The best cities in the U.S. for the fastest internet 

Camryn Smith

Jul 1, 2024 — 4 min read

Thinking about your next move? Our experts break down the five best cities to live in the U.S. for high-speed internet and broadband availability.

clearwater, fl

Key findings

  • Clearwater, FL ranks first for the best city in the U.S. for fast internet with 345 Mbps of average download speed and 269 Mbps of average upload speed. 
  • Abilene, TX ranks second with 353 Mbps of average download speed and 194 Mbps of average upload speed. 
  • Garland, TX ranks last on our top 20 list with 215 Mbps of average download speed and 84 Mbps of average upload speed. 

The U.S. News & World Report evaluated 150 cities around the U.S. to rank the overall “best places to live in 2023.” They considered things like quality of life, job availability and whether or not the area was a desirable place to be with good value. 

Sure, the job market is important, but our experts know what’s really on your mind: What cities have the best and fastest internet in the U.S? Take a quick look at the top five places to live in the country if you’re prioritizing a high-speed internet connection and what you can expect as far as internet service availability.

Methodology

We analyzed MLab speed test results from Q1-Q2 2023 for the data in this article. We also sourced information from the FCC National Broadband Map for the percentage of residents with access to certain speeds in each city. 

best cities for fast internet

U.S. cities with the fastest internet speeds

1. Clearwater, FL

Clearwater Beach in Florida, Coastal View of Pier, Drone Photo of Beach

Clearwater, FL ranks number one on our list for best U.S. cities for internet, with 345 Mbps of download speed and 269 Mbps of upload speed. MClearwater falls short when it comes to gigabit access, with only 23% of residents able to access 1000/100 Mbps, but over 94% have access to at least 250 Mbps. 

Average download speed: 345 Mbps

Average upload speed: 269 Mbps 

Population: 117,027

% of residents with access to gigabit speeds: 23.6%

Types of internet available: Satellite, 5G, fiber, cable 

Providers in Clearwater:

Shop internet providers in Clearwater, FL

2. Abilene, TX

Abilene, Texas downtown

Abilene, TX follows Clearwater as the best city for internet. Abilene actually has a higher average download speed than Clearwater with 353 Mbps, but its slower upload speed of 194 Mbps drops it down a notch. Over 74% of Abilene residents have access to gigabit speeds (1000/100 Mbps) and 100% of residents have access to at least 100 Mbps of internet speed. 

Average download speed: 353 Mbps

Average upload speed: 194 Mbps 

Population: 127,385

% of residents with access to gigabit speeds: 74.4%

Types of internet available: Satellite, 5G, fiber, cable 

Providers in Abilene:

Shop internet providers in Abilene, TX

3. Oakland, CA

Oakland aerial photo

With an average download speed of 270 Mbps, Oakland, CA has the third fastest internet speed in the U.S. Oakland’s average upload speed is 184 Mbps, but 80% of its residents have access to gigabit speeds.

Average download speed: 270 Mbps

Average upload speed: 184 Mbps 

Population: 430,553

% of residents with access to gigabit speeds: 80%

Types of internet available: Satellite, 5G, fiber, cable 

Providers in Oakland:

Shop internet providers in Oakland, CA

4. Centennial, CO

Centennial CO

Centennial, CO has an average download speed of 267 Mbps and an average upload speed of 175 Mbps, placing it as fourth overall in our best cities for fast internet rankings. 62% of Centennial residents have access to gigabit speeds and nearly 100% of residents have access to at least 250 Mbps.

Average download speed: 267 Mbps

Average upload speed: 175 Mbps 

Population: 105,865

% of residents with access to gigabit speeds: 62%

Types of internet available: Satellite, 5G, fiber, cable 

Providers in Centennial:

Shop internet providers in Centennial, CO

5. Madison, WI

Aerial view of Madison city downtown at sunset, Wisconsin

Finishing out our top five list is Madison, WI with an average download speed of 235 Mbps and average upload speed of 173 Mbps. Only about 37% of Madison residents have access to gigabit speeds, but 94% of residents can get at least 250 Mbps. 

Average download speed: 235 Mbps

Average upload speed: 173 Mbps 

Population: 272,903

% of residents with access to gigabit speeds: 37%

Types of internet available: Satellite, 5G, fiber, cable 

Providers in Madison:

Shop internet providers in Madison, WI

Summary of top 20 best U.S. cities for internet speed 

The remaining 15 cities after our Top Five best cities in the U.S. for fast internet are listed below.  Greeley, CO follows Madison, WI as the 6th-ranked city with 245 Mbps of average download speed. After Greeley, there isn’t much variation between average download speeds with most cities averaging out between 215 Mbps and 234 Mbps. 

The average upload speeds of the remaining cities range from 83 – 126 Mbps, with some cities with faster upload speeds ranking higher even if their download speeds are slower than others. 

The last city on our top 20 list is Garland, TX, with average speeds of 215/84 Mbps. 

Best places for the fastest internet

With the growing popularity of working or learning from home, a fast internet connection is now more important than ever. If you need a city with the best and fastest internet, we’d recommend Clearwater, FL. If Florida isn’t for you, other cities like Oakland, CA or Madison, WI will provide fast speeds as well. 

Top fast internet cities FAQs

How much speed do you need?

Most internet activities for two people in a small household require at least 100 Mbps in speed. Mid-sized plans like 300 Mbps will ensure you can game and stream as much as you like. 

The FCC defines fast internet as anything 100 Mbps or over. The U.S. average internet speed is 249 Mbps.

Clearwater, FL, has excellent speeds and connectivity. If the East Coast isn’t for you, try Madison, WI, or Oakland, CA. 

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Camryn Smith

Written by:

Camryn Smith

Cammy is a writer with Allconnect, growing her broadband industry knowledge for over a year on the internet marketplace. Her expertise lies in home internet and broadband service with a focus on providers, plans… Read more

Robin Layton

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

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