EZ2connect.co internet speed test shows the national average internet speed in 2024 is 171.30Mbps.

However, Wi-Fi speeds are not equal across every state. While many parts of the country have ample access to gigabit fiber speeds and affordable 5G connections, other areas suffer from the effects of the digital divide of limited infrastructure and few provider options. You can look for a faster internet provider in your area, but sometimes you just can’t get the internet speed you need.

We ranked each state (and Washington, D.C.) by the fastest average internet speeds. Read on to see how your state measures up.

The average U.S. internet speed in 2024

Internet speeds around the country keep getting faster every year. According to our speed test data, this year’s average nationwide internet speed is 44% faster compared to 2022, when the average speed was 119.03Mbps.

Internet speeds have been on a steady incline for years, and speeds really ramped up since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Internet providers have diversified plan options and ramped up efforts to expand fiber-optic networks, making it possible to now offer plans capable of eye-popping max speeds: 1Gbps, 2Gbps, and even 5Gbps.

Many Americans still get modest speeds

It’s worth noting that only a small minority of internet customers actually spring for higher priced gigabit offerings.

Just look at the numbers in our speed test. America’s median speed (meaning the number that sits in the middle of the entire batch of speed tests) is just 90.96Mbps. That’s a significant drop compared to the average of 171.30Mbps.

The disparity between the two figures suggests that the majority of internet users still order relatively modest internet packages with speeds of 200Mbps or below, usually due to factors like price and availability.

Which U.S. state has the fastest internet?

As was the case last year, states along the Eastern Seaboard continue to lead in internet speed. Seven of the top 10 fastest states this year are located in New England or the New York Tri-State area. Two of the states (Florida and South Carolina) are also on the East Coast, just farther south.

Connecticut gets average download speeds of just over 194Mbps and median speeds of 119.13Mbps. New Jersey gets a faster average download speed (202.2Mbps) but a slightly slower median speed (118.57Mbps). Florida comes in close behind with 185.24Mbps average speeds and 115.58Mbps median speeds.

Why so fast? Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, and Delaware are some of the most densely populated states in the country, which vastly improves their chances for getting top-quality internet service. Internet providers tend to prioritize areas with a lot of customers to justify the cost of expanding network access and offering competitive deals.

Which U.S. state saw internet speeds improve the most?

Unlike many of its New England neighbors, Vermont has some of the slowest internet speeds in the country. But the Green Mountain State managed to see the biggest improvement in internet speed over the past year, with the state’s median download speeds still jumped by over 68% since last year, from 36.03Mbps to 60.81Mbps.

The rural state is seeing such rapid growth in part thanks to a strategy adopted by state lawmakers in 2015 to establish “communications union districts” that can provide EZ2connect service in local areas. Essentially, rather than wait for privately owned internet providers to lay out networks, Vermonters built the networks themselves.