Computer Ownership in New York City: 2019 Snapshot

How Many New Yorkers Have a Computer?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey (ACS), the most recent comprehensive dataset available for this specific metric:

Household-Level Data

• 87.9% of households in New York City had a computer (desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone).
• With ~3.2 million households, this equals approximately 2.81 million households with a computing device.

Important Caveats

• "Computer" Definition: The ACS broadly defines "computer" to include smartphones and tablets. If restricted to traditional desktops/laptops, the rate is lower (~78%).
• Household vs. Individual: This measures household access, not individual ownership. Multiple people may share one device.
• Digital Divide Persists: Ownership correlates strongly with income, age, education, and borough. In 2019, rates exceeded 95% in parts of Manhattan but were below 75% in low-income Bronx and Brooklyn neighborhoods.
• Pandemic Impact: COVID-19 likely increased device access due to remote schooling/work initiatives (e.g., NYC DOE distributed 500,000+ iPads), but post-2019 ACS data reflects this only partially.

Internet Access

In the same 2019 survey, 84.3% of NYC households had broadband internet subscription (cable, fiber, DSL). The gap between device ownership and broadband subscription highlights the "homework gap" and affordability barriers.