1 in 5 homes still not connected to Internet

It seems like everyone is online these days, but 21% of households in the USA still don't have Internet access.

According to new data from the Census Bureau, DSL and cable modem are the most popular ways to get Internet at home.

Of the three-quarters of American households that pay to get connected, only 1% have dial-up.

Another 4% access the Internet at home but without a subscription, according to the data from the 2013 American Community Survey released today.

It's not surprising that fewer lower-income households have Internet subscriptions, but the discrepancies between high and low incomes are striking. More than half of households that make less than $20,000 do not have an Internet subscription. Of households that make $75,000 or more, just 8% don't.

Among races, blacks, Hispanics and American Indians have the highest percentage of unconnected households, compared with whites and Asians.

Why they're not connected

A 2013 Pew Research Center survey offered some glimpses into why adults choose to be offline.

The survey found the most often cited reason (21%) was they're "just not interested."

Other reasons were they don't have a computer, the Internet is too frustrating and they are "too old to learn." Only 6% cited affordability.

But even offline adults said they still rely on the Internet for online searches. They just ask a family or friend to do it for them, according to Pew.

Who has a computer?

The Census Bureau also asked Americans about the types of computers they own. The share of households with a computer has jumped to 84%, from only 8% three decades ago.

But nearly 70% of households have a smartphone, tablet or other handheld computer, and most of them in addition to their computer.

The biggest difference in computer ownership is evident between young and old. More than 90% of people under 65 own a computer, but that drops to 71% for people 65 or older.

Contributing: Paul Overberg

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