Most Vulnerable U.S. Small Cities for Internet Outages

A screen goes blank, the WiFi icon turns transparent, and a loading wheel appears. Those are all typical signs of an internet outage, one of the most disruptive happenings in today’s digitally dependent world.

Long gone are the days of dial-up and the low expectations that came with it. Today, Americans rely on consistent, high-speed internet access for almost everything. And internet service providers have done a great job to make that the norm.

But disparities in internet reliability persist across the U.S., and prolonged downtime can have far-reaching consequences that ripple through communities, including impacting business operations, essential services, and education.

This study ranks 385 small U.S. cities across four key categories to determine where internet access is most vulnerable in the U.S., and the results reveal that infrastructure challenges aren’t the only concern when it comes to internet vulnerability.

Based on a weighted 100-point scoring system, here are the best small U.S. cities for broadband access in 2026.

Main Findings

The table below ranks cities across four key dimensions: Economic Impact of Internet Outages, Potential Business Revenue Losses, Service Disruption Risk, and Long-term Economic Effects.

Bottom-ranked cities, including Stanford, California; Moraga, California; and Lexington, Massachusetts, scored lower thanks to strong performances across economic indicators. These cities boast poverty rates below 8% and high income levels, suggesting greater economic resilience in the event of prolonged internet disruption.

How We Measured Internet Vulnerability

To determine where internet access is most vulnerable, we evaluated 385 of America’s smallest cities across these metrics:

• Economic Impact of Internet Outages: This section evaluates the broader economic effects of internet outages on households and communities, including lost productivity, disrupted access to essential services, and downstream effects that extend beyond direct business revenue loss.
• Business Revenue Loss: This section estimates the amount of revenue a business is at risk of losing due to an internet outage or interruption.
• Service Disruption Risk: This section measures the frequency and duration of internet disruptions in a city, including the Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI) and System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI).
• Long-Term Economic Effects: This section evaluates the factors that may influence a community’s ability to recover from prolonged service disruptions.

Together, these factors create a complete picture of a community’s vulnerability to internet outages, highlighting the conditions in which disruption can have the greatest impact.

A Closer Look at the Top 5 Cities

Our results reveal that internet vulnerability is more than just a connectivity issue alone. The most vulnerable cities combine service challenges, high business risk, and economic impact to create environments that are more susceptible to disruptions than other cities.

1. Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson, South Carolina, ranks first among the most vulnerable U.S. cities. Home to Clemson University, the city has a strong student presence that relies heavily on quality internet infrastructure, underscoring the impact of a potential outage on the community.

Strong scores in Business Revenue Loss also played a role in Clemson’s ranking, highlighting the financial impact businesses in the city would face if an outage occurred. Additionally, the city struggles with service reliability, recording one of the longest outage durations on the list. Residents experience 2.3 interruptions per year that average 1,332.3 minutes each.

Combined with a poverty rate of 36.02%, these factors suggest that prolonged outages could pose significant challenges for both businesses and residents in the city.

Key Stats:

• SAIFI: 2.3 interruptions per year
• CAIDI: 1,332.3 minutes per interruption
• Poverty rate: 36.02%

2. Blacksburg, Virginia

Blacksburg, Virginia, takes second place. Like Clemson, the city is dominated by another major university, Virginia Tech, reflecting students’ and faculty’s dependence on reliable internet access.

The city ranked highly primarily due to a high Long-term Economic Effects score, indicating its weak capacity for recovery after a service outage, supported by its poverty rate. Blacksburg records one of the highest poverty rates (42.7%) among the top five, pointing to the lasting financial consequences vulnerable residents may face after an outage.

Given a median household income of $50,182, Blacksburg’s economic weakness underscores the importance of reliable internet access in America’s most financially vulnerable communities.

Key Stats:

• SAIFI: 2.238 interruptions per year
• CAIDI: 429.9 minutes per interruption
• Poverty rate: 42.7%

3. Spartanburg, South Carolina

Spartanburg, South Carolina, places third overall, due to a high Business Revenue Loss score and infrastructure performance challenges. The city experiences 2.368 interruptions per year, with downtime lasting 1,332.3 minutes per interruption, among the highest figures in the study.

Business activity is also highly impacted by service disruptions in the area. Spartanburg’s high revenue loss score points to the intense financial risk businesses face in the event of an internet outage. While Spartanburg’s poverty rate of 23.81% is lower than others in the top five, its high business risk and lengthy service interruptions make it more susceptible to economic impact.

Key Stats:

• SAIFI: 2.368 interruptions per year
• CAIDI: 1,332.3 minutes per interruption
• Poverty rate: 23.81%

4. Oxford, Ohio

Coming in fourth is Oxford, Ohio. A true college town, the city was formed to serve Miami University, showing its dependence on the post-secondary institution. The city’s vast student population suggests the importance of reliable internet access in the community, making it more vulnerable when outages occur.

Oxford also stood out for its Long-Term Economic Effects score (100.0). The city’s 45.45% poverty rate — the highest among the top five list — suggests that prolonged downtime could have far-reaching effects on residents and the city’s economy.

While its service disruptions aren’t as severe as others on the list, recurring interruptions remain a concern, reinforcing its position in the top five.

Key Stats:

• SAIFI: 1.298 interruptions per year
• CAIDI: 393.7 minutes per interruption
• Poverty rate: 45.45%

5. Seneca, South Carolina

Seneca, South Carolina, rounds out the top-five rankings, with a particularly high Business Revenue Loss score. The score suggests businesses in Seneca are at a higher risk of losing revenue due to an internet outage, highlighting the city’s heavy reliance on internet reliability.

Like its South Carolina counterparts, Seneca also faces challenges with service reliability, recording 2.368 interruptions annually, each lasting about 1,332 minutes.

While the city has a lower poverty rate than others, its concentrated business activity and lengthy outages contribute to its elevated vulnerability.

Key Stats:

• SAIFI: 2.368 interruptions per year
• CAIDI: 1,332.3 minutes per interruption
• Poverty rate: 22.12%

Summary

While connectivity issues are a major concern, they aren’t the only factor fueling internet vulnerability among U.S. cities. Our findings show that economic conditions and business activity are just as important in determining a city’s ability to recover after an outage.

Let’s face it: Americans are becoming increasingly more reliant on the internet. And as our digital dependence grows, internet outages can have far-reaching, lasting financial consequences for residents and their communities, affecting everything from education to essential services.

Prolonged disruptions can especially hurt cities with weaker economies because they can’t recover as easily after an outage. Understanding the factors behind these vulnerabilities can help cities better prepare for future outages and strengthen their long-term resilience.

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Methodology

The methodology below explains the data inputs, scoring approach, and weighted metric framework used for this ranking. This ranking was generated in June 2026, using a weighted composite scoring model.

Overview

This study aims to evaluate the economic impact of internet outages across 385 small cities in the United States. By analyzing various metrics related to economic performance, business activity, service disruptions, and long-term economic effects, we provide a comprehensive assessment of how internet reliability influences local economies. The metrics selected for this study are derived from reputable sources, ensuring a robust foundation for our analysis.

Data & Sources

The data for this study are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, Census Business Formation Statistics, and EIA-861 Reliability reports. These sources provide reliable and up-to-date information on household income, internet access, business applications, and service interruption metrics. By utilizing these datasets, we ensure that our findings reflect the current economic landscape and the impact of internet outages on urban areas.

Scoring Approach

Each city was scored based on a total of 100 points, distributed across four key sections: Economic Impact of Internet Outages, Business Revenue Loss, Service Disruptions, and Long-Term Economic Effects. Within each section, specific metrics were assigned weights according to their relevance to the study’s objectives. The scoring is designed to reflect vulnerability to internet outages. Higher scores indicate greater vulnerability and potential economic impact, while lower scores indicate lower overall risk.

Caveats

While this study aims to provide a thorough analysis, certain limitations exist. For instance, the exclusion of one city due to missing data may affect the comprehensiveness of our findings. Additionally, the metrics used may not capture all aspects of economic impact, and regional variations may influence the results. It is essential to interpret the findings within this context and consider additional qualitative factors that may not be quantified in the analysis.

Economic Impact of Internet Outages — Total Points: 25

This section evaluates how internet outages may affect households and communities. Metrics were selected to measure economic sensitivity to connectivity disruptions and the degree to which residents may be affected by the loss of internet access.

1. Median Household Income — Quadruple Weight

Median household income measures the economic resources available to residents. Communities with lower household incomes may have fewer resources available to absorb the financial impacts of prolonged internet disruptions. Lower incomes contribute to higher vulnerability scores.

2. Households without Internet — Single Weight

This metric measures the share of households without reliable internet access. Communities with lower connectivity levels may face greater challenges during outages and have fewer alternatives when service disruptions occur. Higher rates contribute to higher vulnerability scores.

Business Revenue Loss — Total Points: 25

This section estimates the potential economic consequences of internet outages on local business activity. Cities with larger economic footprints may face greater operational disruptions and financial losses when connectivity is interrupted.

1. Business Applications — Single Weight

Business applications serve as a measure of entrepreneurial activity and economic dynamism. Cities with higher levels of business formation may face greater potential economic disruption when outages affect operations, transactions, and communications. Higher values contribute to higher vulnerability scores.

2. Total Households — Double Weight

The total number of households provides a measure of market size and economic activity. Larger household bases can increase the potential scale of outage-related disruptions. Higher values contribute to higher vulnerability scores.

Service Disruptions — Total Points: 25

This section evaluates infrastructure reliability through measures of interruption frequency and duration. Communities experiencing more frequent or longer disruptions may be more vulnerable to the consequences of internet outages.

1. SAIFI (With MED, interruptions/year) — Single Weight

The System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) measures how often customers experience service interruptions. Higher values indicate more frequent disruptions and contribute to higher vulnerability scores.

2. CAIDI (With MED, min/interruption) — Single Weight

The Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI) measures the average length of service interruptions. Longer outages can create greater economic and operational consequences for households and businesses. Higher values contribute to higher vulnerability scores.

Long-Term Economic Effects — Total Points: 25

This section evaluates factors that may influence a community’s ability to recover from prolonged internet disruptions.

1. Poverty Rate — Quadruple Weight

The poverty rate measures the percentage of residents living below the poverty line. Communities with higher poverty rates may have fewer resources available to absorb economic shocks and recover from service disruptions. Higher poverty rates contribute to higher vulnerability scores.