New York, NY vs Chicago, IL: internet compared
Thinking of moving between New York and Chicago? Here is how home internet compares in the two cities, based on FCC data as of December 31, 2025 and Census statistics.
New York, NY leads for fiber availability (79% vs 33%). New York, NY leads for gigabit-class availability (71% vs 55%).
| New York, NY | Chicago, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 8,516,202 | 2,707,648 |
| Median household income | $79,713 | $75,134 |
| Can get fiber | 79% | 33% |
| Can get cable | 97% | 99% |
| Can get DSL | 0% | 44% |
| Can get fixed wireless | 83% | 90% |
| Can get gigabit | 71% | 55% |
| Households with broadband | 89% | 87% |
Top providers
| New York, NY | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|
| Verizon: 93% | Xfinity: 99% |
| T-Mobile Home Internet: 87% | AT&T: 89% |
| Spectrum: 65% | T-Mobile Home Internet: 87% |
| Starry: 35% | Verizon: 64% |
| Optimum: 33% | Astound Broadband: 54% |
Coverage percentages are the share of residential locations where each provider reports service. Availability varies by address.
Check a specific address area
Internet in New York, NY · Internet in Chicago, IL · Compare any two ZIP codes · Rankings