Device Essentials for Digital Equity

Previously Unpublished Data Highlights Persistent U.S. Computer Ownership Gap in Detail

In Digitunity’s new report, we uncover who is most affected by the computer ownership gap – and why smartphones alone are not enough. A limited amount of public data focuses only on large-screen computer ownership. Most national data combines computer and internet access, making it difficult to determine the actual need for computers. This report analyzes previously unpublished Census data on people who either have no computer at all or rely only on a smartphone

The United States’ Computer Ownership Gap Persists

In September 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) data offering insights of important national and state-level digital divide trends. Digitunity identified and analyzed two data points illustrating the (1) number of households without any type of computing device and (2) households that rely solely on a smartphone to go online. Together, these data points yield the statistic we call households without a large screen computer. The National Snapshot: 17.7

Rural road with grass bordering each side.

Supportive and Sustainable Computer Ecosystems for Rural Communities: Key Takeaways and Actionable Strategies

This report examines the state of computer ownership in the United States, offering new insights into who lacks access to large-screen computers and why it matters. Drawing on original data analysis and the latest research, the report explores the impact of computer ownership on economic opportunity, education, and digital participation.

Device Essentials for Digital Equity