Best Internet Providers in Nelson County, VA
All 9 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Nelson County, VA
Nelson County has 9 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Cable, Fiber, DSL, and Fixed Wireless internet are available in the county. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Nelson County.
Ranks compare Nelson County with the 133 Virginia counties.
The Best Internet in Nelson County, VA at a Glance
Nelson County Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Firefly Fiber Broadband
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
River Street
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Fixed Wireless
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fixed Wireless
T-Mobile Home Internet
Connection
Customer Rating
Fixed Wireless
Providers with less than 1% coverage in this county are excluded from the list. To see if one of these providers is available at your home, please use the address search above.
Speed and technology may vary by address for all providers. Please note we may have a financial relationship with some of the providers above, which does not impact the customer ratings displayed. Customer ratings listed above are national ratings, local Nelson County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Nelson County, VA?
firefly FIBER BROADBAND is the best internet provider in Nelson County based on Virginia customer satisfaction ratings and reviews. Based on our extensive and unbiased survey, firefly FIBER BROADBAND had the best reviews at the local, state, and national levels versus all available providers in Nelson County, making it a solid recommendation among providers with reviews. firefly FIBER BROADBAND is an option for 98.61% of the county.
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Nelson County?
Coverage changes block by block. Pick a provider and a technology to see where its service reaches: the darker the area, the larger the share of homes it covers. For your exact address, use the address search above.
Coverage map for each provider in Nelson County
- firefly FIBER BROADBAND - fiber coverage map
- Nelson Cable - fiber coverage map
- River Street - fiber coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Lumos Networks - fiber coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- River Street - fixed wireless coverage map
- Brightspeed - dsl coverage map
- Lumos Networks - dsl coverage map
How Nelson County Compares to the Rest of Virginia
Nelson County's report card score is tied 63rd of 133 and its connectivity index is tied 58th of 133.
| Measure | Nelson County | Rank among Virginia counties | Virginia | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | |||||
| Fiber availability | 99.1% | 11th of 133 | 79.0% | 71.5% | Bristol City and Falls Church City and 1 more (99.9%) |
| Average top speed | 1,236 Mbps | 87th of 133 | 2,389 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Staunton City (7,648 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 3.7 | Tied 118th of 133 | 5.7 | 7.1 | Bristol City and Charlottesville City (7.5) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | |||||
| People per household | 2.4 | Tied 57th of 133 | 2.6 | 2.7 | Manassas Park City (3.7) |
| Workers who work from home | 21% | Tied 13th of 133 | 18% | 15% | Arlington County (35%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 93% | Tied 62nd of 133 | 96% | 96% | Fairfax City and Falls Church City and 3 more (99%) |
| Homes with internet | 87% | Tied 57th of 133 | 92% | 91% | Falls Church City (99%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 66% | Tied 67th of 133 | 77% | 76% | Falls Church City (95%) |
| More about the households here | |||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 76% | Tied 55th of 133 | 83% | 81% | Falls Church City (96%) |
| Median household income | $83,282 | 46th of 133 | $109,990 | $93,246 | Loudoun County ($186,288) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 11% | Tied 97th of 133 | 16% | 16% | Williamsburg City (46%) |
Fiber reaches 99.1% of homes in Nelson County, against 79.0% across Virginia. Households in Nelson County are smaller than the US average (2.4 people against 2.7); 21% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $83,282 (US $93,246).
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
How Nelson County Compares to Its Neighbors
Nelson County has 6 neighbors. Among them, Rockbridge County has the most homes with fiber (88.2%) and Augusta County the fewest (58.2%); Nelson County has 99.1%.
Map of Nelson County and its neighbors by ISP Report Card grade
Hover over or tap a county for its numbers, and click through to its page.
Nelson County and its neighbors
| County | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County (this page) | 14,775 | 99.1% | 1,236 Mbps | 3.7 | C+ | 49/100 |
| Albemarle County | 112,395 | 61.4% | 1,854 Mbps | 6.2 | B- | 70/100 |
| Augusta County | 77,487 | 58.2% | 3,092 Mbps | 5.4 | C+ | 40/100 |
| Amherst County | 31,307 | 59.2% | 1,477 Mbps | 4.1 | C | 38/100 |
| Rockbridge County | 22,650 | 88.2% | 1,388 Mbps | 5.2 | C+ | 41/100 |
| Buckingham County | 16,824 | 60.7% | 963 Mbps | 3.8 | C- | 30/100 |
| Appomattox County | 16,119 | 73.2% | 1,137 Mbps | 3.9 | C | 37/100 |
Internet in Nelson County by City and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 92.7% of homes in Afton to 100.0% in Nellysford; by ZIP code, from 93.2% in 22920 (Afton) to 100.0% in 22967 (Roseland). Each row links to that place’s page.
Cities and towns in Nelson County
| City or town | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afton | 2,965 | 92.7% | 1,161 Mbps | 5.1 | B- | 56/100 |
| Nellysford | 1,756 | 100.0% | 1,814 Mbps | 4.3 | B | 75/100 |
| Shipman | 1,545 | 98.6% | 1,000 Mbps | 2.5 | C | 69/100 |
| Arrington | 1,403 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 3 | C+ | 38/100 |
| Faber | 1,384 | 100.0% | 1,006 Mbps | 3.6 | C+ | 53/100 |
| Roseland | 1,233 | 98.8% | 1,363 Mbps | 3.1 | C+ | 46/100 |
| Lovingston | 982 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 5.1 | B- | 41/100 |
| Gladstone | 682 | 98.1% | 1,000 Mbps | 2.2 | C | 37/100 |
| Piney River | 494 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 1.9 | C | 33/100 |
| Avon | 467 | 92.1% | 3,301 Mbps | 7.3 | B+ | 25/100 |
| Wintergreen | 414 | 100.0% | 1,829 Mbps | 5.4 | B | 46/100 |
| Tye River | 244 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 2.6 | C+ | 38/100 |
| Tyro | 223 | 97.8% | 1,000 Mbps | 1.3 | C | 11/100 |
| Montebello | 216 | 61.6% | 734 Mbps | 1.3 | D | 10/100 |
| Rockfish | 186 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 2.5 | C+ | 49/100 |
| Red Apple Orchard | 183 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 2 | C | 52/100 |
| Massies Mill | 182 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 2.5 | C+ | 39/100 |
| Colleen | 156 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 5.1 | B- | 29/100 |
| Woodson | 126 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 2.5 | C+ | 25/100 |
| Warminster | 112 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 1.9 | C | 44/100 |
| Norwood | 109 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 1.4 | C | 39/100 |
| Martins Store | 42 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 3.5 | C+ | 78/100 |
ZIP codes in Nelson County
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22920 (Afton) | 4,168 | 93.2% | 1,305 Mbps | 5.2 | B- | 55/100 |
| 22967 (Roseland) | 2,103 | 100.0% | 1,237 Mbps | 3 | C+ | 38/100 |
| 22958 (Nellysford) | 1,876 | 99.2% | 1,891 Mbps | 4.4 | B- | 73/100 |
| 22922 (Arrington) | 1,850 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 3.2 | C+ | 34/100 |
| 22971 (Shipman) | 1,611 | 98.7% | 1,000 Mbps | 2.1 | C | 69/100 |
| 24553 (Gladstone) | 1,598 | 99.2% | 1,003 Mbps | 2.4 | C+ | 32/100 |
| 22938 (Faber) | 1,381 | 100.0% | 1,047 Mbps | 3.4 | C+ | 58/100 |
| 22949 (Lovingston) | 1,266 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 5.2 | B- | 41/100 |
| 22976 (Tyro) | 318 | 96.9% | 1,104 Mbps | 1.6 | C | 11/100 |
| 22964 (Piney River) | 290 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 2 | C | 21/100 |
| 24464 (Montebello) | 109 | 93.6% | 1,000 Mbps | 1 | C- | 11/100 |
| 24581 (Norwood) | 36 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 1.2 | C | 49/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Nelson County?
Based on both FCC data and unbiased customer ratings, the fastest internet in the county comes from firefly FIBER BROADBAND.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Nelson County
| Lumos Networks | 5,000 |
|---|---|
| Nelson Cable | 2,000 |
| firefly FIBER BROADBAND | 1,000 |
| River Street Networks | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| AT&T | 100 |
| EarthLink | 100 |
| Brightspeed | 80 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Nelson County. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Nelson County Internet Providers
Based on 116 reviews from Virginia internet customers, firefly FIBER BROADBAND is the best internet service provider for Nelson County residents. firefly FIBER BROADBAND was rated at an average of 5.00 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. AT&T wins for second-place in Virginia, with 4.33 out of 5 stars and 32.5% coverage in Nelson County.
At a national level, based on 2335 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, firefly FIBER BROADBAND is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 5.00 out of 5.
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Nelson County Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Nelson County, Virginia, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Nelson County Overall | Virginia Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefly Fiber Broadband |  (0) | (5) | (5) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) |  (6) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Lumos Networks | (0) | (3) | (28) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (10) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (85) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) |  (25) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (1) | (1) |  (2) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (1) |  (12) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (6) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Nelson Cable | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Nelson County
Based on data reported by Nelson County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through firefly FIBER BROADBAND. The company offers speeds up to 1,000 Mbps in Nelson County. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 1,000 Mbps if they’re willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
Additionally, actual customers rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with firefly FIBER BROADBAND. This indicates Firefly Fiber Broadband reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Nelson County Speed | Virginia Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefly Fiber Broadband | (0) | (5) | (5) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (6) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (85) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Lumos Networks | (0) | (3) | (28) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (1) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (1) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (10) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (6) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Nelson Cable | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Nelson County?
Of the providers in Nelson County, customers rate firefly FIBER BROADBAND the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Nelson County where enough of them have reviewed a provider, otherwise across Virginia or the country. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
firefly FIBER BROADBAND is rated 4.80 out of 5 for price, which is much higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. T-Mobile Home Internet is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 3.90 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Nelson County, Virginia, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Nelson County
| ISP / Tech Type | Nelson County Affordability | Virginia Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefly Fiber Broadband | (0) | (5) | (5) | View Plans | ||
| Lumos Networks | (0) | (3) | (28) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (10) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (6) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (6) | (76) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (1) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (1) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (85) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| Nelson Cable | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Nelson County
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Nelson County?
firefly FIBER BROADBAND Fiber in Nelson County, VA
Availability:
98.6%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
firefly FIBER BROADBAND offers Fiber service to 98.6% of Nelson County homes. Across the county, firefly FIBER BROADBAND Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
River Street Fiber in Nelson County, VA
Availability:
25.7%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
River Street Networks offers Fiber service to 25.7% of Nelson County homes. Across the county, River Street Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Nelson Cable Fiber in Nelson County, VA
Availability:
20.2%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
1,728 Mbps
Nelson Cable offers Fiber service to 20.2% of Nelson County homes. Across the county, Nelson Cable Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,728 Mbps, with speeds from 1,000 Mpbs up to 2,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for Nelson Cable Fiber.
Lumos Networks Fiber in Nelson County, VA
Availability:
2.2%
Customer Rating:
(27)
Avg. Download Speed
5,000 Mbps
Lumos Networks offers Fiber service to 2.2% of Nelson County homes. Across the county, Lumos Networks Fiber has speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Nelson County?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Nelson County, VA
Availability:
75.3%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
58 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 75.3% of Nelson County homes. Across the county, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 58 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 10 Mbps throughout the county.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Nelson County, VA
Availability:
56.8%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
200 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 56.8% of Nelson County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 200 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 300 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 6.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 15 Mbps throughout the county.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Nelson County, VA
Availability:
32.5%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
36 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 32.5% of Nelson County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 36 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 5.5 Mbps throughout the county.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Nelson County, VA
Availability:
32.5%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
36 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 32.5% of Nelson County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 36 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 5.5 Mbps throughout the county.
River Street Fixed Wireless in Nelson County, VA
Availability:
16.6%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
19 Mbps
River Street Networks offers Fixed Wireless service to 16.6% of Nelson County homes. Across the county, River Street Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 19 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 25 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 3.0, with an average of 2.3 Mbps throughout the county.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Nelson County?
According to the most recently submitted data by internet service providers to the FCC, there are currently no cable providers available in Nelson County, VA.
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Nelson County?
Brightspeed DSL in Nelson County, VA
Availability:
4.6%
Customer Rating:
(43)
Avg. Download Speed
50 Mbps
Brightspeed offers DSL service to 4.6% of Nelson County homes. Across the county, Brightspeed DSL is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 50 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 80 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 10, with an average of 4.5 Mbps throughout the county.
Lumos Networks DSL in Nelson County, VA
Availability:
1.3%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
10 Mbps
Lumos Networks offers DSL service to 1.3% of Nelson County homes. Across the county, Lumos Networks DSL has speeds up to 10 Mbps
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in Virginia
Customer Reviews
Jean
Zitel Fiber
October 22, 2026 Slow
ISPReports User
Zitel
October 20, 2026 slow
ISPReports User
Swiftcurrent Connect Fiber
October 20, 2026 Fast
ISPReports User
FiberLync Fiber
September 22, 2026 ISPReports User
Brightspeed
August 24, 2026 Streaming tv is great and security cameras are great but having issues with gaming (Lots of lag)
Rate your provider
Share your experience to help others in your area choose.
Verified customer: we detected your connection is on this provider.
Reviews are independent and unedited. Published after a quick spam check.
Which ISP Should You Choose in Nelson County?
The right ISP for you depends upon your needs, but in general we can make the following suggestions:
- The best all-around internet service provider in Nelson County is Firefly Fiber Broadband.
- The fastest internet provider should be firefly FIBER BROADBAND. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, firefly FIBER BROADBAND may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Nelson County is Firefly Fiber Broadband.
- Viasat, HughesNet, and firefly FIBER BROADBAND has the broadest coverage in Nelson County, available to 98.6% of homes, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what’s available at your home, please use our address search tool.