Disclaimer: General educational research only — not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ by state and by family. Talk to an estate planning attorney in your state before you act.
Estate Planning Data & Research → Seniors Without Broadband by State
Online will makers, digital account inventories and e-signed documents assume an internet connection. Census data shows 6,989,362 Americans 65 and older (11.8%) don’t have a broadband subscription, and 3,719,860 have no computer at all.
This page shows older adults without broadband in every state and D.C., from the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey.
A plan doesn’t need to be made online to work. See how a trust and a will differ.
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Cite this page URL when reusing findings. Not a substitute for official sources or professional advice.
Key findings
- 6,989,362 people 65+ (11.8%) live in households without a broadband subscription, according to the Census ACS 2024 1-year (table B28005). Across all ages the share is 5.4%.
- 3,719,860 people 65+ (6.3%) have no computer in the household.
- The share without broadband is highest in Mississippi (19.7%), West Virginia (18.7%), North Dakota (17.5%), Kentucky (16.9%), Louisiana (16.6%), South Dakota (16.0%).
- It is lowest in Nevada (7.4%), Alaska (7.9%), New Hampshire (8.4%), California (8.6%), Washington (8.6%), Utah (8.8%).
Older adults without broadband by state
| State | People 65+ | 65+ without broadband | Share without broadband (%) | 65+ with no computer | Share with no computer (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 928,542 | 141,238 | 15.2 | 81,682 | 8.8 |
| Alaska | 106,211 | 8,387 | 7.9 | 3,958 | 3.7 |
| Arizona | 1,459,213 | 140,408 | 9.6 | 60,545 | 4.1 |
| Arkansas | 545,548 | 82,618 | 15.1 | 44,463 | 8.2 |
| California | 6,333,225 | 546,605 | 8.6 | 273,815 | 4.3 |
| Colorado | 954,669 | 89,242 | 9.3 | 40,552 | 4.2 |
| Connecticut | 692,430 | 73,025 | 10.5 | 44,254 | 6.4 |
| Delaware | 223,362 | 20,053 | 9.0 | 9,568 | 4.3 |
| District of Columbia | 85,839 | 13,684 | 15.9 | 6,084 | 7.1 |
| Florida | 4,970,413 | 454,035 | 9.1 | 189,712 | 3.8 |
| Georgia | 1,722,477 | 200,677 | 11.7 | 100,931 | 5.9 |
| Hawaii | 305,515 | 30,905 | 10.1 | 15,082 | 4.9 |
| Idaho | 343,984 | 37,612 | 10.9 | 16,442 | 4.8 |
| Illinois | 2,198,631 | 276,684 | 12.6 | 153,745 | 7.0 |
| Indiana | 1,177,865 | 165,349 | 14.0 | 90,228 | 7.7 |
| Iowa | 584,343 | 87,788 | 15.0 | 43,433 | 7.4 |
| Kansas | 513,579 | 65,798 | 12.8 | 34,010 | 6.6 |
| Kentucky | 799,826 | 134,843 | 16.9 | 85,097 | 10.6 |
| Louisiana | 795,036 | 132,199 | 16.6 | 70,669 | 8.9 |
| Maine | 318,884 | 36,944 | 11.6 | 20,304 | 6.4 |
| Maryland | 1,072,108 | 109,345 | 10.2 | 56,862 | 5.3 |
| Massachusetts | 1,291,338 | 141,540 | 11.0 | 83,466 | 6.5 |
| Michigan | 1,936,823 | 236,595 | 12.2 | 122,622 | 6.3 |
| Minnesota | 1,015,203 | 130,405 | 12.8 | 66,756 | 6.6 |
| Mississippi | 513,641 | 101,057 | 19.7 | 53,027 | 10.3 |
| Missouri | 1,128,599 | 162,671 | 14.4 | 84,103 | 7.5 |
| Montana | 233,541 | 32,347 | 13.9 | 16,808 | 7.2 |
| Nebraska | 335,289 | 51,857 | 15.5 | 26,612 | 7.9 |
| Nevada | 568,811 | 42,203 | 7.4 | 20,876 | 3.7 |
| New Hampshire | 291,709 | 24,494 | 8.4 | 13,458 | 4.6 |
| New Jersey | 1,661,855 | 157,628 | 9.5 | 91,052 | 5.5 |
| New Mexico | 421,545 | 65,028 | 15.4 | 33,469 | 7.9 |
| New York | 3,609,444 | 438,670 | 12.2 | 263,389 | 7.3 |
| North Carolina | 1,932,185 | 238,523 | 12.3 | 141,952 | 7.3 |
| North Dakota | 132,905 | 23,227 | 17.5 | 12,198 | 9.2 |
| Ohio | 2,191,097 | 302,294 | 13.8 | 171,333 | 7.8 |
| Oklahoma | 668,019 | 93,227 | 14.0 | 48,594 | 7.3 |
| Oregon | 822,798 | 81,490 | 9.9 | 41,307 | 5.0 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,563,328 | 363,766 | 14.2 | 219,798 | 8.6 |
| Rhode Island | 211,539 | 25,953 | 12.3 | 14,810 | 7.0 |
| South Carolina | 1,058,134 | 136,838 | 12.9 | 73,063 | 6.9 |
| South Dakota | 165,063 | 26,338 | 16.0 | 13,851 | 8.4 |
| Tennessee | 1,237,813 | 169,359 | 13.7 | 94,453 | 7.6 |
| Texas | 4,247,193 | 484,441 | 11.4 | 237,362 | 5.6 |
| Utah | 426,668 | 37,417 | 8.8 | 15,617 | 3.7 |
| Vermont | 143,466 | 15,902 | 11.1 | 9,097 | 6.3 |
| Virginia | 1,514,994 | 196,563 | 13.0 | 111,462 | 7.4 |
| Washington | 1,342,476 | 115,606 | 8.6 | 55,478 | 4.1 |
| West Virginia | 376,238 | 70,209 | 18.7 | 45,806 | 12.2 |
| Wisconsin | 1,130,247 | 158,713 | 14.0 | 88,684 | 7.8 |
| Wyoming | 114,459 | 17,562 | 15.3 | 7,921 | 6.9 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, table B28005 (Age by presence of a computer and types of internet subscription in household). “Without broadband” is everyone 65+ minus those with a computer and a broadband subscription; it includes people with dial-up only, no subscription, or no computer. Census counts smartphones and tablets as computers and cellular data plans as broadband.
Planning without the internet
- Paper wills still work. Every state accepts a signed, witnessed paper will. Online tools are one option, not a requirement. See where you can sign a will online.
- Offline people still have digital assets. Bank and Social Security accounts, email and photos stored by family may still need a fiduciary to reach them. See digital asset laws by state.
- Write down where things are. A paper list of accounts, insurers and the location of the original will saves heirs time.
Related: older adults living alone · the incapacity gap
Methodology
Census ACS 2024 1-year estimates, table B28005, pulled from the Census API on Oct. 14, 2026, for the 50 states, D.C. and the U.S. Universe: the household population (people in group quarters such as nursing homes are excluded). ACS figures are survey estimates with margins of error.
What this doesn’t measure. Internet skills, mobile-only access quality, or whether someone has a will.
Frequently asked questions
How many seniors don’t have broadband?
6,989,362 people 65+, or 11.8% (ACS 2024).
Which state has the highest share?
Mississippi, at 19.7%.
Do I need the internet to make a will?
No. A paper will signed and witnessed under your state’s rules is valid in every state.
Is this legal advice?
No. Talk to an estate planning attorney in your state.
Sources
Public-domain government sources only. Fetched 2026-10-14.
Data
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year, table B28005: https://api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs1/groups/B28005.html
Cite this data
Family Estate Guide, “Seniors Without Broadband by State,” October 2026. https://familyestateguide.com/estate-planning-data/seniors-without-broadband-by-state/
You’re welcome to reuse the table with a link back to this page. The underlying government data is public.
Published October 14, 2026 by Family Estate Guide. Data vintage: Census ACS 2024 1-year. Editorial standards.