Community
Households With Internet Access, by Race/Ethnicity

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

What does this measure?

The percentage of households with a computer and access to the Internet through either a broadband or dial-up connection, by race/ethnicity. While this is an indicator of basic access, it does not tell whether a household has sufficient devices, speed, knowledge or skills to accomplish needed tasks. Local initiatives to increase broadband access have conducted surveys to measure more nuanced aspects of access. See the following links: Digital Equity Now Impact Metrics & Digital Access Survey

Why is this important?

Access to the Internet is crucial for households to communicate, search for jobs, complete schoolwork and participate in other important activities like banking, health care access and consumer research.

How is Westchester County performing?

In 2018-22, African Americans in Westchester County had the lowest percentage of households with Internet access, at 89%, followed by Hispanic households, at 92%. Asian households had the highest percentage, at 98%. Westchester County's rates for all racial and ethnic groups were higher than the state rates. Since 2016-2020, households with internet access have increased among all racial and ethnic groups with African Americans seeing the largest increase of 4 percentage points. It should be noted that this comparison looks at overlapping time periods that contain some of the same data.

Compared with similar counties, Westchester had the lowest percentage of African American households with Internet access, followed by Nassau (94%), and Rockland and Putnam (both 95%); and the second-lowest rates among Hispanic, Asian and White households.

Among Westchester's main population centers, Hispanic and African American households in Mount Vernon had less access, with 85% and 82% reporting Internet access, respectively. This was lower than access rates in New Rochelle, White Plains and Rye for Hispanic households (all ranging between 89% and 100%) and African American households (all ranging between 91% and 96%).

Why do these disparities exist?

Income and education inequalities are the leading causes of the disparities in access to technology in general, including the internet. Additionally, broadband is not equally accessible among all households. In addition to barriers faced by rural households, there can be wide variation in in-home access between adjacent urban and suburban neighborhoods covered by the same telecommunications infrastructure. At least one study found lower digital access in neighborhoods that were redlined in the 1930s, where home loans were less available due to structural racism.

Notes about the data

The multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). Data for this indicator is expected to be released annually in December.

Households with Internet Access, by Race/Ethnicity, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Westchester County98%89%92%95%
Nassau County98%94%94%95%
Putnam County100%95%97%95%
Rockland County98%95%94%79%
New York State94%88%90%91%
Mount Vernon93%*82%85%87%
New Rochelle97%*91%91%92%
Peekskill100%***96%*87%88%
Rye City96%**96%***100%**97%
White Plains98%93%96%97%
Yonkers97%91%89%90%
Westchester County Towns
Bedford100%***100%***100%*96%
Cortlandt99%*97%*96%94%
Eastchester97%91%**99%*94%
Greenburgh99%95%98%97%
Harrison93%*100%***99%*97%
Lewisboro99%*100%***96%**98%
Mamaroneck100%*98%***98%98%
Mount Kisco97%***100%***98%94%
Mount Pleasant99%*95%**95%96%
New Castle100%*100%***100%**99%
North Castle100%*100%***99%*97%
North Salem100%***N/A***100%**96%
Ossining89%*94%*94%95%
Pelham100%*100%**100%*95%
Pound Ridge100%***86%***90%***100%
Rye93%*96%*97%97%
Scarsdale100%100%***100%**100%
Somers100%**99%***98%**96%
Yorktown98%*96%**93%*95%
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley100%*100%***100%*95%
Briarcliff Manor100%**100%***96%**94%
Bronxville100%***100%***100%**99%
Buchanan100%***91%***97%***94%
Croton-on-Hudson100%**100%***100%*95%
Dobbs Ferry100%**100%***100%**98%
Elmsford100%***100%*97%*98%*
Village of Harrison93%*100%***99%*97%
Hastings-on-Hudson96%**100%***100%**95%
Irvington100%***100%***100%***99%
Larchmont100%***100%***100%***100%
Village of Mamaroneck94%**92%**99%*97%
Village of Mount Kisco97%***100%***98%94%
Village of Ossining83%*93%*94%95%
Village of Pelham100%**100%***100%*94%
Pelham Manor100%**100%***100%*96%
Pleasantville100%***100%***70%***99%
Port Chester85%***97%**97%97%
Rye Brook100%**100%***97%**97%
Village of Scarsdale100%100%***100%**100%
Sleepy Hollow95%***100%***98%94%
Tarrytown100%**100%**99%*98%
Tuckahoe99%**85%***98%**92%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




Number of Households with Internet Access, Race/Ethnicity, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Westchester County59,807124,188233,571528,596
Nassau County153,156146,823228,404805,087
Putnam County2,0932,81715,91673,192
Rockland County20,01735,25958,216174,653
New York State1,626,1482,524,1973,410,48410,375,198
Mount Vernon1,274*37,13510,56410,760
New Rochelle4,632*13,42422,34835,421
Peekskill498***4,822*9,0899,540
Rye City1,170**268***1,240**12,657
White Plains4,4496,70417,53429,604
Yonkers11,10634,68176,95679,392
Westchester County Towns
Bedford1,009***353***3,127*11,690
Cortlandt1,387*3,162*6,81427,714
Eastchester3,900544**3,315*24,267
Greenburgh10,6779,47215,30155,014
Harrison1,722*823***3,812*19,283
Lewisboro590*103***851**10,327
Mamaroneck1,247*1,064***5,30023,471
Mount Kisco273***618***3,6686,760
Mount Pleasant2,229*1,003**7,48430,054
New Castle1,802*465***1,219**14,189
North Castle537*357***1,808*9,172
North Salem247***0***443**4,169
Ossining1,858*2,629*11,47620,891
Pelham894*934**1,468*9,051
Pound Ridge107***114***250***4,383
Rye2,107*2,707*21,43524,617
Scarsdale3,159357***1,171**12,722
Somers950**337***2,497**16,672
Yorktown1,983*2,112**4,401*26,776
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley666*248***398*3,204
Briarcliff Manor538**78***622**5,253
Bronxville442***9***416**5,368
Buchanan109***118***404***1,452
Croton-on-Hudson257**139***983*6,482
Dobbs Ferry1,225**174***1,286**7,549
Elmsford547***1,068*2,428*1,726*
Village of Harrison1,722*823***3,812*19,283
Hastings-on-Hudson402**41***714**6,517
Irvington573***73***679***5,010
Larchmont316***86***612***5,684
Village of Mamaroneck779**715**5,285*13,302
Village of Mount Kisco273***618***3,6686,760
Village of Ossining1,088*2,402*10,06312,226
Village of Pelham503**544***1,022*4,776
Pelham Manor391**390***446*4,275
Pleasantville158***46***588***6,302
Port Chester553***2,282**18,89012,069
Rye Brook1,001**88***946**7,436
Village of Scarsdale3,159357***1,171**12,722
Sleepy Hollow229***433***5,0994,273
Tarrytown983**370**2,761*7,916
Tuckahoe1,123**310***1,353**3,689

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.












INDICATORS TREND | WESTCHESTER
Early Prenatal Care, by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels 0
Maintaining
Children Receiving Subsidized Child Care 0
Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Disengaged Youth, Ages 16 to 19 -1
Decreasing
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Single Female-Headed Households -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 1
Increasing
Voter Participation Rate -1
Decreasing
Serious Crimes -1
Decreasing
Reported Victims of Domestic Violence -1
Decreasing
Arrest Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households With Internet Access, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households without Vehicles 0
Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Air Quality 1
Increasing
Population Density 0
Maintaining
Water Quality of the Long Island Sound 10 Not Applicable*
Open Space in Westchester County 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Population, by Age 10 Not Applicable*
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
People 65 or Older Living Alone -1
Decreasing
Foreign-Born Population 1
Increasing
Change in Total Jobs 1
Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Average Salary by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0
Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level 10 Not Applicable*
Unemployment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Seniors Living in Poverty 1
Increasing
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Food Insecurity -1
Decreasing
Households Receiving SNAP, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Public Assistance 0
Maintaining
People Receiving Supplemental Security Income 0
Maintaining
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Rent Burdened Households -1
Decreasing
Homelessness, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness, by Sex 10 Not Applicable*
Per-Student Spending 0
Maintaining
Student Suspensions -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
College Enrollment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
People Without Health Insurance -1
Decreasing
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Mortality Rate from Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Diabetes Mortality, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Suicide Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*


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