Best Internet Providers in Polk County, NC
All 10 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Polk County, NC
Polk County has 10 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Cable, Fiber, Fixed Wireless, and DSL 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 Polk County.
Ranks compare Polk County with the 100 North Carolina counties.
The Best Internet in Polk County, NC at a Glance
Polk County Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Windstream
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
PANGAEA
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Skyrunner Internet
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
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 Polk County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Polk County, NC?
PANGAEA is the highest-rated internet provider in Polk County based on 308 North Carolina customer reviews, and T-Mobile Home Internet has the highest rating nationwide. The provider information above and the information immediately below can help you decide. Compare provider ratings and review counts above.
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Polk 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 Polk County
- Spectrum - fiber coverage map
- Windstream - fiber coverage map
- Spectrum - cable coverage map
- Skyrunner Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- PANGAEA - fiber coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- Skyrunner Internet - fiber coverage map
- Windstream - dsl coverage map
- River Street - fiber coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- Carolina West - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - dsl coverage map
- EarthLink - dsl coverage map
How Polk County Compares to the Rest of North Carolina
Polk County's report card score is tied 57th of 100 and its connectivity index is tied 56th of 100.
| Measure | Polk County | Rank among North Carolina counties | North Carolina | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | |||||
| Fiber availability | 85.2% | 28th of 100 | 78.0% | 71.5% | Davie County (99.8%) |
| Average top speed | 1,153 Mbps | 87th of 100 | 3,577 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Greene County (8,030 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 6.1 | Tied 51st of 100 | 7.3 | 7.1 | Buncombe County (9.2) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | |||||
| People per household | 2.2 | Tied 85th of 100 | 2.5 | 2.7 | Union County (3.0) |
| Workers who work from home | 17% | Tied 10th of 100 | 16% | 15% | Mecklenburg County and Wake County (29%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 94% | Tied 32nd of 100 | 95% | 96% | Carteret County and Dare County and 3 more (98%) |
| Homes with internet | 85% | Tied 60th of 100 | 91% | 91% | Wake County (96%) |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 64% | Tied 69th of 100 | 77% | 76% | Wake County (86%) |
| More about the households here | |||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 75% | Tied 37th of 100 | 80% | 81% | Orange County and Wake County (90%) |
| Median household income | $70,521 | 35th of 100 | $83,207 | $93,246 | Union County ($119,553) |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 11% | Tied 82nd of 100 | 16% | 16% | Watauga County (36%) |
Fiber reaches 85.2% of homes in Polk County, against 78.0% across North Carolina. Households in Polk County are smaller than the US average (2.2 people against 2.7); 17% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $70,521 (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 Polk County Compares to Its Neighbors
Polk County has 4 neighbors, 2 of them in South Carolina. Among them, Greenville County, SC has the most homes with fiber (80.6%) and Henderson County the fewest (64.3%); Polk County has 85.2%.
Map of Polk County and its neighbors by ISP Report Card grade
Hover over or tap a county for its numbers, and click through to its page.
Polk County and its neighbors
| County | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County (this page) | 19,328 | 85.2% | 1,153 Mbps | 6.1 | B- | 44/100 |
| Greenville County, SC | 525,534 | 80.6% | 4,103 Mbps | 8.5 | B+ | 69/100 |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 327,997 | 72.8% | 3,161 Mbps | 7.6 | B | 58/100 |
| Henderson County | 116,281 | 64.3% | 2,600 Mbps | 8.2 | B | 56/100 |
| Rutherford County | 64,444 | 77.2% | 2,144 Mbps | 8.4 | B+ | 34/100 |
Internet in Polk County by City and ZIP Code
Fiber reaches from 63.6% of homes in Saluda to 98.3% in Mill Spring; by ZIP code, from 66.3% in 28773 (Saluda) to 98.6% in 28756 (Mill Spring). Each row links to that place’s page.
Cities and towns in Polk County
| City or town | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | 6,569 | 85.0% | 1,257 Mbps | 6.8 | B- | 50/100 |
| Tryon | 5,649 | 76.5% | 1,222 Mbps | 6.5 | B- | 47/100 |
| Mill Spring | 3,611 | 98.3% | 1,075 Mbps | 5.2 | B- | 31/100 |
| Saluda | 3,178 | 63.6% | 744 Mbps | 5 | C- | 49/100 |
| Sunny View | 530 | 100.0% | 1,000 Mbps | 6.9 | B+ | 23/100 |
| Pea Ridge | 286 | 67.8% | 694 Mbps | 5.6 | C | 19/100 |
| Lynn | 108 | 100.0% | 2,000 Mbps | 9.3 | A | 48/100 |
ZIP codes in Polk County
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28722 (Columbus) | 6,148 | 83.9% | 1,270 Mbps | 6.8 | B- | 49/100 |
| 28782 (Tryon) | 5,987 | 77.8% | 1,233 Mbps | 6.6 | B- | 49/100 |
| 28756 (Mill Spring) | 4,169 | 98.6% | 1,051 Mbps | 5.4 | B- | 29/100 |
| 28773 (Saluda) | 3,420 | 66.3% | 779 Mbps | 5.1 | C- | 49/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Polk County?
According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by PANGAEA. On the other hand, based on data provided by the internet providers to the FCC, Spectrum should have faster speeds at a local level. While we typically put more weight on real-world customer ratings, we display both satisfaction and technical maximum information for customers to decide for themselves.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Polk County
| Windstream | 2,000 |
|---|---|
| Skyrunner Internet | 1,000 |
| Spectrum | 1,000 |
| River Street Networks | 1,000 |
| PANGAEA | 500 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| AT&T | 100 |
| EarthLink | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
| Carolina West Wireless | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Polk County. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Polk County Internet Providers
Based on 308 reviews from North Carolina internet customers, PANGAEA is the best internet service provider for Polk County residents. PANGAEA 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 North Carolina, with 3.73 out of 5 stars and 57.0% coverage in Polk County.
At a national level, based on 4279 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, T-Mobile Home Internet is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.02 out of 5.
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Polk County Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Polk County, North Carolina, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Polk County Overall | North Carolina Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANGAEA | (2) | (4) | (4) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) |  (1) |  (2) | View Plans | ||
| Skyrunner Internet | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Windstream | (0) |  (6) | (99) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (3) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) |  (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans | ||
| Carolina West | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Polk County
Based on data reported by Polk County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through Spectrum. The company offers speeds up to 1,000 Mbps in Polk 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.
However, actual customers rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with PANGAEA. This indicates PANGAEA reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Polk County Speed | North Carolina Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANGAEA | (2) | (4) | (4) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Skyrunner Internet | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Windstream | (0) | (6) | (99) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (3) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Carolina West | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Polk County?
Of the providers in Polk County, customers rate PANGAEA the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Polk County where enough of them have reviewed a provider, otherwise across North Carolina or the country. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
PANGAEA is rated 5.00 out of 5 for price, which is much higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. AT&T is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 3.46 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Polk County, North Carolina, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Polk County
| ISP / Tech Type | Polk County Affordability | North Carolina Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANGAEA | (2) | (4) | (4) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Skyrunner Internet | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Windstream | (0) | (6) | (99) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (3) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Carolina West | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Polk County
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Polk County?
Spectrum Fiber in Polk County, NC
Availability:
63.4%
Customer Rating:
(207)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Fiber service to 63.4% of Polk County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
PANGAEA Fiber in Polk County, NC
Availability:
29.5%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
500 Mbps
PANGAEA offers Fiber service to 29.5% of Polk County homes. Across the county, PANGAEA Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 500 Mbps
Windstream Fiber in Polk County, NC
Availability:
23.3%
Customer Rating:
(40)
Avg. Download Speed
1,760 Mbps
Windstream offers Fiber service to 23.3% of Polk County homes. Across the county, Windstream Fiber has speeds up to 1,760 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 Windstream Fiber. Windstream Fiber is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Polk County from Windstream in terms of customer satisfaction.
Skyrunner Internet Fiber in Polk County, NC
Availability:
10.7%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Skyrunner Internet offers Fiber service to 10.7% of Polk County homes. Across the county, Skyrunner Internet Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
River Street Fiber in Polk County, NC
Availability:
10.0%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
River Street Networks offers Fiber service to 10.0% of Polk County homes. Across the county, River Street Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Polk County?
Skyrunner Internet Fixed Wireless in Polk County, NC
Availability:
93.3%
Customer Rating:
(1)
Avg. Download Speed
234 Mbps
Skyrunner Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 93.3% of Polk County homes. Across the county, Skyrunner Internet Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 234 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 500 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 10 and as high as 250, with an average of 115 Mbps throughout the county.
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Polk County, NC
Availability:
70.2%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
38 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 70.2% of Polk 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 38 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 6.0 Mbps throughout the county.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Polk County, NC
Availability:
62.0%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
187 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 62.0% of Polk County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 187 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 14 Mbps throughout the county.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Polk County, NC
Availability:
54.5%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
27 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 54.5% of Polk County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 27 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 3.5 Mbps throughout the county.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Polk County, NC
Availability:
54.5%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
27 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 54.5% of Polk County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 27 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 3.5 Mbps throughout the county.
Carolina West Fixed Wireless in Polk County, NC
Availability:
3.4%
Customer Rating:
(0)
Avg. Download Speed
25 Mbps
Carolina West Wireless offers Fixed Wireless service to 3.4% of Polk County homes. Across the county, Carolina West Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 Mbps
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Polk County?
Spectrum Cable in Polk County, NC
Availability:
38.2%
Customer Rating:
(1739)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Cable service to 38.2% of Polk County homes. Across the county, Spectrum Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Polk County?
Windstream DSL in Polk County, NC
Availability:
77.3%
Customer Rating:
(52)
Avg. Download Speed
133 Mbps
Windstream offers DSL service to 77.3% of Polk County homes. Across the county, Windstream DSL has speeds up to 133 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 300 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 14 Mbps throughout the county. Windstream DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Polk County from Windstream in terms of customer satisfaction.
EarthLink DSL in Polk County, NC
Availability:
3.9%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
12 Mbps
EarthLink offers DSL service to 3.9% of Polk County homes. Across the county, EarthLink DSL has speeds up to 12 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 5.0, with an average of 1.5 Mbps throughout the county. EarthLink DSL is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Polk County from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T DSL in Polk County, NC
Availability:
3.9%
Customer Rating:
(304)
Avg. Download Speed
12 Mbps
AT&T offers DSL service to 3.9% of Polk County homes. Across the county, AT&T DSL has speeds up to 12 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 5.0, with an average of 1.5 Mbps throughout the county. AT&T DSL is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Polk County from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in North Carolina
Customer Reviews
ISPReports User
Spectrum Fiber
August 21, 2026 ISPReports User
Spectrum Fiber
July 30, 2026 ISPReports User
Spectrum Cable
July 30, 2026 ISPReports User
PANGAEA Fiber
July 30, 2026 ISPReports User
PANGAEA Fiber
July 30, 2026 Rate your provider
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Polk 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 Polk County is PANGAEA.
- The fastest internet provider should be Spectrum. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, PANGAEA may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Polk County is PANGAEA.
- Viasat, Skyrunner Internet, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Polk County, available to 93.3% 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.