Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on HotDog.com.
One of the most prominent and likely enduring changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has been the rapid shift toward new technologies that facilitate remote communication, entertainment, learning, and work.
Older Americans generally have lower rates of technology adoption than their younger counterparts. For example, 78% of 65-and-over households have internet access compared with 89% of households overall. But seniors are more digitally connected today than ever before.
Technology has enabled seniors to endure some of the most trying aspects of the pandemic. It has done so by allowing them to stay in touch with others during isolation and providing them with access to critical services such as grocery delivery and telehealth visits.
A recent AARP report found that technology spending among older adults nearly tripled during the pandemic, and smartphones were one of the top three tech purchases for that demographic. AARP also reported that significantly more seniors texted, used video chat, and emailed during the pandemic than they did before.
To find the locations with the most digitally-connected seniors, researchers at HotDog.com analyzed data from the US Census Bureau and created a composite score based on the following factors:
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone
Here are the U.S. metros with the most digitally-connected seniors.
15. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA
- Composite score: 78.5
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 65.6%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 72.5%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 75.4%
14. Jacksonville, FL
- Composite score: 78.9
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 64.2%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 74.1%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 75.8%
13. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
- Composite score: 79.9
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 64.3%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 73.3%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 77.5%
12. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
- Composite score: 81.5
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 66.8%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 77.4%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 73.3%
11. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Composite score: 82.6
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 70.4%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 75.7%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 72.5%
10. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
- Composite score: 83.4
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 68.3%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 72.6%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 76.5%
9. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
- Composite score: 84.4
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 68.5%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 75.3%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 75.4%
8. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
- Composite score: 85.2
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 69.2%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 78.6%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 72.9%
7. Salt Lake City, UT
- Composite score: 85.6
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 65.9%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 77.4%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 76.8%
6. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
- Composite score: 86.5
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 66.6%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 78.2%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 75.8%
5. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
- Composite score: 86.7
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 69.8%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 74.5%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 76.2%
4. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
- Composite score: 87.0
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 66.5%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 78.0%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 77.1%
3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Composite score: 88.2
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 71.5%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 76.0%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 75.6%
2. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Composite score: 90.9
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 71.4%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 78.9%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 75.6%
1. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
- Composite score: 93.2
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet: 68.7%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop: 79.6%
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone: 79.1%
Methodology
To find the U.S. metropolitan areas with the most digitally-connected seniors, researchers at HotDog.com analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample and created a composite score based on the following factors:
- Percentage of 65+ households with high-speed internet
- Percentage of 65+ households with a computer or laptop
- Percentage of 65+ households with a smartphone
To improve relevance, only metropolitan areas with at least 100,000 people were included in the analysis.
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