Home internet in North Carolina
In North Carolina, 77.1% of households have cable, fiber or DSL, 10.9% get by on a phone plan alone and 8.3% have no internet subscription. Here is what that means when you order, and which North Carolina ZIP codes our call line covers.
- 91.7% of North Carolina households have an internet subscription; 8.3% have none (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023).
- Wired broadband reaches 77.1% of households, 0.8 points above the national figure of 76.3%.
- Our call line covers 123 ZIP codes in North Carolina, including Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro.
How homes in North Carolina get online
| Households, 2023 | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| With an internet subscription | 91.7% | 92.2% |
| Wired broadband (cable, fiber or DSL) | 77.1% | 76.3% |
| Cellular data plan only | 10.9% | 11.9% |
| Satellite internet | 6.2% | 6.6% |
| No internet subscription | 8.3% | 7.8% |
| No computer in the home | 4% | 3.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 1-year estimates, table S2801. North Carolina: 4,392,669 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.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks 21st for the share of homes with a wired line, 33rd for the smallest share of homes with no internet, and 32nd for satellite use.
The connection types common in North Carolina
Three in four North Carolina households, 77.1%, have a wired subscription, 0.8 points above the national figure of 76.3%. The towns are well served; the gaps are between them, which is where 5G home and fixed wireless earn their place.
Roughly one home in nine in North Carolina, 10.9%, has a phone plan and nothing else, 1 point below the national figure of 11.9%. For those homes the simplest real upgrade is usually a 5G home plan on the same network the phone already uses.
6.2% of households in North Carolina use satellite internet, about the same as the national figure. It is mostly a rural choice, and usually the last option to consider once wired, 5G home and fixed wireless have been ruled out for an address.
About 8.3% of homes in North Carolina have no internet subscription, about the same as the national figure. 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.
North Carolina ZIP codes on our call list
The agents who answer our number can check addresses in 123 ZIP codes across North Carolina, among them Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston Salem, Wilmington, Asheville, Cary and Apex. Type your ZIP code to see whether yours is one of them. Outside those ZIPs the call button switches off and the guides take over.
123 ZIP codes in North Carolina are on the call list.
| City | ZIP codes on the list |
|---|---|
| Charlotte | 31 |
| Raleigh | 14 |
| Greensboro | 9 |
| Winston Salem | 5 |
| Wilmington | 4 |
| Asheville | 4 |
| Cary | 4 |
| Apex | 3 |
| Chapel Hill | 3 |
| Gastonia | 2 |
| Burlington | 2 |
| Goldsboro | 2 |
| Durham | 2 |
| Belmont | 1 |
| Cornelius | 1 |
Covered ZIP codes by city, from the call partner's list; the list changes over time.
Four steps to a working line in North Carolina
- Start with your ZIP code on this page. If it is on the call list, one call checks every line at your address at once; if not, the guides tell you what to ask each provider.
- Rule out the slow options early: where cable or fiber is on the street, DSL and satellite are rarely worth the money. The comparison table shows typical speeds.
- Ask three price questions: what is the monthly cost after the promotion, what equipment fee is added, and is there a data cap. The data caps guide explains the last one.
- If a line fails you later, the slow internet guide covers the fixes to try before you call support.
Common questions
How many homes in North Carolina have no internet?
8.3% of North Carolina households had no internet subscription in 2023, against 7.8% nationally, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. A further 10.9% get online only through a cellular data plan.
What is the fastest home internet in North Carolina?
Fiber, where it has been built. It is the only type with upload as fast as download. 77.1% of North Carolina 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.
Does the call line cover all of North Carolina?
No. It covers 123 ZIP codes in North Carolina. Enter your ZIP on this page: if it is covered the call button stays on, and if not the button switches off and the guides still apply. Coverage changes over time, so check again in a few months if your ZIP is not listed today.
Should I consider 5G home internet in North Carolina?
If a wired line is not at your address, or the only wired option is slow DSL, yes. 10.9% of North Carolina 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.