Key points
- City averages vary mainly with fiber availability and competition.
- Tech hubs like Austin and San Francisco lead on typical speeds.
- Upload lags download almost everywhere - A sign of cable dominance.
- Your address matters more than your city - Always test your own line.
Average internet speed by U.S. city
Representative fixed-broadband figures for major metros, ordered from fastest to slowest typical download. Use them as a benchmark, not a guarantee - Speeds vary widely by neighbourhood, provider and plan.
| # | City | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | 245 Mbps | 180 Mbps | 12 ms |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | 235 Mbps | 170 Mbps | 11 ms |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | 228 Mbps | 165 Mbps | 13 ms |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | 220 Mbps | 150 Mbps | 14 ms |
| 5 | New York, NY | 215 Mbps | 145 Mbps | 12 ms |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | 205 Mbps | 130 Mbps | 15 ms |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | 200 Mbps | 135 Mbps | 16 ms |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | 198 Mbps | 120 Mbps | 14 ms |
| 9 | Denver, CO | 192 Mbps | 128 Mbps | 17 ms |
| 10 | Boston, MA | 190 Mbps | 118 Mbps | 13 ms |
| 11 | Miami, FL | 185 Mbps | 115 Mbps | 18 ms |
| 12 | Houston, TX | 182 Mbps | 112 Mbps | 16 ms |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | 178 Mbps | 108 Mbps | 19 ms |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | 175 Mbps | 105 Mbps | 15 ms |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | 172 Mbps | 110 Mbps | 18 ms |
| 16 | Portland, OR | 168 Mbps | 102 Mbps | 17 ms |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | 160 Mbps | 95 Mbps | 19 ms |
| 18 | Las Vegas, NV | 155 Mbps | 92 Mbps | 21 ms |
| 19 | New Orleans, LA | 142 Mbps | 84 Mbps | 23 ms |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | 135 Mbps | 78 Mbps | 24 ms |
Representative estimates compiled for illustration; real speeds vary by address, provider and plan.
Why speeds differ between cities
- Fiber availability. Cities with widespread fiber (Austin, San Francisco, Seattle) post the highest typical speeds and best upload.
- Competition. Where multiple providers overlap, speeds rise and prices fall as ISPs compete.
- Infrastructure age. Older networks lean on cable and DSL, which cap upload and can slow at peak times.
- Density and investment. Dense, fast-growing metros attract more network upgrades sooner than rural regions.
How does your connection compare?
Run a speed test and match your download against your city's figure above. If you're well below it, the difference is usually your plan tier, Wi-Fi or aging equipment rather than the city itself - Most metros have fast plans available even where the average is modest.
Below the local average and want more? Check which providers are fastest at your address, confirm how much speed you need, and work through our slow-internet fixes before upgrading.
Averages blend everyone from budget DSL to gigabit fiber. Your own result depends on the plan you buy and the equipment you use - Which is exactly what a live test measures.
Methodology & sources
The city figures above are representative fixed-broadband estimates, compiled for comparison and reviewed periodically. Real speeds depend heavily on your neighbourhood, provider and plan, so treat them as a benchmark rather than a precise measurement.
- Typical speeds draw on public speed-index reporting such as the Ookla Speedtest Global Index and Measurement Lab (M-Lab) open data.
- Availability and technology mix reference the FCC National Broadband Map.
- Your own result depends on the plan you buy - The definitive number is a live test of your connection.
Last reviewed July 2026.