira, NY140.682.770.0%50
44Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV140.6107.331.1%218
45Boston-Worcester-Lawrence, MA-NH-ME-CT140.393.749.7%132
46Abilene, TX139.5114.721.6%248
47Charleston-North Charleston, SC138.689.355.1%100
48Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, NC138.089.753.9%107
49Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC136.691.948.7%143
50Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC136.296.740.9%176
51Savannah, GA135.681.965.6%61
52Fayetteville, NC135.396.340.6%177
53Gadsden, AL135.288.053.6%108
54Corpus Christi, TX134.678.172.3%45
55Grand Junction, CO134.584.359.6%81
56Shreveport-Bossier City, LA134.183.660.5%78
57Pittsburgh, PA133.592.045.2%156
58San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA133.492.344.5%160
59Pensacola, FL132.381.762.1%72
60Tuscaloosa, AL132.282.859.7%80
61Williamsport, PA131.788.249.4%133
62Goldsboro, NC131.586.352.4%116
63Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN131.089.746.0%152
64Montgomery, AL130.582.159.1%83
65Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC129.492.839.5%179
66Bellingham, WA129.085.950.2%127
67Austin-San Marcos, TX128.9115.012.0%260
68York, PA128.693.837.1%189
69Florence, AL128.186.048.9%140
70Anniston, AL127.358.8116.4%5
71Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX126.985.548.4%145
72Amarillo, TX126.770.779.1%34
73Reno, NV126.396.031.5%217
74Lafayette, IN125.690.938.2%185
75Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR125.292.335.7%200
76Provo-Orem, UT125.279.457.6%91
77Indianapolis, IN124.691.336.6%193
78Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC124.392.135.0%204
79Richmond-Petersburg, VA124.199.325.0%242
80Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA123.3101.421.6%247
81State College, PA122.767.581.7%31
82Waco, TX122.781.251.1%122
83Janesville-Beloit, WI121.873.266.5%60
84Laredo, TX121.589.036.6%191
85Champaign-Urbana, IL121.484.443.8%162
86Auburn-Opelika, AL121.392.631.1%219
87Kansas City, MO-KS120.683.544.4%161
88Yuba City, CA120.679.452.0%118
89Jonesboro, AR120.584.043.4%163
90Stockton-Lodi, CA120.280.549.4%134
91New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA119.994.427.0%232
92Odessa-Midland, TX119.773.862.2%70
93Youngstown-Warren, OH119.070.070.0%52
94Florence, SC118.384.539.9%178
95Enid, OK118.186.736.3%196
96Atlanta, GA117.892.127.9%225
97Louisville, KY-IN117.883.241.6%171
98Columbia, SC117.585.537.3%187
99Oklahoma City, OK117.577.451.7%120
100Chico-Paradise, CA117.053.6118.2%3
101Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI117.083.939.4%180
102Honolulu, HI116.880.744.8%158
103Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT116.876.552.8%114
104Dayton-Springfield, OH116.876.452.8%113
105Grand Forks, ND-MN116.780.744.6%159
106Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY115.985.635.4%203
107Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, TX115.991.626.5%235
108McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX115.490.627.4%229
109Madison, WI115.190.027.9%224
110Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL115.158.098.4%14
111Las Vegas, NV-AZ114.377.048.4%144
112Sharon, PA113.672.955.9%98
113Springfield, IL113.572.057.6%90
114South Bend, IN113.161.783.2%27
115Columbus, GA-AL112.777.445.6%153
116San Diego, CA112.584.932.5%213
117Athens, GA112.369.262.3%69
118Phoenix-Mesa, AZ112.264.075.4%40
119New London-Norwich, CT-RI112.178.442.9%164
120Roanoke, VA111.765.072.0%46
121Lexington, KY111.370.158.7%85
122Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI111.073.950.2%126
123Colorado Springs, CO110.972.652.9%112
124Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA110.973.850.3%124
125Baton Rouge, LA110.682.733.7%208
126Portland, ME110.565.568.7%56
127Lancaster, PA110.474.747.7%147
128Eau Claire, WI109.977.442.0%168
129Milwaukee-Racine, WI,109.484.329.7%221
130Rockford, IL108.584.927.7%227
131Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO108.474.645.3%154
132Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI108.379.436.5%195
133Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA108.280.933.7%207
134Wichita Falls, TX108.278.038.8%183
135San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA107.289.619.7%251
136Merced, CA107.258.982.1%29
137Lubbock, TX106.9102.04.8%269
138Rochester, MN106.578.535.8%199
139St. Louis, MO-IL105.884.724.9%243
140Reading, PA105.868.055.5%99
141Tucson, AZ105.758.181.9%30
142Asheville, NC105.692.114.7%257
143Erie, PA105.562.169.7%55
144Elkhart-Goshen, IN104.576.536.6%192
145St. Joseph, MO104.3101.72.6%272
146Omaha, NE-IA104.259.874.2%44
147Green Bay, WI104.067.953.2%110
148Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY103.680.828.2%223
149Tulsa, OK103.453.892.1%20
150Rapid City, SD103.371.345.0%157
151Columbus, OH103.281.227.1%231
152Benton Harbor, MI102.273.539.1%182
153Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH101.780.126.9%233
154Burlington, VT101.467.650.0%129
155Cumberland, MD-WV101.371.940.9%175
156Bakersfield, CA101.291.410.8%261
157Decatur, IL100.980.026.2%236
158Pueblo, CO100.888.314.2%258
159Sioux Falls, SD100.463.957.1%93
160Dallas-Fort Worth, TX100.093.07.5%265
161Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY99.882.620.9%249
162Iowa City, IA99.764.554.7%101
163Wheeling, WV-OH99.469.642.8%165
164Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA98.476.029.5%222
165Wichita, KS98.369.441.6%170
166Glens Falls, NY98.367.745.3%155
167Medford-Ashland, OR97.864.152.4%115
168Ocala, FL97.760.262.4%68
169Portland-Salem, OR-WA97.571.636.1%197
170New Orleans, LA97.565.548.8%141
171Lima, OH96.880.919.7%250
172Jackson, MS96.764.849.3%135
173Fort Smith, AR-OK96.265.746.5%151
174Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA96.270.536.5%194
175Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI96.069.338.5%184
176Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI95.978.721.9%246
177Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA95.874.927.9%226
178Houma, LA95.677.223.8%244
179San Angelo, TX95.593.32.3%273
180Sheboygan, WI95.474.827.5%228
181Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV95.175.426.1%240
182Monroe, LA95.088.96.9%267
183Bloomington, IN94.884.312.4%259
184Johnstown, PA94.761.354.5%102
185Syracuse, NY94.685.410.8%262
186Bismarck, ND94.458.860.6%76
187Sherman-Denison, TX94.447.299.9%13
188Binghamton, NY93.965.942.5%166
189Salinas, CA93.767.838.2%186
190Lynchburg, VA93.650.585.6%23
191Sacramento-Yolo, CA93.670.433.0%210
192Cleveland-Akron, OH93.469.035.4%202
193Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC93.474.026.1%239
194Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI93.261.252.3%117
195Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL92.965.342.3%167
196Toledo, OH92.751.081.7%32
197Memphis, TN-AR-MS92.658.259.0%84
198Lake Charles, LA92.661.750.1%128
199Peoria-Pekin, IL92.278.916.8%255
200Lafayette, LA92.084.29.3%264
201Muncie, IN91.970.230.9%220
202Cheyenne, WY91.668.932.9%211
203Wausau, WI91.446.397.5%16
204Albany, GA91.187.83.8%271
205Casper, WY90.476.318.5%253
206Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, MS90.449.383.2%26
207Corvallis, OR90.486.34.8%270
208Macon, GA90.350.080.5%33
209Yakima, WA90.378.714.7%256
210Owensboro, KY90.037.5140.1%1
211Eugene-Springfield, OR90.057.058.0%89
212Mobile, AL89.958.653.5%109
213Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MS89.956.559.2%82
214Billings, MT89.775.419.1%252
215Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH89.784.56.1%268
216Rochester, NY89.565.237.2%188
217Modesto, CA89.363.141.4%172
218Great Falls, MT89.289.20.0%275
219Spokane, WA88.957.853.9%106
220Santa Fe, NM88.770.925.2%241
221Tyler, TX88.179.910.3%263
222Alexandria, LA87.951.371.3%47
223Lawrence, KS87.154.360.5%77
224Lincoln, NE86.665.632.0%214
225Dothan, AL86.651.966.9%59
226Fresno, CA86.464.833.2%209
227Lansing-East Lansing, MI86.353.262.1%71
228Utica-Rome, NY86.165.431.6%216
229Kokomo, IN86.157.350.3%125
230St. Cloud, MN85.452.961.2%75
231Hattiesburg, MS84.256.549.0%139
232Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton PA82.240.4103.6%11
233Lawton, OK82.054.052.0%119
234Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, MI79.558.535.8%198
235Mansfield, OH79.039.898.2%15
236Lewiston-Auburn, ME77.951.750.6%123
237Des Moines, IA77.058.332.0%215
238Altoona, PA75.950.849.2%136
239Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR74.440.683.2%25
240Fort Wayne, IN73.441.178.6%36
241Topeka, KS73.239.485.8%22
242Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN71.936.696.2%18
243Tallahassee, FL71.056.226.2%237
244Pocatello, ID70.945.954.5%103
245Springfield, MO70.044.457.5%92
246Sumter, SC69.668.12.2%274
247San Juan-Caguas-Arecibo, PR69.246.449.0%138
248Ponce, PR68.739.474.6%42
249Terre Haute, IN67.940.069.9%53
250Birmingham, AL67.753.526.5%234
251Redding, CA67.739.870.0%51
252Sioux City, IA-NE67.131.6112.2%7
253Flagstaff, AZ-UT65.989.3-26.2%277
254Bangor, ME65.644.647.0%149
255Longview-Marshall, TX65.343.251.4%121
256La Crosse, WI-MN63.132.196.6%17
257Joplin, MO63.146.236.7%190
258Cedar Rapids, IA62.946.435.7%201
259Canton-Massillon, OH61.946.832.5%212
260Mayaguez, PR60.137.460.4%79
261Greenville, NC59.032.482.3%28
262Albuquerque, NM59.037.557.1%94
263Dubuque, IA57.348.917.0%254
264Jackson, MI57.126.3117.5%4
265Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR57.136.058.6%86
266Springfield, MA56.638.546.9%150
267Boise City, ID55.335.356.5%95
268Charlottesville, VA52.934.354.3%104
269Aguadilla, PR51.141.523.1%245
270Duluth-Superior, MN-WI47.937.727.2%230
271Missoula, MT46.562.9-26.1%276
272Gainesville, FL42.623.283.5%24
273Anchorage, AK35.957.2-37.2%278
274Bloomington-Normal, IL35.023.349.9%131
275Pine Bluff, AR31.614.2123.2%2
276Charleston, WV28.817.069.7%54
277Rocky Mount, NC27.412.8114.3%6
278Columbia, MO21.319.87.4%266

Methodology

We analyzed over a million results of speed tests taken on HighSpeedInternet.com’s speed test tool and app in all US metropolitan statistical areas (per Zipcodes.com) from January 1 through September 30, 2023. Metros include multiple cities, and some even cross state lines—this gives a broader view of big cities and their internet speed.

If multiple speed tests were taken from the same IP address, we used only the highest results. We also filtered out results from tests taken on mobile devices and excluded any metropolitan areas that had less than 100 speed test results. To avoid outliers that may skew the data, we used the median download speeds (instead of the average) to determine rankings.

To determine year-over-year growth, we compared these results to those from the same period in 2022.

Author -

Andrea Harvey is a Utah-based writer and digital PR/outreach specialist. She has a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oregon and a background in local newspapers.

Editor - Andrea Harvey

Andrea Harvey is a Utah-based writer and digital PR/outreach specialist. She has a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oregon and a background in local newspapers.

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