Internet penetration has reached critical mass in 21 of the top 35 Internet local markets during the month of September. Seven months ago in March, only six Internet local markets had more than 50 percent penetration, according to Nielsen//NetRatings.
San Francisco is leading the way, with 66 percent of its households accessing the Internet from home with a personal computer. San Francisco was followed by Seattle, San Diego, Portland, and Washington DC. Of the top 20 Internet local markets that were measured in March, New York had the largest percentage gain in September, followed by Philadelphia, Denver, and Houston. Internet penetration across the South and Southwest has also risen, including Atlanta, Dallas, Tampa, Miami, Houston, and Phoenix.
“The Internet boom for cities across the US in the past seven months signals a growth pattern of maturity for the Web. US markets have developed beyond the western high-technology region, and there is less of a digital divide between the West Coast and the rest of the United States,” said Allen Weiner, VP of analytical services at NetRatings. “Low-cost computers and other plug-and-play Internet appliances have contributed to the significant rise in home Internet access for wired cities across the country.”
Household Internet Penetration September and March 2000 |
Rank |
Region |
Penetration Percentage |
Percentage Growth |
September 2000 |
March 2000 |
1. |
San Francisco |
66 |
61 |
7.6% |
2. |
Seattle |
64 |
56 |
13.9% |
3. |
San Diego |
62 |
58 |
6.7% |
4. |
Portland |
60 |
54 |
10.2% |
5. |
Washington DC |
59 |
56 |
5.2% |
6. |
Boston |
59 |
52 |
14.1% |
7. |
Denver |
57 |
47 |
20.5% |
8. |
Kansas City |
57 |
NA |
— |
9. |
Orlando |
56 |
NA |
— |
10. |
Baltimore |
55 |
NA |
— |
11. |
Atlanta |
54 |
NA |
— |
12. |
Salt Lake City |
54 |
NA |
— |
13. |
Dallas |
54 |
48 |
12.8% |
14. |
Columbus |
54 |
NA |
— |
15. |
St. Louis |
53 |
NA |
— |
16. |
Hartford/ New Haven |
53 |
NA |
— |
17. |
Sacramento |
51 |
NA |
— |
18. |
Indianapolis |
51 |
NA |
— |
19. |
New York |
50 |
41 |
21.7% |
20. |
Los Angeles |
50 |
44 |
13.6% |
21. |
Tampa |
50 |
42 |
19.2% |
22. |
Houston |
49 |
41 |
20.3% |
23. |
Philadelphia |
49 |
40 |
21.6% |
24. |
Nashville |
49 |
NA |
— |
25. |
Detroit |
48 |
41 |
18.4% |
26. |
Raleigh-Durham |
48 |
NA |
— |
27. |
Phoenix |
47 |
43 |
10.4% |
28. |
Cincinnati |
47 |
NA |
— |
29. |
Chicago |
46 |
42 |
9.5% |
30. |
Milwaukee |
46 |
NA |
— |
31. |
Minneapolis |
45 |
38 |
17.0% |
32. |
Pittsburgh |
43 |
NA |
— |
33. |
Cleveland |
43 |
37 |
17.5% |
34. |
Miami |
43 |
37 |
15.8% |
35. |
Charlotte |
42 |
NA |
— |
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings NA = Not available; market was not tracked until after March |