Online Population

The percentage of adults with Internet access at work or at home.

Why Is This Important? While the number of people online may not directly affect economic activity in the short run, it is emblematic of a metro's progress toward the digital economy. In 1997, 25 percent of households were online nationwide; by the end of 1999, the percentage was up to 33; and by July 2000, over 52 percent of American households had Internet access at home.16 Moreover, as technology becomes cheaper (some companies give away PCs if individuals subscribe to Internet access services, while others are selling inexpensive Internet-only devices), a broader range of Americans are getting online. The average income of Internet users is dropping, as is the average education level. Both trends suggest that the online population is looking more and more like the American population in general.17

The Rankings: Metropolitan areas differ significantly in the degree to which their adult residents are online. In 1999, over 55 percent were online in San Francisco and Austin, while less than a quarter were online in Rochester and Richmond. In general, residents of metropolitan areas with more educated populations are more likely to be online.

		100th-76th Percentile
		75th-51st Percentile
		50th-26th Percentile
		25th-1st Percentile

METRO AREAS BY RANK
Rank	Metro Area	Score
1	San Francisco	56.1%
2	Austin	55.5%
3	Seattle	53.3%
4	Washington	52.8%
5	Salt Lake City	50.0%
6	Dallas	49.6%
7	Denver	49.0%
8	Houston	48.8%
9	Los Angeles	48.7%
10	Norfolk	48.5%
11	Portland	48.1%
12	San Diego	46.8%
13	Sacramento	46.3%
14	Kansas City	46.1%
15	Boston	46.0%
16	Raleigh-Durham	45.7%
17	Atlanta	45.1%
18	Minneapolis	45.0%
19	Chicago	44.8%
20	New York	43.7%
21	Phoenix	43.4%
22	Jacksonville	43.1%
23	Indianapolis	42.3%
24	Las Vegas	41.8%
25	Miami	41.8%
26	Philadelphia	41.5%
27	Columbus	41.1%
28	Hartford	40.9%
29	St. Louis	40.8%
30	New Orleans	40.5%
31	Grand Rapids	40.5%
32	Orlando	40.3%
33	Oklahoma City	39.7%
34	Greensboro	39.7%
35	Milwaukee	38.9%
36	Detroit	38.8%
37	Cleveland	37.3%
38	West Palm Beach	36.9%
39	Charlotte	36.7%
40	Tampa	36.7%
41	Memphis	36.1%
42	Buffalo	35.9%
43	Nashville	35.8%
44	Cincinnati	35.8%
45	Louisville	35.5%
46	Dayton	34.6%
47	San Antonio	34.2%
48	Pittsburgh	30.8%
49	Richmond	24.6%
50	Rochester	24.5%
	U.S. Average	31.0%
	Top 50 Metro Average	44.6%

ALPHABETICALLY
Metro Area	Rank	Score
Atlanta	17	45.1%
Austin	2	55.5%
Boston	15	46.0%
Buffalo	42	35.9%
Charlotte	39	36.7%
Chicago	19	44.8%
Cincinnati	44	35.8%
Cleveland	37	37.3%
Columbus	27	41.1%
Dallas	6	49.6%
Dayton	46	34.6%
Denver	7	49.0%
Detroit	36	38.8%
Grand Rapids	31	40.5%
Greensboro	34	39.7%
Hartford	28	40.9%
Houston	8	48.8%
Indianapolis	23	42.3%
Jacksonville	22	43.1%
Kansas City	14	46.1%
Las Vegas	24	41.8%
Los Angeles	9	48.7%
Louisville	45	35.5%
Memphis	41	36.1%
Miami	25	41.8%
Milwaukee	35	38.9%
Minneapolis	18	45.0%
Nashville	43	35.8%
New Orleans	30	40.5%
New York	20	43.7%
Norfolk	10	48.5%
Oklahoma City	33	39.7%
Orlando	32	40.3%
Philadelphia	26	41.5%
Phoenix	21	43.4%
Pittsburgh	48	30.8%
Portland	11	48.1%
Raleigh-Durham	16	45.7%
Richmond	49	24.6%
Rochester	50	24.5%
Sacramento	13	46.3%
Salt Lake City	5	50.0%
San Antonio	47	34.2%
San Diego	12	46.8%
San Francisco	1	56.1%
Seattle	3	53.3%
St. Louis	29	40.8%
Tampa	40	36.7%
Washington	4	52.8%
West Palm Beach	38	36.9%

Go to next indicator >>

Download PDF Version of This Report (3.1MB)
Please expect lengthy download time,
during which your browser window may appear blank.
(PDF version requires Acrobat Reader)

The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI)
Technology, Innovation, and New Economy Project
600 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E., Suite 400, Washington DC 20003
Phone: (202) 547-0001
www.ppionline.org

Website design by OnlineWorkshop.