Home internet in Chicago, IL
87.5% of Chicago households have an internet subscription and 72.5% have a wired line. Here is the city picture from the Census, and a check of the 17 Chicago ZIP codes our call line covers.
- 87.5% of Chicago households are connected; 12.5% have no subscription (U.S. Census Bureau).
- Wired broadband: 72.5% of homes, 1.9 points below the Illinois figure.
- Call line covers 17 Chicago ZIP codes: 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605, 60606, 60607....
Internet in Chicago by the numbers
| Households | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| With an internet subscription | 87.5% | 91.8% | 92.2% |
| Wired broadband (cable, fiber or DSL) | 72.5% | 74.4% | 76.3% |
| Cellular data plan only | 12% | 13% | 11.9% |
| Satellite internet | 6.2% | 6.8% | 6.6% |
| No internet subscription | 12.5% | 8.2% | 7.8% |
City: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates, table S2801 (Chicago city, Illinois, 1,146,547 households). State: 2023 1-year estimates. US: household-weighted average of the states.
What to expect at a Chicago address
Cable, fiber or DSL reaches 72.5% of homes in Chicago, which is 1.9 points below Illinois as a whole (74.4%) and 3.8 points below the US average (76.3%).
Most Chicago homes have a wired option, but a fair share do not use one. If your street has only an older DSL line, a 5G home internet plan may beat it on speed; if cable is there, it is usually the stronger choice.
Phone-only households make up 12% of the city, 1 point below the statewide 13%; 12.5% have no internet subscription at all, 4.3 points above Illinois overall (8.2%).
Satellite accounts for 6.2% of Chicago households and 12.5% have no subscription, which works out to roughly 143,318 homes. Compared with Illinois overall (8.2% unconnected), Chicago is 4.3 points worse than the state average.
Where the call line covers Chicago
Our call line covers 17 ZIP codes in Chicago: 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605, 60606, 60607, 60610, 60611, 60630, 60631, 60633, 60634, 60638, 60642, 60646, 60656, 60661. Enter yours below to confirm, then one call checks every line at your street address. That is 21.2% of all the Illinois ZIP codes on our list and the 1st largest group of any Illinois city.
17 Chicago ZIP codes are on the call list.
Four steps for a Chicago address
- Give the exact street address, not just "Chicago". Lines change block by block.
- Decide the speed first with the speed guide, then listen to prices.
- Ask what the monthly price becomes after the promotion, and what the equipment fee adds.
- Book the install a week or two ahead if you are moving; see the moving checklist.
Statewide figures and the full list of covered Illinois cities are on the Illinois page.
Common questions
Is Chicago well connected?
87.5% of households have an internet subscription and 72.5% have a wired line, 1.9 points below the Illinois average. Coverage in the city is broad; the gap is mostly homes that have a line available and do not subscribe.
Can I get fiber in Chicago?
On some streets. The Census counts cable, fiber and DSL together (72.5% of Chicago homes), and fiber is only part of that. Give the agent the exact address; if fiber is not there yet, cable is usually next, then 5G home internet.
Which Chicago ZIP codes does the call line cover?
17 of them: 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605, 60606, 60607, 60610, 60611, 60630, 60631, 60633, 60634, 60638, 60642, 60646, 60656, 60661. The ZIP box on this page confirms yours in one step; a covered ZIP keeps the call button active.