RTC:Rural Rural Institute University of Montana

logo for Montana Disability & Health Program: Living well under the Big Sky

Rate of Computers and Internet Use

description of table 1

Computer Ownership and Internet Usage by Location

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey categories include “metropolitan” (i.e. urban) and “non-metropolitan” (i.e. rural). The metropolitan category is further differentiated into “city” (central city) and “suburb” categories. Across these settings, there is a large and statistically significant difference between people (aged 15 and over), with and without work disabilities, in individual computer ownership and Internet usage.

Percent of individuals who own a computer:

53.5 percent of metropolitan individuals who have no disability own a computer.

25 percent of metropolitan individuals with a disability own a computer.

57.5 percent of suburban individuals who have no disability own a computer.

28.7 percent of suburban individuals with a disability own a computer.

47.4 percent of central city individuals who have no disability own a computer.

19.9 percent of central city individuals with a disability own a computer.

44.5 percent of rural individuals who have no disability own a computer.

19.8 percent of rural individuals with a disability own a computer.

Percent of Individuals Who Use the Internet:

39.3 percent of metropolitan individuals who have no disability use the Internet.

10.9 percent of metropolitan individuals with a disability use the Internet.

41.9 percent of suburban individuals who have no disability use the Internet.

11.6 percent of suburban individuals with a disability use the Internet.

36.4 percent of central city individuals with no disability use the Internet.

8.8 percent of central city individuals with a disability use the Internet.

33.1 percent of rural individuals with no disability use the Internet.

6.8 percent of rural individuals with a disability use the Internet.

Source: H.S. Kaye. Unpublished data, derived from Computer and Internet use among people with disabilities. Disabilities Statistics Report 13, March 2000.

Return to text