Home internet in California
94.3% of California households have an internet subscription and 79.1% have a wired line, but what reaches your own street is decided address by address. This page gives the state picture, then checks your ZIP against our call list.
- 94.3% of California households have an internet subscription; 5.7% have none (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023).
- Wired broadband reaches 79.1% of households, 2.8 points above the national figure of 76.3%.
- Our call line covers 502 ZIP codes in California, including Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose.
Internet in California by the numbers
| Households, 2023 | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| With an internet subscription | 94.3% | 92.2% |
| Wired broadband (cable, fiber or DSL) | 79.1% | 76.3% |
| Cellular data plan only | 11.2% | 11.9% |
| Satellite internet | 8.2% | 6.6% |
| No internet subscription | 5.7% | 7.8% |
| No computer in the home | 2.8% | 3.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 1-year estimates, table S2801. California: 13,699,816 households. United States figure is the household-weighted average of the 50 states and DC. Shares overlap because a home can have more than one type of subscription.
Put against the other states, California is 12th of 51 for wired broadband, 21st for the fewest phone-only households, and 8th for the share of homes on satellite.
What usually reaches a California address
Cable, fiber or DSL serves 79.1% of California households, 2.8 points above the national figure of 76.3%. That high share means the wires are already on most streets; what differs house to house is whether the newest one, fiber, has been pulled to your block.
11.2% of California households are phone-only, 0.7 points below the national figure of 11.9%. A home line, wired or 5G, almost always gives more data for the money than tethering; the speed guide shows how much the household actually needs.
Satellite carries more of California than most states: 8.2% of households, 1.6 points above the national figure of 6.6%. It works, but data limits and delay vary a lot between the old geostationary services and the newer low-orbit ones, so ask which kind you are being offered.
About 5.7% of homes in California have no internet subscription, 2.1 points below the national figure of 7.8%. If price is the barrier, start with the low-income help guide, then the lower your bill guide for the plan you do order.
For what each type is like to live with, see fiber, cable, 5G home, fixed wireless, DSL and satellite, or the side-by-side table.
California ZIP codes on our call list
In California the call line serves 502 ZIP codes, concentrated in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento, Oakland, Long Beach, San Francisco and Fresno. Check yours below. The table underneath shows which cities have the most covered ZIPs, so you can see at a glance whether your area is on the list.
502 ZIP codes in California are on the call list.
| City | ZIP codes on the list |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 39 |
| San Diego | 19 |
| San Jose | 17 |
| Sacramento | 16 |
| Oakland | 14 |
| Long Beach | 13 |
| San Francisco | 10 |
| Fresno | 9 |
| San Bernardino | 6 |
| Whittier | 6 |
| Oxnard | 6 |
| Irvine | 5 |
| Berkeley | 5 |
| Riverside | 4 |
| Moreno Valley | 4 |
Covered ZIP codes by city, from the call partner's list; the list changes over time.
Four steps to a working line in California
- Check the address, not the ZIP alone. Availability is decided street by street, so give the agent the full address.
- Compare the types first, prices second: a fiber line at the same price as cable is the better buy because of upload speed and steadier evening speeds.
- Read the broadband label. Every plan now comes with one; the label guide shows what to look for.
- Line up the install date with your move-in date if you are moving. The moving checklist has the timing.
Common questions
How many homes in California have no internet?
5.7% of California households had no internet subscription in 2023, against 7.8% nationally, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. A further 11.2% get online only through a cellular data plan.
What is the fastest home internet in California?
Fiber, where it has been built. It is the only type with upload as fast as download. 79.1% of California households have some wired line, but fiber reaches only part of them, so check the exact address. Cable is the usual alternative in towns; 5G home and fixed wireless cover many places the cables do not.
Which California ZIP codes can the agents check?
502 of them, mostly around Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and Sacramento. The ZIP box on this page tells you in one step: a covered ZIP keeps the call button active, an uncovered one switches it off. The list is updated as the call partner adds areas.
Should I consider 5G home internet in California?
If a wired line is not at your address, or the only wired option is slow DSL, yes. 11.2% of California households already run on cellular alone, which shows the towers reach most homes. A 5G home router is a one-day install with no wiring; speed depends on the signal at your window, so test the plan during its trial period.